## Lessons from the Rich Man

## Luke 16:19-31

Last week Randy taught the Homebuilders class about four views of hell. Let me summarize those four views for you this morning.

1. There is no hell, no eternal dwelling for the unsaved, the lost will simply be destroyed and cease to exist.

2. There is a hell, but it is only a temporary dwelling place for the lost until they are purified and go to dwell with God.

3. There is a hell, but it will not be as the Bible describes it. The fire, darkness, and torment are only symbolic terms for being separated from God and heaven.

4. There is a literal hell and it will be the eternal destiny for all who reject Jesus Christ as Savior. It will be a place of everlasting punishment and eternal suffering.

Now, the only view that can be held by Bible-believing Christians is the last one. Hell is real, and it will be the eternal dwelling place for the souls of all who will not accept Jesus Christ as Savior.

Perhaps one of the least enjoyable topics to preach on is the subject of hell. It isn't very positive…as a matter of fact, it is frightening to those who will one day wind up there. However, it is still a necessary topic for us to consider.

There are nearly twice as many verses in the Bible that deal with hell as there are that speak of heaven. It is not a place where God wants man to go, but many will, in spite of all that God has done to prevent it. This morning, I want us to consider lessons that we can learn from the rich man of Luke 16.

Usually when we think of learning lessons, we think of the positive instruction given to us by those who are wise and experienced. But it is possible for us to learn lessons from the mistakes of others. As a matter of fact, we do not have to repeat the mistakes of others in order to learn.

Read: Luke 16:19-31

I. The Lesson Of The Reality Of Hell

A. There is a real place called hell

1. This is not a parable that Jesus speaks.

2. Rather He is relating a real experience in the lives of two real individuals.

3. Two men die…and two men are instantly aware of there existence after life.

B. There are real people in hell

1. We are introduced to two men and their existence while living upon this earth.

2. The rich man fared sumptuously every day while Lazarus lay at the gate begging.

3. Just as these men had an identity while alive on earth, they retain their identity beyond the grave!

4. When the rich man died, he was still the same man as he had been before…but the conditions had changed drastically!

C. There is real punishment in hell

1. The first description we have of him after death is that he is in torments. v23

2. We get a clearer picture of what this meant in v24 when he cries out "…I am tormented in this flame!"

3. He was thirsty…so thirsty that he would be happy just to have a drop of water to cool his tongue.

4. Note that this is immediate…there is no indication of a long passage of time between v22 and v23.

II. The Lesson Of The Eternality of Hell

A. This was not a bad dream from which he would soon awaken.

1. God clarified this with him in v25.

2. God said, "Remember".

3. The eternal existence of the lost in hell will be one that is intensified by their memory.

4. Imagine the horror of that moment as he realized that he would never get out of hell.

5. Hell is eternal…and there is no escape!

B. Many are deceived about hell.

1. As we mentioned earlier there are those who think that hell and its torments are only temporary…but they are deceived.

2. There are those who think it surely cannot be as it is described in the Scriptures…but they are deceived.

3. Still others fantasize of some celestial existence that has absolutely no basis in the Word of God.

4. Recently, a woman spoke to me of something she was doing…she was ashamed of it…and said, "I know I am going to go to hell."

5. But she is deceived into thinking that hell is an acceptable alternative…it isn't!!!

6. I've been told by some that it is where they want to go, cause that is where their friends will be…

7. Note: there no indication that the rich man was aware of anyone else in hell…his was a lonely, horrible, eternal tormented existence.

8. No one would want to go to hell unless they were deceived into thinking it isn't going to be like God said it will be.

9. But God is not a liar!

III. The Lesson Of Reaching Others Now.

A. His concern was too late.

1. He was obviously a man of influence.

2. He was wealthy and extravagant in life.

3. However, now he realizes that he will never be able to leave this place of torment.

4. He finally thinks of someone beside himself.

B. He had five brothers. v27-28

1. He wasn't anxiously awaiting their arrival!

2. He wanted to do anything he could do to keep them from coming to this awful place.

3. He begged Abraham to allow Lazarus to go to his father's house.

4. Why? He was concerned for them.

5. It seems that he may have been the oldest, the one the rest had looked to as an example.

6. And he finally realized that he was leading them down the road to hell, and he wanted to do something about it…but he was too late.

C. He didn't understand. v29-31

1. Abraham's response seems cold and indifferent.

2. But it was just the truth…

3. 'Moses and the Prophets' speaks of the Word of God.

4. If one will not hear the Word of God, they will not 'be persuaded though one rose from the dead.'

5. If his torment, loneliness, and haunting memories were not punishment enough…think of existing with the expectation that your loved ones will be following your example and will soon be coming to this awful place.

Will we learn the lessons this morning? Hell is real and eternal. For you who have never accepted Jesus Christ as Savior do not delay any longer. Come to Jesus today. Accept His atoning work on Calvary and be saved!

Believers, will we also learn the lessons? Hell awaits all who reject Christ. Do we care about our family and friends? The most asked question when someone dies is this, 'Was he a Christian?' The problem is that if we wait until they die to ask that question, we are too late. We must reach the lost now before it is too late. They must hear the gospel message. "…How shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?"