Hell’s inability to motivate Christ-following

One of the haunting questions in Jesus’ parable of Luke 15 (the man who had two lost sons) is, “Which son are you?” That is, are you a rebellious younger son who tries to get the father’s things by leaving and disobeying?  Or, are you a the pharisee older son who tries to get the [...]

Would you love God even if hell were not real?

John Calvin says, “Yes.” “Besides, [the pious mind] restrains itself from sinning, not out of dread of punishment alone; but, because it loves and reveres God as Father, it worships and adores him as Lord.  Even if there were no hell, it would still shudder at offending him alone.” (Institutes, I.II.2.) One motivation for obedience [...]