January 17, 2016
Morning Service

Luke 16:19-23

 

            I mentioned, while here in the parables, that the Lord would use different examples, for teaching on the same subject.  Such as, in chapter 15, seeking the lost, He used, the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son.  Different examples for the same subject.  Today is no different.  In our parable of the rich man, and Lazarus, it teaches the same thought on how we use, and distribute the monies that the Lord has allowed us to have.  The first example of this was the Unjust steward, he miss used the monies that were put in his care.  The second, in this chapter 16, is that of the Rich Man, and Lazarus.  Both parables are to teach us, we should use our finances in a responsible manner.  Since we will be dealing with different subjects other than finances, and a lot of material, this will probably be food for tonight also.   

            The main lesson is meant to be, how we handle our finances, but some have used this parable to teach eternal suffering in hell fire.  This was not it’s purpose.  The number one thing to settle in your minds, is the soul immortal?  Many have used this parable to say that it is.  You must understand that I can only teach you what God, through 9 years of study, before beginning to preach, and teach,  has given me to understand, and trustingly, rightly dividing the Word.   Let us begin.

 

Luk 16:19-31  There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:  ( there is your finances) (20)  And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,  ( and there is your poor man) (21)  And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table:( elaborating on this poor man’s situation)  moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 

·         Now notice, had you been at our Wednesday night’s bible study you would have heard this;  Exo 23:3  "In court, don't treat a person in a special way simply because that person is poor.”           Lazarus is not in a favorable position, just because he is poor.

·         We have to look for the reason for this parable, and it is, that a rich man, whom God had blessed with wealth, didn’t use part of it to help the poor.  Miss used his wealth as did the unjust servant.  Notice.

(22)  And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom:

·         It is uncertain at this time, what happens to someone that dies.  The division is that some believed in life after death, not knowing what is there, and some believed not in life after death.  These people sat on the same board of judgment for the people of Israel.  Pharisees, believed in angels, and life after death, but the Sadducees didn’t.  Paul we must note, was a Pharisee.

·         So, first of all we must decide, is the Lord teaching us that the moment we die we go to heaven, or hell.  From this parable, we would think that there is immediate life after death.  Is this the case?               Listen to the truth of the matter.

·         First of all it would mean that the soul is immortal.  There is nowhere in the Bible where the words, immortal soul are linked together.  I have just said, that there was belief, of both, some, (Sadducees, who didn’t believe in the immortality of the soul, and the Pharisees,) who did.

·         When we go back to the beginning, and what is revealed, this is stated. 

            Gen 2:7  And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

·         We see that the soul was not previously in existence, but was created, from the dust of the ground, and the breath, from God.  That’s the formula, dust, breath.  Either missing, and there is no soul.  It takes both.  This is what is revealed.

 

 

Again, the idea of immortal soul:

Gen 3:22  And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: 3:24  So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

·         Because of his transgression, man was not allowed to partake of the tree of life, and live eternally with God.  THE FALL OF MAN.

·         Revealed to us in the N.T. is the way back to God, and it is by accepting Jesus Christ as our personal savior.  It is the gift of God, eternal life.   (Rom.6:23)

·         Rom 6:23  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

·         Hopefully we can see the contrast of one having death (cessation of life), or eternal life, which is a gift from God.  You don’t already possess eternal life, and it’s just a matter of where you will spend it, but it is something that is given to you, from God, upon your obedience to the Gospel message.

·         Until you accept Jesus as Lord of your life, you are a sinner bound for your part in the lake of fire.  Described, as the final punishment, and destruction, of a resurrected soul that hasn’t accepted Jesus Christ as the Lord of Glory.   Those, whose names, are not written in the book of life.    (Rev. 20:14-15).

      I told you there was a lot of material on this parable.  I also told you, that I can only teach it the way I feel God has given it to me.  I never got it from man, but from the Holy Ghost.  Is this bragging?  No, He will give anyone the same understanding, that will study, and ask, for His rightly dividing of the Word,  and have an open mind to His teachings.  If you go to different denominational seminaries, you will be taught what they have been handed down to teach, and it is not always what God wants taught.  To each his own.  Let him that hath an ear, hear what the Spirit is saying unto the churches.

 

Now we were discussing whether, or not Lazareth actually went to heaven after his death.  We saw that David hasn’t gone to heaven yet, then why Lazarus?  Not the case.

 

Notice at death what is revealed:

Ecc 12:7  Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

·         So we see that at death, the spirit, or breath of God, returns to God who gave it, and body to dust.  Remember this was the original formula.  Breath, and dust =soul.

So, the idea of one going to heaven, or hell, upon dying is not what the Lord is teaching in this parable. 

Continuing: 

the rich man also died, and was buried;  (23)  And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 

·         I am convinced by the Word, that this also is not really going to be the case.  I have settled in my mind, that the Word teaches, that when someone dies, they will remain asleep until the resurrection, not knowing anything until that time. 

Ecc 9:10  Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

·         Time fails us to be able to mention all the Scriptures that pertain to this thought, but throughout Paul’s writings, he speaks of those that have fallen asleep.  (ICor.15; IThess.4:13-18)

Only the saved will have eternal life.  The lost will have their part in the lake of fire at the end time judgment.   (Rev.20:14-15)

 

ALMIGHTY GOD, HELP US TO LOOK TO YOUR WORD, FOR OUR FINAL UNDERSTANDING IN ALL MATTERS PERTAINING TO YOUR WILL.  GUIDE US INTO THE UNDERSTANDING YOU WOULD HAVE US TO KNOW.  AMEN.