Is Hell a Real Place?
A growing number of people don’t think hell exists. However, it’s still a question they wonder privately—or sometimes google.
In the United States alone, Google receives the question “is hell real” more than 200 times each day. And that’s just for this specific question. There are thousands of daily queries about hell.
Is hell a real place or did someone make it up? The best resource to check is the Bible. Jesus spoke about hell more than anyone else in the Bible and He did so to warn each of us. “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28).
The Bible is very clear on this: hell is as real as heaven and you’ll experience one of the two when you die. All of us will live forever because God created us with an eternal soul. The moment we die is the beginning of our eternity. We either live forever in heaven with God or suffer through separation from Him in hell.
You have likely heard the Lord is a “God of love.” This is true because He sent His only Son to die on the cross for our sins to make it possible for us to spend eternity in heaven with Him. However, He is also a God of justice. Because of His love for us, He can’t allow the corruption, depravity and wickedness of our world to pass without His holy judgment. The Bible says, “They will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth” (2 Thessalonians 2:12).
These are significant words and should make you pause for a moment. The good news is the Bible also tells us we don’t have to go to hell. God wants a relationship with us through His Son, Jesus Christ, so we can spend eternity with Him in heaven. Jesus Christ came to destroy sin and death. When we put our faith and trust in Him, the doors of heaven open for us.
You don’t have to fear hell. Take time now to be assured of your place in heaven.
Step 1 – God’s Purpose: Peace and Life
The Bible says:
"We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
Romans 5:1
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
John 3:16
"I [Jesus] have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."
John 10:10
Step 2 – The Problem: Our Separation from God
The Bible says:
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
Romans 3:23
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 6:23
The Bible says:
"There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death."
Proverbs 14:12
"But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear."
Isaiah 59:2
Step 3 – God’s Bridge: The Cross
The Bible says:
"For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus."
1 Timothy 2:5
"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God."
1 Peter 3:18
Step 4 – Our Response: Receive Christ
The Bible says:
"Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."
John 1:12
"If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
Romans 10:9
Here is how you can accept Christ into your life:
- Admit your need. (I am a sinner)
- Be willing to turn from your sins. (Repent)
- Believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the cross and rose from the grave. (Be saved by faith)
- Through prayer, invite Jesus Christ to control your life through the Holy Spirit. (Receive him as Lord and Savior)
We suggest a prayer like this one:
"Dear God, I know I’m a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son. I believe that He died for my sin and that You raised Him to life. I want to trust Him as my Savior and follow Him as Lord, from this day forward. Guide my life and help me to do Your will. I pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen."
Did you pray this prayer?
