In his “Warnings of Future Punishment don’t Seem real to the Wicked” (1727), Edwards gives us penetrating insights into “why” people don’t care about the doctrine of Hell.

Simply, he states: DOCTRINE. The reason why men no more regard warnings of future punishment, is because it don’t seem real to them.

(FYI: Edwards’ sermons usually have clear cut divisions such as: Doctrine, Proofs, and Applications, and it’s loooooooooooooong.)

Then, he elaborates on his Doctrine:

1. They know but little what it will be to bear misery forever without change and without end.

Then, the ultimate reason why people don’t care:

Their soul’s being wholly possessed by a sinful and wicked nature hinders any truths of religion taking impression on it. The nature of the man’s soul is contrary to every truth of religion; it opposes and resists all that light. [Sin] has a great influence

For me and others in NSC, doctrine of hell is not simply a teaching. Simply because we have many unbelievers in the midst of us worshiping.

After the sermon, we had our discussion groups and many vocally expressed their unbelief in what they have just heard (this is what I go through every Sunday). “I can’t believe what you just said.” At that point, someone asks, “Pastor Sam, how could we put the fear of God (please, when we say ‘God’ we are talking about Triune God of the Bible) into their hearts?” It’s a heart-felt question because he and I know that a person he invited won’t stay around long. I as a preachers and NSC as a church, we have at most only couple of weeks before the person never returns. So for us, time is ticking and we can feel it. As I preach sermons on Hell, how can we make them not to fall into Edwards’ category?

The answer is: I can’t. We can’t. Only God can.

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:44).

Knowing that the person is born again from above, we stay faithful. We love the sinners just as Christ has loved us. And we stay patient, just as God was (is) patient with us.

My friend died 2 weeks ago (He ended his own life). A well known TV personality & singer.

All Korean news media reported his death. But they all missed one thing: he died on the anniversary date of his and my yet another best friend’s death (1997).

On the last day of June 1997, when a month-long monsoon was approaching Seoul, while I was visiting Korea for the summer, we mourned the death of Lee.

13 Years later, on the night of the anniversary, he committed suicide. And once I heard the news, I checked the date. The same day. No one knows the despair that YH went through after Lee’s death. No one knows kind of friendship they had. And no one in the media will ever know why Yong Ha died on that day. Why he chose that day.

But after few minutes of lightheadedness, the reality dawned on me. He died outside of Christ. And I couldn’t say: R.I.P my friend because he is not resting in peace.

Then, I found out I was resisting the thought, in vain, of the reality of Heaven and Hell.

And I came to conclusion: not many Christians believe in the reality of hell.

The Bible’s message is clear: either one’s united to Christ (Heaven) or he/she is not (Hell).

But what is hell? What do I know about hell? Do you know much about hell? Probably not.

Among many questions, one may ask: What can hell fire do when I don’t have a body (after death)? So, hell fire must be a figurative language to scare people.

So I began my quest for hell.

Now, where do I go to learn more about Hell? The first person came to my mind was: Jonathan Edwards.

There are three sermons you must read.

(i) “Warnings of Future Punishment don’t Seem real to the Wicked” (1727)

(ii) “The torments of hell are exceeding great” (1728-1729)

(iii) and of course, “Sinners in the hands of an angry God” (1741)

Once you read through (I doubt who will but..) these, then you will have some big picture about Hell.

But more than anything, where do we go to learn about hell in the Bible? What does the word of God say about hell? That’s more important question.

But for today, try to read Edwards.