And please just open our eyes to behold bunch of things out of your law God and do you see me pray man?
Amen, okay, we're in Luke chapter 16 and the title my sermon this morning is dispelling myths about Abraham's bosom
Dispelling myths about Abraham's bosom now
Abraham's bosom is a real place. It actually exists. The difference is this is that it's it's it's on Abraham's chest
Okay, it's literally something that he has on himself
Okay, and what I'm saying is this is that Abraham's bosom is not some second secret compartment
That's across the street from hell according to the dispensationalist and that's what I'm going to talk about
This morning now
I feel kind of silly even having to preach something like this obviously because it's it's it should be something that's really well known
And we know what this is referring to but the reality is this is that we never want to take for granted
Doctrines that we think that everyone knows, you know, you understand we never want to have this attitude
Well, doesn't everyone knows this or doesn't everyone have this view doesn't everyone already believe this isn't everyone already keen to this idea
And the answer is no, you know as our church continues to reach new people
We get new people saved and even people who have been listening to myself or preachers
That are my friends and pastors of like you'd be surprised how much people just don't know and it's not because they're just not keen
To these doctrines. It just means that you know
There's an array of different subjects in the Bible that we need to continually refresh and understand because if not we can forget them
Okay. Now this matter of Abraham's bosom stems from the false doctrine of
Dispensationalism. Okay, and I don't have time to develop what dispensationalism is because of the fact that it's a monster with many heads
You understand it has many heads many false doctrines
And of course one of the main false doctrines of dispensationalism the damnable aspect of dispensationalism is this teaching that there's dispensational
Salvations there's different ways of getting saved throughout the ages. That's what they teach
They'll say that people were saved through keeping the law and faith in the Old Testament
Now we're in the dispensation of grace where people are just saved by faith alone in the book of Revelation in the end times people
Will get saved by doing works in the end now, that's obviously a false doctrine
but in order to prop that up, there's all types of subcategories of
Dispensationalism that basically helped prop up that false teaching. Okay, and this is actually one of them
All right
now let me explain to you the story of
Lazarus and the rich man and then we'll get into
Dispelling the myths that are top using this portion of scripture look at verse 19
If you would it says there was a certain rich man
Which was clothed in purple and fine linen and fares sumptuously every day
And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus which was laid at his gate full of sores and
Desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table
Moreover the docks came and licked his sores and he came to pass that the beggar died and was carried by the angels into Abraham's
bosom the rich man also died and was buried and in hell he lift up his eyes being in torments and
Seeth Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom
Now the first thing I want to point out is that this isn't a parable
Now what is a parable a parable is an illustration? It's kind of like a made-up story. That's meant to
Demonstrate some sort of spiritual truth or doctrine
It's kind of just an illustration symbolic representation of something something that is made up not necessarily
There's something that actually happened. This is not a parable. This is something that actually happened
Okay, it's the first time that happened and it's the last time that it's ever happened as well
Now the reason it's important to emphasize that is because I guarantee if you go to Barnes & Noble
You will find in the religious section some person saying that they went to hell and they came back and they saw all kinds of
Stuff and they went to heaven. They had all these visions false never happened. Well, it happened here. Yeah, but this is God's Word
The books that you find at Barnes & Noble are people that are trying to make money off of people and so they make up
These stories. Okay. So this is an actual story that took place in
In history
Were for the only time in history God actually allowed someone in hell
To kind of give their testimony so to speak which is pretty amazing if you think about it
This is the only time we will ever hear a voice from hell
Speak and give a testification of his torment and the place where he is at
Okay, and so he's tormented in the flame. This is referring to the rich man now
Another thing that I want you to notice is the fact that it doesn't necessarily say why
Lazarus is in is in heaven and why the rich man is in hell
And the reason it doesn't say is because of the fact that we already know why
Okay
Because some will say well, you know, it's because he was humble
It's because of the works that he did and the reason the rich man died and went to hell
It's because he fared sumptuously and they'll try to add some sort of false doctrine some workspace salvation to it
But the reality is this is that the reason it doesn't explicitly say why they're in heaven or why they're in hell is because the
Rest of the Bible explicitly says why people go to heaven and why people go to hell
So based upon what we're looking at here we can say Oh
Lazarus was a safe person. This is a person who is saved. He believed on the Lord Jesus Christ
He trusted him for salvation. He believed in the eternal security. That's why he's in heaven
Oh the rich man is in hell not because he's rich
But because it's hard for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God because they trust in the riches
They don't trust in Jesus Christ
You know a lot of people in this world who have money and they're wealthy doesn't mean it's impossible for them to be saved
But typically people like that are very prideful and a prerequisite for salvation is humility
You have to recognize that you can't get yourself to heaven your money can't get you to heaven
You have to place your faith in Jesus Christ for salvation. Okay, and
So that's a couple things that I wanted to point out there it says in verse 26 and beside all this oh
I'm sorry verse 25
but Abraham said son remember that thou in thy lifetime receiveth thy good things and
Likewise Lazarus evil things but now he is comforted and thou are tormented
Another thing I want you to notice is the fact that Abraham is speaking to someone in hell. And what does he call him son?
right now
Obviously he's referring to what a Jew
Cuz you know the the the rich man is speaking to
Abraham saying father Abraham
Now this person is not saved. So this is referring to the fact that he's a physical descendant of Abraham
you know and this person, you know is a physical descendant of Abraham Abraham is
Physically, you know his his patriarch, you know the of his family physically, but he's not saved
So what does this tell us it tells us that?
