Friends, we wouldn’t go to Hell because we don’t choose Jesus.
We go to Hell because we are sinners.
Sin separates us from a Holy God. And since God is good (Mk 12), God is perfectly just. We would deserve Hell.
In The Story of Reality by Greg Koukl, Koukl makes this point by illustrating that people go to the Hospital because they have a illness. Yes, medical intervention can help us, but our possible demise would be connected to our illness.
Humanity rebelled and therefore is sinful (Ge 2; Ro 3:23; Ro 7). Our sinful nature is our demise. Our standard of holiness isn’t the person next door, nor is it Stalin. Our standard of rightness is God alone.
We chose rebellion. We followed evil. And we created the grave.
We are in need of a Savior.
And our Savior isn’t ourselves. It’s not a personality trait, nor is it attending church. While neither of those things are necessarily bad, they can’t save us.
God’s gift was and is Himself (Jn 3; Ro 8; 1 Co 15; Eph 2; 2 Cor 5:21). Jesus paid the price for our sin, on our behalf, and made a way back into fellowship with God. He defeated the grave!!
We should thank Him for this precious gift, daily (1 Thes 5:16-18)!
Hold Fast Apologetics 