November 7, 2021

Heaven or Hell

Preacher:
Series:
Passage: Luke 16:19-31
Service Type:

Introduction

Nadia Hussain from The Great British Bake Off – cannot help but think about death

Jesus Christ often spoke of heaven
Jesus spoke about it as He wanted people to be ready when they die

Luke 16 – the most explicit teaching of Jesus about death

If you spend time thinking about it – a cloud comes upon your soul
Jesus was burdened for the religious people who thought they were going to heaven but were going to hell
The Bible teaches about heaven and hell – more in the New Testament than the Old Testament
The Bible speaks about two groups of people

Example from Psalm 1 – the righteous and the wicked
Psalm 145:20
Daniel 12:2-3
Psalm 73 – Sometimes people are troubled that the wicked seem to prosper, but there is an end for them

Some explicit teaching about heaven and hell

Not about the way of getting to heaven
Not literal
Jesus teaching weighty truth

Overview:

What takes you to hell?
What is hell?
What takes you to heaven?

What takes you to hell?

The names of the rich are known on earth but the name of Lazarus is known in heaven
Lazarus:

Was put at the rich man’s gate
Was covered in sores
Was a beggar
Had no funeral

The rich man

Had more than enough

Had the best of food
Had the best of company

Had purple and fine linen

Living in luxury and opulence

Lazarus went to heaven but the rich man went to hell

Jesus spoke a lot about the danger of riches, pleasure, wealth and material things
Jesus warned if a person only lived for the things of the world
Paul warns timothy that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil

The rich man – has no love

Had no heart for the beggar Lazarus – no food or even crumbs
The love of God was not in him – Matt 25:25-46

It is not about doing good since the Bible teaches that all have sinned and all need forgiveness
If this has happened – your heart will be changed
Quote from CS Lewis

To carry on your path
Not repenting or turning to God

Not a sin of ‘commission’ but of ‘omission’

He did not truly love

We must be careful not to drift along to hell

The rich man – a failure to believe and repent (v27-30)

He is still trying to command Lazarus
He has not repented (v30)
He has not believed – the people did not believe also saw miracles or people raised from the dead (v31)

They are not listening to God’s word
There is unbelief

What is hell?

Gehenna/Sheol/Hades – the abode of the dead
In the New Testament – refers to a place before the final state

It is a temporary place
When Jesus comes in the final judgment – people will be raised to everlasting destruction

Hades will be thrown into the lake of fire

v24

God’s judgment, anger and just punishment is in hell
Different New Testament pictures – outer darkness, weeping & gnashing of teeth, torment

Why would a loving God allow this?

Perhaps we have not understood the magnitude of sin
Luke 6:24
Rev 21:8 – the unbelieving

v28

There is no second chance – as in Catholic teaching

Jesus gave such stark teaching because He loved us dearly

Examples

What takes you to heaven?

The tables are turned – Lazarus in heaven

Lazarus was full of pain – the rich man had everything
Lazarus was thrown outside the city – the rich man was buried
Lazarus was taken to heaven by angels into Abraham’s presence – a place of safety and security

Rev 21 – explanation

Not because he was poor

But by repentance and faith
Not what we have done, but what Christ has done for us

Your past is wiped out and your future is secure
You may not have had many friends on earth but you will have the best company in heaven

Luke 13:24-30

You must enter in through the narrow gate
It is not of works
The direction of your life must be changed
Do not be thrust out
The gospel has gone across the globe and many will be in heaven

Jesus if the friend of sinners – but you must come to Him

Come to Jesus today
Have everlasting life