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I BELIEVE "in the Descent into Hell" - January 24, 2016 - Sr. Pastor Scott Christenson

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St. Paul's Lutheran Church Orange, CA

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well as I said We are continuing our sermon series today that we started a few weeks ago on the who's Creed we're looking at these teachings that are at the heart and center of the Christian faith with what Christians of all denominations and of all times and places I've always believed Ender this morning we've come to what is probably one of the most interesting and most controversial part of the Apostles Creed today's message you see is titled I Believe In The Descent into hell that's what the Apostles Creed says about Jesus he was crucified died and was buried and then before his resurrection he descended into hell event believe has been called by many one of the most difficult believes in the entire Christian faith like I once heard a true story about a Christian college that was doing a sermon series in their Chapel Services a lot like this one they were walking through the apostles can you turn a phrase by phrase like we are and And yet when they came to the descent into hell you know what they did they skipped it and you know why they skipped it they said because they could not find a theology professor at their school who actually believed in the descent into hell I want to tell you this morning I do believe in it I don't want to show you today why it's vitally important that you in Jesus descent into hell also the first question you might ask is where does that believe even come from Ryan the answer is is primarily based on a couple of verses from the third chapter of 1st Peter which you heard rad just a few moments ago and 1st Peter 3 starting at the end of Verse 18 it says this about Jesus he was put to death in the body but Made Alive by the spirit through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobey long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built  mouth What on earth does that mean let's take it phrase by Fray right first he was put to death in the body that Parts fairly easy right that's obviously a reference to Jesus crucifixion where he right on the cross to pay for our sins  when it says but Made Alive by the spirit  and you might think that's a reference to his bodily Resurrection but we know it isn't actually because of what it says next next it says true also he went and preached to the spirits and notice that it says Spirits right not bodies  so in other words whatever this is talking about it's talking about something that happened in the afterlife where our bodies and our rear its are separated not something here and now it's talking about something that Jesus did after he put on the cross but before his bodily Resurrection  now we get even more information than that though it's it's not just the roll afterlife it says he preached to the spirits in prison  know what kind of people prison people who are being punished right so this is how that Peter's talking about snot heaven  in fact just sure that we get it it says he preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built know why are the people of the day of Noah being singled out here what is a good reason for that the people in Noah's day were some of the most wicked and Godless people who ever walked the you heard these words read earlier today from Genesis 6 about the people in Noah's day it says the Lord saw how great Dan's wickedness on the earth had become and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only Evil all the time  the Lord was can you made man on the earth and his heart was filled with pain  so what's the bottom line here what Peter is when is this that song time after Jesus death on the cross on Good Friday but before his bodily Resurrection on Sunday this made a visit to hell  or just the way the Creed says it he descended into hell here's the big question why why did Jesus descend into hell  and that question has been the have a lot of debate over the centuries and so before I tell you why Jesus did descend into hell I want to First clarify why he didn't because how people get this rock a lot of people wrongly picture it this way that that Jesus died on the cross on Friday afternoon and that all of that time between then and Easter morning he was in Hell being tortured by Satan that we know is not true and here's why one of the very last things that Jesus says right he dies on the cross is recorded in John 19:30 it's just one word in Greek 3 in English it is finish what is that mean it means that the work he came to Earth to do was now completed are the payment for our sins was made in full and his suffering was now over forever do you think that Jesus went to hell to suffer don't understand that when Jesus said it is finished he had already suffered the pain of hell so you going to ask yourself what is it exactly that makes hell hell it's not flames and physical torture those are just human images that the Bible has given us to try and understand how bad how is but the truth is the hell is much worse than flames and torture what makes hell hell is that we are separated from the grace of God we are left to fend for ourselves  and see what we have to understand is that by time Jesus died on the cross that had already happened to him it happened a little earlier when he cried out from the cross these words my God my God why have you forsaken me  and you remember how God the Father answer that question he didn't  you said nothing  let's think about that Jesus turn it out in agony pleading with God the Father to help him and God the father said nothing  God the Father did nothing to help him  that I would suggest you is hell never happened before in all of eternity and it will never happen again thank God  flames and physical torture would be piece of cake for Jesus compared to that but he willingly endured that hell for us so that we would never have to  so clearly Jesus did not descend into hell to suffer his suffering was over the moment that he died  so why did he just send it to hell then what what is First Peter say it doesn't say he descended into hell to suffer it says he descended into hell in order to preach  Jesus went there to deliver a sermon apparently  which raises an absolutely fascinating question what kind of sermon would Jesus preach in many people believe that when she it what Jesus preached was essentially a taunting sermon you know that he essentially went there and said I'd beat you guys  really a lot of people believe this and they based that believe I think on where's that we actually read recently from Colossians 2 of the verses of this that having disarmed the powers and authorities he may a public spectacle of them triumphing over them by the cross  