For Whom The Bell Tolls - Part 1

Today on Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhardt challenges you to become a fully functioning follower of Jesus Christ.

The sale, the single test given to mankind. Find out the final reality follow Romans five verse 12 and Adam all death in the Bible means separation and when we die physically what it means is are so separated from the fact that separation is so complete that that's right, whatever is left behind the remains is because we thought what is most important is what happens to our souls after grocery joining us today on this additional Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhardt Fellowship in the Words the radio ministry of Fellowship Bible church located in Metairie, Louisiana when Pastor Bill Gebhardt now is once again he shows us how God's word. Our world last week was one of the most memorable in our church. I've been here a long long time and this was one of the most for me this week we had got four deaths in our church to work regular attenders. One was an occasional tender and the other was a mother of one of our regular attenders and this week, more than any week.

I can remember I have been reminded of life's greatest reality death. It's a subject that most of us would not even rather talk about interesting and yet it is inevitable.

But this week as I prayed and talked with the people who had gone through the experience firsthand with their loved ones. I was struck by the response. I was encouraged by their faith. Euripides said that death is a debt we all must pay John Dunn clergyman in the Church of England, a metaphysical poet in the 17th century lived in a small village and he said that he was accustomed to hearing church bells ringing before religious services in the village and also church bells ringing to announce funerals in the village.

In 1623. Dunn was seriously grievously ill and he wrote devotions upon emergent occasions.

Strange title, but this is what he said.

He said no man is an island, entire of itself, every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the Bell tolls, it tolls for me that's for that expression came from, for whom the Bell tolls. We never know when the bell was going to toll for us or someone we love one day the bell will toll for me.

Just as a will for you in the question I have for you this morning is simply this. Are you ready for that because you need to be ever since Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden had failed the single test that God had given to mankind has find out that the final reality of their physical lives his death Paul wrote in Romans five in verse 12, in Adam all all by death in the Bible always means separation and when we die physically what it means is our soul is separated from our body and fact that separation is so complete that that's why whatever is left behind what we call it the remains. That's because we've gone what is most important is what happens to our souls after we die and I hope to illustrate the day that the choice that you make will determine that for your destiny. Open your Bibles 1st to 2nd Corinthians chapter 5 verse six second Corinthians chapter 5 verse six.

The apostle Paul is speaking and Paul says in verse six of second Corinthians 5 pieces. Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. He said, for we walk by faith not by sight. He said we are of good courage, I say and prefer rather to be absent from the body to be at home with the Lord. That's exactly what happens when a person physically dies when the bell tolls for them and there a believer in Jesus Christ, that person is absent from the body and they are home with the Lord is instantaneous and it makes such a difference, but that's only true.

The one is like Paul, who is a believer in Jesus Christ for the rest there's a different destiny told me now to Matthew chapter 25 Matthew chapter 25 Jesus is speaking here prophetically but he says something, it's almost incidental to his conversation, but I want to look at that one verse 41. This is Jesus Christ speaking and notice what he says. He says then he will also say to those on his left, depart from me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels.

In other words, what you and I would call hell eternal place of judgment, the lake of fire. In this case I Jesus using the term that is the eternal fire pieces that was originally reserved for Satan and all the angels that fell with them. 1/3 of the heavenly host. That's how it originated. It also becomes. Because of sin, the possibility for men go with me. Now back to Matthew 13 Matthew 13 and Jesus speaking here about the weed in the tears but notice what he says in verse 41. He said the Son of Man will send forth his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, and will throw them into the furnace of fire, and in that place.

He says there will be weeping and the gnashing of teeth. He says the same thing and 49 and 50 he says it will be at the end he said of the age. The angels will come forth and take out the wicked from among the righteous, and will throw them into a furnace of fire, and that place there will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. Notice Jesus is very nobody in the Bible speaks as much about hell with Jesus Christ.

In fact, he speaks more about it than everyone else in the Bible, combined interesting because I think it's such an important thing to say one last verse I want to go to his is Mark chapter 9 Mark chapter 9 and verse 43 Jesus says this if your hand causes you to stumble, cut off, it is better for you to enter life crippled, than having two hands and go to hell go into hell, into. He says unquenchable fire. Whether one does not die and the fire is not quenched. If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It's better you enter light and enter life lame, than having 2 feet and be cast into hell where the worm does not die and the fire is not quenched. He said if your eye causes you to stumble, throw it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell. He says with her worm does not die and he said the fire is not quenched was a really interesting words, there is such a popular idea that you know it's not going to be really that that place is just a lack of existence. Jesus goes out of his way to say no. He talks about the one not dying. He talks about the fires never quenched.

