Question: .

Dear Greg,

What is your belief about hell and eternal punishment? Do you feel that all those who do not accept Christ in this life are doomed to eternal death in the lake of fire? In particular, people who have not rejected Christ but have not made a commitment at this time. Have they lost their only chance of salvation?

-Ann

Answer:

Dear Ann,

I believe that there is and will be a judgment, and that all who have ever lived will be judged. I believe that God is holy and just, and that evil is being judged now, has been in the past, and will be judged in the future. No one will "get away" with anything. That is the clear teaching of Scripture.

I believe that the Bible uses the word "hell" as a term to describe eternal separation from God. I do not see any dogmatic and clear teaching of the bible that would enable me to fix the degree of severity of judgment (i.e. how "hot" is hell?). However, it is clear that the separation from God is eternal.

If you are trying to determine if I believe in hell - the answer is "yes" I do - but it may not be your idea of hell. Am I an annihiliationist? (That also may be a question). The answer is "no, I am not."

I do not believe that the hell which is fixed in many Christian's minds by Dante's Inferno is necessarily the Biblical hell. There are several words used for hell - both Hebrew and Greek, which we need to study and understand - when we try to understand the fate of the incorrigibly wicked.

I hope this helps.

In Christ,

Greg Albrecht