For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16).
What an astounding offer that God would give rebellious and broken sinners eternal life in exchange for believing in His Son, Jesus Christ! “See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven” (Hebrews 12:25). The writer of Hebrews is warning the church that they should not think of going back to an old system (Judaism) that had been abrogated. I believe the integrity of this Scripture should be used in the way the author intended, but it extends to those who are in the valley of decision, those who have not known Christ.
God makes an offer to sinful (sin-filled) man that is so astounding, even as a born-again person it is difficult for me to grasp such generosity! Without a doubt, His generosity is out of this world! It is from a different realm-Heaven. We have never in this world known of such! The reason is, salvation has always been a Divine Initiative! God initiated salvation unprompted by anything outside of Himself! I have heard people say, they do not believe in hell, but if one does not believe in hell, he should not believe in heaven either! “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable,” and life would be a mockery, a mockery of God and man (1 Corinthians 15:19). However, we know that life is not a mockery, and it is not over once we die, death is not annihilation; it is eternal separation from God! The absence of hell is an unproven and untrue assumption.
Nevertheless, Jesus promises, “all that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out […] and everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:37, 40).
Pastor Don