My sermon notes for Sunday morning, July 7th. Remember, these are my personal study notes and not a manuscript of the sermon. They are provided as an outline each week for our Tabernacle Church family. The church provides a live stream of the service each Sunday at 10:30 on Facebook. We also provide the services through YouTube by Sunday afternoon. You can find Sermon Notes, Family Devotional Guides, Prayer List, and other resources at our Church Website.
Luke 16:19-31
Intro
- A look at wealth, the afterlife, and the power of the Gospel.
- Our actions on this side of life are a great indication of how we will spend eternity on the other side.
- Being a faithful steward with our life (our gifts and resources)
TWO PEOPLE
A rich man
- Wealthy (yet that is not the issue)
- How he utilized his wealth is the issue
- Purple and fine linen
- Self-focused
- No desire to serve/help others
- The poor, downcast
Lazarus
- Poor
- Depended on others
- Covered in sores (not fine linens)
TWO DESTINATIONS
Notice:
- Both men die… Death is certain
- Three deaths (John MacArthur)
- Physical – We died. Separation of body and soul.
- Spiritual – Spiritual separation from God. All of mankind is born sinful and in need of a new spiritual birth.
- Eternal – Eternal alienation from God. Those who die that are spiritually dead. Romans 2:1-5 Hebrews 9:27
- One ushered by angels…one dead and buried
- The role reversals
- The great chasm
- Fixed positions
Heaven
- Gathered up by the angels!!!!
- Death is swallowed up in victory 1 Corinthians 15:54-55
- Abraham’s bosom
- A picture of comfort and joy
Hell
- Torment and agony
- Two requests
- Relief
- Mercy upon his family
- What they have is enough/sufficient
- OT prophets NT Gospel
- There is NO NEED FOR NEW REVELATION
- WE HAVE ENOUGH
THE WHAT NOW
Wealth is not the issue… the issue is our heart.
- Our desire for more (when is enough… enough)
- Our stewardship of wealth
- We need to us our means to help others. 1 John 3:17
- Things are different today… with jobs and other services.
- Have a plan and a strategy to help others.
- Organizations. Church. (not necessarily panhandlers)
Death is certain for all
- Death is a result of sin (Genesis 3), but Christians have had their sins forgiven. Romans 8:1
- Death to the unbeliever is the ultimate judgement upon their life.
- Death to a believer is a reminder that we live in a fallen world and we are waiting for the restoration of all things. Acts 3:21
- The Lord is painting a picture which represents the condition of the future life in a way that we can understand. The sum of it is that believing souls when they leave the body lead a joyful and blessed life outside the world, but that for the reprobate are prepared terrifying torments which can no more be conceived by our minds than can the infinite glory of God.[2]
When we pass, we take no earthly accomplishments with us
- Death is the great equalizer. As wealthy as he was, the rich man was just as likely to die as Lazarus was, because whether we are rich or poor, none of us can escape the cold hand of the grave. No matter how much money we have, it will never completely save our lives. Worldly wealth cannot prevent our own inevitable demise, and when it finally happens, the only thing that will matter is our relationship to God.[1]
- WHAT COUNTS…. OUR GOSPEL INVESTMENTS.
Ligonier Ministries – What is the Intermediate State
The Gospel Coalition – Death and the Intermediate State
[1] Philip Graham Ryken, Luke, ed. Richard D. Phillips, Philip Graham Ryken, and Daniel M. Doriani, vol. 2, Reformed Expository Commentary (Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2009), 198.
[2] Philip Graham Ryken, Luke, ed. Richard D. Phillips, Philip Graham Ryken, and Daniel M. Doriani, vol. 2, Reformed Expository Commentary (Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2009), 196.