Jews even if they are physically descended from Abraham don't get into heaven based upon being a son of Abraham physically
Because we have a clear example of someone here who's in hell even though he's a son of Abraham
Well, he's not really a son. Well Abraham said son
son, okay
Abraham said son remember that thou in thy lifetime receiveth thy good things and likewise Lazarus evil things
But he is comforted and thou are tormented
He's basically saying this is the reason
You know one of the reasons why you're burning in hell is like think about all the good and comfort
Comforting things that you had and you were rich and fair sumptuously now the tables have turned verse 26 and beside all this
Between us and you there is a great gulf fixed
So that they which would pass from hence to you cannot neither can they pass to us that would come from thence now
What is that verse talking about? What is it? What does it mean? Okay
Well, he's saying that there's a great gulf fixed between heaven and hell okay now the dispensationalist will teach you in
fact, let's let's start drawing here I'm gonna I
Put we put up this board here I was inspired by Robert breaker
Okay
So and I'm not a dispensationalist by any stretch of the imagination
So I have to borrow Clarence Larkin's chart here
Who's currently in the same place there the rich man is okay. All right
So what you have here according to the dispensation man, that's ugly
So this is what they'll tell you okay
According to them you have a
compartment here
First of all, this is hell
this is where
Robert breaker is going to go
This is Clarence Larkin
All those other guys and
Then you have
Abraham's bosom. Okay, and
This is the basically the the abode of the righteous dead. That's what they call it the abode of the righteous dead
So anybody who died in the Old Testament according to them went to this place here
Okay, and in between you have the Great Gulf fixed some some area where it's just no-man's land
Okay, you have the abyss or excuse me the bottomless pit and then you have
Tartarus
Where all the angels who forsook God actually go to they're reserved in chains of darkness
That's what they say. And then somehow they they say that here is where the lake of fire is. Okay
That makes sense, right? Okay, so you have Abraham's bosom
Sorry for my writing here
You have Abraham's bosom, you know David Abraham Isaac and Jacob
I mean Abraham has a place named after himself and he's this is where he's dwelling according to them
Okay, so they say that when Old Testament Saints perished
They
Went here. Okay. Now according to them. Why did they go here? Why did they just go to heaven?
Well, first of all, let me just explain something to you
Is that this is so stupid because of the fact that in the Bible in the Old Testament you have Elijah going to heaven
He was carried by chariots of fire into heaven
Enoch is in heaven. He was translated that he should not see death
Even though this is called according to them the abode of the righteous dead
The Bible says he was translated that he should not see death you understand and
So according to them all of them went here
when Jesus Christ died
Okay, he came and preached to the spirits in prison and then he took him so right now Abraham's bosom is completely vacant
There's no need for it. If you go there, you know, just a bunch of remnant stuff just you know
You just you're not gonna find anything. Okay, it's just an empty room
Okay
They believe that everyone who's in hell they're gonna be relocated to the lake of fire, etc. Okay
So this is my rendition of dispensational teaching and we'll revisit that in just a bit
So the great goal fix according to them is this space between Abraham's bosom and hell in the center of the earth?
Okay
and
He says beside all this between us and you there is a great goal fix so that they which would pass from hence to you
Cannot hence means from this place, which is the place where he is currently at
Abraham is in heaven and he says no one from this place
Can go over to your place because obviously the rich man is asking for Lazarus to come and dip his finger in water
They may cool his tongue and then he says neither can they pass to us that would come from dense
So what is the the great goal fix according to the Bible? Well, according to the Bible the great goal fix is us
It's where we're currently at right now
It's earth it's the physical realm, okay
this is what separates heaven from hell you understand and
People who are here can go to heaven and people from here can go to hell you understand
And so the great goal fix is this gap between the spiritual realms of heaven and hell
And that's what he's referring to. He's like there's a great goal fix
No one from where I'm at can go to you and vice-versa, okay
He says in verse 27, then he said I pray thee therefore father that thou would have sent him to my father's house
So he's saying okay. Well, maybe he can go to the physical realm
maybe the writ our Lazarus can go to the physical realm and preach to my
You know preach to my my father's house etc
Okay verse 28 for I have five brethren that he may testify to them lest they also come into the place of torment
Abraham sent it to them
They have Moses and the prophets let them hear them and he said nay father Abraham, but if one went up from the dead
They will repent and he sent him if they will not hear Moses and the prophets neither
Will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead now? We obviously see where he's going with this, right?
He's basically saying hey, Jesus is gonna rise from the dead
Jesus is gonna rise from the dead and
They're not gonna believe if they don't believe Moses in the prophets
they're not gonna believe even if someone rose from the dead whether it was Lazarus because the fact is
Jesus will rise from the dead and people still won't believe on him
They're saying if you're not willing to believe the Word of God
What he what he wrote
Then they're not gonna believe Jesus Christ
Even if they saw him in the flesh and the Bible says he came into his own his own received him not
Okay
Why well Jesus said if you would have believed me you would believe Moses for he wrote of me
So this is an amazing story here now
Here's the thing the question is this, you know
We obviously know that this doctrine of Abraham's bosom the second compartment of hell is completely wrong
But there is this question though. Why did God choose?
to state that
Lazarus went to Abraham's bosom
Like he was carried by the angels
Into Abraham's bosom
Doesn't say he carried him to the Lord
You know, he didn't carry him to God
He literally specifically picked out Abraham
I mean has anyone ever thought of that?
