Some of you may know that I blog for books. It connects me with books and authors I might not otherwise read. In the case of David Rudel's book Who Really Goes to Hell, I received two copies. I passed one on to my good friend Bryon. What follows are his very astute observations.
The following is my review of Who Really Goes to Hell? by David Rudel. I’ll say up front that I did enjoy the challenge of a different perspective on this subject. This book definitely made me open my Bible and ponder some serious questions. However, although the underlying question of “Who really goes to hell?” is a good one, and worthy of discussion, I believe Rudel’s reasoning is erroneous and I warn those who desire to read this book to read it with caution.
At the core of Rudel’s message is a system of works. He interprets the emphasis of what Jesus did as having an effect in this life only, breaking the shackels of slavery to sin off of the believer by taking away the dominating power of sin. He presents the work of God in Christ as something that makes a believer stronger and more able to combat sin in this life, but not sufficient to rescue the believer from hell. Being rescued from hell, according to Rudel, is based upon obedience to Jesus’ commands. He states that a person who believes that Jesus is the Christ, who repents and who even receives the Holy Spirit, can lose their inheritance in God through disobedience.
I am not at all diminishing the importance of obedience, for I wholeheartedly believe that if a believer loves Jesus, then that believer will obey his commands (John 14:15). But I also believe 2 Corinthians 5:21, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” The question to me is, did Jesus pay for our sins or not? If indeed Jesus was made sin for us, was crucified and died, and was raised by God as victorious over sin, then what charge is against the believer who places their faith in that work? The sin is gone, paid for, and separated from the believer as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12). And if that sin is gone, than I am saved from eternal damnation as much or more as I am saved from sin’s power in this temporary life.
I in no way mean to be disrespectful to Rudel, but I believe false teaching should be called as such. In my opinion, Rudel did not back up his presentation with correct interpretation of scripture. I believe Rudel’s reasoning is erroneous because it diminishes Christ and what he accomplished. It strips God of the power to save his children from his own judgement and places that power in the will of human beings. That should make any honest person very uncomfortable. I agree with the Apostle Paul when he says “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:24-25a) If Christ cannot save me from eternal damnation, then I am doomed. I am thankful to God that Rudel’s interpretation is wrong.
The following is my review of Who Really Goes to Hell? by David Rudel. I’ll say up front that I did enjoy the challenge of a different perspective on this subject. This book definitely made me open my Bible and ponder some serious questions. However, although the underlying question of “Who really goes to hell?” is a good one, and worthy of discussion, I believe Rudel’s reasoning is erroneous and I warn those who desire to read this book to read it with caution.
At the core of Rudel’s message is a system of works. He interprets the emphasis of what Jesus did as having an effect in this life only, breaking the shackels of slavery to sin off of the believer by taking away the dominating power of sin. He presents the work of God in Christ as something that makes a believer stronger and more able to combat sin in this life, but not sufficient to rescue the believer from hell. Being rescued from hell, according to Rudel, is based upon obedience to Jesus’ commands. He states that a person who believes that Jesus is the Christ, who repents and who even receives the Holy Spirit, can lose their inheritance in God through disobedience.
I am not at all diminishing the importance of obedience, for I wholeheartedly believe that if a believer loves Jesus, then that believer will obey his commands (John 14:15). But I also believe 2 Corinthians 5:21, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” The question to me is, did Jesus pay for our sins or not? If indeed Jesus was made sin for us, was crucified and died, and was raised by God as victorious over sin, then what charge is against the believer who places their faith in that work? The sin is gone, paid for, and separated from the believer as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12). And if that sin is gone, than I am saved from eternal damnation as much or more as I am saved from sin’s power in this temporary life.
I in no way mean to be disrespectful to Rudel, but I believe false teaching should be called as such. In my opinion, Rudel did not back up his presentation with correct interpretation of scripture. I believe Rudel’s reasoning is erroneous because it diminishes Christ and what he accomplished. It strips God of the power to save his children from his own judgement and places that power in the will of human beings. That should make any honest person very uncomfortable. I agree with the Apostle Paul when he says “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:24-25a) If Christ cannot save me from eternal damnation, then I am doomed. I am thankful to God that Rudel’s interpretation is wrong.
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