Interpreting the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus: It's Really Good News!

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

TheLearner

Well-known member
Jan 14, 2019
8,221
1,584
113
68
Brighton, MI
1 Timothy 5:6 KJV; Luke 15:24 KJV; Luke 15:32 KJV; Ephesians 2:1 KJV; Colossians 2:13 KJV; a few others.

The all teach that we, the living soul, are spiritually dead while we're physically alive but living in sin.
Like yourself, I understand dead in those texts to mean spiritual texts.

1 Timothy 5:6
But the widow who uses her life to please herself is really dead while she is still living.

Luke 15:24
My son was dead, but now he is alive again! He was lost, but now he is found!’ So they began to have a party.

Luke 15:32
But this was a day to be happy and celebrate. Your brother was dead, but now he is alive. He was lost, but now he is found.’”

Ephesians 2:1
In the past you were spiritually dead because of your sins and the things you did against God.

Colossians 2:13
You were spiritually dead because of your sins and because you were not free from the power of your sinful self. But God gave you new life together with Christ. He forgave all our sins.
 

TheLearner

Well-known member
Jan 14, 2019
8,221
1,584
113
68
Brighton, MI
.

See antinomianism. The rest is simply straw man as if we don't believe in those things.
Friend, your accusing others of antinomianism is the strawman. In my understanding neither side believes in salvation by laws. I hope both sides believe what I wrote about living the Christian life.
Bottom line, is the big Ten was given to Israel, not to non-israel. Gentiles who choose to believe Judaism followed the Jewish Cermonial Laws which includes the Sabbath as I soon from the most well known Jewish Catachism.

straw man
/ˌstrô ˈman/
noun
1.
an intentionally misrepresented proposition that is set up because it is easier to defeat than an opponent's real argument.
"her familiar procedure of creating a straw man by exaggerating their approach"
2.
a person regarded as having no substance or integrity.
"a photogenic straw man gets inserted into office and advisers dictate policy"
 
Aug 3, 2019
3,744
507
113
Thanks, friend. It should be noted that the Sabbath was kept universally for several centuries after Christ died, but wherever the church of Rome's tentacles reached out, Sabbath was done away with and Sunday was made exclusive. However, according to historic records, there were always "wilderness churches" (Revelation 12) hiding in the caves and mountains that kept the Sabbath, like the Albegensis and Waldenses.
 

TheLearner

Well-known member
Jan 14, 2019
8,221
1,584
113
68
Brighton, MI
Concerning the Gentiles, the Apostolic decision at council is in Acts 15. It is clear those not of Israel, non-Jewish are not under the law of Moses which includes the big ten and the Sabbath.

Acts 15
Easy-to-Read Version
The Meeting at Jerusalem
15 Then some men came to Antioch from Judea and began teaching the non-Jewish believers: “You cannot be saved if you are not circumcised as Moses taught us.” 2 Paul and Barnabas were against this teaching and argued with these men about it. So the group decided to send Paul, Barnabas, and some others to Jerusalem to talk more about this with the apostles and elders.

3 The church helped them get ready to leave on their trip. The men went through the countries of Phoenicia and Samaria, where they told all about how the non-Jewish people had turned to the true God. This made all the believers very happy. 4 When the men arrived in Jerusalem, the apostles, the elders, and the whole church welcomed them. Paul, Barnabas, and the others told about all that God had done with them. 5 Some of the believers in Jerusalem had belonged to the Pharisees. They stood up and said, “The non-Jewish believers must be circumcised. We must tell them to obey the Law of Moses!”

6 Then the apostles and the elders gathered to study this problem. 7 After a long debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “My brothers, I am sure you remember what happened in the early days. God chose me from among you to tell the Good News to those who are not Jewish. It was from me that they heard the Good News and believed. 8 God knows everyone, even their thoughts, and he accepted these non-Jewish people. He showed this to us by giving them the Holy Spirit the same as he did to us. 9 To God, those people are not different from us. When they believed, God made their hearts pure. 10 So now, why are you putting a heavy burden[a] around the necks of the non-Jewish followers of Jesus? Are you trying to make God angry? We and our fathers were not able to carry that burden. 11 No, we believe that we and these people will be saved the same way—by the grace of the Lord Jesus.”

12 Then the whole group became quiet. They listened while Paul and Barnabas told about all the miraculous signs and wonders that God had done through them among the non-Jewish people. 13 When they finished speaking, James said, “My brothers, listen to me. 14 Simon Peter has told us how God showed his love for the non-Jewish people. For the first time, God accepted them and made them his people. 15 The words of the prophets agree with this too:

16 ‘I will return after this.
I will build David’s house again.
It has fallen down.
I will build again the parts of his house that have been pulled down.
I will make his house new.
17 Then the rest of the world will look for the Lord God—
all those of other nations who are my people too.
The Lord said this.
And he is the one who does all these things.’

