Judgment Day – La Vista Church of Christ

Why do people who do some good go to Hell?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Sun, 05 Oct 2025 20:09:09 +0000

Question:

Hello,

Is everything going well? May God bless you.

I have a question for you. A classmate of mine asked me a question that I'm a bit helpless about. I am unable to answer him.

He's obsessed with the fact that some people who did many good things in their lives still go to hell, and he feels this is unfair. He gave the example of a murderer who fathered a child; the murderer is guilty, while the child is innocent.

I told my classmate that everyone is sinful, and only faith in Jesus can resolve the problem of sin, but he just doesn't understand. He keeps wondering why everyone is born sinful. He feels it's unfair, and he feels like he had no choice in his birth.

Answer:

I must disagree with your answer. Everyone is not born sinful. It is a common myth among the denominations, but it is not something that is taught in the Bible.

"Truly, this only I have found: that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes" (Ecclesiastes 7:29).

Thus, we learn that people are born sinless, but become sinful as they grow up. This truth is further emphasized by Ezekiel 18. In the first part of the chapter, God shows that sin is an individual's responsibility. He summarizes His points by stating, "The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself" (Ezekiel 18:20). Since a son cannot inherit the guilt of his father, Seth did not inherit the guilt of Adam. Sin is not passed on genetically.

The core problem is understanding exactly what sin is. "Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness" (I John 3:4). Sinfulness is a state reached when an individual breaks a command of God. It is something a person causes to happen, not something that is placed upon him.

The Bible teaches that, outside of Christ, all men sin. Not because we are born already in a sinful state. The Bible teaches, by a straightforward declaration, that everyone ultimately breaks God's law. "Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned -- for until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come" (Romans 5:12-14). Death did not spread through mankind because everyone inherited Adam's sin; it spread because everyone, independently, has sinned. We know that Adam's sin was not spread to everyone because Paul said some did not sin as Adam did.

For another explanation, see "Are Babies Born Sinners?"

This universal problem of men choosing to sin leads to a difficulty. God wants everyone to be saved (I Timothy 2:4), but the just punishment of sin is death (Romans 6:23). How can God fairly save people from the mess they have made of their own lives without violating His nature?

God's answer was to send His Son into the world. He lived a perfect life as a man. He did not sin (Hebrews 4:15), which is another proof that people are not born sinful. Thus, he became the perfect sacrifice, able to redeem all sinners of the world. However, this forgiveness is not given automatically. People must choose it by yielding to God's terms. See What Must I Do to be Saved?"

The important thing about God's plan is that it is not based on how good or how wicked you once were.

"But if the wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed and observes all My statutes and practices justice and righteousness, he shall surely live; he shall not die. All his transgressions which he has committed will not be remembered against him; because of his righteousness which he has practiced, he will live. Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked," declares the Lord GOD, "rather than that he should turn from his ways and live? But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity and does according to all the abominations that a wicked man does, will he live? All his righteous deeds which he has done will not be remembered for his treachery which he has committed and his sin which he has committed; for them he will die" (Ezekiel 18:21-24).

God looks at who you are and not at who you used to be. Thus, it doesn't matter if a man was once a murderer. If he leaves his murderous ways and follows the Lord, then his past is forgiven. It is not his "good" that saves him. It is Jesus who saves him based on his willingness to submit to Christ. However, the opposite is also true. A generally good man is not saved if he leaves the path of righteousness to commit evil and remains unrepentant.

People often see this as "unfair." They want the benefit of being forgiven of past wrongs, but they want any good that they might have done to be permanently on their record. How much good is good enough to cover a person's sins? In God's eyes, all sin is a debt beyond anyone's ability to pay. Only God can pay that debt, and he did when Jesus died on the cross. All He asks of us is to let go of our sins and follow Him. When a person turns back to sin, fairness demands that God treat him the same way -- looking at who he is and not at who he was.

"Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not right.' Hear now, O house of Israel! Is My way not right? Is it not your ways that are not right? When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity and dies because of it, for his iniquity which he has committed he will die. Again, when a wicked man turns away from his wickedness which he has committed and practices justice and righteousness, he will save his life. Because he considered and turned away from all his transgressions which he had committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die. But the house of Israel says, 'The way of the Lord is not right.' Are My ways not right, O house of Israel? Is it not your ways that are not right? Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, each according to his conduct," declares the Lord GOD. "Repent and turn away from all your transgressions, so that iniquity may not become a stumbling block to you. Cast away from you all your transgressions which you have committed and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! For why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies," declares the Lord GOD. "Therefore, repent and live" (Ezekiel 18:25-32).

