This is a question to which almost all of those reading this book already have an answer. Whether that answer is truly reflective of the biblical witness is what we will deal with.

Would a loving God really let anyone go to hell? Our text seems to indicate the answer is "Yes." The righteous will be rewarded with an eternity of comfort and peace and the sinners are going to burn. Some of you, I am sure, would be content to leave it at that. After all, that is what you learned years ago. Others of you will not be content with that because you cannot imagine God being unforgiving, even of the most heinous sin.

Note one thing about the lesson here: The story does not say that Lazarus was particularly righteous, only that he was dirt poor. It does not say that the rich man was a particularly …