Cornerstone Baptist Church – Sunday PM, May 1, 2011
Luke 16:19-31
It is sad that so many professing Christians regard the wrath of God as something for which they should make an apology.
· God's wrath does not reveal a moral blemish in His divine character!
· The wrath of God is as much a divine perfection as is His mercy, grace, power, love, etc.
· Why? Because indifference to sin would, in actuality, reveal a moral blemish in God’s character!
· God is holy, righteous and just! As such He cannot allow sin & rebellion to go unpunished.
There are 3 important reasons why Christians should periodically consider the wrath of God. So that we may remember…
1. God's hatred for sin.
2. To honor and reverence God.
3. To give God praise for saving us from wrath.
Through the story of the Rich man and Lazarus we may learn some very important lessons about eternity. I want to share with you some – “Lessons from a lost soul."
1. What we consider to be good outwardly may be utterly corrupt in the sight of God (v 19, 22b, 23a).
Isaiah 64:6 “We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.”
2. What we consider helpless and worthless, may be in the eyes of God of great value (v 20-22a).
1 Corinthians 1:27-29 “God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: that no flesh should glory in His presence.”
Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
3. The acquisition of wealth, possessions and fame are not things God rewards in eternity – (v 24). “and he [the rich man] cried and said,…
Mark 8:36-37 “What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”
Job 21:13-15 “They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?” [17-18] “How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger. They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away.”
4. The pursuit of the temporal and the neglect of the eternal will haunt those who inhabit Hell (v 25). But Abraham said, “Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.”
Persons in hell will forever remember they rejected Christ! What horrible memories!!!
5. When death comes, saint and sinner are eternally separated (v 26). And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.”
Can you imagine having no other companions than the ungodly for eternity?
Revelation 21:27 “There shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.”
Revelation 22:14-15 “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they…may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.”
6. Prayers from Hell will go unanswered (v 24, 27-28). And he cried and said, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.” Then he said, “I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: 28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.”
7. Those who die unsaved, are lost forever (v 26, 29-31). between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.” 29Abraham saith unto him, “They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.” 30 And he said, “Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.” 31 And he said unto him, “If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”
Revelation 14:10-11 “The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God,…And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night.”