Because it's kind of one of those things like man if it wouldn't have said that we would have so much more ground or something
You know, then we could have made a way better argument or something
But why does it say that Lazarus was carried into Abraham's bosom what I'm gonna explain to you what that is at the end of the sermon
So so stay awake, okay
Now go with me if you would to Acts chapter 2 Acts chapter 2 if you would
so this story is simply here to emphasize and show us the fact that hell is real heaven is real and
really the the main
Emphasis of this story is to show us that even if people saw Jesus Christ rise from the dead. They're still not gonna believe I
Believe that's the main reason of this teaching here. Okay, and
Basically show, you know because a lot of people like well, I just want to see God
Oh, yeah, if I see God, I'll believe false
God was here on this earth for 33 years and there's people who not only did not believe on him, but they actually crucified him
So this also shows us that in the end times, you know, even when Jesus Christ comes every eye shall see him
There's still gonna be people who reject him because seeing is not believing folks
You have to place your faith on the Bible place your faith in the Word of God and even after salvation
We still have to place our faith in the Word of God when we don't understand certain passages
Right, you know there's times in the Bible where God actually leaves room for doubt. Did you know that?
There's actually times in the Bible. He will play some sort of miracle
That can actually sometimes be excused away
You know why because God is not trying to validate himself to a lost and dying world
He's trying to get a lost and dying world to just believe the Bible
And if someone chooses not to believe the Bible and make excuses for the miracles and make excuses for all these things
You know what? God is like so be it
Because we need to just believe the Bible by faith and trust what it says is true, etc
Okay
and so that's the main teaching of Luke chapter 16 the latter end of Luke chapter 16 is the fact that
Even though Jesus Christ rose from the dead. There's still people. I mean think about this you have the Pharisees after he resurrected
Knowing that he resurrected and still lying about it. They're after and say well
We'll just say that his disciples stole his body away or something like that, you know
Alright, so myth number one regarding Abraham's bosom. First of all, Abraham's bosom is referring to his chest. Okay, we obviously understand that
Myth number one is that Abraham's bosom is also referred to as hell in the Bible
Because they have to kind of try to excuse us away
So what the dispensationalist will say is that well anytime the Bible talks about hell you or
Hades or Sheol, you know Sheol is just actually referring to Abraham's bosom
Hades is actually referring to hell but the King James Bible just says hell
So we just got to read it in its context and the context is this when you read Luke 16, it's referring to
Abraham's bosom the second compartment of hell where the righteous dead go
Because they add the context you understand
Now here's the thing. Is that
Study the word hell in the Bible
Look at every time hell is mentioned in the Bible. It's never a good thing
Never people are weeping and wailing and gnashing their teeth. It's a place where
God's nostrils kindles the fires of hell
It's a place where people go to be tormented
It's a place where the Bible says that the wicked go to be punished with everlasting punishment
Doesn't sound like a place where righteous people go
Now
You say well
Why do they try to use that and say that other times when hell is mentioned is referring to Abraham's bosom
I'll tell you why because of the fact that Acts chapter 2 says what?
My soul referring to Jesus was not left in hell neither did his flesh see corruption
That's why and they reject the doctrine that Jesus Christ wants to help for three days in three nights to pay for our sins
They reject that
So they have to try to excuse it away and say well when the Bible says that his soul was not left in hell
See hell in that context is actually referring to Abraham's bosom. You know, he wasn't left in Abraham's bosom
He wasn't left in that second compartment hell. Of course. He didn't go to hell to burn in flames
You know the King James just got it wrong or something like that now
Here's the thing, you know
Let these hyper dispensationalists who don't use the King James Bible let them teach that and believe that
But it's a shame
when independent fundamental Baptists who are supposedly King James only
Teach that because then they're just making excuses for the King James Bible. I
Mean that's an important point there
because they're basically if you don't believe that you're basically saying that the King James translators got it wrong in Acts chapter 2 and
Every other portion of Scripture where hell supposedly means Abraham's bosom the eternal, you know
The the the abode of the righteous dead you understand no
Let's just believe the Bible and if the Bible says that Jesus went to hell that that's what it says
And look that's not the only portion of Scripture that we have to back up that
doctrine there's plenty of other scriptures where Jesus said himself as Jonas was three days and three nights in the heart of it and the
whale's belly
So shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth and when you reference that with Jonas
Chapter 2 Jonas says that he was in hell
Now and we obviously understand that he wasn't in hell. He was in the whale's belly
But it was a prophetic statement made of Jesus Christ who did go to hell
What is it that he ascended but that he first descended into the lower parts of the earth?
Every sacrifice not every sacrifice but many of the sacrifices in the Old Testament were burned with fire folks
Okay, this is one of the reasons why the glorified Christ in Revelation chapter 1 has feet as brass as though they burned
in a furnace
Because that's what actually took place folks
Okay, and so, you know to say that oh, it's blasphemy to say no
It's actually blasphemy to say that Jesus Christ went to hell and stayed in hell
Which is what the Jews actually teach
Okay, you read the Talmud and they believe that Jesus Christ is currently in hell today
Burning not just in fire. No. No folks. They took it a step further burning in his own escriment
For being a sorcerer a blasphemer a false prophet they give them names of false prophets in the Old Testament
They believe the Jews believe those who adhere to the Talmud who embraced the Talmud believe that he's actually burning in hell right now
Okay, and it's funny because the dispensational is love the Jews, right?
