And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in Hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 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. 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. 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. (Luke 16:22-26)
Two men, one well off, the other destitute, both die and their condition is reversed. The beggar is comforted in Abraham’s bosom, the rich man is in Hell and in torments. Across a great gulf between the two, the rich man cried for water which Lazarus could not give. The rich man was receiving the recompense for a lifetime of sins and fleshly pleasures and Lazarus was comforted in his faith as a child of Abraham after a life of poverty and want. Once in their respective places one cannot pass from one to the other and the tormented in Hell will not find relief. The time to believe God’s Word and repent must be before one passes from this world.
All who are alive will one day pass into the next, either in Hell awaiting final judgment and the Lake of Fire, or comfort with Abraham and the saints who are alive in Christ by faith. There is no neutral, nor will anyone earn forgiveness once they have left this world and arrived in the next. Those who have already passed are either with Christ by faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary or they are separated from God because of their sins and awaiting the sentence and judgement of God. The sinful who seem to prosper in this life will be tormented in the fires of Hell and all who live godly in Christ Jesus who suffer persecution now will be comforted in the presence of God when they go Home.
Those who are secure in Christ and have repented of their sins know that our new life in Christ is not just a by-and-by promise of Heaven, but forgiveness of sin and a new walk with God in holiness and righteousness here and now. We are to live for Him and take His Word to all the world that those who hear and believe would receive Him by faith through grace alone and be delivered from the torments of Hell in this life since they cannot be delivered from that judgment once they are there. Jesus taught more on Hell than He did on Heaven and warned all who will hear Him of its torments and judgment. God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked but must punish sin as an offense against Him and His righteousness. He sacrificed Himself for our sin that we might receive His righteousness by trusting Him, not as a license to sin more, but liberty to live in, thru, and for Him who loved us, and gave Himself for us. He loves everyone so much that He gave His only begotten Son that those who believe in Him and His Word would have eternal life through Him. He came to offer Himself, not to condemn us, for we were condemned already, but that we might be saved.
God sends those of us who are His saints and know Him out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our God has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of God so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of God might have life in His Name.
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. God calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with God, forgiveness from God, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
All who are alive will one day pass into the next, either in Hell awaiting final judgment and the Lake of Fire, or comfort with Abraham and the saints who are alive in Christ by faith. There is no neutral, nor will anyone earn forgiveness once they have left this world and arrived in the next. Those who have already passed are either with Christ by faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary or they are separated from God because of their sins and awaiting the sentence and judgement of God. The sinful who seem to prosper in this life will be tormented in the fires of Hell and all who live godly in Christ Jesus who suffer persecution now will be comforted in the presence of God when they go Home.
Those who are secure in Christ and have repented of their sins know that our new life in Christ is not just a by-and-by promise of Heaven, but forgiveness of sin and a new walk with God in holiness and righteousness here and now. We are to live for Him and take His Word to all the world that those who hear and believe would receive Him by faith through grace alone and be delivered from the torments of Hell in this life since they cannot be delivered from that judgment once they are there. Jesus taught more on Hell than He did on Heaven and warned all who will hear Him of its torments and judgment. God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked but must punish sin as an offense against Him and His righteousness. He sacrificed Himself for our sin that we might receive His righteousness by trusting Him, not as a license to sin more, but liberty to live in, thru, and for Him who loved us, and gave Himself for us. He loves everyone so much that He gave His only begotten Son that those who believe in Him and His Word would have eternal life through Him. He came to offer Himself, not to condemn us, for we were condemned already, but that we might be saved.
God sends those of us who are His saints and know Him out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our God has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of God so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of God might have life in His Name.
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. God calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with God, forgiveness from God, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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