Response:

Thank you for sharing. May God bless you.

Why would babies who die be judged?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 21:51:18 +0000

Question:

I have a question about infants, aborted and miscarried souls, and the judgment. Are they awaiting judgment? Would there be any reason to judge them? I have had several miscarried babies, and it’s just something I’ve been wondering about, even though I know where they’re going/have gone.

Thank you so much for this website. I use it often!

Answer:

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad" (II Corinthians 5:10).

Think of Judgment Day as a time when people are sentenced. Their life determines where they go, and based on that life, Judgment Day is when we are sent to our final destination. A baby has done nothing evil and so would be sent to heaven.

Response:

Thank you, brother Hamilton.

The Clock Is Winding Down

Jeffrey Hamilton — Thu, 29 Aug 2024 18:07:41 +0000

by Terry Wane Benton

With each second, minute, and hour that passes, our time is winding down, and we are that much closer to death and facing eternity. We have never been this close, yet we keep inching closer as we live.

God commands all men everywhere to repent because He has appointed a day of reckoning (Acts 17:30,31), and He has assured this by raising Jesus from the dead. That was a permanent demonstration that there is life and existence beyond death. So, it is not like we can pretend there will be no judgment and accountability if we wish it away and pretend it is not real. We are inching our way to eternal damnation or eternal life with God, and all the preparation work must be wisely done now because final judgment comes down to making wise choices over foolish ones (Matthew 7:21-24).

The wise think about the King coming for final judgment and how to use today to get ready and stay ready. The foolish "neglect" so great salvation (Hebrews 2:1-4) that is freely offered in Christ (Romans 6:23). The wise know that "great salvation" and "no condemnation in Christ" (Romans 8:1) is accessible (Romans 5:1) to us in the power of the gospel (Romans 1:16). They have "tasted that the Lord is good" and therefore have a craving, like newborn babies crave milk (I Peter 2:1-3). But the foolish never take time to taste the good word of God and the power of it (Hebrews 4:12). They are focused on the visible and temporary, the things that perish, and have no internal insight into the eternal (II Corinthians 4:16f). The clock ticks but they stay blind to their true purpose and destiny. They build their lives on the sand.

Even as the clock keeps ticking, we all know it will stop for us at some point, and the older we get, the more precious each tick of the clock should become. This article is worth some deep reflection, but some "have no time for this." Little do they realize that they don't have time not to think of this.

Are you wise or foolish with your time?

The Judge Is Standing at the Door

Jeffrey Hamilton — Wed, 12 Jun 2024 14:02:26 +0000

by Terry Wane Benton

"Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door" (James 5:9).

Don’t forget that the Judge is not off in some distant land attending to more important matters than our words and attitudes. He is standing at the door of our hearts and minds, always observing and evaluating how we choose to help or hurt others, how we help or hurt the church, His kingdom, and righteousness. There is an all-seeing eye watching you because you matter, and what you say and do matters.

Grumbling and complaining is a poison that contaminates the minds of others. You must think about giving an account for “every idle word” because they affect others either negatively or positively. They can make or ruin, contaminate, or encourage, but they matter in the battle of good and evil.

James had earlier said that the tongue is a world of iniquity and can affect direction and outcomes like a ship’s rudder or a horse’s bridle. The direction of others is based on what they think and how they think, and words have the power to set a mind going in a bad direction or a good direction based upon what words you throw out into the air.

The Judge is standing at the door! Which side of the battle between light and darkness does He observe coming from your mind into the mix? Words have power! Choose them wisely!