They they I mean
Dispensationalism is all about the Jews
right
It's all about the Jews so they claim that what we believe is blasphemous because we believe he went to hell for three days and
three nights as the scripture hath said
But they see nothing wrong with their beloved Jews believing that Jesus Christ is currently in hell right now burning in his own
Escriment for his treachery and his sorcery and all that
Birds of a feather flock together folks
Okay, no Abraham's bosom is not hell hell is a place where people weep and wail and gnash their teeth now
Let me just explain something to you. Okay in the Old Testament in the Hebrew language, obviously shield. Okay, not shield
but shield is
Referring to hell New Testament Hades is referring to hell Guyana is referring to the lake of fire
Okay. Now what is the difference between Guyana and Hades?
nothing
practically
Because you burn in Hades and you burn in Guyana
One is the lake of fire and one is hell and here's the common denominator fire
eternal damnation and
Anybody who's in Hades now the current location of hell will be relocated to the lake of fire because there's just more souls
You know, they it's it's getting there's too many too many souls in the current hell
And so it needs to be relocated to the lake of fire
Okay
But here's the problem of the dispensationalist is because the Bible uses synonyms somehow that synonym for this particular word
Has to mean something completely different
You understand what I'm saying?
It's like just because she'll is named Hades in the New Testament or Guyana in the New Testament as well
That somehow that has to mean something different just because Peter used Tartarus in
Second Peter somehow that has to mean the Tartarus is just a different place
It can't be held. No, it's hell
Okay, we have different words for hell we have synonyms in the in the English language that describe the same exact thing
You know, that's how the Bible works as well
Okay, the Bible is actually very an intelligent book that tries to increase your learning and understanding and intelligence
It doesn't seek to use the same word over and over again
In fact, it will often use one word in a synonym in the same verse in order to define that word
Okay
Look at Acts chapter 2 and
Verse 25 says for David speaketh concerning him
I foresaw the Lord always before my face for he is on my right hand that I should not be moved
Therefore did my heart rejoice and my tongue was glad
Moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope because thou will not leave my soul in hell
Neither will thou suffer thine holy one to see
Corruption thou has made known to me the ways of life thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance
So this is a prophetic statement of Jesus Christ written by King David in the book of Psalms
We obviously understand that David didn't go to hell
You know Jonathan didn't go to hell
These are prophetic statements of Jesus Christ because he actually went to hell for us for three days and three nights
It's not hard to believe we see it in the Word of God
There's plenty of examples of that go to 1st Peter chapter 3
So according to them Abraham's bosom is the righteous abode is excuse me
Abode of the righteous dead
So according to the dispensation is people who have died in Christ are considered dead in the eyes of God
The problem is that Jesus said that God is not the God of the dead but of the living
He doesn't consider people who are currently in hell as being dead
In fact, most of the time he just considers them as being asleep
right
He considers them alive. In fact, I would even go as far as to say that they're more alive than you and I are today
Because we still have the corruptible flesh that's dead. We still have sin present with us
They you know, we have the presence of sin
We have the old man, whereas those who are in heaven today are freed from that
They no longer have sin present with them. They no longer have to struggle with the sins of the flesh
They are alive forevermore. You understand?
Obviously with the with the element of the resurrected body still absent at this time because the rapture has not yet taken place
And so myth number one Oh Abraham's bosom is hell wrong Abraham's bosom is a man's chest
Hell is a place where people go and burn forever and they never come out of that. Okay, and
Look, I encourage you go study hell in the Bible. Just look up every time hell is mentioned and tell me if
It's ever mentioned in a good manner
Tell me if it's ever mentioned in a positive light
Tell me if it's ever mentioned with someone who is a believer going there and coming out never happened
Myth number two Abraham's bosom is a holding cell for Old Testament believers
Look at what I have you turn they have a turn anywhere first Peter go to first Peter chapter 3
It's crazy the mental gymnastics that dispensationalist would try to make you do in order to believe their doctrine
Okay
Because they have this entire theatrical scene. We're like when Jesus Christ dies
He goes into Abraham's bosom and he preaches to them
Okay
now look at the button this and this is their text verse look at first Peter chapter 3 verse 17 for it is better if the
Will of God be so that you suffer for well-doing than for evildoing
For Christ also has once suffered for sins the just for the unjust
That he might bring us to God being put to death in the flesh but quickened by the Spirit by which also
He went and preached unto the spirits in prison, okay
So they'll use this verse to say yeah
well
This is proof that when he died he went to he went to Abraham's bosom and they had like a revival service or something like
That where he's like preaching to them now
There is a wide spectrum of what people believe actually took place when he went to Abraham's bosom
Because when you ask the hyper dispensationalist, they'll say well he went there to basically get them saved
Okay
and
When you ask the mild dispensationalists our beloved brethren who are fundamental Baptists who don't go all the way to dispensational salvation
He just says they'll say well
He just preached the spirits in prison and just kind of released them and brought them with them has nothing to do with salvation
Or anything like that. Okay, but this is the this is the first they'll use
In fact when I was in Bible college
I remember teachers using this to say as proof that Abraham's bosom was a prison for
Old Testament believers now, let me ask you this. Why are they being in prison for?
What crimes have they committed I
Mean is this communism is what what what what are they teaching here where they're going to prison for for being saved
They're going to prison because they're God's people. I mean, what is the deal here? Okay
Now let me explain to you what this particular verse is talking about
He says in verse 18
For Christ also once had suffered for sins that just for the unjust that he might bring us to God
Being put to death in the flesh but quickened by the Spirit
Brought to life by the Spirit quicken means being brought to life, right?
And he says being quickened by the Spirit by which also he went and preached into the spirits in prison
So by the Spirit of God, he went to go preach to the spirits in prison. Does that make sense?
