Set On Fire By Hell

James 3:4-9 - Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness.

John 8:44 - You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Luke 16:23 - In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.

Genesis 1:26 - Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."

Conclusions:

• Jesus clearly excluded the idea of the universal fatherhood of God
• “You want to carry out your father’s desire” points to determination of will
• The Jews problem was basically spiritual, not intellectual
• Being oriented toward Satan, the Jews were bent on murder and eventually would succeed
• Truth is foreign to Satan and those who are his
• Hades is the place to which the wicked dead go to await the final judgment
• That torment begins in Hades is evident from the plight of the rich man
• The location of Abraham’s side is not specified, but it is separated from Hades by an impassable chasm
• Hades includes the torment that characterizes hell
• Some understand Jesus description of Abraham’s side and Hades in a less literal way
• God speaks as the Creator-King, announcing His crowning work to the members of His heavenly court
• Since man is made in God’s image, every human being is worthy of honor and respect; he is neither to be murdered or cursed
• Image includes such characteristics as righteousness and holiness and knowledge
• Believers are to be conformed to the likeness of Christ and will someday be like Him
• Man is the climax of God’s creative activity, and God has crowned him with glory and honor and made him ruler over the rest of His creation
• Since man was created in the image of the divine King, delegated sovereignty was bestowed on him

Application:

• Do you have spiritual problems?
• Where are you going to spend eternity?
• Are you conformed to the likeness of Christ?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Conclusions derived from NIV Study Bible