Facing God

Jeffrey Hamilton — Fri, 04 Nov 2022 18:45:07 +0000

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Facing-God.mp3

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton

Text: Exodus 33:18-23

I. Moses asked to see God’s full glory, but God told Moses that no mortal man could survive seeing His full glory face-to-face

A. Many people have speculated as to why this should be the case

B. I suspect that part of it is due to sin - I John 1:5

C. Mortal flesh is too weak in the presence of the spiritual - I Timothy 6:13-16

II. A recurring symbol in Revelation shows the saints approaching God across a crystal sea that separates God from His creation

A. Revelation 4:5-6 - We see the separation

B. Revelation 15:2 - We see victorious standing on the sea

C. Revelation 21:1 - After this world ends, there is no longer a sea to separate us from God

D. Revelation 21:3 - God dwells with His people, much like at the beginning when God walked in the Garden of Eden.

E. Revelation 22:3-4 - With the removal of sin’s curse, we will be able to see God’s face

F. But until that time, there are limits on how well we can know God

G. But it also means that the wicked can never truly know God

III. How well do you know a place?

A. I’ve heard about it is different from

B. I had a layover in that country, which is different from

C. I drove through it, and that is not the same as

D. Vacationed there, and that is not the same as

E. I lived there.

IV. How well do you know God?

A. Some people claim to know God because they heard of Him

B. Others claim to know God because they go to worship services once in a while

C. Still others claim to know God because go to worship services often

D. But to really know Christ and God, you have to live with them

V. Jesus alone knows the Father intimately

A. None of us have actually seen God, let alone understand God - John 1:18

1. People talk of knowing what God wants, but it is merely speculation

2. Jesus has revealed God to men - John 1:18

B. Jesus was the fullness of God in bodily form - Colossians 1:15; 2:9; Hebrews 1:3

C. When we come to know Jesus, we then know all of the Godhead - John 14:6-10

VI. One day it will all change

A. We will be changed - I Corinthians 15:51-53

B. The issue of surviving in the presence of God will no longer exist - I John 3:2

VII. But on that day, we will also be judged

A. We all must face the judgement - II Corinthians 5:10

B. We will give an account of ourselves before our maker - Romans 14:11-12

C. If our names are not found in the Book of Life, we will be banished from God’s presence - Revelation 20:11-15

D. It is based on how you live your life now - Matthew 25:31-46

E. Looking at your life, what will God say about you?

Death and Eternity

Jeffrey Hamilton — Sat, 01 May 2021 19:01:04 +0000

by Royce Frederick

What happens when a person dies? On day six of creation, “the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being” (Genesis 2:7). Death occurs when the “soul” or the “spirit” of a person leaves his body. “Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it” (Ecclesiastes 12:7). When Rachel was dying, the Bible says, “her soul was departing” (Genesis 35:18). James tells us very simply that “the body without the spirit is dead” (James 2:26).

After death, every soul goes to the waiting place called “Hades.” It has two parts:

a place of comfort for those who are saved, and
a place of suffering for those who are lost.

The souls of righteous people go to the comfortable waiting place in Hades. Jesus told about a beggar named Lazarus who died “and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom” (Luke 16:22). He went to a place where he would enjoy close companionship with Abraham. Also, Luke 23:39-43 tells us about two thieves who were crucified with Jesus. After one of them repented, Jesus told him, “today you will be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43; see Acts 2:27, 31). The word “paradise” means “royal park” or “garden.” These verses show that the souls of righteous people go to a pleasant waiting place at death.

The souls of sinful people go to a miserable waiting place in Hades. In the account about Lazarus, Jesus said, “The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom” (Luke 16:22-23). The rich man later said, “I am tormented in this flame” (Luke 16:24). The rich man could not go from his place of misery to be with Abraham (Luke 16:26). Also, he was not permitted to send a message to his five brothers who were still alive on the earth (Luke 16:27-31).

All people will be raised from death and will stand before Christ to be judged. He said, “the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice [the voice of Christ] and come forth; those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation” (John 5:28-29). God has “appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness” (Acts 17:31). On that day, every person from every nation will stand before Christ to be judged (Acts 17:31; Matthew 25:31-33; Revelation 20:11-15). “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (II Corinthians 5:10).

When Christ judges everyone, He will say to the saved people, “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34). On that day, all citizens of the kingdom will enter the eternal place of the kingdom (Colossians 1:13; Philippians 3:20; Acts 14:21-22; II Peter 1:10-11; I Corinthians 15:24; Revelation 21:1-4). To the wicked, He will say, “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41). They “will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life” (Matthew 25:46). Speaking about that future time, John wrote, “Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:14-15).

