Dr. MA Petillo
Thy works, not mine, O Christ,
Speak gladness to this heart;
They tell me all is done;
They bid my fear depart.
To whom, save thee,
Who canst alone
For sin atone,
Lord, shall I flee?
Thy pains, not mine, O Christ,
Upon the shameful tree,
Have paid the law's full price
And purchased peace for me.
Thy cross, not mine, O Christ,
Has borne the awful load
Of sins that none in heav'n
Or earth could bear but God.
Thy righteousness, O Christ,
Alone can cover me:
No righteousness avails
Save that which is of thee. (TH, 441).
Speak gladness to this heart;
They tell me all is done;
They bid my fear depart.
To whom, save thee,
Who canst alone
For sin atone,
Lord, shall I flee?
Thy pains, not mine, O Christ,
Upon the shameful tree,
Have paid the law's full price
And purchased peace for me.
Thy cross, not mine, O Christ,
Has borne the awful load
Of sins that none in heav'n
Or earth could bear but God.
Thy righteousness, O Christ,
Alone can cover me:
No righteousness avails
Save that which is of thee. (TH, 441).
Luke 16:19-31 (KJV): 19 There
was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared
sumptuously every day: 20 And
there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of
sores, 21 And desiring to be
fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs
came and licked his sores. 22 And
it 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; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being
in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham,
have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in
water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 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. 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. 27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore,
father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: 28 For I have five brethren; that he may
testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses
and the prophets; let them hear them. 30 And
he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they
will repent. 31 And he said
unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be
persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
1.
The riches and
wealth of this life is a civil wealth.
That is, it cannot save anyone nor is it possible to take riches with us
when we die. God could use wealth for
the good of His people like Abraham and Job, but He could also use it as an
instrument of damnation for the non-elect.
No one can merit heaven through personal riches. Rather it is possible to merit eternal hell
through personal riches depending on how God uses it in His active outstretched
plan.
2.
All of us are
spiritual beggars before a holy God, but this poor man in the story by the Lord
Christ in the historical New Testament was that he was afflicted and tormented
with physical sores that lay at the gate of the rich man. The rich man paid no attention to the poor man. The rich man had his needs satisfied but the
Lazarus (the poor man) was destitute and impoverished. God uses the riches of the wealthy man for
the ultimate outcome of his spiritual
destruction. God also uses rich
man’s physical well-being for an appearance of success, but God also uses the
poverty of Lazarus for his physical destitution and earthly destruction, but God
also uses the poverty and ill-health of the poor man for the ultimate outcome
of his spiritual well-being. God is working out everything for the good of
those He calls to heaven, but He is also working out everything for their
ultimate evil regarding the non-elect of all those who are called toward hell. God alone
is the Sovereign Potter. That is, He
has the right to create a vessel for mercy and a vessel for destruction. He alone holds the choice in the outworking
of His invisible Hand in the ultimate outcome of the display of His divine
providence in His foreordained plan on whosoever is called to heaven and
whosoever is called to hell.
3.
Non-reasoning
violent dogs (not like household pets today) had greater care, sympathy and
compassion for the sores of the poor man than the spiritually irrational rich
man. The violent dogs speak like
Balaam’s donkey. That is, wild beasts by
God the Holy Spirit silence the madness of fallen sinners.
4.
The beggar died
but seems to have no funeral. What
matters is a heart that is right with God not a funeral. The beggar’s heart was right with God because of Jesus alone. No body seemed to care that he died a poor
man’s death. He seems to be unknown but
the rich man also died and he was given a funeral. That is, he seems to be well-known. He was well-know but he did not have a good
heart before God and man. The poor man
was carried by elect angels to Abraham’s bosom (heaven). Some evangelicals think it is no longer
occupied. There is no indication in the
author’s intended meaning to show that Abraham’s bosom was not really the place
of heaven.
5.
Elect angels obey
immediately at the command of King Jesus.