18 ‘All this has been known from the beginning of time.’

19 “So I think we should not make things hard for those who have turned to God from among the non-Jewish people. 20 Instead, we should send a letter telling them only the things they should not do:

Don’t eat food that has been given to idols. This makes the food unclean.

Don’t be involved in sexual sin.

Don’t eat meat from animals that have been strangled or any meat that still has the blood in it.

21 They should not do any of these things, because there are still men in every city who teach the Law of Moses. The words of Moses have been read in the synagogue every Sabbath day for many years.”

The Letter to the Non-Jewish Believers
22 The apostles, the elders, and the whole church wanted to send some men with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch. The group decided to choose some of their own men. They chose Judas (also called Barsabbas) and Silas, men who were respected by the believers. 23 The group sent the letter with these men. The letter said:

From the apostles and elders, your brothers,

To all the non-Jewish brothers in the city of Antioch and in the countries of Syria and Cilicia.

Dear Brothers:

24 We have heard that some men have come to you from our group. What they said troubled and upset you. But we did not tell them to do this. 25 We have all agreed to choose some men and send them to you. They will be with our dear friends, Barnabas and Paul. 26 Barnabas and Paul have given their lives to serve our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 So we have sent Judas and Silas with them. They will tell you the same things. 28 We agree with the Holy Spirit that you should have no more burdens, except for these necessary things:

29 Don’t eat food that has been given to idols.

Don’t eat meat from animals that have been strangled or any meat that still has the blood in it.

Don’t be involved in sexual sin.

If you stay away from these, you will do well.

We say goodbye now.


30 So Paul, Barnabas, Judas, and Silas left Jerusalem and went to Antioch. There they gathered the group of believers together and gave them the letter. 31 When the believers read it, they were happy. The letter comforted them. 32 Judas and Silas, who were also prophets, said many things to encourage the believers and make them stronger in their faith. 33 After Judas and Silas stayed there for a while, they left. They received a blessing of peace from the believers. Then they went back to those who had sent them. 34 [c]

35 But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch. They and many others taught the believers and told other people the Good News about the Lord.
 
Aug 3, 2019
3,744
507
113
Every Christian knows you can not serve two masters. We need no commandment because Jesus is our only Lord and Savior.

aside: An Alien from Space returned to his spaceship. His commander asked, "did you capture any humans for us to study how they think?" He answered, "No, I got something better, their main god." The Commander said, "show him to me." The god looks like this,
The Bible teaches we don't need ANY commandment to do right if we love God and love doing right....does that mean we can stop doing right?
 

TheLearner

Well-known member
Jan 14, 2019
8,221
1,584
113
68
Brighton, MI
Romans 14:5-12
Easy-to-Read Version
5 Some people might believe that one day is more important than another. And others might believe that every day is the same. Everyone should be sure about their beliefs in their own mind. 6 Those who think one day is more important than other days are doing that for the Lord. And those who eat all kinds of food are doing that for the Lord. Yes, they give thanks to God for that food. And those who refuse to eat some foods do that for the Lord. They also give thanks to God.

7 We don’t live or die just for ourselves. 8 If we live, we are living for the Lord. And if we die, we are dying for the Lord. So living or dying, we belong to the Lord. 9 That is why Christ died and rose from death to live again—so that he could be Lord over those who have died and those who are living.

10 So why do you judge your brother or sister in Christ? Or why do you think that you are better than they are? We will all stand before God, and he will judge us all. 11 Yes, the Scriptures say,

“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘Everyone will bow before me;
everyone will say that I am God.’”

12 So each of us will have to explain to God about the things we do.

As I wrote before new friends entered this thread. I work with a group that worships our Lord everyday before dawn in the park. Yes, even when there is Snow and cold. Bomb fires are great.
In the Summer, we have had neighbors come out to see what is going on and came to Jesus. There were rummors that we were Satanists. Some came out to see if we were naked. lol
 
Aug 3, 2019
3,744
507
113
What gets me, is the silly argument that the Ten Commandments (Exo. 20:1-17), or even just the 4th commandment (Exo. 20:8-11) was only for "the Jews".

1. Moses wasn't a 'Jew', he was an Israelite, and of Levi.

2. Moses' wife, Zipporah, wasn't an Israelite at all, or a Jew, she was of Midian.

3. The "mixed multitude" that came out of Egypt, with many "strangers" weren't Hebrews, Israelites or Jews.

Etc.

