IF WE WILL STUDY JESUS, WE NEED TO STUDY ALL OF HIS LIFE, TEACHINGS, DOCRTINES - LOVE & HELL BOTH!

1. As Jesus dealt with the Pharisees, He attacked their sins and spoke to them very sternly! -
2. Today we must decide- will we take the words and philosophies of men- or the plain words of Jesus?
3. I might not understand all about what He has to say to me- but I'm going to believe Him- and search scripture with scripture to try to understand His love, & his wrath both!

I.- A PARABLE OR A REPORT OF A FACT?

Suddenly in the midst of teaching the Pharisees (14) of the sin of covetousness- Jesus spoke story

A.- "THERE WAS A CERTAIN RICH MAN....AND THERE WAS A CERTAIN BEGGAR NAMED LAZARUS" 19,20 no parable

1. The wealth of Dives was evidenced, but wealth per-se is not the evil, so watch for something
2. The poverty of Lazarus (not of John 11) - he desired, but was not fed from Dives,- full of sores
3. The dogs (lowest form of life for a Jew) licked his sores- but the rich man showed no compassion

B. "AND IN HELL HE LIFTED UP HIS EYES, BEING IN TORMENTS" V. 23a THESE ARE THE WORDS OF JESUS!

1. The rich man & Lazarus both died,- one buried, the other borne up by angels to Abrahams bosom
2. But one was in torments, the other had no complaints!  Both conscious, in full faculties-
3 Dives asked Lazarus for just a drop of water! - put received a solid NO! from Abraham 25,26

C.- DIVES BEGAN TO PLEAD FOR HIS FIVE BRETHREN, "IF ONE WENT TO THEM FROM THE DEAD...REPENT" 30

1. A quick trip to Hell would make soulwinners out of all of us!- Don't turn off God's Word.
2. He pled for someone to go to them from the grave- Abraham rejected this too! Why?- v.25
3. Abraham reminded Dives that they had Moses and the Prophets- & should listen to them.  Do we?

One did rise from the dead,- and it is His message that we present unto you! Jesus Christ!

II.- IS THERE A HELL TO FEAR?

We need to know the difference between ghost stories to scare bad children, & the truth! -

A.- PERHAPS A QUICK SURVEY OF WHAT MEN HAVE TO SAY MIGHT OPEN OUR MINDS A BIT TO THE TRUTH!

1. I choose men of God- Jerome, Augustine, Calvin, Luthor, Knox, Wesley, John Milton, -all believers
2. But liberal, left wing preachers I don't- Not one Rabbi mentions Hell in sermon but to mock
3. Billy Graham, Carl McIntire, Bob Jones, John R. Rice, Clyde Taylor, Billy Hargis, Theodore Epp

B.- WHAT DOES OUR WORLD OF EXPERIENCE TEACH US ABOUT NATURE'S PENALTY FOR SMALL SINS AND HELL?

1. Best Illus. on (Hell) -Clifford Johnson- Nov 28, 1942,-took his date to a night club-Cocoanut Grove
2. What about in our midst? Antenna to car found in the 600 Amp circuit box- 1" from primary!-
3. Don't argue with me about Hell- I've seen it!- in men's Hearts- Homes, alcohol, hatred, etc.

C.- WHAT WORDS DOES THE BIBLE USE THAT ARE TRANSLATED AS HELL IN OUR KING JAMES BIBLE?

1. OT.- Sheol -65 times "The Grave", "Hell", "The Pit" - as in story by Jesus- All dead waiting 
2. NT.- Hades -11 times And with but one exception- it means the place of the departed WICKED!
3. NT.- Gehenna -12 times -Valley garbage dump I Kings 11:7 where they sacrificed babies!-

But Jesus had more to say about Hell than all Prophets.  Do you believe in a wicked person?

III.- WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT HELL?

Don't let your logic, emotion, experience, or perverted sense of love without justice trick you

A. THE BIBLE IS PLAIN IN THE REALITY OF HELL, AND IT GIVES US QUITE A DESCRIPTION OF THE PLACE

1. Isa 5:14 - Alcoholism is one sin that is capable of enlarging Hell- both here and hereafter
2. Matt 25:41 - Hell was prepared for the Devil and His Angels- but men on left earn their way to it
3. 2 Thess 1:9 -describes Hell as everlasting destruction- away from the presence of God!- abandoned

B.- GOD DOES NOT SEND A PERSON TO HELL, WE HAVE TO WORK HARD TO EARN OUR OWN WAY!

1. Rom 12:19 -Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord - Jude 7 Vengeance of Fire -God is just - vengeance is earned
2. Rev. 21:8 -the fearful, unbelieving, ..murderers- shall have their part in lake of fire!
3. 2 Thess 1:8 -Hell is reserved for those who reject God, and the Gospel of Jesus!- Bible says 30, 31

C.- THE QUESTION STILL IS "WILL MEN REPENT IF ONE COME BACK FROM THE DEAD TO TELL THEM?"

1. God alone can judge the thoughts & interests of the heart- Luke 16:15 -don't you play favorites
2. The demand that Dives had was met- but still men have not repented- See Rev 16:9,11
3. Rev. 20:15 tells it plainly - those whose names are not in the Book of Life! - Lake of fire!

We had better quit arguing and find out how to get our names written in the Book of Life!

JESUS TOLD HIS DISCIPLES TO REJOICE BECAUSE THEIR NAMES WRE WRITTEN IN HEAVEN -Luke 10:20

1. There is a new name written down in heaven- when a person accepts Jesus Christ as Savior!
2. Jesus came to this earth to seek and save sinners- let Him find you!- be saved!
3. If you have a vision of reality of Hell- you will become a soulwinner!- quit arguing and get to work for God!