Luke 16:26-31 (NKJV) And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’ “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’”
We are three-part beings, comprising spirit, soul, and body. The first Adam came alive when God breathed into a created being from the earth. Similarly, a person is dead when the spirit being departs from the body, yet the spirit being will live for eternity.
Hades and Abraham’s bosom were places for departed spirits. These two compartments are referred to collectively as Sheol. Abraham’s bosom was emptied following the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Therefore, those who are saved will now be with Jesus in heaven.
In contrast, this passage tells us that this rich man lived in torment—such profound suffering that a mere drop of water would provide temporal relief. The rich man’s departed spirit, which did not have a name, was suffering in Hades, and he regretted not having believed in God. Thus, he asked for Lazarus to be sent as a messenger to his brothers on earth.
Sadly, there is nothing anyone can do for somebody once the spirit of man has departed following physical death—no prayer, intervention, or good works. Nothing will be able to change his destination in eternity, either in heaven or hell.
As shown in this passage, there is a cry in hell from those being tormented—a constant cry urging their relatives not to go to the same place of torment. The rich man remembered he had five other brothers on earth. Therefore, there are loud wails and cries from hell, imploring the people they know, “Don’t come here!”. It is a place of regrets and torment for all eternity. Unfortunately, no one can take any action regarding the incessant cries of those departed spirits. There is no way for heaven to hear what is happening in hell, nor can those living on earth hear the voices of those in hell.
However, there is an answer to the cry of those eternally separated from God who desire their loved ones to be saved! The answer is us. We are the answer to their cry because we have the privilege of reading about it today. Therefore, you and I must act on it by sharing the gospel. We can also move out as a church by inviting friends to church events.
Sermon Series: Sharing God’s compelling love with the I Found Him booklet
你就是那答案
路加福音16:26-31 不但这样，并且在你我之间，有深渊限定，以致人要从这边过到你们那边是不能的；要从那边过到我们这边也是不能的。财主说：‘我祖啊！既是这样，求你打发拉撒路到我父家去；因为我还有五个弟兄，他可以对他们作见证，免得他们也来到这痛苦的地方。’亚伯拉罕说：‘他们有摩西和先知的话可以听从。’他说：‘我祖亚伯拉罕哪，不是的，若有一个从死里复活的，到他们那里去的，他们必要悔改。’亚伯拉罕说：‘若不听从摩西和先知的话，就是有一个从死里复活的，他们也是不听劝。’”
我们是由三个部分组成的存在，包括灵、魂、体。当神把气息吹进一个由尘土所造之物，第一个亚当就活了。同样，当灵离开身体时，人就死了，而那个灵则将永远活着。
阴间和亚伯拉罕的怀抱都是亡灵的归宿，这两个空间都被称为阴间（Sheol）。随着耶稣基督的死亡、埋葬和复活，亚伯拉罕的怀抱就空了。因此，如今那些得救的人将与耶稣同在天堂。
作为对比，这段经文告诉我们，这个财主活在痛苦中——如此彻骨的折磨，乃至区区一滴水都能带来暂时的慰藉。财主的亡灵没有名字，在阴间受苦。他后悔自己不相信神；于是，他要求打发拉撒路带信给他在世的兄弟们。
可悲的是，人的灵在肉身死亡后就即刻离开了，到得那时，无论是谁都无能为力了—祷告、干预、行善统统无用 。没有什么能够改变他在永恒中的归宿—天堂抑或地狱。
正如开篇经文所示，从地狱传来受苦之人的一声哀号—不断的哭喊敦促亲属们不要来这个受折磨的地方。富人想起自己在世上还有五个兄弟。因此，从地狱里传来大声的恸哭和哀嚎，叫他们认识的人“不要来这里！”这是个永生永世的悔恨折磨的所在。不幸的是，没有人能对这些亡灵不断的哭喊采取任何行动。天堂绝对不可能听到地狱里发生的事情，世上的人也听不到地狱中发出的声音。
然而，对于那些永远与神隔绝但又渴望他们所爱的人能得救的人来说，他们的呼求有一个答案！这答案就是我们。我们就是他们呼求的答案，因为我们今天有幸读到它。因此，你和我必须藉着传福音来作为回应。我们可以作为教会走出去，邀请朋友来参加教会的活动。
讲章系列：通过《我找到了祂》小册子分享上帝那令人信服的爱
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