but there's a problem with that do you in my opinion it's not talking about the descent into hell at all and here's another problem stop view ask yourself does that sound like something Jesus would do or say  Jiffy Lube soften talk about something called the analogy of Faith or sometimes it's called the rule of faith and what they mean by that is this that that whenever we in the Bible we should ask ourselves does that fit with everything else that we know about God that's the analogy or the rule of faith if there's something that we don't understand and we're trying to figure out the answer to it we should ask are softer are proposed answer whatever it is fit with what we know for sure  because it doesn't seem to it's kind of like that picture it's probably because it's wrong  no just seems to me that a taunting just does not fit with what we know for sure about him think about what Jesus said in that other reading for play a from Matthew 23 said these words Old Jerusalem Jerusalem you who killed the prophets and Stone Those sent to you how often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings but you were not willing Jesus we know not a Jesus who talks Sinners but a Jesus who loves even the worst of sinners  a Jesus never gives up on Sinners a Jesus please with Sinners to come back to him and who is absolutely grieved when they don't go to me when you know that Jesus there's only one Sherman that really makes sense Jesus to preach when he descends into hell  it's summer you're going to think I'm a heretic when I say this but please listen for filet to everything that I'm saying today I don't want to be misunderstood  what sermon did he preach in hell Jesus preached the same sermon Jesus always preached  he preached the gospel I believe Jesus descended into hell to preach to everyone in prison there and say to them come with me I've won the victory for you too smell why do I believe that the first because it's the only thing that really fits the how old you of Faith to me but also because there's actually another verse in the New Testament that appears to say this same this very thing and it's in 1st Peter for just a few verses after those verses about the descent into hell Peter also says this he says for this is the reason the gospel preached even to those who are now dead  and you know what's fascinating about that verse is that the word now there is actually not in the original Greek text of the New Testament literally that verse should be translated the gospel was preached even to those who are dead  and I believe that's talking about the descent into hell now that may sound like heresy to some of you you may even remember that well-known Pastor named Rob Bell got into trouble a few years ago saying who's that kind of sounded like that and I don't agree with Rob Bell so I want to make sure you understand the difference between what I'm saying today and what he has said I in this book love wins Rob Bell says this take a look he says at the center of the Christian tradition since the first search have been a number who insist that history is not tragic hell is not forever and love in the end wins and will be reconciled to God I'm basically what he's teaching there is a belief called Universal is that's the belief that in the end everyone who has ever lived will be saved I want to be absolutely where today I don't believe that because I don't believe the Bible teaches that at all  the problem with abele's teaching is that he's confusing God's offer of Grace with human beings response to God's so let me just give me an example and in another place in his book Rob Bell comments on this verse up from Zephaniah 3 Zephyr that says God will take great Delight in you in his love he will no longer rebuke you but will rejoice over you who is singing  I'm here is Rob Bell's commentary on that verse this what he says he says no matter how painful brutal oppressive no matter how far people find themselves from home because of sin indifference and rejection there's always the assurance that it won't be that way forever  you see what I mean I hope about confusing Gods offer Grace human beans response to Grace that verse in Zephaniah only talks about God's offering Grace to people God will take Delight in you and is life you'll no longer rebuke you but Bella takes that as a surance that everyone there for will respond to that Grace and be next  Zephaniah never said that  he's talking about God's offer Grace not our response to it I'm here's why all of this matters there's no indication whatsoever in the Bible that anyone responded to Jesus preaching the gospel in hell  there's not a single verse anywhere in all the scriptures that says anyone inhale repented and trusted in Jesus and got out of hell as a result of his sermon  that's how hard people in hell are even when Jesus himself makes a personal appearance and offers Grace they won't turn to him but she the lesson for you and for me is not in their response put in the offer itself  should the real question is what does it mean for you personally if Jesus really did descend into hell off and preach the gospel and here's what it means  it means that therefore there is nowhere that you can go  notion you could ever commit no failure so big that it would put you out add of God's offer of love and forgiveness and Grace  because Jesus descended into hell and that means that he will descend into your hell you're hell of marital failure you're hell of addiction your Hal of pride and arrogance you're hell of hopelessness and despair you're hell of men goal missed the hell of your dysfunctional family whatever hell you experience in your Earthly life Jesus Will descend Eva and say to you come with me let me offer you hope gingersnap The Descent into hell is not bad news it's great news Jesus did not say Old Jerusalem Jerusalem how often I have longed to gather your children together but I don't really feel like that anymore that's not the Jesus we know  he still walks together them together even if and he still longs to gather you together too  the lesson of The Descent how is this that there is no place we can go no ducks we could ever sync 2  no suffering that we would ever into her  without even there  Christ will be Lord for us and that my friends is very very good news that's what I believe and that I hope what you believe let's bow our heads and pray  allergy Your Grace is just so amazing we cannot even begin to fathom how wide and long and high and deep Your Love Lord help us to take these words to heart so that we can respond to your offer Grace to us and faith in and help us to be radically gracious to others just like you we ask it in your name

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I BELIEVE "in the Descent into Hell" - January 24, 2016 - Sr. Pastor Scott Christenson

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