A Story of Hell
Who's Your One? • Sermon • Submitted
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· 7 viewsJesus tells the story of the deaths of two men. One who was escorted to the presence of Abraham; the other into the initial torments of Hades. The rich man desires for Abraham to send someone back to his living family family to warn them of the coming judgment. But, the reality that the spectacle will not bring about conversion, but only one's repentance to the Scriptures.
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction
Introduction
What we are told to not talk about: Politics and Religion. The two things we stink at talking about.
But, also, the way that we talk about religion has strayed from the way that Jesus did.
Jesus was gracious to the lost and harsh to the self-righteous.
Note that the religious / self-righteous weren’t the saved!
We have the opportunity to share the truth in love to those who are without hope.
Without that truth of Jesus Christ, without His salvation, people are doomed to an eternity in hell.
God does not send anyone to hell.
When a person chooses to sin, they are choosing to live out the rebellion inherited from Adam and Eve.
This sin separates them from God. It is a stain which no amount of good deeds or intentions can remove.
This passage gives us a lot of information about what one might find in Hell.
Passage
Passage
Jesus tells a parable - context
The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him.
Luke
Don’t confuse riches with blessings.
Prosperity Gospel preachers - want you to doubt your standing with God if you are sick, not rich, or struggling.
Luke consistently emphasized the value of the marginalized. Gentiles, women, children, poor. All important.
Just think about how these two are described. Named, carried, destination, company.
Some will be surprised.
The rich man, representing the Pharisees, would have been a “good” person.
Moral. The way Pharisees were perceived. You’d want them as your neighbors, teachers, police.
He understood his standing as a Jew, a child of Abraham.
He probably thought he had done everything right!
Prayers will still exist in eternity.
He is still calling out for mercy! But, too late.
What is mercy? To not receive the punishment that one does deserve.
Still thinking he should have authority over the life of the poor man, Lazarus.
I’m afraid some will call out for mercy in eternity, only too late realizing that mercy was available.
More than just a drop of water, but the fountain of blood from the Son of God.
One’s placement is permanent.
The great chasm has been fixed. You cannot make the leap from one side to the other.
Occasionally some prominent preacher will teach universalism. Everyone gets to heaven eventually.
But, the time to repent and ask forgiveness is now, it is today.
For he says,
“In a favorable time I listened to you,
and in a day of salvation I have helped you.”
Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
Hear of people who think they will wait until they are old, then they’ll become a Christian...
Foolish! To presume upon God’s goodness. To predict one’s own death.
And to think this is what salvation truly is. Spirit of repentance? “Get out of Hell” card…?
God’s plan for salvation isn’t based in spectacle.
It is based upon people encountering the truth of Scripture.
The Ethiopian that Philip talked to. …and he explained it to him and it brought about salvation.
Maybe you worry that you aren’t spectacular enough to be an effective witness.
God doesn’t need spectacular.
He needs people who will lovingly share the truth.
Ever hear Billy Graham? Nothing spectacular about him. Just explaining the Scriptures and calling people to Jesus.
Conclusion
Conclusion
There are two things about hell I want us to understand.
First,
Hell was not created for humanity.
It’s original design was for satan and those who rebelled against God.
But, as people would follow the same pathway of rebellion, the result is the same.
It’s the ruts of a muddy road that take a car right into the ditch to be stuck.
Second,
Hell should concern the believer more than the lost.
I’m not saying that the disciple of Jesus has any need to fear hell.
I believe that God preserves every Christian, just as Jesus affirms:
I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
As a Christian, I have the descriptions of that place. And it should motivate me.
“Some want to live within the sound
Of church or chapel bell;
I want to run a rescue shop,
Within a yard of hell.”
- C.T. Studd
“Some want to live within the sound
Of church or chapel bell;
I want to run a rescue shop,
Within a yard of hell.”
-C.T. Studd
“Some want to live within the sound
Of church or chapel bell;
I want to run a rescue shop,
Within a yard of hell.”
-C.T. Studd
Let’s be those who understand the reality of Hell and seek to do everything we can to share the Gospel.