And In Hell

In this passage that we just read, the Lord Jesus is telling a story about a rich man and a poor man. Jesus did not name the rich man, but he did tell us that the poor man's name was Lazarus. Jesus tells us that the rich man clothed himself with purple and fine linen. Fine linen and The Color Purple were awfully expensive and by this we know that the rich man was indeed rich. The rich man lived a life without worry and without many problems. He could basically live a comfortable life. According to verse 22 he even got a proper burial.

Lazarus on the other hand lived his life as a beggar that wore rags for clothes. People probably never talked to him. The only friends he probably had, were the dogs on the streets that came and licked his sores. Lazarus was not even buried! He was probably carried away and thrown in a fire at the edge of town.

The rich man lived his life depending every day on his riches, while Lazarus lived his life every day depending on God's riches. The rich man didn't go to hell because he was rich, and Lazarus didn't go to heaven because he was poor. The rich man went to hell because he trusted in his riches and not God. Lazarus went to heaven because he Trusted in God and not because he was poor.

One man went to heaven because he had faith in God, while the other man went to hell because he did not have faith in God. Verse 22 is the subject of the message tonight. It says, “and in hell.”

Let's talk about the subject of hell.

I. The Certainty of Hell

1. Although there is proof positive of a place called hell, many people will still deny the certainty of it.

2. Some beliefs:

a. Annihilation

1. It is a belief that there is no life after death.

2. Once it’s over it is over.

3. Job says that the prosperity of the wicked will spend their wealth and then go to the grave. The grave literally means Hell. Job 21:13

b. Sentimentalist

1. They say that God is too loving to send someone to Hell.

2. They will say, what about John 3:16

3. God is a God of love, but He is a God of holiness.

4. Sin cannot enter Heaven.

5. Hell was created for Satan and the angels that fell.

6. If you go to Hell, it is because you rejected the free gift that God gave through Jesus.

7. Let’s read some scriptures that tell about the certainty of Hell.

a. Isaiah 14:9

b. Matthew 13:42

c. Mark 9:42-48

d. Luke 16:23

II. The Characteristics of Hell

1. Place of Suffering. Verse 23

a. The rich man lifted up his eyes and he was in torment.

b. It means literally being tortured.

c. Hell is a place of eternal punishment and it is a place of eternal suffering.

d. The pain and agony never goes away. Never!!!!

2. Place of Sorrow.

a. The Bible tells us in verse 24 that the rich man cried out to God for just a taste of water, but it was too late.

b. Hell is going to be a place of sorrow because people will be able to remember things that they did in their life.

c. They will be able to remember all the opportunities they had to trust Christ and never did.

d. They will remember the times they laughed at Christians

e. They will remember the times they rejected going to church.

3. Place of Separation. Verse 26

a. Hell is a place of separation.

b. Family members will be separated from each other.

c. Friends will be separated.

d. When a person goes to Hell, they are separated from all that is good and most of all they are separated from God Himself.

e. I even wonder if the realization of being wrong about God and separated from Him, will outweigh the pain.

III. The Call of Hell

1. Verses 27-28

2. It’s almost unthinkable and I am sure it would be unbearable.

3. If somehow, we could tune into Hell tonight like we do radio stations, we would unmistakably recognize the call from Hell.

4. The call from Hell is simply this: that we tell others about how to escape it. Revelation 21:5-8

5. If all of these are going to Hell and all sinners are going to Hell, then how can I escape?

6. Not all sinners are going to Hell. Only sinners that have never repented and asked Jesus to save them!

7. Acts 3:19 and Luke 13:3

8. Repenting of one’s sins and trusting in Jesus is the only way to escape Hell.