MESSAGES FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE
Luke 16:19-31
By David J. Riggs
Intro.
A. There are a lot of documentaries on TV and in the movies
nowadays which indicate that people can communicate with the
dead.
1. There are many people who are convinced that their loved
ones are in heaven, and they receive messages from them
from time to time.
B. There are messages from beyond the grave, but they are in
written form in the Word of God.
1. One such example is Luke 16:19-31.
a. Here are some lessons the rich man and Lazarus speak
to us from beyond the grave.
I. FIRST OF ALL, WE LEARN THAT THERE IS NO COMMUNICATION FROM THOSE
WHO HAVE DIED.
A. The rich man wanted Abraham to send someone to warn his
brothers.
1. Abraham said that they have Moses and the prophets (their
written words). (Vs. 31).
B. Thus, there was no communication between the rich man and his
brothers, or between Lazarus and the rich man's brothers.
1. Such attempts to communicate with the dead were expressly
forbidden in the Old Testament. Deut. 18:9-14
C. All modern claims of spiritualism (the belief that the living
can communicate with the dead) such as those in the New Age
Movement, are to be rejected.
II. ANOTHER MESSAGE: MAN DOES NOT CEASE TO EXIST AFTER DEATH.
A. The passage is one the clearest texts in the Scriptures which
reveals what happens after death.
B. Some religious groups teach that the wicked are annihilated
after death.
C. The rich man was not annihilated.
1. Verses 22b-23 - Thus, the rich man could see after he had
died.
2. Verse 24 - Therefore, the rich man could speak and feel
after death.
3. Verse 25 - Thus, after death he could remember. In verses
27-31, he remembered his five brothers back here on earth.
D. Man was created in the spiritual image of God. Genesis 1:26-27
1. God formed the spirit within man. Zech. 12:1; Heb. 12:9
2. Man has a dual nature - both a body and a soul. Matt.10:28
3. Death is a separation of the spirit from the body. James
2:26
III. MAN HAS NO OTHER OPPORTUNITIES AFTER DEATH.
A. Death seals our destiny. Heb. 9:27
1. Man will not be given a second chance after death.
a. The fact that they could not leave the respective places
refutes the doctrine of reincarnation.
B. Preparation for eternity can only be made in this life . Matt.
25:31-46
1. All of us will be judged by the things which are done while
here in the body. 2 Cor. 5:10
IV. ANOTHER MESSAGE: THE DENOMINATIONAL DOCTRINE OF PREDESTINATION
CANNOT BE TRUE.
A. The fact that the rich man's brothers could hear Moses and the
prophets and repent, refutes the denominational doctrine of
election.
B. The rich man recognized the need of conversion.
1. He knew his brothers could escape going to torment if they
would hear and obey.
2. If people are predestinated, this could not be possible.
C. The fact that God refused to send one back from the dead to
warn the living is proof that God will not use miraculous power
separate and apart from His revealed word to convert people.
1. The gospel, and the gospel alone, is God's power to save.
Romans 1:16
a. That which produces the new birth (conversion,
regeneration) is the Word of God. 1 Peter 1:22-25
b. The Word of God throughly furnishes the man of God
for every good work.
V. IT IS A MESSAGE OF THE FOOLISHNESS OF TRUSTING IN RICHES.
A. Jesus did not elaborate on it, but the indication regarding the
rich man is that he was unwilling to give even the scraps from
his table to feed a starving beggar.
1. Our main concern should be the laying up of heavenly
treasures. Matt. 6:19-21; Eccl. 2:26
2. Notice Jesus' words after He saw that the rich young ruler
went away very sorrowful. Luke 18:24-25
3. There was a man who thought that riches brought benefits to
his soul, but God called him a fool. Luke 12:16-21
B. How many in this life, like the rich man, are building their
personal estates rather than feeding the poor?
1. We must learn to distribute our money and goods. 1 Tim.
6:17-19
a. One of the purposes of honest occupation is so that we
can give to the needy. Eph. 4:28
2. We need to ponder carefully our Lord's questions.
Matt.16:26
VI. IT IS A MESSAGE TO AVOID TORMENT AT ALL COST.
A. This is, no doubt, the main lesson or message from our Lord's
words.
B. The fate of the wicked after death is terrifying.
1. The rich man was so tormented that he was begging for the
slightest amount of relief. (Vs. 24)
2. Consider the Lord's solemn warnings. Luke 12:4-5; Mark
9:42-48
a. We must be ruthless in cutting sin from our lives so that
we can avoid the terrible place of torment.
b. Those who choose to ignore Jesus' warnings, and
continue pursuing corruptible wealth, must realize there
is a terrible fate awaiting them.
3. How important it is for us to open our hearts to the Word of
God.
a. Let us listen to the Lord's call to discipleship.
b. Let us focus our attention on living the Christian life.
c. Let us continue to teach and contend for the truth of the
gospel.
d. Let us reject the quest for materialism and worldliness,
and center our hearts on things above.
Concl.
A. There are many "messages from beyond the grave" from the
account of the rich man and Lazarus.
1. The choices we make in this life seal our destiny.
a. There are no second chances after death.
2. We must be very diligent to make preparation now.
a. It will be too late for repentance after death.
3. Let us by all means avoid the fate of the wicked.
a. There is a horrible, terrible, torment awaiting all those
who disobey God.