What listeners say...
I have found your verse-by-verse teachings on iTunes, and have started listening to The Book of Ruth. The teachings by Tonya and Stephen are…incredible! Thank you so much for this ministry.
- Joelle
When Jesus died, where did His spirit go?
- VBVM Staff - July 14, 2009
When Jesus died on the cross, where did His Spirit go? Some say He descended into Hell, but that can't be. He went into the Lake of Fire, right? - P.W.
Regarding the death of Christ, scripture teaches that Jesus visited Hell and preached to the spirits now in prison (1Pet 3:19). Jesus descended into the earth and led free captives after his crucifixion (Eph 4:8-10).
As you say, Hell is not the Lake of Fire. It is a place the Old Testament calls Sheol. There are many references to this place in the Old Testaments, including Num 16:33, 1Sam 2:6. This place is described in greater detail by Jesus in Luke 16 in the story of Lazarus and the rich man. For a complete teaching on this lesson, please listen to Luke 16B available on our website or in iTunes. In addition, I recommend you listen to Revelation Lessons 25A & 25B for a complete explanation of the differences between Hell and the Lake of Fire. These teachings are also available on the website and iTunes.
Regarding the "age of accountability," your are correct to note that such a concept is not found in scripture. More importantly, it is unbiblical since it proposes a concept that runs against the teachings of scripture. As you noted from our 1Corinthians class, the Bible teaches clearly that all men are born sinful. In Psalm 51:5, David declared that he was "conceived in sin" and "brought forth in iniquity." Paul says all men have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God in Romans 3:23.
We can make no exception for a person of any age, because our culpability for sin is not a contingent on reaching a certain age or intellect or on having the ability or opportunity to know and accept the gospel. Sin is a part of the nature of every person from the moment that life begins, therefore, there is never a time in the life of a natural man where he can stand before God without condemnation except by faith in Christ. Only faith in Jesus can save men from the penalty of sin, which is eternal death.