Hell, Who Cares If You Go There

Luke 16:19-31

 

INTRO: Who cares if you go to the place called hell?  Friend, hell is as real as heaven and just as folks go to heaven, folks go to hell.  Who is it there that cares about the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son?

Some have called Luke 16:19-31 the forgotten text.  Why is it so often forgotten?  It is forgotten because people do not like to hear about the place called hell, a place “where their worm dieth not and the first is not quenched” (Mk 9:48).  A place of torment and anguish (vs 23-24).  This is the forgotten text because people today do not want to be confronted with the subject of hell.  They want a feel good sermon, a sermon on health and wealth.

Who cares if you go to the place called hell?

 

I.        GOD THE FATHER CARES FOR SOULS HEADED TO HELL

A.       God the Father cared enough to send His Son to this sin cursed earth to save the lost.  John says in I John 4:14, “And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.”  Note also John 3:16, 18, 36.

1. The Gospel says that God cares if sinners go to hell (I Cor 15:3-4).

2. The birth of Jesus says the Father cares (Mt 1:21, “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins”).  (See also Gal 4:4-5).

3. The cross of Calvary says that God the Father cares (Gal 3:13).

4. God’s love for us says that God cares (Rom 5:8).

5. God’s longsuffering says that God cares (II Pet 3:9-10).

B.       In Ezekiel 33:11, we have God the Father inviting sinners to salvation: “As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die....”

1. Joe Henry Hankins said: “Beginning the very day that man sinned, until the last chapter of Revelation, the call of God rings to a lost world as He pleads, calls, warns, and invites lost men to return to God and be saved from their sins” (Hutson 181-182).

2. Isaiah 45:22: “Look unto me and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.”

II.       GOD THE SON CARES FOR SINNERS HEADED TO HELL

A.       Throughout His ministry, Jesus reached out to the lost.

1. He sought Zacchaeus while he was up a tree.

2. He sought the woman at the well for the Bible says: “And he must needs go through Samaria.”  Why? To seek the lost woman who had lived a life of sin.

3. He sought me; He called me by the Gospel and saved me by His grace.  I heard Him when He said: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Mt 11:28).

4. Aren’t you glad that the Bible says: “This man receiveth sinners” (Lk 15:2).

B.       On the cross, He continued to care.  He continued to seek and to save the lost.

1. From the cross, we hear Christ say: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Lk 23:34).

2. To the repentant thief, hanging beside Him, He said:”Verily I say unto thee, to day shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Lk 23:43).

C.      After His resurrection, He commissioned His church to reach the lost because He cares (Mt 28:18-20).

 

III.      GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT CARES IF SINNERS GO TO HELL

A.       The Holy Spirit along with the church invites sinners to be saved (Rev 22:17).

1. The Holy Spirit draws men to salvation because He cares (Jn 6:44).

2. It is the Holy Spirit who causes men to see their sinful condition.  He opens their eyes; He opens their hearts because He cares (Jn 16:8-11).

B.       The Holy Spirit, caring for us, regenerates the lost man (Titus 3:5).

 

IV.      THE LOST IN HELL CARE IF SINNERS GO TO HELL

A.       Back in Luke 16:24, we read that the rich man cried for mercy, but it was too late for that.  He would be tormented throughout eternity, even today he is in torment (Lk 16:25).