“He Descended into Hell”: Why It Matters for Us Today

There’s a provocative phrase you may have heard tossed around in our culture:

“I’d rather party in hell with my friends than be alone in heaven.”
Or perhaps:

“I’d rather be in hell with my loved ones than be in heaven without them.”

These statements may sound edgy or humorous, but they’re deeply misguided. If God is not in hell—and He is not—then no good thing can be found there. There is no comfort, no companionship, and certainly no party. Hell is not a gathering of rebels—it is complete separation from the grace, presence, and goodness of God.
This week, as part of our series on the Apostles' Creed, we’re diving into what might be its most controversial line:

“He descended into hell.”

Yes, it refers to Jesus. And yes, it has caused plenty of debate within the Church for centuries.

Was This Phrase Even in the Original Apostles’ Creed?
It’s true that this line was added to the Creed about 200 years after it was first formulated around 150–160 AD. That causes some to question its legitimacy or scriptural basis. But remember—the Creed isn’t Scripture. It’s a summary of essential Christian beliefs.
Good Christians may disagree on its inclusion, but what matters is whether the phrase accurately reflects biblical truth—and I believe it does.

Is Hell a Real Place?
This might seem obvious to long-time Christians, but in today’s culture—and even in some churches—the very existence of hell is denied. The idea that a “loving God” would never send anyone to hell is becoming increasingly common.
But Jesus didn’t avoid the topic. In fact, He spoke of hell often.
He described it as:

• A place of unquenchable fire (Mark 9:43–45)
• A place of weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 25:30)
• Outer darkness where people are separated from the grace of God (Matthew 8:12)
• A lake of fire (Revelation 20:14–15)

Hell is not a metaphor or myth—it’s real. And everyone is going somewhere after death: either to heaven or to hell.
Did Jesus Really Descend into Hell?
Ephesians 4:9–10 says:

“In saying, ‘He ascended,’ what does it mean but that He had also descended into the lower regions, the earth?”

This likely refers to Jesus descending into the realm of the dead. The question is: why?
What Didn’t Happen When Jesus Descended Into Hell
1. He Didn’t Go to Preach the Gospel for a Second Chance
Some believe Jesus went to hell to offer salvation to the dead. But this contradicts Hebrews 9:27:

“It is appointed for men to die once, and after that comes judgment.”

There is no second chance after death. If you experience hell, you’ve already rejected God. There’s no “do-over.”
This idea often comes from a misunderstood passage in 1 Peter 3:18–19, where it says Jesus made “proclamation to the spirits now in prison.” But that doesn't necessarily mean evangelizing—it may be a declaration of victory over evil.
2. He Didn’t Go to Rescue Old Testament Believers from a Holding Place
Another theory is that Jesus went to a part of hell called “Abraham’s side” or “paradise” to retrieve Old Testament saints. This comes from the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19–31).

But this too raises issues. If heaven has no sorrow, how could those in “paradise” witness the suffering of others across a chasm? And what about Enoch and Elijah, who were taken to heaven directly (Genesis 5:24, 2 Kings 2:11)?
Paul clarifies in 2 Corinthians 5:8 and Philippians 1: to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.

So Why Did Jesus Descend into Hell?
Simply put: to take our place.
Jesus descended into hell not to preach, not to rescue, but to suffer. He experienced the full weight of God's wrath, including the agony and separation that hell represents.
When He cried out on the cross,

“My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46),
He was experiencing hell on our behalf—complete separation from the Father.

And when He declared,

“It is finished” (John 19:30),
He wasn’t just talking about His physical death—He had endured the punishment for all sin, including the agony of hell.

Why This Matters for Us Today
1. Hell Is Real—and It’s Not a Place You Want to Go
Hell isn’t a party. It’s the absence of every good thing—joy, comfort, companionship, even light. It is eternal separation from the grace of God. Jesus warned us because He didn’t want us to go there.
And the good news? You don’t have to.
All you have to do is believe in Jesus—accept Him as Lord and Savior, and the wrath of God no longer falls on you.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith...” (Ephesians 2:8)

2. Jesus’ Righteousness Covers Every Sin
Some of you may be living with deep shame—something in your past you can’t shake. But remember this: Jesus descended into hell for you. He took your punishment, bore your guilt, and washes your sins white as snow.
King David was an adulterer and murderer—yet God called him a man after His own heart. Why? Because he repented.
The Apostle Paul persecuted Christians—yet became a missionary and writer of much of the New Testament. Why? Because he repented.
No sin is too great for God’s grace. But you must receive it.
In Closing

Jesus didn’t just die for us—He endured the full wrath of God, even hell itself, so that we would never have to.

So here’s the question:
Do you believe?
If you don’t, today is the day. If you do, let this reality fuel your passion to share the gospel—because hell is real, and Jesus is the only way out.

“He descended into hell” — and because He did, we don’t have to.

If you have questions, doubts, or want to know more about Jesus, I’d love to talk.
-Pastor Bob