Is Hell Real?

Church Questions

by Dane C. Ortlund

Dane Ortlund Explains That Hell Is Indeed Real, but Hope Comes through Jesus Christ

When individuals talk about an afterlife, they often talk about heaven and avoid any mention of hell. The idea of hell is uncomfortable and most people prefer to not discuss it. Given this reality, our society lacks an understanding of what hell is, why it exists, and how people can avoid it.

Pastor Dane Ortlund has written this Church Questions booklet to educate readers on the reality of hell and the hope found in Jesus Christ. Using a variety of biblical passages, Ortlund explains that God is just, righteous, and deals perfectly with humanity. In light of God's holiness and our sin, we fall woefully short of heaven. Humanity deserves hell, but heaven is offered to believers through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Written by Dane Ortlund: Author of Gentle and Lowly (500,000+ copies in print) Useful for Seekers: Accessible for those new to faith or looking to learn more Part of the Church Questions Series: Developed to give biblical insight into common questions

Genres: Theology, Christian

64 pages, Paperback

Published September 20, 2022

About the author

Dane C. Ortlund (PhD, Wheaton College) is chief publishing officer and Bible publisher at Crossway. He serves as an editor for the Knowing the Bible series and the Short Studies in Biblical Theology series, and is the author of several books, including Gentle and Lowly and Edwards on the Christian Life. He is an elder at Naperville Presbyterian Church in Naperville, Illinois. Dane lives with his wife, Stacey, and their five children in Wheaton, Illinois.

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The great surprise of the universe is not that people go to hell, but that people go to heaven.”

Grateful for this series of booklets. Check them out: https://bit.ly/3LBhGyk

[C.J. Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good little book on the doctrine of hell. Ortlund works through his thesis that “hell is needed, awful, close, and deserved by every one of us—but there is a way to avoid going there” (pp. 9-10). He spends the majority of his time on why hell is awful; while not taking a stance on whether descriptions of hell are literal or metaphorical, he holds that the descriptions, either way, are meant to incite fear and turn us to the one who can save. He argues for eternal conscious torment, refreshing to see in a day that people are more prone to lighten the reality of hell (e.g., annihilationism). The book here, and everywhere else, is argued from Scripture, though he really only has time to prooftext in a book of this size.

Those who argue that he didn’t speak enough about the wrath and justice of God in “Gentle and Lowly” should just read this. Ortlund isn’t ashamed to speak on any aspect of God’s character.

And in the end, he still makes sure to turn us to the gentle Christ.

[Dr. David Steele · Rating 5 out of 5]

The doctrine of hell is under attack. Voices that fuel the fire against the doctrine of hell come from philosophers, and university professors, and is tragically opposed by some pastors. Dane Ortund makes a biblical case for the doctrine of eternal punishment in his recent book, Is Hell Real? Ortund’s work is included in Church Questions, a series produced by 9Marks ministries.

Dr. Ortlund summarizes his work at the beginning: “Hell is needed, awful, close, and deserved by everyone - but there is a way to avoid getting there. This fitting summary becomes the basis for the remainder of the book as the author presents his case for the doctrine of hell. The book is clear, compelling, winsome, humble, and most of all - biblical.

Churches would do well to make this book available to people in the pews for instruction and help with evangelism.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title might put you off... But I've found this book strangely appropriate for this Christmas season. Contemplating the doctrine of hell makes me grateful for Jesus's coming, and motivates me to share the gospel with my friends and family members.

[Chloe Lawrence · Rating 3 out of 5]

I agreed with the content, but didn't think the author fully took into account the emotional gravity of this issue. The doctrine of hell is personal, especially to someone who is grieving the unbelief of a loved one. I would have appreciated wading into that sorrow more. I'd say this book is fine as a summary or explainer, but I wouldn't give it to someone who's struggling to come to terms with the doctrine.

[Parker James Lipetska · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pg 43 “The astonishing surprise at the heart of the universe is not that there is only one way to get to heaven. The astonishing surprise is that there is any way to get to heaven for miserable dinners such as us. Hell is avoidable. Praise God.”

[Joshua Biggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

For only 50 pages, this is a great treatment on the doctrine of hell. Perfect for new and old believers, especially for those curious or troubled by Hell.

“The astonishing surprise at the heart of the universe is not that there is only one way to get to Heaven. The astonishing surprise is that there is any way to get to Heaven for miserable sinners such as us.
Hell is avoidable.
Praise God.”

[Luke Rasmussen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hell is real. Hell is horrible. Hell is avoidable. Praise God.