Now go with me if you would to Luke chapter number four Luke chapter number four
Because even though we know that that teaching is very stupid
Okay holds no basis in Scripture. We do have to explain what that means, right? I
Mean, we're not gonna be like these other guys. It's like that's false and they're just not explained the verse
Let's go to the verses that they use. I love using the Bible not afraid of any scripture
What is he talking about?
Well, look at Luke chapter 4 verse 17 and there was delivered unto him referring to Jesus the book of the prophet of Zias
And when he had opened the book he found the place where it was written the Spirit of the Lord is upon me
Because he had no anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor. He had sent me to heal the brokenhearted
to preach deliverance to the captives and
Recovering of sight to the blind to set at liberty them that are bruised the Bible says
So what is he talking about? He's referring to the fact that
he came to this earth to
Release us of
Satan's captivity
Because anybody who's not saved is under
the captivity of Satan
Right. I mean doesn't the Bible say that Satan is the god of this world who hath blinded the minds of them
Which believed not lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ who is the image of God should shine unto them
You know Satan is the god of this world, you know
The people who are not saved are Gordon going according to the course of this world
They're under in a sense the control of Satan where they just believing a lie
they're held captive you understand and
So when we go on and preach the gospel
Yeah, we're preaching to the body but more specifically we're preaching to the spirit that abides in the body
You understand so when the Bible says that he went to preach to preach to the spirits in prison
He's referring to he's preaching to the unsaved people
He's going to relieve them
Release them of their captivity. That's what it's referring to and look folks that I mean, what do we call evangelism in our church?
soul winning
We don't call it body winning
Why do we call it soul winning? We call it soul winning because we're winning their souls to Christ
Because the emphasis is on the spiritual aspect
Understanding that the body doesn't necessarily matter. It's the spirit that matters
We want to quicken the spirit by the Spirit of God by preaching the gospel unto them
This is the emphasis that God is placing here that he went to go preach to the spirits of prison
Well, this whole world is in prison by Satan himself
Okay
it doesn't mean that you know that Jesus Christ went to Abraham's bosom and
He gathered everyone together and he just preached this great sermon to them
And then you know some of them are like, I don't believe you. I think I'm gonna stay here, you know
And others are like this is great. This is the greatest sermon I've ever heard
Folks we can literally
Compare Luke chapter 4 and say that he's referring to the spirits in prison
Now, let me ask you this
When do they believe he went to the spirits in prison and Abraham's bosom? When do they believe that he went there?
When he died, right?
Well, look what Luke chapter 4 says
Verse 19 to preach the acceptable. Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't even put the verse here
Let me let me go here first Luke chapter 4
Verse 17 says verse 18
Says the Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor
He has sent me to heal the broken-hearted to preach deliverance to the captives and recovering of the sight to the blind
to set a liberty them that are bruised to preach the acceptable year of the Lord and he closed the book and he gave it
against in the minister and sat down and the eyes of them that were
In the synagogue were fastened on him and he began to say to them this day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears? Oh
So according to this portion of Scripture he preached to the spirits in prison when he died no, he preached it this day
Showing us the timeline
Proving to us that this is not referring to
Abraham's bosom the second compartment this you know this
spirit revival taking place in the center of the earth I
Mean you think it gets hot in here during the summer when we're having a church service imagine having a church service down there
So
Myth number two Abraham's bosom is a holding cell for Old Testament believers
And again, the reason they have to teach that is because they believe in something called dispensational salvation
and let me just make myself very clear that the Bible teaches that salvation has always been the same from Old Testament to New Testament and
They here's the thing. This is how deceitful and cunning these these dispensations like Robert breaker and Gene Kim are they'll say
Well, that's what we're saying too. We're just saying that they were saved by faith and by works in the Old Testament
Okay
For example, Gene Kim says they were saved by faith. They were saved by works in the old
They're saved by doing the animal sacrifices and they'll point to scriptures like like Leviticus where it says that they made a sacrifice
to atone for their souls
Okay, and it's like there you go, you know, they to atone for the soul to do this
But what they fail to understand folks and this is very important and I know this aspect of the sermon is not as interesting
But it's important for you to know. Okay, because people can get mixed up on this
in the Old Testament
Sacrifices were made to atone for the sins of that day
This is why sacrifices were made on a daily basis
right
so
morning and
Evening there's this constant sacrifices were being made because people sin every single day
So it was meant to atone for the sins of the body that what you did that day
That was the practice that they had in those days was to do these animal sacrifices to atone
Now Gene Kim because he doesn't know the Bible
We'll say well no that was for their salvation. Whereas when you read Hebrews chapter 10
It literally says that it's impossible that the blood of bulls and goats can take away sin
Right
So, how do you explain that when the Bible literally says it is impossible
That the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins folks. We have to reconcile scriptures here and
the reconciliation of what we see in the book of Hebrews and what we're looking at in the book of Leviticus is the fact when
The Bible says that sacrifices were made to atone for the sins of the soul
To make atonement for the soul. The soul is actually referring to a body
No
The soul is the spirit. Yeah, I agree but in context it's actually referring to the body
Because there's other laws in the Old Testament in Leviticus
Where the Bible talks about if a soul touched any unclean thing and it's not talking about astral projection either
like they're just like the spirit comes out as like
The soul is just referring to the body
This is why Abraham when he left he talks about him bringing the souls with him
It's referring to the people who actually had a body
He's not like I mean, he's not like a ghostbuster or something
Where he's going around capturing spirits or something like that
if it says souls referring to the body as well, okay, and
Here's the thing I can explain to you Leviticus, but you know what Gene Kim can do he can't explain to you what Hebrew says
Because false prophets ignore the Bible and stick to they are the ones who actually cherry-pick
Whereas what do we do? We go to James chapter 2 we go to Matthew chapter 7
We go to the scriptures that they use and we actually rightly divide the word of truth
So myth number 2 Abraham's bosom is a holding cell for Old Testament believers wrong Old Testament believers went to heaven
Just like everyone else when they died, okay
This is why they can't explain why Elijah actually went to heaven in chariots of fire
They can't explain why Enoch actually was translated into the kingdom of God that he should not see death
I can't explain those. They just said those are isolated incidents or something
Go to Luke chapter 23
Luke chapter 23
Myth number 3 Abraham's bosom was paradise located in the center of the earth
So they believe when the Bible talks about paradise is actually referring to Abraham's bosom
Now these guys would make horrible travel agents because it's like they call Abraham's bosom prison
But they also call it paradise
Doesn't sound very nice
How can something that's prison be paradise?