He talks about it being a place of torment is a specific as it can be about this and I believe that the reason that Jesus is saying that is that it's a very, very important thing to him that everybody understands what he means when he talks like this in the Old Testament the word was used when a person died we call the great ratio in the New Testament the word became Hades. And so I will not recall hell was the word Gehenna. But you went to the grave and I want to talk a little bit about that period of time in a very specific way. Once again, with Jesus and would spend most the morning and in this part. I want to go with me to Luke chapter 16 Luke chapter 16 and Jesus is going to tell a story here. And in that story. He's going to divide virtually everyone who ever lived in the.

The idea of two different camps. He wants just make it as clear as he can so that we all understand this and so he starts out by saying in verse 19. Now there was a rich man and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, joyously living in the splendor of every day. He is the success story. He's a successful as a man can be. He's jointly lived all his life in splendor.

He loved his life. He says in a poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate.

The rich man's gate.

The rich man had such an enormous piece of property, had his own gate Lazarus used to be by the gate big just hoping to get crumbs from the rich man's table with Jesus will say he said he was covered with sores two different images could be greater any says, longing to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man's table. Besides, he said even the dogs were coming and licking his sores. And Jesus says now the poor man died and was carried away by the Angels and Abraham's bosom and the rich man also died and was buried. But in contrast to two men, one rich one for one joyful in life. The other miserable two bodies to dress than two bodies both buried in a go to two completely different destinations. You learn as Jesus teaches us that what he's talking about is the rich man always believe in his own resources. He always believe that he would be fine. The poor man did not. He believed in the God of the Jews.

That's why ends up in the bosom of Abraham is carried out by the angels. It's interesting that a lot of people today would be a lot like the rich man you could ask countless people and they will tell you I'm to be just fine. God's going to grade on the curve, and I'm not a bad guy and everything will work out for me. Nothing in the word of God says that all this pretension are part notice. And what happens in Hades, he lifted up his eyes, being in torment is not pleasant for him. He said, and he saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom and he cried out, and he said father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame terrible is a terrible thing by the way, he also sorta reveals himself what kind of man he was the kind of pride he had.

He sees member of Lazard. Lazarus was at his gate every day of his life. He saw that bigger he sees them in Abraham's bosom. He said Abraham would you take the bigger their send them over to me so that he could dip his fingers and water give me a little bit of relief. That's what he thought Lazarus. Lazarus not like me.

You see can serve me.

So he responds that way. But it's clear that he's in torment, and it's not a good place for him to be in and Abraham gives a shocking response.

Abraham said to him child. Remember that during your life you received your good things. Likewise Lazarus bad things, but now he is being comforted here and you are in agony as the choice to destinations for all of us.

You'll even be comforted forever. You'll be in agony. The choice is yours. But he said that's what happens, he says.

And besides all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed so that those who wish to come over from here to you will not be able and that none may cross over from there to us and we summarize what he saying there is no second chance. There is no second chance when the bell tolls for you. Your destiny is there is no second chance, or you can come over we can work it out later than by the way, it's pretty clear that I would be as specific as I can. There is no such thing in the word of God called purgatory. It does not exist in the word of God that is a religious institution trying to make something happen. It's not true. I mean it metaphorically.

But that kind of idea could be fatal and come straight out of there is no biblical support for this at all.

Remember where they're at right now is Jesus Christ is not yet been couscous if I went east on the story.

He hasn't been very resurrected and ascended to heaven. Now once he ascends to heaven. It says he leaves the captives free.

He takes them in with him, but right now what happen is if you were when you died, you went to Hades with a grave part of it was was the place of torment or judgment. The other part was a place called Paradise. Now if you remember when Jesus was being crucified, the thief on the cross. I man who said he deserved to be crucified Amanda, but we with a terrible set, said the Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom and Jesus said to him what this day you will be with me in paradise didn't say no you know you can go simmer for 10,000 years, and of people light enough candles and give enough money, they might be able to get you out. He said this day. Nothing was ever meant to deserve a purgatorial experience should be this guy.

But Jesus is no you put your faith in me this day you will be with me. He says in paradise. So when ends up happening is is that when Abraham says this chasm is fixed.

There are no other chances. The culture in which Jesus and of the similar wires, but our culture spends an awful lot of time doing everything it can to diminish the consequences of rejecting Christ. I pray you don't do that. There are all kinds of things of the culture says one would be this that them. Some people have what I've heard people say this, you know, if I ever went to hell would be relief from how terrible my life. It will be so much infinitely worse than your life no matter what it was and is not only infinitely worse, a place of torment in agony, it's eternal last forever and never stops.