[Selina · Rating 4 out of 5]

“And the real scandal of this universe is not that there is a hell, deserved by all, but that there is a heaven, offered to all”

[Kelton Zacharias · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sobering, but helpful.

“The real scandal of this universe is not that there is a hell, deserved by all, but that there is a heaven, offered to all.”

[Tarrant Moss · Rating 4 out of 5]

The final section (the gospel application) is the best part of the book, in my opinion

[Lian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great for a quick read and a solid reminder that we should be humbled that we even have A WAY OUT of hell; Because of our Lord and Saviour, Christ Jesus ✝️

Would definitely recommend for all- believers or not, and those in between!

[Alex Shepard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful short booklet on the truth about God’s eternal judgement for those outside of Christ. Very readable and sobering.

“The real scandal of the universe is not that there is a hell, deserved by all, but that there is a heaven, offered to all.”

[Kenneth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rather than providing a simple Yes answer that hell is real, Ortlund elaborates what hell is and why hell is necessary--and it is encouraging, good news! This is certainly one of the best-answered questions in the Church Questions series. God knew before creation that every human would be deserving of Hell for willfully rejecting our creator and sinfully desiring to be the gods of our own lives. Knowing our eternal destiny before creation, He also planned before creation that Jesus would be slain to take that punishment. All sin is punished, it is only a matter of if the sinner or if Jesus bears the punishment sin deserves.


"Hell is the affirmation that God is a God of justice, of fairness, of dealing with humans in a way that is right."

"All our bad does not make us harder to save, and all our good does not make us easier to save. What saves is Christ."

Hell is eternal because "The horror of sin, the defiance of self and pride in the face of Beauty himself, can never be fully punished. If we have sinned against an infinitely beautiful God, then that sin can never be fully met. On the other hand, if God's on son, the God-man, absorbed the weight of that sin, the he and he alone can absorb the sentence of infinite proportion."

[Parker Bentley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great, quick read on an important doctrine. Ortlund succinctly talks about the significance of it and draws 6 truths about it from scripture. The book is sobering, yet encouraging, and deals with a number of contemporary issues. I think this would be a great book to give a non-Christian. “Hell is filled with people who think they should be in heaven; heaven is filled with people who know they should be in hell.”

[Cameron Dobbins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent, pastoral, and polemic articulation of the doctrine of hell and its implications for believers and unbelievers. If a member of my church were wrestling with this topic as they study God's word, this would be the first resource I would recommend. It is written in a way that will edify both the seasoned pastor and the new Christian.

[Jon Cheek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brief, helpful overview of the topic. Hell is needed, awful, close, and deserved.

Ortlund doesn't go deep into the passages on hell, but he affirms the eternal conscious torment understanding of hell.

"The real scandal of this universe is not that there is a hell, deserved by all, but that there is a heaven, offered to all." (11)

[Dan Wilde · Rating 5 out of 5]

“And the real scandal of this universe is not that there is a hell, deserved by all, but that there is a heaven, offered to all.” Dane Ortlund is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. He explains truth with clarity and wraps it in gentleness.

[Nicholas Abraham · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Heaven is not for the deserving. It is for the repentant. Hell is not for the undeserving. It is for the unrepentant,” (41). This a great little booklet on a sobering, important topic. Lots of gospel in this little book on hell!

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The astonishing surprise at the heart of the universe is not that there is only one way to get to heaven. The astonishing surprise is that there is any way to get to heaven for miserable sinners such as us." --Dane Ortlund.

[Will Standridge, II · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful little book on how Hell is real, eternal, needed, and avoidable. It is very much an introduction, so don’t expect it to dive into many of the debates surrounding the doctrine of Hell

[Ben Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent and succinct (43 pages!) summary of Scriptural teaching of hell. Hell is: Needed, Awful, Close, Deserved, and Avoidable. A good resource for Scriptures and themes on this doctrine.

[Anete Ābola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Biblical and short thoughts on the subject of hell. Could be useful for a struggling christian as well as non-christian.

[Brad Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good.

[Jessica Goryance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very difficult but necessary read.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This whole series of books is fantastic. This one is no different. Ortlund writes a clear and even moving response to the question, with appropriate sobriety, worship, and grace. Highly recommended.

[Paige Diaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Convicting. Good.

[Brody Dean · Rating 4 out of 5]

A better title would be “Is Hell serious?”

[Mathew Dodge · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short and to the point. Hell is real. Praise God.
“The great surprise of this universe is not that people go to hell. The great surprise of this universe is that people go to heaven.”