The Reality of the Lost
Notes
Transcript
The Reality of the Lost
INTRODUCTION
ILL- Building collapse in Florida.
life is fragile. it is not guaranteed. We live like we will always have a tomorrow.
We live like our friends and family always have tomorrow.
Luke 16:19-31
19 “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.
20 And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,
21 who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried,
23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.
24 And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’
25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish.
26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’
27 And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house—
28 for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’
29 But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’
30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’
31 He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’ ”
4 Reasons Death Should Motivate Us
Death Comes to All (19-21)
Death Comes to All (19-21)
Luke 16:19-21
19 “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.
20 And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,
21 who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores.
Hebrews 9:27
27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,
Rich and Poor
ILL- COVID- most were weak and elderly- but not everyone.
Jews believed the wealthy were rewarded by God and the poor/sick were being punished by God.
John 3- Nicodemis- even the most religious must be born again.
Death Brings Eternal Separation (22-23, 26)
Death Brings Eternal Separation (22-23, 26)
Luke 16:22-23
22 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried,
23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.
Luke 16:26
26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’
Heaven and Hell are real.
No room for appeal. God’s judgment is perfect. He knows all. Appeal is not necessary.
ILL- Sean Sellers
Killed a store clerk in 1985 for refusing to sell him beer.
Killed mom and step dad in 1986 while they were in bed.
He was 16 years old.
He was famous for his conversion to Christianity.
Youngest to ever receive death penalty. Supreme Court has now ruled it is unconstitutional to execute someone for crimes committed as a minor.
Despite all the appeals he was executed in February 1999.
I spoke to Sean a few days before his execution. He was at complete peace that God had forgiven him.
It’s not about whether we are good or bad. It’s whether we are forgiven.
John 14:6
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Have you gone through Jesus?
Death Ends Hope(24-25)
Death Ends Hope(24-25)
Luke 16:24-25
24 And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’
25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish.
Death ends hope for the believer.
Remember hope is looking to the future for that which cannot be seen.
1 Corinthians 13- hope and faith will not be necessary in heaven.
Death ends opportunity for mercy for the unbeliever
Hell is real/ torment is real.
I don’t like this any more than anyone else. But sin has consequences.
Romans 3:23
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 6:23
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
God provided a way out. If we will accept it before it’s too late.
John 3:16 -17
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
God does not send anyone to hell. He gives us what we deserve. We go on our own volition.
Hebrews 3:13
13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
Death Ends Influence (27-31)
Death Ends Influence (27-31)
Luke 16:27-31
27 And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house—
28 for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’
29 But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’
30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’
31 He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’ ”
“Moses and Prophets”= the Bible
God doesn’t use angels nor the dead.
God uses us. We have the influence.
If someone will not listen to the Bible they will not listen to someone raised from the dead.
We must influence our family and friends now, before it is too late.
Who’s Your One?
Keep it up.
Don’t give up.
CONCLUSION
Are you prepared for judgment?
Are you prepared for judgment?
Are your family and friends prepared?