The Purpose of Hell - Romans 9:21-24

    Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory—even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles?
(Romans 9:21-24 ESV)

The Basis for Hell

    But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.
(Acts 5:1-6 ESV)

The Nature of Hell - Matthew 13:47-50

    “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
(Matthew 13:47-50 ESV)

Holiness demands punishment for sin

Pastor Dan Burgoyne of NEO Church here in Cleveland, Ohio has penned an article for the Cleveland Plain Dealer's "Messages of Faith" column. In the article he relates a conversation with a soldier on the realities of heaven and hell. Read it here on his blog and check out NEO's website. The "Messages of Faith" column is usually the home to articles on non-traditional Christian values so, thanks to the Plain Dealer for publishing Burgoyne's piece.