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] came that they may have life and have it abundantly."
John 10:10
Step 2 – The Problem: Sin Separates Us
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 free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 6:23
The Bible says:
"There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death."
Proverbs 14:12
"But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear."
Isaiah 59:2
Step 3 – God’s Remedy: The Cross
The Bible says:
"For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus."
1 Timothy 2:5
"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring us to God."
1 Peter 3:18
"But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Romans 5:8
Step 4 – Our Response: Receive Christ
The Bible says:
"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with Me."
Revelation 3:20
"But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God."
John 1:12
"If you confess with your mouth that 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 receive Christ:
- Admit your need. (I am a sinner.)
- Be willing to turn from your sins (repent) and ask for God's forgiveness.
- Believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the cross and rose from the grave.
- Through prayer, invite Jesus Christ to come in and control your life through the Holy Spirit. (Receive Jesus as Lord and Savior)
We suggest a prayer like this one:
"Dear God, I know I am a sinner. I want to turn from my sins, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ is Your Son. I believe He died for my sins and that You raised Him to life. I want Him to come into my heart and to take control of my life. I want to trust Jesus as my Savior and follow Him as my Lord from this day forward. In Jesus' Name, amen."
Did you pray this prayer?
