It's Not Who You ARE, But Who You KNOW
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“I’ll believe it when I see it
Q: Most incredible, tough to explain witness or experience
Rich man and Lazarus -
Rich man and Lazarus -
Story Elements
Story Elements
Lazarus - laid at the gate (by someone, assuming the “well-off” would help him
“eliezer” = “God helps” (a common name, and also the name of Abraham’s servant)
Rich man - (unnamed, as though unimportant, and as if God did not know him - OR allowing the hearers of the story to insert own name)
Dogs - used to describe the “unworthy” - not typically pets then; slur to slander the poor
Thoughts of the audience
Thoughts of the audience
Rich were favored, must be spiritual
Poor were poor due to their sin
This story presents a twist - not the outcomes they expected of these two characters
Jews believed in life after death, making this story plausible
Law required the better-off help the lesser-off
Those who had faith in God followed the law (the outward expression of their inner faith)
Therefore…rich man had every opportunity to get right with God, and help the poor. In this story, since he never helped him, it shows his heart never got right.
OVERALL POINTS TO THIS AUDIENCE
Trust God, He’ll take care of you forever
Trust in self - God’s justice will suffice, forever
Life forever, need relationship with God, here and now
What Jesus is Saying Through This Parable
What Jesus is Saying Through This Parable
1) These with God (believers) are in His presence after death
1) These with God (believers) are in His presence after death
Lazarus represents those who God helps, secures eternally
Once an enemy (sinner), now in alliance with God
And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds,
2) God has always spoken His truth through His Word - “What the Bible says, God says”)
2) God has always spoken His truth through His Word - “What the Bible says, God says”)
Through Moses
Through Prophets
Now, through Jesus
God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways,
in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
3) Repentance is the Key to Life (v. 30)
3) Repentance is the Key to Life (v. 30)
The desire is for his brothers to repent ( so as not to face the same fate)
(rich man still treats Lazarus like servant - “send him to tell...”, and his lack of compassion demonstrates his heart)
NOT material worth - shown by the element of Abraham being in Heaven (he was very wealthy), so that’s not it
By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.
Faith, not works
Lazarus, could do nothing of any worth in his condition
REPENTANCE LEADS TO OUTWARD EXPRESSION OF INNER TRUTH
And Hell is irreversible, so is Heaven.
Putting The Text To Work
Putting The Text To Work
A) Answer for life, eternity depends on NOW
A) Answer for life, eternity depends on NOW
Questions the neither the rich man nor Lazarus NOT asked upon death
When did you go to church?
When were your baptized?
How good a person were you?
When did you say some prayer?
However, THE question all must answer: WHEN DID YOU REPENT?
B) This parable supports Scriptural Truths
B) This parable supports Scriptural Truths
Eternal separation between Heaven and Hell
God provides what we need now, and will reward later (prosperity theology nonsense)
Salvation based on repentance
“YOLO” - um, NOT!
It’s a Valid Question: What WOULD it take for you, or someone you know/love, to REPENT?
It’s a Valid Question: What WOULD it take for you, or someone you know/love, to REPENT?
One rising from the dead? (literally, one sitting up in a coffin, but applies well to Jesus, some foreshadowing)
WRONG - I’ll accept Jesus when I see _________
CORRECT - I’ll see the truth when I accept by faith
For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.
God’s Word makes sense when a person yields to the H.S. conviction, becomes a believer (Illumination)
God’s Word (Moses, Prophets, Jesus) is spiritual, God-breathed, and not understood by the “natural man” (flesh)
H.S. convicts - by the Word
You accept - the Word
Born again - by the Word
New life is then guided - by the Word
CHALLENGE
CHALLENGE
What would it take for YOU to repent?
What would it take for YOU to repent?
Possible to believe, but not repent, resulting in un-saved
You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.
James
(general idea of “yeah, God exists...”)
Some people KNEW Jesus rose, but tried to cover it up
People say things that they really don’t mean, such as:
If you find the ark, then I’ll believe - NOPE
Prove the Bible is true, and I’ll believe - NOPE
Someone comes back from the dead, then I’ll believe - NOPE
(if it takes you to believe such a sign, besides the truth of Jesus, then there is a lack of trust in God’s inerrant Word)
Jesus did the impossible
Jesus did the impossible
and people still would not believe and repent
result in some was hardened hearts
All Lazarus had in this story was trust and faith in God
And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
2 Cor 2:19
Like the Rich man and Lazarus:
All will see
so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Meanwhile,
for we walk by faith, not by sight—