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Bible Study

Let us do a serious Bible Study based on the Words of the Lord Jesus Christ as written in Luke 16:19~31.

My kind suggestion to those who participate: please write your contribution in your word processor, read it and edit it before you post it in this column.

Thank you.

I wonder if v. 19 is a commentary on America.

I think Jesus was preparing His disciples for the future, especially for the times when they were unable to convert others.  I think vs. 31 says it all.  Somewhere Jesus told them to just kick the dust off their sandals when they weren't received.  He wanted them to continue on without getting upset.  Some will refuse to believe no matter what!



 

This portion of God's Word is one of the few that removes the veil from the spirit world and gives us a glimpse of Hades -- the place of unredeemed souls (called "hell" here and corresponding to Sheol in the OT).

Because the Lord specifically named the beggar Lazarus, because the rich man had a conversation with Abraham, and because Moses and the prophets are specifically mentioned, this narrative is not merely a parable in which earthly things are used to teach spiritual lessons. It is a glimpse of the reality that lies beyond the grave.

Hades was the abode of all departed souls, but is now just the abode of the unrighteous dead.  All redeemed souls now go to heaven (2 Cor. 5:1-10), since "Abraham's bosom" or "Paradise", which was the place for OT saints, was taken up to heaven at the resurrection of Christ.

There is torment in Hades, but it is nothing compared to the eternal torment of the Lake of Fire.  When Scripture says "Death and Hades [hell] were cast into the Lake of Fire" (Rev. 20:14) we need to understand the context. At the Great White Throne Judgment, all the unrighteous will be resurrected [the resurrrection of the "unjust' or unjustified], judged, and then cast into the Lake of Fire.  There will be degrees of punishment in the Lake of Fire [the true hell, which was prepared for the devil and his angels], but in any event, it will be a place of eternal torment in "outer darkeness" where there will be "weeping and gnashing of teeth".

There are numerous false teachers claiming that there is no punishment in hell and there is no eternal damnation.  By teaching "soul-sleep" they wish to avoid dealing with the terrors of hell. However, the Lord solemnly warned us about the nature of eternal hell again and again.

The true Gospel teaches that there is a literal hell and that there is only ONE  barrier to hell -- the Cross of Christ: "Go ye into all the world, and preach the GOSPEL to every creature.  He that believeth and is baptized shall be SAVED; but he that believeth not shall be DAMNED." (Mk. 16:16).

If any reader does not have the absolute assurance of heaven, then "repent and be converted", "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ" and "receive Him" as your Lord and Saviour, because to enter into the kingdom of God "ye must be born again". We are saved from hell by the blood of Christ, by the gift of eternal life, and through the new birth. "All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags" and we need the "robe" of the righteousness of Christ over us. It is received by faith:

"But as many as received Him, to them gave He power [authority] to become the sons of God, EVEN TO THEM THAT BELIEVE ON HIS NAME: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, BUT OF GOD." (Jn. 1:12-13).