Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.
- Ephesians 5:6
On the wicked he will rain
fiery coals and burning sulfur;
a scorching wind will be their lot.
- Psalm 11:6
For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”
- Galatians 3:10
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
- Matthew 25:41
The Larger Catechism has nine points for this question and biblical proofs for each point. I will only provide the biblical references so that you can look them up at your leisure.
1. James 2:10, 11.
2. Mal. 1:14.
3. Deut. 32:6.
4. Hab. 1:13; I Peter 1:15, 16; Lev. 11:45.
5. I John 3:4; Rom. 7:12.
6. Gal. 3:10; Eph. 5:6.
7. Deut. 28:15; Prov. 13:21.
8. Matt. 25:41; Rom. 6:21, 23.
9. Heb. 9:22; I John 1:7; I Peter 1:18, 19.
“Q. 67. What does every sin deserve?
“A. Every sin deserves God’s wrath and curse, both in this life and that which is to come (Eph. 5:6, Ps. 11:6.”
- Charles H. Spurgeon, Spurgeon’s Catechism (Scripture proofs in bold above)
“Q. 84. What doth every sin deserve?
“A. Every sin deserveth God’s wrath and curse, both in this life and that which is to come.”
- The Shorter Catechism (Westminster Assembly)
“Q. 152. What doth every sin deserve at the hands of God?
“A. Every sin, even the least, being against the sovereignty, goodness, and holiness of God, and against his righteous law, deserveth his wrath and curse, both in this life, and that which is to come; and cannot be expiated but by the blood of Christ.”
- The Larger Catechism (Westminster Assembly)
The Spurgeon Catechism and the Shorter Catechism are the same essentially, but none of their biblical proofs are the same. The Larger Catechism is wordier. The Larger Catechism adds nine points, each with their own biblical proofs that are listed for extra research, if you desire. The Larger shares one biblical proof with the Spurgeon Catechism and both biblical proofs with the Shorter Catechism.
The push these days among pastors and evangelists is that “one sin” does not send you to hell. What sends you to hell is a wrong relationship with Jesus Christ. I heard those words from Tim Keller when asked in front of a large audience if homosexuality would send you to hell.
But, there are aspects of homosexuality that are contrary to God’s natural order and it is a sin, the act and the desire. Still, we are not washed in the blood of Christ without a proper relationship with Jesus. Thus, the Larger Catechism has the complete answer in this case.
Just as one small dash of yeast spreads throughout the batch of dough, one sin is all that it takes to contaminate us. While the Jews of Jesus’ time made a lot of unleavened bread, that concept of yeast being a contaminant makes sense. I worked in the nuclear industry. If you had something, say a screwdriver or a bulldozer. If there was a small speck of nuclear contamination that could not be washed from the surface, the entire thing was contaminated. It had to be disposed of properly. Where I worked, with a solid object of that type, the screwdriver would be placed and sealed in a plastic bag. The plastic bag would then be placed in a cardboard box with a lot of similarly contaminated objects, and then the box sealed in plastic. Then a number of those boxes would be placed in a large steel box. When full, the steel box would be welded shut, and buried on a concrete lined burial ground. There might be a contaminated bulldozer parked next to the steel box. Then, when this burial ground was filled, concrete would be poured over the top, and then several feet of soil on top of that. And to think, none of the stuff was high in nuclear contamination, barely more than normal background radiation. You would get more radiation sitting in the sunlight for a couple of hours or eating a bunch of bananas or a plate full of broccoli. Bananas and broccoli are high in potassium, which we need in our bodies, and some of that naturally occurring potassium is radioactive. That is why nuclear contamination is considered “above natural background” radiation.
So, there are many ways of explaining how one sin contaminates us, but one sin illustrates that we have something wrong within us. We rebel against God. We think we are in charge, even for just a moment, and we do something wrong. We do not need to get legalistic about it. When we love Jesus with all our heart, mind, and soul, we will still lapse. But when we have that right relationship with Jesus, the Holy Spirit’s voice can get louder than a whisper at times. I cannot think of how many times I have heard in my head, “Do you really want to do that? You have been doing so well, up to now.”
The point is, when you hear that voice, does it cause you to back away? And when you back away often enough, how seldom do those urges become? They may still be there, but God’s Will and being more like Jesus is your desire and motivation. The things of this world become less important, along with the sin involved in those things.
One sin is all it takes, but no particular sin sends you to hell, unless we are talking about blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, that person that hears the voice in their head and says, “I am going my own way, and I will never listen to you ever again.” And God replies, “Okay, have it your way.” And in a way, that is what hell is, the absence of God.
And now let us sing.
The following song is Hell or High Water, sung by the Slays. Hell is in the chorus and title, but we should place our focus on who God is. He is in control. We must follow him … come Hell or High Water.
“You never change
You stay the same
My Rock
You’re everything I’ll ever need
[Verse 2]
You’re ever near
So present here
My Help
You’re everything I’ll ever need
[Pre-Chorus]
Jesus, You’re greater than my fear
[Chorus]
So come hell or high water
You’re still on the throne
You are faithful and able
You’re in control
There’s no question about it
You’re King over all
I know who You are!
[Verse 3]
You’ll be my strength
You’ll be my peace
My God
Forever You’ll be strong in me
[Chorus]
So come hell or high water
You’re still on the throne
You are faithful and able
You’re in control
There’s no question about it
You’re King over all
I know who You are!
So come hell or high water
You’re still on the throne
You are faithful and able
You’re in control
There’s no question about it
You’re King over all
I know who You are!
[Bridge]
Steady, Constant (I have this confidence)
Mercy, Goodness (I have this confidence)
Awesome, Mighty (I have this confidence)
I know who You are!
Defender, Healer, You are my confidence
Protector, Shepherd, You are my confidence
Jesus, Savior, You are my confidence
I know who You are!
I know who You are!
[Chorus]
So come hell or high water
You’re still on the throne
You are faithful and able
You’re in control
There’s no question about it
You’re King over all
I know who You are!
So come hell or high water
You’re still on the throne
You are faithful and able
You’re in control
There’s no question about it
You’re King over all
I know who You are!
I know who You are!
I know who You are!”
- People and Songs, Hell or High Water
People and Songs is comprised of Wesley Nilsen, Steven Musso, Ryan Kennedy (Christian), Melanie Tierce, May Angeles, Mary Grace Batson, Kaleb Frazier, Kaden Slay, Joshua Sherman, Jennie Lee Riddle, Daniel Riddle, Charity Gayle, Ben Gazdik & Andrew Riddle. Somewhere within that group is the original writers of the song.
Closing Prayer
Dear Lord,
You are all we need. Yes, we sin. But Your blood on the cross paid the horrible price for that. We cannot wash ourselves clean. We must lay our lives before the cross and follow You. Thank You for enduring that price to save us. You loved us while we were still sinners, and You stay by our side. The least we can do is try, with Your strength inside us, to be more like You each day.
In thy Name we pray.
Amen
Soli Deo Gloria. Only to God be the Glory.
Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley 
Leave a comment