Eternal Destiny – Part 1
15 April 2007
1. Introduction:
· Ecclesiastes 3:10-15 - “He has put eternity in their hearts …..and God requires an account of what is past”.
· God is eternal - whatever He does has eternal consequences.
· God has created man in His image and likeness – eternal spirit beings.
· God has created man for a purpose, and given free will to choose what man will do with his own life.
· What we believe impacts where we will spend eternity!
· God hold each person accountable for their choices – we must give an account to Him.
· Ephesians 2:2 - “There are two courses we can follow – each has an eternal destiny.
2. Jesus’ Teaching – 2 Destinations:
· Jesus clearly taught that this life is not the only existence – there is life after death.
· Death does not mean non-existence – it means “separation” – passing from one realm to another.
· Matthew 25:46 - There are two possible destinations:
1) Eternal life
2) Everlasting Punishment
Verse 41 - “….into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels”.
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· Jesus taught clearly about what he said was truth:
ii) Jesus knew personally what he said was truth.
iii) Jesus was passionate to warn people of their need to be rescued from hell.
iv) Jesus knew people would react to or ignore his warnings –
Matthew 7:13-14
v) Jesus knew of the pull of material wealth and possessions – Mark 8:36
· Heaven and hell are realities – realities that are “forever”.
· Jesus describes hell as a place found in the life to come – a place of torment and terror.
· Luke 16:19-31 - Two men – Two different eternal destinies.
· People today do not like to admit to the issue of punishment as though somehow it is wrong to punish evil.
· The Mentality Today:
- Suspicious of “punishment” – deal with criminals by “reforming” them.
- Dr Spock teaching that “punishment is bad”
- People not really responsible for their actions – not to blame – unfair to punish
- People who do evil described as being sick, underprivileged victim circumstances
- Punishment may not be just or fair – Psalm 98:7-8
· God is not just a Loving God – He is also Holy and Just
3. The Reality of Punishment Eternally:
· Luke 16:19-31 - Jesus teaching on reality of two eternal destinies.
i) Jesus knew first hand about Eternal Punishment:
· Colossians 1:16 - All thing were made by him.
· Jesus came into the earth from the realm of eternity – he knows it first hand.
ii) This is a true story:
· Jesus never stated that it is a parable – just a story for illustration.
· Jesus gives the names of one of the people – Lazarus is a real person.
· Jesus describes what he knew of the state of two people who once lived.
· Hebrews 9:27 - Appointed to man once to live and after that judgment.
· There is no 2nd chance, no second opportunity.
iii) Hell and Hades are different places::
· Confusion exist, as 2 different Greek words translated as hell.
a) Hell = ‘Gehenna’ = The valley on Kenrom – a deep valley south of Jerusalem.
· Gehenna was a place where people had worshipped Molech – turned to rubbish dump.
· City rubbish, bodies of animals, criminals, people who died of disease.
· Fires constantly burned and smoke could be seen everyday.
· Revelation 14:10-11 - “Tormented with fire …smoke of torment ascends forever!”
· Revelation 20:10,15 - “Lake of fire” – tormented forever.
b) Hades = Place of the dead – divided into 2 parts separated by chasm.
· Paradise – Garden of pleasure; Jews called it ‘Abraham’s bosom’.
· Luke 23:43 – Jesus went to ‘Paradise’ in Hades after death.
· Ephesians 4:8-9 - Jesus led people out of paradise in Hades – into heaven.
· 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 - Paul caught up to 3rd heaven - paradise.
· After Jesus’ resurrection all believers went into heaven – “1st fruits”.
· Torment – this is the place in Hades where unbelievers / sinners dwell.
· Revelation 20:11-14 - After the final judgment these will be cast into hell forever.
iv) Torment in Hades – verse 23:
· Jesus teaches a number of things about this place of torment.
· Place of existence – it is a real place for spirit man to exist.
· E.g. eyes, tongue, finger, feeling, emotions, memory, longing.
· Place of Remembrance – verse 25 – remember their life, relationship, opportunities.
· Place of Division – great separation, no one near to comfort.
· Place of Torment and Pain – verse 23,24,28 – Discover God is Holy and Just.
· Place of Prayer – people pray, cry out now even though it will never help – Matthew 8:11-12.
· Place of regret – weeping, grouting of teeth in anger – Acts 7:54.
· Place of New Priorities – now they believe, concern for family.
· Place where know to repent – the person realizes he’s there because of sin, no chance now.
· Place of Eternal Disintegration – Mark 9:48 – continual being eaten away.
· Place of Despair – there is no hope for any way out.
v) Why was the Rich man there?
· Luke 16:22-23 - Rich man died and was buried – no angels – “opened eyes”.
Not lost because:
· He was rich e.g. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, Solomon – all wealthy.
- $ tend to breed an attitude of self content, arrogant.
- In heaven your $ can’t buy you anything.
· Not because he enjoyed life – e.g. Solomon.
· Not because he failed to help the poor.
· Not because he was a Jew – Child of covenant.
- Had Moses and Prophets; Father Abraham => Jew
Lost because:
· His name was Not Known By God – verse 19 – most important person - Luke 13:24-28; Revelation 20:15 – Name not written; John 1:12 – Received and believed – child of God.
· Rejects Gods Word/Plan of Salvation – verse 27 - he had his own plan for salvation – send someone from the dead.
· Failed to Repent – verse 30 - Luke 13:5 – except and repent; Acts 3:19 – Repent and be coveted; John 3:10 – God so love He gave His one and only Son …