I don't want to go there
It's like you're going to prison, but you know, we call it paradise though
You know, we serve crackers and you know, you'll you just have to wait for a couple thousand years until the Lord comes or something
Now, why do they call it paradise?
Well, look at Luke chapter 23 verse 39
It says in one of the male factors which were hanged railed on him saying if thou be Christ
Save thyself and us
But the other answering rebuked him saying does not thou fear God seeing thou art in the same condemnation
And we indeed justly for we received the due reward of our deeds
But this man hath done nothing amiss and he said unto Jesus Lord remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom by the way
Side note here. This isn't the sermon but this is this man calling upon the name of the Lord
Okay
Verse 43 says in Jesus said unto him barely I say unto thee today shall thou be with me in paradise
Now, let me just say this. Okay, because I'm willing to say this because of the fact that I believe the Bible
I'm confident what I believe this is actually their strongest point that I would say that they have
This is their strongest proof
Okay, it's still false. I'm explaining to you what it means, but this would be considered one of the strongest
Evidences of Abraham's bosom it can be considered that why well because of the fact that it says today thou shalt be with me in paradise
Well, how do we reconcile that with the fact that the Bible says that that day Jesus Christ actually went to hell?
That he died and he went to hell right so you can say well they have a valid point there, right?
now go with me if you would to
Ephesians chapter 4
And then we're gonna go to 2nd Corinthians chapter 12
So he says to them today thou shalt be with me in
Paradise and they'll say you see this is proof that he went to
Abraham's bosom because this guy was saved he's calling it paradise and that day is when he that guy went there
That's what they'll say now. It's false, right?
Let's look at some scriptures here before I go on to explain it says in Ephesians 4 verse 8
Wherefore he saith when he ascended up on high and led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men
Now that he ascended what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth
He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens that he might fill all things go with him
If you would to 2nd Corinthians
Chapter 12 so here it says that he first descended into the lower parts of the earth our
Interpretation based upon clear scriptures is that this is referring to the fact that he went to hell since hell is in the center of
the earth
Their interpretation will be well, this is referring to paradise Abraham's bosom
I'm gonna reach you from Revelation 2 verse 6 it says but this thou hast that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans
Which I also hate he that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches to him that overcometh
Will I give to eat of the tree of life listen to this which is in the midst of the paradise of God
So when you study paradise more often than not
it's in context of something that's in the presence of God and
That would actually make a lot of sense
Because where God is is paradise
right
Abraham's bosom
false advertisement
Right presence of God definitely paradise. Okay. Look at 2nd Corinthians 12 verse 4
Verse 1 it is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord
I knew a man in Christ above 14 years ago whether in the body
I cannot I cannot tell or whether out of the body
I cannot tell God knoweth such in one caught up to the third heaven
And I knew such a man whether in the body or out of the body
I cannot tell God knoweth how that he was caught up into paradise
So a couple of factors that we need to take into account is that he simultaneously
Uses caught up into paradise in verse 4 with being caught up to the third heaven in verse 2
so paradise in the third heaven are one in the same and
Here's another proof where or this this also shows us the location of paradise because he says he was what caught up
Not caught down
The angels carried him up to Abraham's bosom not shove them down
Right, they didn't like let him down
How that he was caught up into paradise and heard unspeakable words, which is not lawful for man to utter
So let me explain something to you when when studying scripture
portions of the Bible
verses doctrines
When one portion of Scripture seems to be a little obscure and cannot be defined well in in of itself
You go to other portions to define it for you
So for example if you run into a scripture in the Bible
That might seem to elude that salvation is by works
We obviously know that it's not but you know
Maybe it's worded in such a way that you can see how people can extrapolate that from that portion of Scripture
Do we base our doctrine off of that obscure Scripture no you go to other clear Scriptures you go to other nine Scriptures
That coincide one with another and that are clear and you define the obscure Scripture based upon that which is clear that make sense
So if we want to know what paradise is according to the Bible
We can't necessarily define it by Luke the book of Luke where he's telling the thief on the cross
Today thou shalt be with me in paradise
What we can do though is go to these other portion of scriptures where paradise is actually being described and defined and say okay
That's what Jesus was referring to
Okay
Do not make scriptures based off of some obscure scripture
That's what false prophets do and no prophecy of the scripture is given of any private interpretation
So when someone tries to give you a private interpretation and say well Luke, you know is actually talking about Abraham's bosom
But everywhere else yeah, it's that definition wrong. There's no private interpretation
Okay
Now what does today that shall be with me in paradise me, okay, well, let me explain to you this
Jesus when he says this and listen to this he's speaking from the perspective of his omnipresence
This is one of the few times that he's actually doing that oh
That's a that's a weak argument. It's a weak argument to say that God is omnipresent
Is he not allowed to speak from the perspective of his omnipresence
Of course he's allowed to do that. He's God
So he's speaking from the perspective of his omnipresence because here's the thing folks
You know for them to say oh, no, this is referring to Abraham's bosom. Okay. I see what you said there
Here's one for you. What about when he died? He said into thy hands. I commend my spirit
And where's God he's in heaven. So explain that dipstick
but
You know how we can explain it that he's that he is giving this statement from the perspective of his omnipresence
Which should actually fit the context of the Godhead of the Bible in general?
