Oh that we would be as faithful as Bible people to tell the truth about hell. Consider this excerpt from a sermon by Robert Murray McCheyne in his sermon “Eternal Punishment.”

• Because it is all true. Christ is the faithful and true Witness. Once He said, “If it were not so, I would have told you.” Once He said to Pilate, “Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.”

He Himself is “the truth.” “It is impossible for God to lie.”

When Jesus appeared on earth, He came with love; He came to tell sinners of Hell and of a Saviour to save them from Hell; and how could He keep it back? He saw into Hell, so how could He not speak of it? He was the faithful Witness.

So it was with David, Paul and John. Paul said he had kept nothing back—he had not shunned to declare all the counsel of God. How could he have said that if he had not spoken of Hell as he did?

So must ministers.

Suppose I were never to mention Hell again; would that make it more tolerable? Oh, it is true! It is true! It is true! And we cannot but mention it.

• Because they were so full of love to sinners. They are the best friends who do not flatter us.

You know, beloved, that Christ’s bosom flowed with love. Out of love He had not where to lay His head. Out of love He came to die. Out of love, with tears He said,

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!”—Matt. 23:37.

And with the same breath He said,

“How can ye escape the damnation of hell?”

So it was with Paul:

“Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men.”—2 Cor. 5:11.

Paul could weep over sinners:

“I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.”—Acts 20:31.

• That they might be free from blood-guiltiness. Jesus did not want your blood laid at His door; therefore, He spoke of the “furnace of fire” and of “the worm that dieth not.” He says, ‘How often would I have gathered you, but you would not!’ God would not have blood-guiltiness laid to His charge. He says:

“As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die …?”—Ezek. 33:11.

So it was with David:

“Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God.”—Ps. 51:14.

It was fear of blood-guiltiness that made David speak so plainly.

So it was with Paul. He says,

“Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.”—Acts 20:26.

So it is with ministers. We must acquit our conscience. If you, sinner, go to the judgment seat unpardoned, unsaved, your blood will be on your own head, not on ours.



As I was walking in the fields yesterday, the thought came with overwhelming power into my mind, that every one I preached to will soon be sent either to Heaven or Hell. Therefore, brethren, I must warn you, I must tell you about Hell.

 Robert Murray McCheyne, “Eternal Punishment,” in Great Preaching On: Hell, Great Preaching Series (Sword of the Lord Publishers, 1989), 51–52.