Unquenchable Fire
- Cornerstone Church
- Apr 25
- 3 min read
Is there a real place called Hell? Is there a lake of fire? I once heard a pastor answer this question by saying he did not know if there was a literal lake of fire. The person asking the question was relieved. The pastor followed up with, if there is not a literal lake of fire, then whatever is being described is worse. Hell is a very real place, and it is often described as a ‘lake of fire’, ‘unquenchable fire’, ‘torment’, a place of ‘weeping and gnashing of teeth’, and ‘where the worm does not die.’ This is God’s righteous judgment against sin that was originally prepared for the Devil and his angels. Jesus is warning against Hell and falling away, because there is another way, and that is the Big Picture.
Each week, as you take in the Bible, find some friends to talk it out. You can follow this simple guide to help. First, R.E.A.D. and P.R.A.Y. on your own. Then, meet with friends to share what you've learned.
R - Repeated words
E - Examine and mark
A - Ask what you learn about God
D - Do if there is anything to do
P - Praise
R - Repent
A - Ask
Bible Reading Plan - Week 18
Daily Prayer Plan – Week 18
START IT.
We're reading the Bible together in 2025 to see how Love Shows Up from the Old Testament and into the New Testament. How do we understand so many stories and lessons through the entire Bible while trying to stick to the "sacred timeline"? The answer is the big picture. If we get the big picture, we get the story the Bible is trying to tell. From Sunday's message or The Big Picture Bible Reading Plan this week in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and John, what is impacting you the most? How has praying daily through the Psalms impacted you? Was there a word, phrase, Bible verse, or theme that impacted you?
STUDY IT.
Read Matthew 18:8. Read Mark 9:43, 48. How is punishment for rejecting the kingdom of heaven or leading others away from the kingdom described?
Read Mark 9:42-47. What is Jesus’ point about the dangers of falling away in this passage? What would be better to do than fall away?
Read Matthew 18:15-17. What is the point of exercising church discipline, or what have we ‘won’ according to verse 15? Why would it be important to address sinful behaviors or falling away in light of Matthew 18:6-9?
Read Jude 1:20-23. What are Christians ‘snatching’ our brothers from? Read 2 Thessalonians 1:5-12. What fire and on what day? Read Revelation 20:15.
Read Jude 1:24-25. Who is able to protect you from stumbling and present you without blemish?
SHARE IT.
Read Matthew 18:15-17. What is this passage explaining? How do you typically handle conflict?
Read Hebrews 3:12. What might be tempting you away from the Lord and into sin? What comfort, entertainment, attitude, necessity, or freedom goes along with that temptation that might not be bad in itself?
Read Hebrews 3:13. Who are you encouraging away from sin? Who is encouraging you away from sin?
Read Mark 9:42-47. What was the temptation that you identified above? What drastic measure would you take to remove that temptation?
Read Hebrews 4:14-16. Pray and ask for God’s help in seeing Jesus as better than your temptations. Pray for help in ridding yourself of things that would lead you to be tempted away from God and help in moments of temptation.
FINAL THOUGHT
Jesus asked in the Garden to ‘let this cup pass from me.’ What cup? That cup of God’s wrath against sin. Throughout the Old Testament, the cup of God’s wrath is being stored up against the wicked. In John 12:27, Jesus asks to be saved from the hour, but for this purpose He came. Jesus took the unquenchable fire of God’s wrath so that you do not have to be tossed into the unquenchable lake of fire, but rather worship God forever as a part of His glorious family. The unforgivable sin is blaspheming against the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:31). What has the Holy Spirit come to do? John 15:26, the Holy Spirit testifies to Jesus Christ being the messiah and the only way to God the Father. As Christians, we now encourage one another to not fall away, and preach the good news to others. There is no purgatory. There is no universal salvation. Jesus finished the work of salvation on the cross, and those who believe in Him will be presented by His sustaining power without blemish before the throne of God.
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