So nervous no, he went to paradise and paradise is Abraham's bosom. Okay
Well, you do want to ignore the fact that he said into thy hands referring to his father who is in heaven
I commend my spirit
No folks the way we reconcile this is by recognizing that he is speaking from the perspective of his omnipresence
Go with me if you would to Luke
Or excuse me, John chapter 3 John chapter 3
There were times in Jesus ministry where obviously he spoke from his earthly perspective
Okay, but there are other times when he didn't and he's allowed to do that
Look at John chapter 3 verse 11 verily verily
I say into thee we speak that we do know and testify that we have seen and ye receive not our witness
If I have told you earthly things and ye believe not
How shall you believe if I tell you of heavenly things and no man hath ascended up to heaven?
But he that came down from heaven even the Son of Man, which is in heaven
Now
Notice that he says in verse 12 if I have told you of earthly things and you believe not how shall you believe if I?
Tell you of heavenly things
It's like if you can't understand the terrestrial things that I'm talking about
How are you gonna understand the spiritual celestial things and then he hits them with a celestial thing?
Now unrighteous people they're like, I don't understand this
How can that be?
But save righteous people are like, oh, he's speaking from the perspective of his omnipresence
He's saying the Son of Man is in heaven proving his deity because only God is omni present
Go to 1st Samuel chapter 28 1st Samuel chapter 28
So where's paradise it's in heaven
Paradise is in the presence of God. It's not this little lame place right here this hotel for the righteous
Until they can get you know a permanent abode or something like that
Now
1st Samuel, the reason I have you turn to 1st Samuel 28 is because this is a portion of scripture that they'll try to use to
teach Abraham's bosom and this is the story of the witch at Endor and
Saul
summoning, right
Samuel from the dead and
I've heard many people use this as a proof text that Abraham's bosom
Was a literal thing in the center of the earth and this is their proof text. Let's read it verse 7
Then said Saul unto his servant seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit that I may go to her and inquire of her
and his servant said to him behold there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor and
Saul disguised himself and put on other raiment and he went and two men with them
And they came to the woman by night and said I pray thee divine unto me by the familiar spirit and bring me
him up whom I
Shall name unto thee and the woman said unto him behold thou knowest what Saul had hath done
How he hath cut off those that hath familiar spirits in the wizards out of the land
Wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life to cause me to die and
Saul swear to her by the Lord saying as the Lord liveth there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing
Then said the woman whom shall I bring up unto thee and he said bring me up Samuel. So Saul is really desperate here
He's backslidden
God is not with him and the only person that he feels he could rely on is Samuel who's already dead
Okay, he has already passed away he's in heaven and so he's he wants to
Speak to Sam and to get counsel from Samuel by this this wizard this witch, okay
Who hath a familiar spirit this woman who practiced what the Bible also refers to as necromancy. Okay communicating with the dead. Okay
Verse 12 and when the woman saw Samuel
She cried with a loud voice and the woman spake to Saul saying why hast thou deceived me for thou art Saul
And the king said unto her be not afraid for what sawest thou and the woman said unto Saul
I saw God's ascending look what it says out of the earth
Okay
Now people would try to explain and say well
It wasn't really Samuel's a demon. I don't buy that at all
Okay, because Samuel is actually speaking truth here
Okay, and they'll say well, you know, yeah, it's probably Samuel but it's proof that Abraham's bosom exists because he's coming out of the earth
Okay
Now, let me point out a couple things here. This is pretty interesting, right?
This is a very interesting story first and foremost, let me just say this is that this woman I believe is
Has the capability speaking to demons?
Okay, this is why it says that she sees gods coming out of the earth
Lower case G. Okay, but let me ask you this does it say that she sees Samuel coming out of the earth?
No, actually Samuel appears and then thereafter she sees gods coming up out of the earth
so I believe what's taking place here is that she is
Practicing necromancy and thereby demons are coming out of the earth
But God because he's trying to relate to Saul that he's going to die
Allow Samuel to be disquieted and appear to deliver that message unto Saul
Okay
He says and the king said unto her verse 13 be not afraid what saw us down and the woman sent it to Saul
I saw gods is sitting out of the earth and he said unto her
What form is he of and she said an old man cometh up and he is covered with the mantle and Saul perceived that it
Was Samuel and he stooped with his face to the ground and bowed
himself now
Obviously saws not seeing this because even when he's present he's asking the woman what saw style
So he's not viewing
Samuel he's not he's incapable of seeing this but through the woman
He's able to see this and the woman's relaying this message to Saul
But what I want to point out is the fact that this isn't proof that Abraham's bosom exists because it doesn't say
That he came out of the earth
He just appears you understand he appears miraculously
Before the presence of the woman before the presence of Saul in order to relay the message that Saul is going to die
This is not a strong proof text that Abraham's bosom exists and it doesn't even say that Abraham's bosom is even here
Because here's the thing folks it says gods ascending up out of the earth
Well the pair even according to the dispensation is there's no gods in Abraham's bosom
Right
These are God's lowercase G is referring to what Devils
okay, and
So bad portion of scripture to use to try to prove it go to Luke chapter 13 if you would Luke chapter 13
So why is it called
Abraham's bosom, you know, why did God allow that?