If they use the same scales of balance in judgment for Deuteronomy 5 (repeating Exo. 20 by Moses), then Deuteronomy 6:5 (Love God, context, Deut 5 Ten Commandments) and Leviticus 19:17-18 (Love Neighbour) is also only for the Jews, and they might as well throw that out (which they do in practice) by their own standard, but they have unevenly weighted scales.

Again, who was Jesus talking to when He said Love God and Neighbor and what was He citing from in OT (written in the law)?

Same for Paul.

They don't think from beginning of their theology to it's logical progressive conclusion and self refuting ending. They do not reason cause to effect, but only live in the seemingly justifiable now, and present out of context text, and when exposed move to the next and then eventually circle back to their sandy a priori.
Dude, that truth bomb you just dropped must've been a Gigaton cause I felt it way over here on our side.

You say if Antinomianists want to argue the Mosaic Law was nailed to the Cross, they have to throw out "love God" and "love thy neighbor" because they too were part of the Mosaic Law?

That point is outstanding.
 
Aug 3, 2019
3,744
507
113
Does not say those two parts given to Israel --- the texts do not say those are commandments. Jesus combined those two principles to apply to the new testament, covenant.

Deuteronomy 6
Easy-to-Read Version
Always Love and Obey God
6 “These are the commands, the laws, and the rules that the Lord your God told me to teach you. Obey these laws in the land that you are entering to live in. 2 You and your descendants must respect the Lord your God as long as you live. You must obey all his laws and commands that I give you. If you do this, you will have a long life in that new land. 3 Israelites, listen carefully and obey these laws. Then everything will be fine with you. You will have many children, and you will get the land filled with many good things[a]—just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised.

4 “Listen, people of Israel! The Lord is our God. The Lord is the only God. 5 You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 Always remember these commands that I give you today. 7 Be sure to teach them to your children. Talk about these commands when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road. Talk about them when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them on your hands and wear them on your foreheads to help you remember my teachings. 9 Write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates.

10 “The Lord your God made a promise to your ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He promised to give you this land, and he will give it to you. He will give you great and rich cities that you did not build. 11 He will give you houses full of good things that you did not put there. He will give you wells that you did not dig. He will give you vineyards and olive trees that you did not plant, and you will have plenty to eat.

12 “But be careful! Don’t forget the Lord. You were slaves in Egypt, but he brought you out of the land of Egypt.

Luke 10:27
The man answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ Also, ‘Love your neighbor the same as you love yourself.’”

Leviticus 19:18
Forget about the wrong things people do to you. Don’t try to get even. Love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.
Moses:
"Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the Lord your God commanded to teach you..." - Deuteronomy 6:1 KJV​
Also Moses:
"Love God" and "love thy neighbor".​
 
Aug 3, 2019
3,744
507
113
Like yourself, I understand dead in those texts to mean spiritual texts.

1 Timothy 5:6
But the widow who uses her life to please herself is really dead while she is still living.

Luke 15:24
My son was dead, but now he is alive again! He was lost, but now he is found!’ So they began to have a party.

Luke 15:32
But this was a day to be happy and celebrate. Your brother was dead, but now he is alive. He was lost, but now he is found.’”

Ephesians 2:1
In the past you were spiritually dead because of your sins and the things you did against God.

Colossians 2:13
You were spiritually dead because of your sins and because you were not free from the power of your sinful self. But God gave you new life together with Christ. He forgave all our sins.
Good translations, as far as I can tell.
 
Feb 7, 2022
646
75
28
Dude, that truth bomb you just dropped must've been a Gigaton cause I felt it way over here on our side.

You say if Antinomianists want to argue the Mosaic Law was nailed to the Cross, they have to throw out "love God" and "love thy neighbor" because they too were part of the Mosaic Law?

That point is outstanding.
I mean even more to say look at the titles of the books that love God and neighbour come from and who they were written by:

Exodus leaving Egypt (only for Hebrews, Israelites and Levites and Jews, right?) (Exodus 20:1-17)

Leviticus written about tribe of Levi, Aaronic priesthood, and Levites and levitical laws (Leviticus 19:17-18, love neighbour, defining sin)

Deuteronomy (second giving of THE LAW) citing Exodus 20 in Deuteronomy 5, carrying over into Deuteronomy 6:5 (love God, context Ten Commandments).

All written by Moses (the Hebrew Israelite of Tribe Levi) in "the law" (Torah).

Only for the Israelites, Jews, Hebrews, Levites? ONLY???

