In a wide-ranging conversation about faith, doubt and the historical case for Christianity, Wes Huff shared about the reality of hell with The Diary of A CEO podcast host Steven Bartlett.
After discussing biblical theology and the meaning of salvation, Bartlett posed his concerns about hell to Huff.
“So if I don’t believe in Jesus and I don’t believe in the Bible and Jesus and God,” he asked, “then I’m going to go to hell?”
Huff responded with an explanation of salvation.
“Yes,” he said, explaining that heaven is ultimately about relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
“In so far as if heaven is a place for those who have submitted their lives to Jesus,” Huff said, “who are living the identity of what they’re created to be and said, ‘Your will be done, God.’”
As Huff pointed out, the biblical concept of hell is not merely about punishment but about separation from God.
“Hell is a place where God says, ‘You rejected me. Your will be done,’” he said. “I’m going to remove my grace and mercy from you.”
The exchange between the two highlights a central doctrine—that salvation is not earned through moral effort but through faith in Jesus Christ.
Huff also explained that the Bible teaches that no person is truly righteous before God.
“The Bible is very clear,” he said. “All good people go to heaven. But Jesus said, ‘No one is good but God alone.’”
Because of that, he argued, salvation cannot be achieved through good behavior, religious rituals or personal effort.
Instead, he pointed to the message of grace found in the gospel.
“Justice is getting what you do deserve. Mercy is not getting what you do deserve. Grace is getting what you don’t deserve,” Huff said, describing how Jesus’ death on the cross fulfills divine justice while opening the door for mercy.
Still, Bartlett pressed the fairness of such a system, questioning whether belief alone determines
Huff responded by emphasizing that Christianity is ultimately about a restored relationship with God rather than simply avoiding punishment.
“I don’t want you to experience whatever hell is,” he told Bartlett. “I desire for you to be in perfect relationship with your Creator.”
Scripture repeatedly emphasizes that salvation is made possible through Christ alone. As the apostle Paul wrote in Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
In the end, the message of the gospel is not merely about escaping hell but about receiving the life God intended. Through Jesus, we have the opportunity to be reconciled to God and experience His mercy and grace that transforms both our eternity and present life.
To watch the full interview, click here.
Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the upcoming book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].
