LUKE 16:19 – 31 / 2 CORINTHIANS 5:11 – 20
Introduction
· The teaching on hell is not to inspire fear in us
· Jesus taught on hell more times than anyone did in Scripture
· Hell is one of only two eternal destinations
Reality of Hell
· Hell is real just as God is real
· Hell is real just as the Scripture is true
· Hell is a geographical space just as Heaven exists
Characteristics of Hell
· A place of outer darkness (Matthew 8:12)
· A place where the worm never dies (Matthew 9:48)
· A place of unquenchable fire (Matthew 25:41)
· No vacation for the inhabitants of hell
Lessons from the first Passage (Luke 16:19 – 31)
· It is not a parable
· A tale of real living people
· Jesus opened a doorway of eternity for his listeners to peep into
· Lazarus didn’t go to heaven because of his poverty
· Neither did the rich man go to heaven because of his riches
· In hell, his senses (hearing, feelings, mouth, memory, sight, thirst) were very active
· The people we know who did not die in the Lord are still alive in hell
· The preaching of the gospel is for the living and not the dead
Lessons from the second Passage (2 Corinthians 5:11 – 20)
· The fear of the Lord persuades us to share the Gospel (vs11)
· The love of God compels us (vs 14)
· Now we don’t live unto ourselves, we live unto God (vs15)
· We have been assigned the ministry of reconciliation (vs 18-19)
· We have been assigned as ambassadors of Christ (vs20)
· Our lives determine whether onlookers will be attracted to our country of sending
Conclusion
· We have to preach the Gospel
· God does not enjoy the death of sinners
· It is our duty to rescue those who are on their way to hell (Jude 1:22-23)
· Back to Church Sunday