Scripture: Luke 16:19-22

C.I.: In Hell It will be Too Late!

Last Sunday we began a new series entitled, “Heaven or Hell: It is Your Choice.”
In today’s lesson we are going to hear – some lessons we need to apply – before it is too late!

I. Lessons from the “Hadean Realm” (Luke 16:19-31)

A. Is the Lesson of “The Rich Man & Lazarus” a Parable?

1. Three reasons why I don’t believe it’s a parable:
a. #1: It doesn’t say it’s a parable. Not all parables say they are. But if this one said it was…!
b. #2: If it is a parable it is the only one where Jesus identifies a character by name (very unusual).
c. #3: It has the opposite the purpose of parables: “Earthly story…” – but this one, “Spiritual story..”

B. What is It Like in “Hades”? – (encourage people to read today’s bulletin article, “Hell”)

1. There are three distinct parts in the Hadean realm (Unseen = where souls at death, – Gen. 1:26.)
a. (v. 23) - “Abraham’s bosom”: A place of rest where Jesus is!
1) (Heb. 4:10), “For the one who has entered God’s rest has himself rested from his works….”
2) (Lk. 23:42-43), “‘Jesus, remember me…’ – Jesus said to him, ‘Truly I say to you, today….’”
3) (Phil. 1:21, 23), “For me to live… - having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that...”
b. (v. 23) - “being in torment”: A place of fire/punishment – (4 things about this “Hellish” fire)
1) “Flame,” v. 24 – But No Light – (Matt. 25:30), “Cast out the worthless servant into the outer darkness; in that place there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
2) Pain/“torment” (Lk. 16:24) – But Not Death – (Mk. 9:48), “…than having two eyes be cast into hell, where there worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.”
c. (v. 26) - “Chasm”: A dividing place between the righteous and the unrighteous!
1) “And besides all this, between us & you there is a great chasm fixed, in order that those who wish to come over from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.”

C. Four Lessons We Need to Hear “Before It is Too Late”!

1. The Need for “Mercy,” (verses 25-26)
a. (v. 24), “And the rich man cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.”
1) Have you ever been hot & thirsty? – Imagine a thirst that just the tip of a finger would help!!!
2) But it is too late – (Jms. 2:13), “Judgment will be merciless for those who have shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.” – (Matt. 5:7), “Blessed are the merciful, for they….”

b. (v. 25), “But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony
1) The time for us to show mercy is NOW – (Matt. 25:41-46), “Then the king will say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me you accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave Me nothing to eat… - and these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
2) In torment they know the need for “Mercy”!
3) The time for mercy is NOW – When people are in hell it will be too late – (Heb. 9:27).

2. The Need for “Missions,” (verses 27)
a. (v. 27), “And the rich man said, ‘Then I beg you, Father, that you send him to my father’s house.”
1) Time for us to be sending people is NOW!
2) Jesus has “sent” us – and we must “go” – (Rom. 10:13-15; Matt. 28:19-20), “Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved. – But how shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him in whom they have not heard?…”
3) In torment they know the need for “Missions”! – They are “begging” for them to be sent.
4) The time for God’s people – to be sending others out to share the gospel – is NOW!

3. The Need for “Teachers” (vs. 28-29)
a. (v. 28), “…for I have 5 brothers – that he may warn them, lest they come to this place of torment.”
1) We all like to hear what is called “Positive Teaching” – but there is a time for “Warning”!
2) There may be some who have died – who are even now wanting you to go to their loved ones!
3) (Col. 1:28), “We proclaim Jesus, warning every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, that we may present every man complete in Christ.”
4) The time for us to warn others is NOW!
b. (v. 29), “But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’”
1) Abraham is showing: need for personal responsibility & the SOURCE of a teacher’s authority.
2) He is also showing us– to keep people out of torment = BIBLE!!!
3) (Quote Rom. 1:16; 10:17; 15:4; 16:17; II Tim. 3:16-17, 4:2-4)!
4) In torment they know the need for “Teachers”!
5) The time to teach is NOW – When people are in hell – it will be too late!

4. The Need for “Open Hearts” (verses 30-31)
a. (vs. 30-31), “But he said, ‘No, Father Abraham, but if someone…’ – But A. said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone rises ….’”
b. 2 reasons why an open heart is needed:
1) Miracles (even a resurrection), will not cause people to be converted.
(i) (Matt. 28:11-15), “…some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief…”
(ii) (Acts 17:30-32), “…‘God is now declaring that all men everywhere should repent….”
2) The only sign people with an open heart truly need – is the word of God – (Jn. 20:30-31).
c. In torment they know the need for “Open Hearts”!
d. The time for us to have open hearts – IS NOW! – When people are in Hell – it will be too late!

CONCLUSIONS:

The “Rich Man” was too busy in this life – to offer mercy, go to his father’s house, teach his brothers, open…!

We can avoid being placed in eternal torment, if…: Acts 2:21, 40-41.