Does Hell Discourage Sinning? - Soul Choice Ministries

If a Christian understands the severity of Hell, they will not be so quick to fall into sin. They will have a greater fear and respect for Almighty God—to the point of obeying Him. Rejecting Jesus is what sends a person to Hell. However, those who claim to be Christians and are living in habitual sin are in a dangerous, deceptive place. They are on a slippery slope towards Hell.

Solomon Stoddard, in the book The Fear of Hell (p. 2, 9), wrote, “It would be a great benefit of godly men if they had more of the fear of Hell. For it would help them against a lukewarm and slumbering spirit, and would strengthen their heart against many temptations. The misery of men [is] that they do not fear Hell; they are not sensible of the dreadfulness or danger of damnation, and so they take a great liberty to sin.”

Now, if you embrace false doctrines such as Annihilationism or Universalism, then Hell is not a concern or deterrent to sin. To an unbeliever, Hell may simply be folklore or a metaphorical concept.

A person’s upbringing can also influence their belief. Once someone clearly understands how the Bible describes Hell, it should arrest one’s attention.

John Gerstner said in his book Hell? Yes! (p. 92), “The fear of Hell is the only thing most likely to get worldly people thinking about the Kingdom of God. No rational human being can be convinced that he is in imminent danger of everlasting torment and do nothing about it.”

But spiritual blindness prevents many from considering or listening to what the Bible says. That is why we, as Christians, must fervently pray for the lost.

For the unbeliever, Hell may not guide them toward moral behavior. Many believe in the false teachings of purgatory, reincarnation, or that they simply cease to exist upon death. They reject any accountability before their Creator—if they even believe in God.

However, for the believer, this should make us pause.

Jesus said in Mark 9:47–48, “And if your eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the Kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into Hell fire: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.”

Jesus was talking to His disciples and warning them that if their eye offends them (causes them to sin), they should pluck it out—or they would be in danger of Hell.

In his book The Essential Works of John Wesley (p. 758), Wesley wrote, “The very notion of Him [God] having power to cast into Hell…this very fear, even in the children of God, is one excellent means of preserving them from it.”

John the Apostle recorded Jesus as saying in John 15:6, “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.”

Dr. Maurice Rawlings recorded many near-death or clinical death experiences in his book Beyond Death’s Door. On page 89, he shares, “A patient dying with a heart attack… I saw that I was getting out of my body… I was entering this gloomy room where I saw this huge giant with a grotesque face. The giant beckoned me to come with him. I did not want to go, but I had to. Outside was darkness, but I could hear people moaning all around me. I could feel things moving about my feet. As we moved through this tunnel or cave, things were getting worse. I was crying. Then, for some reason, this giant turned me loose and sent me back. I felt I was being spared. I found myself back in the hospital bed. It has changed my whole life.”

On page three, Dr. Rawlings shared another account, “Each time he regained heartbeat and respiration, the patient screamed, ‘I am in Hell!’ He was terrified and pleaded with me to help him. I was scared to death… His pupils were dilated, and he was perspiring and trembling—he looked as if his hair was on end. He said, ‘Don’t you understand? I am in Hell… Don’t let me go back to Hell…’ He was in a panic I had never seen before.”

Dr. Rawlings continued, “It so terrified me enough to write this book. He finally asked me, ‘How do I stay out of Hell?’ I did not really know, as I was not a Christian. But the man asked me to say a prayer. At first, I refused and said, ‘I’m a doctor, not a minister.’ But the man was persistent and persuaded me. I made up a prayer, and finally the man repeated the prayer. He then calmed down, and his life was saved. The man became a strong Christian. Later, I also became a Christian.”

Almost everyone who has even a glimpse of Hell ends up serving the Lord.

Robert A. Peterson, in Hell on Trial (p. 201, 236), wrote, “First, studying Hell increases my appreciation for the Savior’s sufferings… Second, my desire that people be spared such a fate has produced in me a greater boldness to tell them the good news. In fact, anyone who cares for the lost will attempt to warn them of Hell.”

Robert Jeffress said in his book Hell? Yes! (p. 91), “To omit Hell from a discussion with a non-Christian is to miss the greatest incentive a person has for becoming a Christian.”

The rich man in Luke 16, whom Jesus described, was in agony in the flames and was desperate for just one drop of water to cool his tongue. Can you imagine never having even one drop of water for all eternity—and at the same time being in tormenting flames? He also knew that his five brothers needed to repent of their sins in order to avoid coming to the horrid place where he was forever imprisoned.

This true account Jesus described should place great fear in those who have not repented of their sins and received Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

Dr. Erwin Lutzer, in his book One Minute After You Die (p. 57), wrote, “In Hades, an alcoholic will thirst after a drop of liquor, but none will be given him. The immoral man will lust with sexual desire, but never be satisfied. Perpetually burning lusts never subside, and the tortured conscience aches but is never sedated.”

Proverbs 27:20 says, “Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied…”

The Apostle Paul gave a severe warning in 2 Thessalonians 1:8–9, “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power.”

Peter said in 2 Peter 2:17, “To whom the mist of darkness is reserved forever.”

Jude 6–7 says, “Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.”

John the Baptist said in John 3:36, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.”

Matthew 24:51 says, “And will cut him in pieces, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

We know there are those who claim to be atheists, and they will defend their belief with ferocity. Yet Dr. Maurice Rawlings, in his book Beyond Death’s Door (p. 112), said, “I have never seen a dying atheist.”

It is amazing how, when facing death, a stubborn conviction about the afterlife can change in a heartbeat.

There are many other verses about Hell that should deter a person from sin and cause them to repent. But all one has to do to enter Hell is ignore Jesus Christ and His warnings.