Strengthening Against Hell || What the…? || Part 5

Welcome back to the “What the…?” Bible study, a series designed to investigate the different and often misunderstood concepts of HellHell. Using the Old and New Testaments, we dive into three journeys to examine Sheol, Hades, and Gehenna (different descriptors of Hell) to see if what the Bible says and what we’re taught align.

Today, we’re continuing our study of Hades. We learned that the biblical understanding of Hades is a middle state between Heaven and Hell, where the dead spirits enter and remain until the final judgment. Using the Parable of Rich Man and Lazarus as our foundation, a story where a rich man and a beggar named Lazarus both die, and their fates in the afterlife are revealed, we walked away believing that Hades is a place of remorse. It’s a place of pressure that forces all spirits to reflect on the wrongs and sins they committed.

We’re moving to Matthew 16:18 today to discuss how Hades is a hostile place that can’t take down the church.

Matthew 16:18

AMP	NLT	VOICE
18 And I say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades (death) will not overpower it [by preventing the resurrection of the Christ].	18 Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of Hell will not conquer it.	18 This is why I have called you Peter (rock): for on this rock I will build My church. The church will reign triumphant even at the gates of Hell.

The rock that Jesus would build his church has been shown:

• Jesus and the work of salvation from his death on the cross
• Peter was the first great leader in the church in Jerusalem.
• The confession of faith that Peter and all believers would give.

The rock refers to Peter as the leader of the Church. Peter would remind Christ that they are the church built on the teachings of the apostles and prophets, with Jesus as the cornerstone. All believers join this church because they believe in Jesus as their Savior. This cornerstone is the defensive protection that protects us from the effects of Hades. As we saw in Part 3, the avoidance of Sheol is shown through the commitment to our relationship with God. When believers submit their lives to the church community, they find refuge and protection from pressured repentance and reflection, emphasizing the importance of community support.

John 1:42

AMP	NLT	VOICE
42 And brought Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas (which is translated Peter).”	42 Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, “Your name is Simon, son of John – but you will be called Cephas” (which means “Peter”).	42 As Andrew approached with Simon, Jesus looked into him. Jesus: Your name is Simon, and your father is called John. But from this day forward you will be known as Peter, the rock.

Jesus saw Simon as who he was and what we would become. He gave him a new name, Cephas in Aramaic and Peter in Greek. Peter isn’t presented as rock-solid through the Gospels, but we learn that at the beginning of Acts, he would be a rock-solid leader in the early days of the church. Sometimes, the rock must be battered and bruised to show its true strength. Peter went through a roller-coaster of emotions and experiences during his ministry with Jesus. Yet, at the end of the day, Peter would become an early leader in the church. Leaders in the church aren’t perfect, nor should they be. God used many persons who struggled to live a righteous life to progress his will of the kingdom. Jesus came to show us what that proper life was like, and we still get it wrong. Yet, the transformation and repentance shown by the church leaders provide a genuine and authentic idea of what it means to follow God. This solidifies the church’s stance and role and where some churches can still get it wrong.

Ephesians 2:20-22

AMP	NLT	VOICE
20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the [chief] Cornerstone.	20 Together, we are his house, build on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself.	20 You are being built on a solid foundation: the message of prophets and the voices of God’s chosen emissaries with Jesus, the Anointed himself, the precious cornerstone.
21 in whom the whole structure is joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord.	21 We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord.	21 The building is joined together stone by stone – all of us chosen and sealed in Him, rising up to become a holy temple in the Lord.
22 In Him [and in fellowship with one another] you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.	22 Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.	22 In Him you are being built together, creating a sacred dwelling place among you where God can live in the Spirit.

What does building on the foundation of the apostles and prophets mean? It means that the church isn’t built solely on the world we’re in today. It’s built on the spiritual heritage given to us by the early apostles and prophets of the faith. Their knowledge of God, the events of the Old Testament, their experience with the risen Christ, and their clear recollection of Jesus’ teaching ensured that Jesus would be the cornerstone for eternity. The struggle we face today is attempting to understand their foundation. Learning from their spiritual history isn’t saying we take what they say word for word. Still, we need to understand teachings and concepts and attempt to adapt those same teachings and concepts to the world today. We must remember that we are not in their culture. We are the Gentile audience the Bible is preaching to, so we must learn the teachings of Jesus, understand the history of how they got there, and learn how to live a life accordingly.