King Jesus accompanies the elect angels that bring God’s chosen to
Himself.
6.
The Bible does
not say how the rich man got to hell.
The domain of hell is the domain of darkness. I suggest to you that it was fallen and
wicked angels who took the rich man to hell, because even evil spirits are sent
by God for a particular task (for example Judges 9:23; 1 Sam 16:14). That is, nothing happens outside of God’s
control through the power of King Jesus.
Fallen angels also obey King Jesus but have no other choice because His
command is immutable and irresistible.
7. There is
civil curiosity in hell. That is, the non-elect rich man lifts up his eyes to
Abraham in the place of heaven and Lazarus in his bosom. This is
known as the netherworld. That is,
it shows the place of hell and the place of heaven, but it is divided through
an eternal gulf. Those in the place of
hell are eternal residents in outer darkness, but those in the place of heaven
are eternal residents for heavenly peace and rest.
8. There is a
civil cry for help in hell. That is, the rich man cried out to Abraham. The reality is there is no help in hell for
those who are damned. If Jesus chooses
to completely abandon a sinner in hell, He knows the best thing to do. He alone is the Incarnate Gatekeeper. It is possible to be rescued out of hell by
Jesus, because He has the keys of hell and death.
9. There is a
civil talk in hell. That is, the rich man is about to talk to
Abraham. They seem to completely
understand each other. This also reveals
there is probably come kind of communication between those in hell. It is a
communication of darkness, destruction and damnation. The speaking of the rich man in hell is
that he wants to escape eternal, supernatural, cosmic and spiritual
justice. Hell is the complete presence
of justice but the complete absence of mercy.
Hell is not the absence of God but the presence of God’s immediate
indignation. Abraham does not have the
power to rescue a hell-bound sinner.
Rather only Jesus Christ our Creator and Savior has the supernatural
ability to undo and change someone on the course to hell. That is, no living creature has the power to
unlock the destiny of hell for sinners except the Eternal King. The reason the rich man in hell received
justice unto damnation is because he has not apprehended Christ as the
self-existent Lord and Savior. Behind it all it outwardly reveals that God
has not chosen this man in a final and full sense unto election for spiritual
salvation because there is no genuine faith and repentance in Christ alone in
how someone is right with God. That
is, he had no divine substitute that took divine justice in his behalf.
10. There is civil respect and reverence in hell. That
is, the rich man calls Abraham “Father Abraham.” He stills shows respect and reverence for the
known OT saint. Abraham was called out
by God in a pagan civilization. That is,
God intervened in the course of Abraham’s life to undo the course of paganism
to the right way of Christ. The rich man
is able to know who Abraham is. We are not told how the rich man knows who
Abraham is. It is possible that he
is simply told who Abraham is. However,
we see that the NT apostles knew the identity of Moses and Elijah through a special spiritual illumination (Mt
17:4). That is, this is how the rich man
could have known the identity of Abraham.
11. There is a civil individual cry for mercy to escape
torment. That is, the rich man asks for divine, cosmic,
supernatural and spiritual mercy for himself because he is tormented through a
fire-blazing thirst.
12.There is a civil charity in hell. That
is, the residents of hell want their cosmic pain eliminated because of God’s real overflowing wrath. He reasoned in his hell-bound mind that he
needs charity. This is the out of context sin of over-righteousness (Ecc 7ff). That is, God will not allow the
hell-bound residents to have relief of their torment. Torment
does not mean cruelty. Rather torment
means justice. We know the villains
of hell want mercy, but none receive mercy.
Notice he initially does not ask for spiritual
pardon but relief of his tormenting flame.
He is not concerned right away with how to be right with God, but he is
concerned with his punishment. I suggest
to you that the punishments of hell cannot make someone right with God. That is, they last for all eternity. The
only way to be right with God is through Jesus Christ.
