“And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.'"He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.'
"Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.'
"'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'
"He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'"
The gulf between Lazarus and the rich man was fixed. In Catholic theology, Purgatory is a medieval concept of a place that a Christian’s soul goes to after death to be cleansed of the sins that had not been fully satisfied during life. He/she will eventually will be saved. The length of time in purgatory depends upon the amount of sin in one’s life. Some taught you could pray and give money to lessen time of a loved one in Purgatory. This is not in agreement with the Bible’s teaching!
Jesus paid for all our sins and there is nothing more to be done than accept it. The idea that those who are saved by grace through faith have to suffer for their sins after death is contrary to everything the Bible says about salvation.
What do you think the rich man would have me share at his own funeral, if he would have had the chance to tell me after his death?
Hebrews 9:27-28 “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.”
Someone has come back from the dead. His name is Jesus! After we die our opportunity to serve Christ will be gone. John 9:4 "I must work the works of Him who sent me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.”
In the days ahead I will talk about the final glories of heaven, and the final judgment of hell.
The very thought of death is terrifying to unbelievers and it should be, but for those who have made their peace with God through Jesus Christ it is a blessing.
I John 5:12-13 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” Are you ready?
Application: Now is the time to accept Jesus Christ and His saving work on the cross.
Prayer: Lord, today I pray for a drawing of people to You so that they may have eternal life.
