Harmony Hill Baptist Church
Wrestling With God
The Existence of Hell
Locations & Times
Harmony Hill Baptist Church
2708 S Chestnut St, Lufkin, TX 75901, USA
Sunday 8:30 AM
Sunday 10:00 AM
Sunday 11:30 AM
Live Stream on YouTube - https://harmony-hill.org/youtube
Sunday 8:30 AM
Sunday 10:00 AM
LUKE 16:19-31 ESV
19 “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. 24 And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ 27 And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house— 28 for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ 29 But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”
19 “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. 24 And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ 27 And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house— 28 for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ 29 But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”
“In our culture, divine judgment is one of Christianity’s most offensive doctrines.” —Pastor/Author Timothy Keller
Jesus often spoke of the realities of heaven and hell. In today’s passage, Jesus tells a story that can help frame our apologetical defense of the doctrine of hell.
1) Jesus affirms there is an afterlife with two destinations (vv. 19-23).
TRUTH: Our dislike of a premise does not make it less true.
2) Jesus confirms that the destination for our afterlife is sealed by the choices made before death (vv. 24-26).
THE QUESTION: Is God’s justice fair and consistent with love?
RESPONSE:
* God has lovingly pursued and desired every person.
* God honors each person’s free choice.
* God’s holiness demands eternal punishment for sin.
* God has lovingly pursued and desired every person.
* God honors each person’s free choice.
* God’s holiness demands eternal punishment for sin.
3) The death and resurrection of Jesus on the cross becomes even more glorious for the redeemed.
TRUTH: To minimize our sin or God’s character is to cheapen both heaven and hell.
Additional Resources:
* YouTube channel: Christianity Still Makes Sense with Dr. Bobby Conway
* Is Hell for Real or Does Everyone Go to Heaven? by Timothy Keller, Al Mahler, J.I. Packer, and Robert Yarbrough
* The Big Book of Apologetics by Norman L. Geisler
* YouTube channel: Christianity Still Makes Sense with Dr. Bobby Conway
* Is Hell for Real or Does Everyone Go to Heaven? by Timothy Keller, Al Mahler, J.I. Packer, and Robert Yarbrough
* The Big Book of Apologetics by Norman L. Geisler