Ephesians 4:15-16

AMP	NLT	VOICE
15 But speaking the truth in love [in all things – both our speech and our lives expressing His truth], let us grow up in all things into Him [following His example] who is the Head – Christ.	15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.	15 Instead, by truth spoken in love, we are to grow in every way into Him – the Anointed One, the head.
16 From Him the whole body [the church, in all its various parts], joined and knitted firmly together by what every joint supplies, which each part is working properly, causes the body to grow and mature, building itself up in [unselfish] love.	16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.	16 He joins and holds together the whole body with its ligaments providing the support needed so each part works to its proper design to form a healthy, growing, and mature body that builds itself up in love.

Some Christians don’t grow to be like Christ because they fear that any mistake or sin will destroy their witness for the Lord; they see their weaknesses and realize that many unbelievers seem stronger than they are. They won’t grow on their own and don’t make progress themselves. This is one of the reasons Jesus made the church, so we can help each other. The church coming together to see each other grow in relationship with Christ is the goal of the church. When we strengthen each other through the church’s cornerstone, we become further protected from the place of Hades. The closer we are to Christ, the further the risk is from being sent to HellHell.

When we join Christ, he forms us into a group united in purpose and love for one another and God. If one stumbles, we pick them up and help them walk with God again. One can find restoration through the church if one sins as the group speaks God’s truth. Find a church that accepts you as you are but also commits to helping you grow in love for God and others and to help you mature in your faith to become a more powerful witness in Christ. The forces and strength of the church increase with the more people involved and the more compassion and community that grows within it. The church can be a great place as long as it’s healthy, with the will of God as the foundation for the mission and ministry of the church.

Paul says this starts with the ability to “speak the truth in love.” Some are good at speaking the truth but forget the love part. Some are good at loving but have difficulty being honest with others when the truth is painful. When we need to speak the truth, we must do so in a loving manner. Think of the trouble we’d be spared if we followed this practice. Don’t gossip about a problem with others when you have a problem with someone. This is a real struggle. Often, the person we have a problem with is the last person we’d want to speak with, but true reconciliation is found here. Jesus even offers strategies for doing with, especially among believers. It leads back to the place of strength among believers. The church’s strength overcomes the invasion of the evil spirits trying to invade the church and destroy it.

1 Peter 2:4-5

AMP	NLT	VOICE
4 Come to Him [the risen Lord] as to a living Stone which men rejected and threw away, but which is choice and precious in the sight of God.	4 You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor.	4 Come to Him – the living stone – who was rejected by people but accepted by God as chosen and precious.
5 You [believers], like living stones, are being built up into a spiritual house for a holy and dedicated priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices [that are] acceptable	5 And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices.	5 Like living stones, let yourselves be assembled into a spiritual house, a holy order of priests who offer up spiritual sacrifices that will be acceptable to God through Jesus the Anointed.

There are spiritual sacrifices that we must offer. When sacrificing an animal according to God’s law, a priest would kill the animal, cut it in pieces, and place it on the altar. Sacrifices were necessary, but even in the Old Testament, God made it clear that obedience from the heart was more important than the sacrifices themselves. God wants us to offer ourselves as living and spiritual sacrifices – daily laying aside our desires, following him, putting all our energy and resources at his disposal, and trusting him to guide us. We do this by giving our bodies and wills to God’s control, offering our love to God and others, giving money to help in ministry, and offering praise to God.

Avoiding Hades is a place where the church comes together. There’s strength to help lift someone up when we all unite and work towards God’s will as a community. This work can sacrifice our resources and emotions. Still, God’s will replenishes these things and strengthens the barrier between Hell and Heaven. In the next part, we’ll head to Revelation to talk about how Hades is a place where the dead are released and cast into the like of fire.