If we obey the Gospel and remain faithful, we don’t need to worry about death and eternity. By God’s grace, the blood of Jesus removes our sins when we are baptized, and His blood keeps on cleansing us as we walk with Him (Acts 2:38; 22:16; Romans 6:3-4, 23; 8:1; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-9; Hebrews 3:12-14; I John 1:7). “And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming” (I John 2:28).

For all saved people, Judgment Day will be a time of rejoicing! Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:1-3)!

And Then There Were None

Jeffrey Hamilton — Mon, 27 Aug 2018 02:15:00 +0000

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/AndThenThereWereNone.mp3

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton

Text: Amos 6:3-11

I. One of my favorite mystery writers was Agatha Christie. She would write books where you tried to figure out who did it before the end of the book, but in the process you were distracted by so many possibilities.

A. One of my favorites was based on the old children’s nursery rhyme: Ten Little Indians, but that was too politically incorrect, so the title became “And Then There Were None.”

B. The story has ten people on an isolated island and they die off, one by one.

1. By the end of the book, everyone is dead. Then the question was who was the murderer when no one survived.

2. I won’t tell you the ending, but I was reminded of it by a passage in Amos 6 that we had for our Bible reading.

II. Israel and Judah had become complacent and arrogant in their glory days

A. Amos was written during the reigns of Uzziah in Judah and Jeroboam II in Israel, about 30-40 years before Assyria destroyed Israel.

1. God had warned that in the days when everything appeared to be going well, that was the time people would become careless - Deuteronomy 32:15

2. These were times when the economy was booming and the borders were expanding.

B. People had a hard time imaging that disaster was looming on the horizon - Amos 6:1-3

1. Even when neighboring kingdoms were falling to the Assyrians, Israel could not believe such would happen to her.

C. The upper crust in society lived in large and luxurious homes, filled with soft couches.

1. Food was plentiful and banquets abounded

2. Indulgence in wine, fine music, and high culture were enjoyed by many.

3. People felt secure as they anointed themselves with fine perfumes.

D. God was treated as just another idol - II Kings 17:7-17

1. The core problem was that they did not fear God - II Kings 17:34-40

a. If anything, they treated God as a good-luck charm

2. God warned them that would learn to fear Him- Amos 5:25-27

III. Even with the warnings of the prophets, the people thought they would be able to escape - Amos 5:18-20

A. They did not take God seriously

B. But God said they would learn to fear Him - Amos 4:10-13

C. When the destruction started, people tried to hide - Amos 6:8-9

1. But they could not hide. All was destroyed.

D. When the undertaker comes to remove the bodies, he asks the one who hid the best if anyone else is left - but there were none - Amos 6:10a

1. Consider how this reflects what God had said - II Kings 17:18

2. All the nations, including Israel were gone. They could not escape, but somehow Judah was left ... Judah alone

IV. But then the undertaker says something strange - Amos 6:10b

A. Don’t even mention God’s name! Why?

B. For decades they treated God as a good-luck charm, an idol that blessed them no matter what.

1. Now that disaster struck, they blamed God for the ruin

2. Don’t attract God’s attention. We don’t want any more of this “idol’s” blessings.

3. In other words, the people did not get it. They feared God, but they would still treat Him as an idol, though now as a bad-luck piece - II Kings 17:29-33

C. In truth, they still did not fear God - II Kings 17:34-41

D. Jeremiah confronted one group of idolaters

1. After three waves of destruction, people were still worshiping “the Queen of Heaven” - Jeremiah 44:1-6

2. God tells them, their continued idolatry will provoke another response - Jeremiah 44:7-14

3. But notice the response! - Jeremiah 44:15-19

a. They were convinced that Jerusalem’s destruction was due to them pausing their idol worship

b. So they were determine to go back to it

4. God would not endure this any more - Jeremiah 44:20-28

E. There just was no remedy - II Chronicles 36:15-17

V. It is easy look down on these people and condemn their stupidity

A. But we are to learn - I Corinthians 10:6,11-12

B. We live in a time when people call themselves Christians, but they are not even trying to live the life of a Christian

1. They treat God as a way to gain their every wish and desire

2. The name of God is not treated seriously. It is just a profanity to say when you are shocked or mad.

C. I don’t know when God will decide that He has had enough of this, but I’m absolutely certain we are not immune from God’s wrath

D. One day this world will end - II Peter 3:3-10

E. What will you do? Go deeper into worldliness, or turn to holiness? - II Peter 3:11-14

Will faithful Christians face judgment on Judgment Day?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Fri, 30 Mar 2018 00:37:00 +0000

Question:

Hello,

I am a member of the church of Christ.

