On Christianity, hell, repentance, righteousness, and self-control

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The following passage gives some insight into the difference in the beliefs of the Sadducees and Pharisees, in the times of Jesus.

Acts 23:8 For Sadducees say that there is no resurrection—and no angel or spirit; but the Pharisees confess both.

According to Josephus, the Sadducees believed that the soul was not immortal and that there was no afterlife. The Pharisees believed the soul was immortal and there was an afterlife. Thus we see that not all Jews believed in the immortality of the soul and an afterlife at the time of Jesus. However, John the Baptist came preaching a message of repentance from sin and one of punishment in hell for the sinner in an afterlife. This represented a strong, definite stand on this subject. Jesus, who came presenting himself as God himself, came preaching the same message as John.

The Old Testament of the Bible does not contain much about hell and is quite silent and nebulous about the afterlife. This is why different Jewish sects could be of such sharply different opinions. However, Jesus talked a lot about hell and was very graphic. For example,

Mat 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in

the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye

together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn

them: but gather the wheat into my barn. {38} The field is the

world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the

tares are the children of the wicked one; {39} The enemy that

sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world;

and the reapers are the angels. {40} As therefore the tares are

gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of

this world. {41} The Son of man shall send forth his angels,

and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that

offend, and them which do iniquity; {42} And shall cast them

into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of

teeth.

Mat 13:47-50 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet

that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind,

which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down

and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. So

it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth,

separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into

the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of

teeth.”

The following definition of repentance is from Wikipedia:

Repentance. The doctrine of repentance as taught in the Bible is a call to persons to make a radical turn from one way of life to another. The repentance (metanoia) called for throughout the Bible is a summons to a personal, absolute and ultimate unconditional surrender to God as Sovereign. Though it includes sorrow and regret, it is more than that. It is a call to conversion from self-love, self-trust, and self-assertion to obedient trust and self-commitment to God. It is a change of mind that involves a conscious turning away from wrong actions, attitudes and thoughts that conflict with a Godly lifestyle and biblical commands, and an intentional turning toward doing that which the Bible says pleases God. In repenting, one makes a complete change of direction (180° turn) toward God. The words "repent," "repentance," and "repented" are mentioned over 100 times in the Bible.

Repentance typically requires an admission of guilt for committing a wrong or for omitting to do the right thing; a promise or resolve not to repeat the offense; an attempt to make restitution for the wrong, or in some way to reverse the harmful effects of the wrong or the omission where possible.

I now call attention to the following passage:

Acts 24:24 And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. 25 Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.”

Paul had been talking to Felix about Jesus Christ and what he taught, about becoming a Christian, which got Felix thinking about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come. I now call attention to the words “righteousness” and “self-control” and make the following point: Righteousness and self-control are closely linked and are two central aspects of Christianity.

Righteousness. The quality of being morally right or justifiable.

Syn. goodness, virtue, virtuousness, uprightness, decency, integrity, worthiness, rectitude, probity, morality, ethicalness, high-mindedness, justice, honesty, honor, honorableness, innocence, blamelessness, guiltlessness, irreproachability, sinlessness, saintliness, purity, nobility, noble-mindedness, piety, piousness

Self-control. The act, power, or habit of having one’s faculties or energies under the control of the will.

Syn. self-discipline, self-restraint, restraint, control, self-mastery, self-possession, will power, strength of will, composure, coolness; moderation, temperateness, temperance, abstemiousness, abstention, nonindulgence

See Self-discipline

Aug 2019