The war never dies. Jesus said it will never die. Second, you hear people say this, that hell is just a figment of your imagination. It's all based on fear 12. It's a figment of imagination is a figment of Jesus Christ. Imagination, not mine and I know enough about Christ to know is not afraid of anything. So you had no fear.

This is not a figment of Jesus is imagination. It is made up thoroughly when you hear often is. I'll be fine.

Or him to be with all my friends.

It's going to be great and I was just like wall get together will spend eternity either in Bourbon Street or Vegas to see all of it was just have fun will be together every inference that I see in the word of God about hell is it's always in solitude and not in a big group and I cannot party on Bourbon Street see that something we make up. I think sometimes to your people say well how could a. How could a loving God send anyone okay.

That may seem like a makes a little sense. He is a loving God. That's why he sent his son into the world he sent his son, he sent his son to die for every single person on earth he died for the sins of the world. That's a loving God, not the people in the world I want to reject bad you see that's up to them, but the say he's unloving because everyone should go to heaven in spite of their sin is not true. You see, I think that becomes a problem. I can remember years ago reading CS Lewis and I've always remembered it because I thought it was so clear. CS Lewis said that heaven is full of people who look to God and say your will be done. And hell is full of people that God looks to them and says you will be done. Usually that's the choice that you have each and every one of us. You make the wrong choice.

There is no escape notice, then what the man does verse 27 it says and he said then I beg you, father, that you send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers in order that he may warn them so that they will not.

He said also come to this place of torment. Take Lazarus and send them back its order takes on an evangelistic idea. You see from this point of view there block prison New Testament Greek Prof. Dallas in his commentary on Luke writes this, the rich man does not give up. He suggest trying a sign. He seems to argue that the word of God is not enough but a message from the dead would be more convincing. The reply is equally clear revelation is better than a sign of God's prophetic work and cannot convince her put a crack and do a hard heart. Neither will miracles only an open heart sees the evidence of God's presence and hears his voice. Notice the response that Abraham gives to that request. Abraham said they have Moses and the prophets, he said, let them hear them. Your Testaments clear on this. It's the word of God. He then says, but he said no father Abraham.

If someone goes to them from the dead. Philip had been in. Abraham says but he said to them if they will not listen to Moses and the prophets. They will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead by the way that someone of a rise in the dead and the bottom it ever ended they accept and then they did not remember they even tried to bribe the guards and say that they came in stolen because they didn't want to deal with all the rejection of Christ, and he says that the word of God is what the site if you are a born again Christian.

The reason you're a Christian I'm a Christian, somebody told you were told me what the word of God says somebody told me the word of God says on the center somebody told me that the wages of my sin is death. You see somebody told me that God sent his son to die for me. Somebody told me if I put my faith in him. Somebody told you the same thing and I decided I'm going to believe that but you always have the choice that you can reject it as well. You see, what does the word of God say go with me to John chapter 10 John chapter 10 verse nine, Jesus speaking. He makes a picture of himself and this is what he says again, I am the door. All of us know what a Doris right we know why we use Doris right you open the door you go through your and the other side. He said I am the door. If anyone got a select group anyone. If anyone enters through me. He will be saved. That's what it says.

If anyone enters through me. He will be safe. As a matter who it is, but I'm the door. Notice all the way over at the verse 28 he says and I give eternal life to them and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my I do them on pastoral on the radio ministry or fellowship nor if you ever missed one of our broadcasting or maybe you just like the message one more time. Remember that you can do a great website called one place.com that's one place.com and you can listen to Fellowship in the Word online event website you will find on today's broadcast but also many of our previous audio programs as well have Fellowship in the Word. We are thankful for those who financially support our ministry and make this broadcast possible. We ask all of our listeners to prayerfully consider how you might help his radio ministry continuous forecast on this radio station by supporting monthly fourth is the one-time gift support for ministry can be sent to Fellowship in the Word. 4600 Clearview Pkwy., Metairie, LA 7006 if you would be interested in hearing today's message in its original format that is is a sermon, the pastor will deliver during a Sunday morning service at Fellowship Bible church visit our website FVC Nola.org that SBC 10 oh LA.O RG at our website you will find hundreds pastoral sermon you can browse through our sermon archives defined sensors are looking for, or you can search by title. Once you find the method you're looking for an online, or if you prefer, you can download the sermon and listening and remembering all this absolutely free of charge. Once again our website is FVC Nola.org for pastoral gift card injuries and heart. Thank you for listening to fellowship in order