19"There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man�s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham�s side.[a] The rich man also died and was buried, 23and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. 24And he called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.' 25But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. 26And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.' 27And he said, 'Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father�s house� 28for I have five brothers[b]�so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.' 29But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.' 30And he said, 'No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' 31He said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.'"
James replies:
When interpreting Jesus parables, or interpreting parables in literature, one should not try to attach meaning to every single detail in the parable.
A parable is meant to have one or two points, and that is all.
What is the main point of this parable?
That this life is our only chance to be right with God, or not, and after death there are only two outcomes.
There is heaven, and there is Hell.
God is perfectly just, and merciful.
Oh, I could point out other things, like the fact that Abraham and Lazarus were not sleeping in the grave, they were conscious in Heaven.
That I think the last sentence where Jesus says that the Rich man's brothers and sisters would not be convinced even if someone were to come back from the dead, just gives more evidence for total depravity, or total inability.
But the main point is that right now counts for eternity.
"And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,"
lk 16:31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
The most important part of this incident is verse thirty one, and it is a verse that as does the word of God from cover to cover, the error of reformation theology.
Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead after he was died.
And, if you trust in Jesus and except him as your personal savior. Jesus will raises you up in the resurrection all those who are born again believers. If you are not dead when Jesus returns to earth you will be caught up with him in the air. It is all about Faith, without faith in Jesus it is impossible to Please God.
lk 16:31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
The most important part of this incident is verse thirty one, and it is a verse that as does the word of God from cover to cover, the error of reformation theology.
James replies:
This verse also gives evidence to the total depravity of man.
IF........mankind had a free will, then seeing someone raised from the dead would at least convince the majority to decide to repent and trust in Jesus. But notice it says that even if they saw someone raised from the dead, they would still not believe!
PJ said:
Btw the way James this is not a parable.
James replies:
Well, I will give you this. I do think it is a parable, but the reason I am not entirely convinced that it is a parable, is because Jesus names the person 'Lazarus'. There are no other parables where Jesus gives someone a name.
James I guess we need to say it again Phillip did not write the bible the father did, so he said and I believe it as all christians are supposed to do.
Lk 16:19 Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, faring sumptuously every day:
Lk 19-21"There once was a rich man, expensively dressed in the latest fashions, wasting his days in conspicuous consumption. A poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, had been dumped on his doorstep. All he lived for was to get a meal from scraps off the rich man's table. His best friends were the dogs who came and licked his sores.
Again it is not I that said the kingdom of God operates by hearing and believing, those are the specific teachings of Jesus in the parable of the sower and then of course the bible bears this truth from cover to cover.
No George it speaks of unbelief, which would be a choice in that case, for you have both sides represented in that context those that believe and those that did not, the bible teaches that man hardened their own heart sand it also teaches again and again men not born again honored God with their faith.
Gen 4:1 � And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.
Gen 4:2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
Gen 4:3 � And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.
Gen 4:4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
Gen 4:5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
