I would disagree here. Paul stated in 1 Timothy 1:15, "It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all." Jesus came into the world to save us from both the power and penalty of sin.
In Romans 12:1 we have this passage by Paul, I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
In my mind there is an imaginary line splitting Romans 11:36 and Romans 12:1. For eleven chapters he gives us the closest thing we have to a systematic theology. He probes the mysteries of the Gospel and shows us how God saved us from the power and penalty of sin. He transitions with a simple phrase, "I beseech you therefore." To some bible students it will be cliche, but when you see the word therefore you need to stop and ask what it is there for. It is a term that means 'consequently'. Therefore (Gk. oun) is an inferential participle that gathers up all the great argument of chapters 1-11 and places it before us.
Understanding Hell is to understand that human beings are at risk of being eternally cut-off from the goodness of God and subject to His wrath laid up first for the Devil and his angels. To be saved from such a state, upon open and sincere reflection, ought to cause us to thankfully love Christ in such a way that we would present our bodies to Him as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto Him. I suggest, that because so few people really reflect on this fact, and allow the full gravity of what Christ has done to impact their hearts and minds; they don't see the wisdom of offering themselves to God an a Romans 12:1 sense. Evangelism has to begin in this passage. To give our lives utterly to Christ is the only thing that makes sense after one truly reckons with what He has done for us.
Secondly Paul said, Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. (2 Cor. 5:11)
It is because we understand what is at stake that we recognize the urgency of the hour. The Gospel is about man's opportunity to turn away from the path to Hell that they are on and to be saved from it. Man can be reconciled to God and made fit for the world to come. We praise God because He has made provision for us when we were not worthy; in fact, when we were enemies of God He still died for us. This is a cause of rejoicing! I mean, if we truly believe that we were headed for a Devil's Hell, and we allow that reality to influence our minds, then it would utterly change our thinking.
The trouble today is that men don't want to remember. They want to forget. Out-of-sight, out-of-mind. They want to accept forgivness and then wipe their mouth as if they have done no evil and owe God nothing in return for His provision. But when Peter and Paul had a revelation of how low they were, Paul said, "I am chief among sinners!" Peter was utterly vexed for his denial of Christ and would not even say He loved (agape) Christ anymore, but rather loved (phileo) Him. These men had seen the hand of God's judgment stayed upon their lives in the same way Israel remembered how the destroying angel's hand was stayed over the threshing floor of Arnon. God could have wiped Israel out, but He did not. and it was on that very spot that the Temple of Solomon was built. It was here that the people could come and bring their sacrifice to God remembering how God had showed them mercy.
Until we understand that the hand of God was stayed over our lives we will not offer ourselves to Him. How can we know this and 'feel' this reality if we refuse to humble ourselves and ponder what we deserved and what was in store for us without God's intervention? We had chosen to follow sin and satan to their destination. We were slaves to the thing we gave ourselves to. God intervened. He set our feet on a different path.
Jesus said it plainly, Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. (Luke 7:47)
Love is proportional to our recognition of what we deserved. Seated in Heavenly Places we ought to praise God for all eternity with this same fervor. What does it say of us in these few years upon the earth that we would be tired of talking about Hell and how God saved us from it? Nay verily.
And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; (Revelation 5:9)
I don't want to forget lest I bestow the love that He deserves upon something that deserves it not. I want to remember that He saved me. I need to remember that He saved me. I need to keep eternity before my eyes that I might not lose heart and zeal to warn them that are unruly. It may be out-of-vogue, but God has still commanded all men everywhere to repent. Why? Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. (Acts 17:31)
No matter how we look at it, the wages of sin is still death. The penalty for rebellion is still separation from God's goodness and mercy. People may get tired of hearing it, but if they were thinking aright, I suggest it would be a means of deep praise to God! We ought to praise God every time we hear of such a place, where men and women are in torments this very hour, that He has saved us from there. Only the Devil would have us leave off the subject. Why? So we would forget and give the love that belongs rightfully to God to a wretched Devil or pleasure that will lead us to damnation in the end. Just my thoughts on it.
