By: Robert Serreyn
Question? I’m not really sure here about Luke 16:25 is saying, and does it have anything to do with being saved or not, Your kind reply is much appreciated, thanks?
Luke 16:25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
Answer: The answer to the second part of your question is NO.
NOTHING that you do or do not do determines if a person is saved or not, to say that it does would be adding works, human merit, etc. to the Gospel.
The answer you are seeking, I believe, that Luke 16:25 is simply saying is this…
The Rich Man as a UNSAVED person enjoyed the only heaven (receivedst thy good things) that he would know while he was alive.
Lazarus as a SAVED person suffered the only torment (likewise evil things) that he would know during his earthly life.
In Matthew 19:24 Jesus said…
And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
The simple reason to that is… Money and earthly possesions is their god.
Jesus also said in Matthew 6:21…
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Then Jesus concluded in V24 of Matthew Chapter 6…
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
In Conclusion:
The bottom line here is this… The rich man DID NOT trust Christ and his payment for his sins.
The rich man died in unbelief, he committed the ONLY unpardonable sin that there is (read Q & A #41), which is, dying WITHOUT having trusted Jesus Christ as savior.
Every person that dies WITHOUT Christ goes to the same place where the rich man is now (read Q & A #140) in a place called hell. Please, whatever you do, DO NOT let that be you in all seriousness.
The MOST IMPORTANT thing to know IS Jesus Christ as savior, just simply believe that Jesus Christ went to the cross and DIED and shed his blood, was BURIED and three days later RESURRECTED from the dead to pay for your sins.
The moment that you do YOU HAVE (at that second and forever) Everlasting Life which WILL NEVER be taken away no matter what.
-Christ DIED for you – Romans 5:8
-Christ PAID your sins in full – 2 Corinthians 5:21,1 Peter 2:24
-BELIEVE (Trust In Completely) in Christ ALONE as the complete payment of sin for salvation – John 3:16, Acts 16:31, Ephesians 2:8,9
“For the wages(payment) of sin is death (eternal torment in hell); but the GIFT(salvation) of God is eternal life THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord”. Romans 6:23
IT IS THAT SIMPLE – THE GOSPEL TRUTH