13. There is a described plan for charity in hell. That
is, the rich man wants to have his punishment relieved through the instrument
of Lazarus. On earth God uses
instruments of His will but instruments of goodness are not allowed in
hell. Hell is the place where everything
is for the eternal destruction of the hell-bound residents. The rich man described what Lazarus may do to
help him. Charity is good for hell because it cannot save. If you really want salvation, go to Jesus
Christ alone. The rich man wants cool
water to cool his tongue because he is in a tormenting flame. Many
think of a scheme of charity to escape hell.
That is all vanity and folly!
The only way to escape hell is
through the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
14. There is communication between heaven and hell. Abraham
calls the rich man “son.” He knows that
he is a “son of Adam.” Do you still follow Adam? Why not follow Christ, the Second Adam? That is, Abraham is able to recount the
life of the rich man and the poor man. This is because heaven holds the knowledge
of the lives of everyone. The rich man received good things that had the
appearance of good but was for his ultimate doom, but Lazarus received his evil
things that were for his ultimate good.
15. Heaven is able to talk to hell about a non-existing
comfort. That is, Abraham refers to the comfort of heaven, but
hell is the absence of the comfort of heaven.
Abraham is able to mention the activity of heaven, but it gives no
relief for the rich man in torment.
16. There is a civil longing in hell for comfort. That
is, the rich man longs for the comfort of heaven. Abraham refers to the outward events of their
lives, but behind it is the work of God.
By the description of Abraham regarding the rich man and the poor man,
it is evident to see the choice of God alone in the doom of the rich man and
the election of the poor man not by works but by God’s cosmic choice.
17. There are good reasons why sinners go to hell. Abraham
refers to the evil wealth of the rich man.
It has the outward of appearance of good, but it was used for his evil
by God’s ultimate plan. God is waiting to judge the wicked for the
Last Day to bring Himself glory unto perfect justice through His caused
foreordained plan. The rich man did
not even have an unsaving attempt to belong to God on earth, but Lazarus was
chosen by God. He chooses in time and
space. There is a real change because of
God’s choice on earth in bringing a people to Himself for His purpose and
glory. It is possible to have an
unsaving motivation to belong to God.
That does not mean we contribute to the unified merits of Christ alone
in how someone is right with a holy God, but it shows us God’s providential
care for those who are on earth that manifest this unsaving care.
18. There is a
division between heaven and hell. That is, there is a great gulf fixed between heaven
and hell. There seems to be people in heaven who want to pass to hell to help,
but God does not allow it. I suggest
to you that Moses wanted to be blotted out of God’s book to save the people of Israel, but later in the NT St. Paul wanted to be accursed
to save the Jewish people. All of this is an indication that God knows
best in prohibiting these things from happening. God does not want to give the residents
of hell charity, because He has fixed a gulf between heaven and hell. I suggest to you that those in hell only have
the power to destroy. However, I will
demonstrate that hell has the same tainted
goodness or civil goodness or civil righteousness than that of the earthly
domain. Moreover, the residents of hell
cannot pass from hell to heaven, because of the eternal gulf. The residents of hell are bound to the
destiny of eternal agony apart from the goodness of God, His people and His
elect angels concerning eternal mercy. I
suggest to you that the residents of hell are tormented in the presence of God,
His saints and elect angels. The only
way to see hell-bound people from heaven is through the spiritual dimension
that God allows, but He controls all things that happen in heaven and in
hell. That is, hell cannot rise up to
defeat God, because He has all of it in His Almighty Hand. Hell is not a dual authority with God, but He
ordains all the torments of the people of hell.
Without God’s ordination of all of things even in hell, there would be
things without meaning or out of His control.
Therefore everything has meaning, nothing is out of His control and the
meaning of hell is God’s display and application of His everlasting wrath for
the divine righteousness in cosmic exaltation of His Triune glory alone.
19. There is civil begging in hell. That is, it is possible for non-elect
reprobates to seek the good of heaven, but in their hell-bound state they would
only seek to destroy heaven out of idolatry and envy. Fallen sinners do not want to praise God for
who He is, but fallen sinners want to praise God for what He can give. The
sinner of hell does not want to genuinely praise God for who He is, but if he
did it would be out of a selfish motivation.