Matthew 22:37; Mark 12:30

Who is speaking and being spoken to? ANY GENTILES present? Or is it Jesus the Hebrew, Israelite from Tribe Judah talking to another Hebrew Israelite from one of the remaining tribes, speaking about matters in "the law" (Torah, Gen to Deut) of Moses?

Luke 10:27

Who is speaking and being spoken to? ANY GENTILES present? Or is it an Hebrew Israelite from one of the remaining tribes, speaking about matters in "the law" (Torah, Gen to Deut) of Moses to Jesus another Hebrew Israelite from Tribe Judah?

Romans 13, Paul a Hebrew of the Hebrews, an Israelite of Tribe Benjamin speaking about fulfilling "the law", to others like himself. What "the law" was Paul citing from in the OT, and what text did Paul refer to in saying love thy neighbor as thyself? Is it found in MOSES in the Torah, in Exodus, in the Ten Commandments, and in Leviticus, all penned by MOSES an Hebrew Israelite of tribe Levi?

If using there own reasoning, what on Earth are they doing, as GENTILES, following that?

(Their logic is self refuting).
 

TheLearner

Well-known member
Jan 14, 2019
8,221
1,584
113
68
Brighton, MI
Dude, that truth bomb you just dropped must've been a Gigaton cause I felt it way over here on our side.

You say if Antinomianists want to argue the Mosaic Law was nailed to the Cross, they have to throw out "love God" and "love thy neighbor" because they too were part of the Mosaic Law?

That point is outstanding.
Bomb, what Bomb --- do I need to get my N.E.S.T. protective gear out?

1645891558950.jpeg
 

TheLearner

Well-known member
Jan 14, 2019
8,221
1,584
113
68
Brighton, MI
Moses:
"Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the Lord your God commanded to teach you..." - Deuteronomy 6:1 KJV​
Also Moses:
"Love God" and "love thy neighbor".​
I already pointed out Jesus combine principles from two texts that were not commandments.
 

TheLearner

Well-known member
Jan 14, 2019
8,221
1,584
113
68
Brighton, MI
I mean even more to say look at the titles of the books that love God and neighbour come from and who they were written by:

Exodus leaving Egypt (only for Hebrews, Israelites and Levites and Jews, right?) (Exodus 20:1-17)

Leviticus written about tribe of Levi, Aaronic priesthood, and Levites and levitical laws (Leviticus 19:17-18, love neighbour, defining sin)

Deuteronomy (second giving of THE LAW) citing Exodus 20 in Deuteronomy 5, carrying over into Deuteronomy 6:5 (love God, context Ten Commandments).

All written by Moses (the Hebrew Israelite of Tribe Levi) in "the law" (Torah).

Only for the Israelites, Jews, Hebrews, Levites? ONLY???

Matthew 22:37; Mark 12:30

Who is speaking and being spoken to? ANY GENTILES present? Or is it Jesus the Hebrew, Israelite from Tribe Judah talking to another Hebrew Israelite from one of the remaining tribes, speaking about matters in "the law" (Torah, Gen to Deut) of Moses?

Luke 10:27

Who is speaking and being spoken to? ANY GENTILES present? Or is it an Hebrew Israelite from one of the remaining tribes, speaking about matters in "the law" (Torah, Gen to Deut) of Moses to Jesus another Hebrew Israelite from Tribe Judah?

Romans 13, Paul a Hebrew of the Hebrews, an Israelite of Tribe Benjamin speaking about fulfilling "the law", to others like himself. What "the law" was Paul citing from in the OT, and what text did Paul refer to in saying love thy neighbor as thyself? Is it found in MOSES in the Torah, in Exodus, in the Ten Commandments, and in Leviticus, all penned by MOSES an Hebrew Israelite of tribe Levi?

If using there own reasoning, what on Earth are they doing, as GENTILES, following that?

(Their logic is self refuting).
Jesus moved that advice up to the NT. So?
 
Aug 3, 2019
3,744
507
113
I already pointed out Jesus combine principles from two texts that were not commandments.
I don't understand.

Why do you keep saying "love God" and "love thy neighbor" are not commandments when they are found right there in books which for thousands of years have been called "The Law"???
 

TheLearner

Well-known member
Jan 14, 2019
8,221
1,584
113
68
Brighton, MI
I don't understand.

Why do you keep saying "love God" and "love thy neighbor" are not commandments when they are found right there in books which for thousands of years have been called "The Law"???
We both know that the law is the torah. Not every thing in them is a law. The two texts I quoted were worded as principles. Jesus took both of those principles to the NT and there made them a NT law. This why I do not see them as you all do, brethern.