The Reality of Hell

I. Introduction

We have been speaking of issues in our culture that we want to visit or revisit that help us as Christians to think biblically and to look at them with a biblical worldview.

One such issue that is of great concern to me is the notion that has developed in our culture that there is no judgment from God.

Specifically, many people today don’t believe in a literal Hell, an afterlife, or eternal punishment. We as Christians cannot diminish the clear teachings of Scripture especially when this particular doctrine is tied to the very gospel we preach.

For though the gospel is good news, it is good news precisely because of the bad news of the human condition.

That we are all born spiritually dead, alienated from God, hostile to Him in our minds, and are all born sinful and rebellious against our Creator who stands in judgment against all disobedience to His will is of utmost importance to our proclamation.

Any attempt to downplay, or not to articulate these facts risk our subversion of the gospel we say that we espouse.

So today we want to look at a parable in Luke 16:19-31 that gives us some insight into what awaits those who reject the Word of God and remain in unbelief–those who don’t know the God of the Bible

II. Context for the parable.

Luke 16:13 ESV

13 No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

Luke 16:14–15 ESV

14 The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him. 15 And he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

III. The Rich Man and Lazarus

Luke 16:19–20 ESV

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,

Luke 16:20–22 ESV

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,

IV. The two men’s reversal after death

Luke 16:22 ESV

22 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried,

Luke 16:23 ESV

23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.

BDAG Definition: Hades as place of the dead

Louw/Nida Definition: a place or abode of the dead, including both the righteous and the unrighteous (in most contexts ᾅδηςa is equivalent to the Hebrew term Sheol)

BDAG Definition: severe pain occasioned by punitive torture, torture, torment

V. The Rich Man’s Conversation with Abraham

Luke 16:24 ESV

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.’

BDAG Definition of Anguish: to undergo physical torment, suffer pain

Louw-Nida Definition of Flame: the burning vapor surrounding an object on fire–flame

Selfishness, No loss of sense of superiority, He thinks to request of Abraham, He thinks to have Lazarus commanded to serve him

Luke 16:25 ESV

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.

Luke 16:26–28 ESV

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.’

Luke 16:29–31 ESV

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.’ ”

They must hear Moses and the Prophets

They won’t believe even if one rose from the dead!

Revelation 20:14 ESV

14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.