The Contrast Between The Rich And The Poor

The gospel of Luke is the only book that carries this passage of scripture that some think is a parable.

However, as I preach this from this PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE, I need to mention that there are some preachers who refuse to preach this passage of scripture as a parable.

Some say it is not a parable because…

(1) If it is a parable t is the only one of the parables in which names of individuals are mentioned.

For example, they believe that:

• When the Lord spoke of this rich man, He was talking about a particular rich man in hell.

He referred to him as a “Certain rich man” in hell then and now.

• When the Lord spoke of Lazarus the beggar, He was actually talking about a beggar named Lazarus. (This is not the same Lazarus we find in John 11 the brother of Mary and Martha.)

Because these two individuals are mentioned some do not believe this is a parable but a true story the Lord is telling of these two men in Paradise.

Also, another reason it is not a parable because the Lord always address a parable by telling them it was a parable.

I ALSO NEED TO MENTION THIS ABOUT THIS PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURES SOME OF THE CULTS HAVE A PROBLEM!!!

For example, this passage of scripture talks about LIFE AFTER DEATH.

Some religious groups do not believe in a LIFE AFTER DEATH.

WHO ARE THESE?

For example, the Jehovah witnesses do not believe in life after death.

If you refer them to this passage of Scripture that teaches LIFE AFTER DEATH, they will say “It is only a story, it is not teaching life after death.”

• They believe that when we die life will cease to exist. That’s it! There is no conciseness.

• You do not go anywhere; you only exist in God’s memory.

• They believe after Armageddons when the world is cleanse of all evil and uncleanness paradise is restored on the earth and all the dead people who ever lived will be resurrected in a physical body, but nobody goes up in the sky…NOBODY!!!

• They believe it has been predetermed by God that only a 144,000 will be allowed to live in paradise.

Everyone else will cease to exist!!!

The Bible does not teach the doctrine of ANNILATION. But this is what the Jehovah Witnesses believe and teach.

WHY WOULD ANYONE GO TO A CHURCH THAT TAUGHT THE DOCTRINE OF ANILATION.

Illus: Because this TEACHING appeals to some lost folks because they say in this life, they can live it up in sin and one day they will just CEASE TO EXIST!!! THERE IS NO HELL!!!

There are 7 million Jehovah Witnesses on the earth today, however, only 6,000 who live on earth actually BELIEVE they are included in the144,000 WHO WILL LIVE IN PARADISE.

Everyone who is not on that list will cease to exist.

So, when you talk to a Jehovah Witness they do not believe in LIFE AFTER DEATH and this passage of scripture is only a story and is not to be taken literally.

The Bible is CLEAR THERE IS A LIFE AFTER DEATH.

Look at 2 Corinthians 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

Notice, Paul uses the word CONFIDENT when it comes to LIFE AFTER DEATH, we can be confident there is life after death.

In this passage of scripture, the Bible talks about PARADISE.

You need to know this that Paradise and Heaven are not the same place.

Let me explain…

The Bible is a book of two covenants, the Old Testament and New Testament.

Before Christ died…

• In the Old Covenant People were allowed to be temporarily saved by offering up a sacrifice for their sins once a year. AN ENNOCENT ANIMAL WAS SACRIFICED AND THEIR SINS WERE TRANFERRED TO THAT ENNOCENT ANIMAL. But it was only temporary because they had to go back every year to offer up another sacrifice for their sins.

• In the New Covenant when Christ died for our Sins. In this New Covenant we do not have to go back each year to be forgiven of our sins. We are ETERNALLY saved and given ETERNAL LIFE because the ULTIMATE SACRIFICE THE LORD JESUS TOOK OUR SINS UPON HIMSELF!

But let me mention something else in this passage of scripture teaches.

Under the Old Covenant when a Believer and unbeliever died, they went to a place call Paradise.

But this place is divided with a great gulf (Chasm) that divided it.

One side of this gulf (Chasm) THE BELIEVERS DWELLED on the other side THE SINNERS DWELLED.

They could communicate with each other.

HOW DO WE KNOW THEY CAN COMMUINICATE WITH EACH OTHER?