zen.spamhaus.org - does it work ?

I am a complete novice at this, I am here because the server I have (with about 120 accounts on it) suddenly decided it was going to stop a large number of emails coming through to the email accounts and returned them with statements like
"550-"JunkMail rejected - mail-we0-f180.google.com [74.125.82.180]:41398"

My hosting company maintains its because the database at spamhaus suddenly has rejected them because the servers (including a google server???) appeared on its database.

Can this be true?
Sorry for being vague but my profession is marketing, not computer hardware/software.

Thanks for any help.

Regards
Ian

 

Thanks Infopro.
I have to ask a really basic question here - so my apologies.
The IP address that is checked. is it the IP address of the computer that is sending the email or the IP address of the email server?

Regards
Ian

 

Infopro - thanks, good diagrams. I think I understand the essence of the system.
quietFinn - My confusion therefore is still over the IP address that might be in the database.
I am sat at my pc. I send an email using a gmail account. Does spamhaus look at the IP address of my computer (workstation??) or at the IP address of the Google server, which might be 3000 miles away?
Or am I confused?

I am referring to The Spamhaus Block List ("SBL") which is a database of IP addresses only?

Regards
Ian

 

Thanks Infopro - but that IP address is but one of many causing problems.

Can I ask the question again, to ensure I grasp the principles?

I am sat at my pc. I send an email using a gmail account. Does spamhaus look at the IP address of my computer (workstation??) or at the IP address of the Google server, which might be 3000 miles away?
Or am I confused?
Regards
Ian

 

Thanks SageBrian. I'm all for dummy explanations - if you are correct we will call it 'succinct' !!