Unbelievers Fully Convinced After Death.

SCRIPTURE READING: Luke 16:19-31 "There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,

And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 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. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

SCRIPTURE TEXT: Luke 16:23 "And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments..."

PROPOSITION: to use this text and others to show that what sinners refuse to believe in this life, they do believe at the moment of death. they become fully convinced of Gods greatness, severty, majesty, mighty power and their own depravity and the need of repentance. and also to show that those who do believe in this life are assured of eternal life through Gods only begotten Son.

1.) In what way are sinners fully convinced of the truths of Gods word in the world to come.

A. They are fully convinced of their depravity and that a refusal to repent brought them to Hell and will bring others to join them.

Luke 16:30 "And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent."

B. They are fully convinced that they deserve the infinite misery and despair that they now experience in the torments of hell. Luke 16:25 "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."

C. They are fully convinced that God is real, Hell is real, and that their churchianity, religiosity, and all their righteousness was unable to deliver them from that lake of burning brimstone.

Luke 16:23 "And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom."

D. They are fully convinced that heaven is a gift given NOT to those who deserve it but to those who receive it by faith. Luke 16:25 "...now he is comforted, and thou art tormented."

Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Not of works, lest any man should boast"

E. They are fully convinced by what they see, feel and hear. often an evil and adulterous generation seek a sign because of the hardness of their heart, however when unregenerate men see their destruction it will be a sign that will torment them in their loathsome condition throughout eternity. Luke 16:24 "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."

Deuteronomy 7:10 "And repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face."

2.) Why do worldlings, pseudo-Christians, and cult members refuse to be convinced by the love of the truth?

A. Because they take pleasure in unrightousness and when a sinner takes pleasure in unrighteousness he becomes so deluded that he will believe a cleverly disguised lie and choose a cult over true Christianity.

2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 "And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."