Will faithful Christians face judgment on Judgment Day? If yes, is giving an account and being judged the same thing?

Answer:

Judgment is based on both the good and the bad that we have done. "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad" (II Corinthians 5:10). The Christian is not exempt from judgment. "For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?" (I Peter 4:17). God is impartial and treats all people alike:

"But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who "will render to each one according to his deeds": eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness -- indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God" (Romans 2:2-11).

Giving an account is you explaining what you did and why. Being judged is what God does to decide your fate.

Question:

Thank you so much for the quick response.

OK, I am really trying to connect all of this. If there is no condemnation (judgment) for those who walk according to the Spirit according to Romans 8:1, and those who have obeyed have received grace, then why are we being judged? What assurance and hope do we really have? Or are there different judgments?

I attended a lectureship last year and was so comforted by this. But recently in our Sunday class, there was a lesson presented stating we will be judged. Now I feel we do not have the assurance that we will one day make Heaven our home!

I am not trying to be argumentative. It sometimes takes me a while to fully understand things.

Thank you for being loving enough to offer this service. God bless you!

Answer:

Where you are running into problems is that you are starting with a preconceived notion, and even though you are running into passages that clearly state that your notion is incorrect, you have a hard time letting it go.

The passage I quoted from Romans 2 states that there is a judgment that determines the outcome of lives lived on earth -- both the wicked and the righteous. Add to that the judgment scene described by Jesus in Matthew 25:31-46. It states that "all the nations" will appear before Jesus and the outcome is that "these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life" (Matthew 25:46).

The basis of that judgment is what we have done in this life. Thus, "there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1). The qualifier, "those who are in Christ Jesus," doesn't just mean "a member of the church." It refers to those who are doing the will of Jesus. Paul continues to describe these people as those "who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit" (Romans 8:4) and whose mind is on "the things of the Spirit" (Romans 8:5). He concludes "So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh -- for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live" (Romans 8:12-13). It is at the judgment where Jesus examines each of us to see whether we did live to this standard. Those who have done so have nothing to fear. "Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love" (I John 4:17-18). Why is there no fear? "Because as He is, so are we in this world."

Obedience is not a one-time event when you become a Christian. Obedience is a way of life for each Christian. That is why the New Testament contains repeated warnings that we must remain faithful to the end. "If we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end" (Hebrews 3:6).

"Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming. If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him" (I John 2:28-29).

"Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord -- for we walk by faith, not by sight -- we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men" (II Corinthians 5:6-11).

Response:

Got it! Thank you so much! I have a clear understanding now!

What exactly is Judgment Day?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 23:23:00 +0000

Question:

I have several questions:

What exactly is Judgment Day?
If I die and go to heaven, can I somehow go to hell after Judgment Day if my sins outweigh the good that I had done?
Can a person go to hell, then on Judgment Day go to heaven?
What things do I have to do to make it to heaven?
Is a teenage relationship considered a sin, kissing, etc.?
Are little things like saying shut up a sin? Or saying stupid?
Is social media a sin?
If I die at 16 years old, and ten years of my life have been sin and not been serving God but for six years I had believed in God and not being the best Christian but have been asking for forgiveness, will I get sent to hell on Judgment Day?

Answer:

In order to answer your questions, I need to clear up some misunderstandings.

When people die, they do not go directly to heaven or hell. They go to a waiting place that was called Sheol (the grave) in the Old Testament and Hades in the New Testament. Most details of Hades are found in the story of the rich man and Lazarus:

"Now there was a rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, joyously living in splendor every day. And a poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores, and longing to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man's table; besides, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores.

"Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham's bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried. In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried out and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.' But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, so that those who wish to come over from here to you will not be able, and that none may cross over from there to us.'

"And he said, 'Then I beg you, father, that you send him to my father's house -- for I have five brothers -- in order that he may warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.' But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.' But he said, 'No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!' But he said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.'" (Luke 16:19-31).