Why did he put in Luke 16 that Lazarus was carried?
Into Abraham's bosom thereby given these dipsticks this this this opportunity to teach this false doctrine
You know, I like God knew that they were gonna do this obviously
Okay, and sometimes he just gives them enough rope to hang themselves with
Why does it called Abraham's bosom why did God choose the bosom of Abraham to embrace Lazarus
Well, look at Luke 13 verse 27 if you would
Now if you remember the Last Supper
With
Jesus Christ, he's eating with his disciples and
Who is that one person laying on his bosom? It's John. It's pretty honorable position. Is it not?
To be able to be so close to the Lord during a supper that he can just lean on his bosom
I mean who can say they lean on the bosom of Jesus Christ? I mean, that's great
Look at Luke 13 verse 27, but he shall say I tell you I know you not
I know you not once you are depart from me all ye workers of iniquity
There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth
when you shall see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and
Ye yourselves thrust out and they shall come from the east and from the west and from the north and from the south and shall
Sit down in the kingdom of God and behold there there are last which shall be first and there are first which shall be last
Lazarus was a beggar
Lazarus was nothing in this world. He hold he held no prestigious position
He I mean the only friends he had were the dogs that licked the sores on his body
But yet because he was last here. He was first up there
So think about this
You know to die and be carried into the bosom of Abraham
Shows you that even though he was least here. He was despised
God made him first in heaven and by proof and he proved that by placing him in the bosom of a famous
patriarch in the eyes of the Jews
Because Abraham is very popular in the eyes of the Jews. I mean father Abraham
You know the Pharisees says we are of Abraham our father and obviously, you know, they were the father of the devil
So
what the purpose of
Putting Lazarus in the bosom of Abraham is to show us
That the most despised thing in this world you can be the least in this world the off scouring of this world
But you will have clout in heaven
You'll be rubbing shoulders with the greats in heaven. I mean, that's what Matthew that's what Luke chapter 13 is teaching us
It's like the kingdom the children of the kingdom shall be thrust out into outer darkness
But there's gonna be people from the east from the west from the north and from the south referring to Gentiles and they're gonna sit
with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven
They get first dibs why because it says
They are last which shall be first and there are first which shall be last. So here's the practical application to this, okay?
The practical application is this, you know aside from Abraham's bosom, all right, I
Mean we might be carried into David's bosom
We might be carried into
You know, give me a name give me who else Peters bosom
John's bosom, you know and so bosom of someone who is actually famous in the eyes of God and in our eyes as well
So what I'm saying is this is that you know practice humility
We don't have to be famous in the eyes of the world
We don't have to be liked in the eyes of the world
We don't have to be loved by the world because that which is highly esteemed among men is an abomination
In the eyes of God according to the Bible
We should embrace the fact that we're the off scouring of this world
That we are all the most hated why because of the fact like like Lazarus who was hated and despised
Ended up getting VIP in heaven. I mean what a what a a welcome party to have Abraham say
Hold them and and be comforted
That's a great thing because notice, you know, here's one thing that this six don't talk about
You know, they place such an emphasis on Abraham's bosom. What about the fact that God is there, right?
What about the Lord
But obviously the Lord
Understands that we esteem men of the Bible
Like these are our heroes right here
right
You know Jehu is my hero. I
Love Jehu I
Look up to Jehu
Moses my hero. Hey Phinehas my hero my man
These are awesome people like the world doesn't know about them, but we know about them
and so
Why did he was was he placed in the bosom of Abraham?
Well, it's something that the Jews clearly understood because Abraham was a notable person to the Jews
amongst all Jews saved and unsaved alike and
So it's showing us that that which is the most despised the least here in this world will receive
first class in heaven and
That's displayed by the fact that he's placed into the bosom of the patriarch Abraham who is considered the father of faith
Amen, and so, you know dispelling the myths of Abraham's bosom. It does exist
It's a real thing
But so does David's bosom
So Peter's bosom exists too, you know lots bosom exists believe it or not. I
Hope none of you
Are introduced in heaven into lots bosom
Come here a little compromiser like it was like hey a lot of old IFP pastors will be carried it by the angels into lots
bosom
Come here
Let's pray father. We thank you so much for your word Lord
We're so thankful for the principles of your word that the off scouring that which is despised in this world
Is that what you'll use to confound the wise that which is weak the base things of this world Lord
And I pray that you help us to take that to account and to reject false doctrine
and a lot of pastors out there who are afraid to teach the Bible afraid to
Go to these scriptures and and and debunk these false teachings, but Lord, this is your word
It's the source of all truth. We should embrace every word
every jot every tittle and not fear it at all and
We were not afraid of the light we come to the light that the deeds might be made manifest
Because we want the truth Lord and I pray you you help us to continue to fight the good fight of faith
And help us to remain humble this side of eternity
I know we all struggle with that Lord and I pray that you would remind us that
We are but dust and and not seek
the
acclamations of the world
But seek to be recognized in your eyes so that we can receive that grand entrance that Lazarus received in Jesus name. We pray. Amen