Luke 16:19-31
We have come to a time when few people believe in a literal Hell. Yet it is still in the Bible, and it is still true because the Word of God is true. Men change their ideas but God's truth is always the same. The great Eternal God tells us that there is an eternal Hell for all those who reject Christ and live without God. Preaching on hell has diminished. We hear many light, fluffy sermons about peace, goodness, brotherhood, and the social gospel, but some congregations never hear hell even mentioned.
If Jesus was concerned about people knowing what hell is like enough to teach about it, then we should to. Jesus teaches us that Hell is a real literal place of torment.
Does that thought ever bother you? Do you ever get burdened for the souls of men?
I want to look at 7 characteristics that Jesus teaches us about Hell from this passage.
1 Hell is immediate after death.
A No purgatory
B No second chance
2 Hell is a place of torment.
A literal fire
B No water. No relief
C no mercy
3 Your status in life will not keep you out of Hell, and his money did not keep him out of Hell.
4 In Hell you are aware of your surroundings
A He could see.
B he recognized Lazarus
C he could feel the flames
D he felt the thirst
E He still had his memory
5 In Hell there is No way out
A A great gulf fixed
B no second chance
6 In Hell you will be concerned with Soul Winning.
A He wanted to his family to be saved.
B He wanted them to send someone else to witness to his family.
7 The only way to not go to Hell is to hear the Word of God and be persuaded.
A It will not be done thru watching great things.
B Romans Road
Hell is real. The teaching of Jesus is clear. We should not want anyone to go there.
Hi Emma,the last time I preached I preached on Hell.
ReplyDeleteI think your points are fine- but I tend to subscribe to the "a parable has one key point" school of analysis. I think Jesus' main point in this passage is not about eternal topography- but about the resurrection. He's confronting a world, many of whom, will not believe even if someone does come back from death i.e. Him. Thanks for your thought provoking blog.
ReplyDeleteIn old testament people went to Hades or place of the dead many scholars say no one went to heaven some were in place of comfort some in place of torment separated by gulf, ie Lazarus and beggar. Also Samuel was awoken from his sleep by witch so King Saul, so he wasn't in heaven, theory or bible Jesus descended into the place of the dead and took the saved saints to heaven with him and populated heaven with souls for the first time. I have much exeperinece that could be characterized as physic, I have not used this experience in any way, the bible says do not consult the dead about the living which physics do. I do not but I have had communication with many familiar spirits. Some kin lots of others, some have been in robes some have been in rags. I had discernment at one time but that gift seems to have lessened. What I am saying is consider all of God's Word keep it hidden in your heart and Holy Spirit will bring to mind scripture as you minister for actually it is written on your heart just need to connect it with head knowledge. Revelation says earth will give up its dead, and sea will give up its dead and they will stand before the GREAT WHITE THRONE to be judged there without a SAVIOUR interceding on their behalf God have mercy on their souls, and the books of their lives will be open and the ones who names are not written in the book of life will be cast into the LAKE OF FIRE. God have mercy on all those who have died without THE SAVIOUR OF MANKIND. I thank God I have lived long enough to come to terms with my sin and prostrate myself before GOD ALMIGHTY and still seek HIS GRACE and MERCY for my everyday failures. God bless Emma keep open to revelations God will give you. blessings love and peace.
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