That is, in the end God will judge everyone for their motivation for
doing good or bad in the body. There is
no genuine praise in hell to God for who He is, but rather an abandonment of
all mercy and a furtherance of all levels of wrath, because the Book of James
tells us that if we have violated one point we have violated all points of the
moral law. The moral law is not a
way to be right with God. Rather it
points us away from ourselves to the One who perfectly obeyed the law of God:
Jesus Christ, Son of God, where He is, I shall be also!
20. There is a
civil evangelism in hell. That is, the rich man wanted Lazarus to go
his earthly house, because He had five brothers to share with them the saving
knowledge of the gospel so that they would avoid coming to the place of
hell. The rich man has knowledge of right and wrong. He knows where he is and he knows the
comfort of Abraham and Lazarus. I
suggest to you that many world religions have a civil evangelism, but it is as
good as evangelizing from hell.
21. There is a
civil goodness for fellow man in hell. That is, the rich man wants to alert his
family of this place of doom. Notice that this civil goodness toward his
fellow man is good enough for hell. It
simply means that no civil goodness will be able to have us right with
God. Civil goodness is described in the Bible as filthy rages (Is.
64:6). It means that even if you
desire the good of the souls of men to heaven, it is surely not enough to save:
namely, it is worthless before a God whose holiness is surely matchless.
22. Abraham
speaks of the necessity and sufficiency of the written Word alone and this truth
is revealed in hell. That is, Abraham knows that miracles do not save by
themselves. Rather it takes the presence
of God’s Spirit. The bodily resurrection
is a real historical miracle that is backed-up with many infallible proofs
(Acts 1:3), but without the Spirit fallen man will not respond because he is
spiritually dead (see Eph 2). There is
truth revealed in hell from heaven, but it has no saving response for the
residents of hell. Hell is without the presence of the Spirit in His mercy to cause
sinners to respond.
23. There is extra-goodness
in hell who obeys not the gospel. That is, the rich man seeks to add miracles to the
fullness of God’s Word alone. The Bible
calls everyone everywhere to repent (Mk 1:15). The Bible is a complete book that is
God-breathed (2 Tim 3:16-17). Miracles are worthless if not accompanied by
the presence of God’s Spirit. Miracles
may also be used as an instrument of damnation. For example, God’s divine truth may cause people
to hate Him. There is hatred in hell of
God that never sleeps.
24. Real goodness or righteousness is Christ alone. That
is, we must be clothed in the unified robes of Christ alone that are the only
way to be right with God through faith alone (Phil 3:9; Eph 2:8-9). Fix
your eyes on the Cross of the Incarnate Lamb of God.
25.I bear
witness in my personal testimony! That
is, it is said by a Reformed theologian that God dangled Luther over hell
before his spiritual conversion, but as for me He not only dangled me over hell
but placed me in the deepest bottomless pit of hell where He teaches me about
my fallen nature and the solution of Christ alone. I am an
example of a sinner saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone
for the glory of God alone because of Scripture alone.
“Now Joshua was clothed with filthy
garments, and was standing before the Angel.
Then
He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, “Take away the
filthy garments from him.” And to him He said, “See, I have removed your
iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes.” (Zech 3:3-4 NKJV).
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus' name.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
When darkness veils his lovely face,
I rest upon unchanging grace;
In ev'ry rough and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil.
His oath, his covenant, his blood
Support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.
When I shall launch in worlds unseen,
O may I then be found in him;
Dressed in his righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne. (TH, 582).
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus' name.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
When darkness veils his lovely face,
I rest upon unchanging grace;
In ev'ry rough and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil.
His oath, his covenant, his blood
Support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.
When I shall launch in worlds unseen,
O may I then be found in him;
Dressed in his righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne. (TH, 582).
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