From this story, we learn that Hades is divided into two sections: Torments and a place of comfort called "Abraham's bosom." Other passages call the place of comfort Paradise. As Jesus died on the cross, he told the thief, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43). Yet, Peter quoted the Old Testament to explain that Jesus did not remain in Hades. "For You will not leave my soul in Hades, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption" (Acts 2:27). Therefore, we conclude that Paradise is the region of comfort in Hades.

A great gulf is said to divide the two realms. Once you are in one realm or the other, you cannot change locations.

These places are not the final stop for people but serve only as the place of waiting. Jesus now holds the keys to death and hades (Revelation 1:18). Which means he controls the entrance and exit from Hades. When he returns, he will open up the grave. "Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth -- those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation" (John 5:28-29).

"And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation" (Hebrews 9:26-27).

"And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who "will render to each one according to his deeds": eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness--indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek" (Romans 2:3-10).

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad" (II Corinthians 5:10).

Every person -- good or bad, believer or non-believer -- will appear before God to be judged according to the things he has done while living on this earth. Judgment takes place after death, but it is also referred to it as the day of judgment. It is a single event, and not an ongoing process.

"We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed" (II Thessalonians 1:3-10).

Paul's statement to the Thessalonians establishes that the Day of Judgment comes after Christ's second coming. At that time the faithful will be rewarded and the wicked will be punished.

This then brings up the question: If the good and the bad are already separated between Paradise and Torments, why is there a Judgment Day? Consider that when the police catch a man in process of robbing a store, he is placed in jail until his trial. Even though his guilt is clear, he still faces judgment and sentencing before a judge. It will be similar for us. Where we go will be based on what we have done, but we still will face God in the final Judgment and know that our destiny was just. "Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:11-15).

The basis of the judgment is what we have done while on earth, but God also considers why we did those things. "Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men's hearts; and then each man's praise will come to him from God" (I Corinthians 4:5).

All of us have done things we wish we had not done, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Yet, it is God's desire to rescue people from the sin that they have committed. Jesus died to make the payment for sin and this allows God to justly consider other criteria to decide who will be saved. One requirement is that people give up their sins (repent).

"The person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father's iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son's iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself.

"But if the wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed and observes all My statutes and practices justice and righteousness, he shall surely live; he shall not die. All his transgressions which he has committed will not be remembered against him; because of his righteousness which he has practiced, he will live. "Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked," declares the Lord GOD, "rather than that he should turn from his ways and live?"

"But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity and does according to all the abominations that a wicked man does, will he live? All his righteous deeds which he has done will not be remembered for his treachery which he has committed and his sin which he has committed; for them he will die.

"Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not right.' Hear now, O house of Israel! Is My way not right? Is it not your ways that are not right?

"When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity and dies because of it, for his iniquity which he has committed he will die. Again, when a wicked man turns away from his wickedness which he has committed and practices justice and righteousness, he will save his life. Because he considered and turned away from all his transgressions which he had committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die.

"But the house of Israel says, 'The way of the Lord is not right.' Are My ways not right, O house of Israel? Is it not your ways that are not right?

"Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, each according to his conduct," declares the Lord GOD. "Repent and turn away from all your transgressions, so that iniquity may not become a stumbling block to you. Cast away from you all your transgressions which you have committed and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! For why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies," declares the Lord GOD. "Therefore, repent and live"" (Ezekiel 18:20-32).

Judgment is not whether the amount of good you did outweighs the evil you did. It is solely based on who you are at the end of your life. But it doesn't mean you can wait to the last second and then "convert." Remember that God also considers your motives. In addition, none of us know when our life will end, so we must always be ready to go. Yet, with such a generous offer to forget all our past, there is no reason to remain in sin.

For how to become a Christian and be saved from your sins, see:

"Relationship" is too broad of a word today. See:

What intimacies are allowed or not allowed to engaged couples?

Regarding calling someone stupid, see:

Did Jesus contradict himself by calling people fools?

Social media, like many things in life, can be used sinfully or for good. It is how it is used, not what it is that makes the difference.

Judgment Day

Jeffrey Hamilton — Sun, 12 Feb 2017 22:29:00 +0000

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/JudgmentDay.mp3

by Alan Feaster