THE LAW AND THE GOSPEL
Heb 2:14-15

Heshimu Colar

In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus there is much that can be learned about the way mercy has been purchased, and the consequences of mercy neglected.–Luke 16:19-26

The rich man died and went to hell. Everything that he would ever enjoy was limited to this life, which is nothing but a breath, a sneeze, or a word hastily spoken that carries lengthy consequences. “… For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away (James 4:14).” This life, my friends, is fading quickly, and your eternal standing is determined by your relationship with God before you go out. Everyone shall bow to Christ, but those who bow in this life obtain mercy while those bowing at the Judgment obtain only wrath. Take heed therefore HOW you hear the Gospel. The rich man never begged in this life, now Abraham rejects his pleas for mercy in the next saying, “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 (Luke 16:25).”

In hell, the rich man must forever remember all of his sins and all of his opportunities of obtaining mercy. He “was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day.” Like the man who walked away from Christ refusing to sell all he possessed, the rich man represents everyone who delights themselves in their own glory. Meanwhile, Lazarus is a picture of every believer’s confessed spiritual condition in the flesh, “full of sores”. We as beggars bear the reproach of this Gospel by rejecting of our own glory, wisdom, ways, and righteousness for the glory of God’s free and sovereign grace by Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Christ is All, therefore of necessity we must be nothing. And though we rejoice and receive comfort inexplicable from the neglected crumbs of the offence of the Cross, the Christ we preach and the cross we bear is rejected by the multitudes for the riches of so-called human dignity. People rich in their own goodness do not envy Lazarus in this life, but you better believe you will in the next. You would bow and enjoy the reproach of Christ, if you could only see that there is a greater glory and a greater wealth in receiving salvation from God than in trying to do something to commend yourself before Him. Moses was adopted as Pharaoh’s son and was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians. Yet, “By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible (Heb 11:24-27).”

While the rich man (so unimportant that his name isn’t even mentioned) is forced to remember his sins in hell, our brother Lazarus was brought into heaven and every bitter thing was forgotten. Brethren, God Almighty does NOT remember our sins. He says, “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more (Heb 8:12).” The people of God are told even now that He has forgotten our sins in the empty tomb of Jesus Christ, and His resurrection from the dead is proof that in justice, all is forgotten. Yes, we must remember to live by more faith despising the disobedience that hinders those around us and interrupts our own sweet communion with Christ… but don’t think for a second that your sins can change what Christ accomplished, or what God has promised. Your sins get in the way of your own joy as the evil you’ve done clouds your conscience from seeing what Christ has done, but God’s merciful thoughts toward you cannot change. YOU are looking to yourself in unbelief and doubting that God will be gracious, rather than looking to the Mediator’s shout of “It is finished”. O, but let God’s elect increasingly learn that His chastisement do not change of His face. You cannot dig up the sins that God has buried in the sea of HIS forgetfulness. Can you find something within yourself that will somehow shock God? How? Our sins are blotted out. "I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins (Is 43:25).” All of our sins… every last one of them, is gone. The Father has already been merciful to ALL our unrighteousnesses and nothing can ever separate us from His Love (Rom 8:31-39).

In hell, the rich man’s plea for mercy was REJECTED. All he wanted was Lazarus to come from heaven with a drop of water on the tip of his finger, “and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame (Luke 16:24).” But mercy is only obtainable in this life. Abraham added, “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 (Luke 16:26).” This gulf is God’s Holy Law and the infinite fire of wrath that separates the holy and the sinful. In Matt 7, the Lord Jesus Christ told us what He will say in the Judgment unto everyone who trusts in themselves for any part of salvation, “I never knew you: depart from me… (Matt 7:23).” The reply of multitudes of moral people (and so many Calvinist) will be, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works?” And that’s the problem. You attempt to stand before God based upon something you’ve done. Therefore, having no knowledge of holiness, you call good evil and evil good. Woe unto you (Is 5:18-23). The Righteous Judge will say, “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Would you know to discern yourself today before the Judgment? Do you consider the preaching of the Cross insufficient for every aspect of Christian life? O, then you are seeking the favor of God by your own works. You’ve fallen from grace and Christ profit’s you nothing (Gal 5:4). You’re seeking comfort, blessings, and good things from God based upon something you do rather than what Christ has done. But Christ mercifully warns us that we do NOT want to be judged by anything we’ve done before or after salvation. No, you will not obtain a single drop of mercy to cool your tongue. Your gulf will be “fixed” without a Mediator to bridge the gap, no Sacrifice to take your place in wrath, no Blood to deliver you into the New Covenant, and no Representative to establish your righteousness.

Yet, the Lord Jesus Christ, has bridged the gap for everyone, who like Lazarus, knows themselves to be the beggar. Although we have forever been God’s elect, the gulf of His Law was fixed for us also and there could be no compromise of Justice. So, in love for us, Christ fulfilled the Law on our behalf and “took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross (Col 2:14).” The Law and its wrath is no longer an obstacle or divide between the Mercy of God and us. God manifested Himself in the flesh and as the Great High Priest reconciled us unto Himself. He spread His body over the flames of hell, and He carried us on His back- like lost sheep- into safety on the other side. As our High Priest, He offered God the gift of His own obedience and the sacrifice of His own blood. He made Himself responsible for our sins, and by His resurrection He forever stands as our Peace with God. The Person and Work of Christ has made a Way for sinners to constantly obtain mercy from God. And all God’s elect shall be reconciled across the great gulf.

Reader, find your place with Lazarus. His name means “Resurrection.” Believers patiently bear this life’s suffering as God exposes the weakness and depravity of our own nature. And though we often fear the cross and our portion of humiliation for the way of faith, there is ALWAYS a resurrection for the people of God. We are raised again and again from the dunghill of despair and self-confidence to see that salvation is ALL of God’s grace and ALL by the Work of Jesus Christ. Haven’t you found that when the Lord takes away the foolish things that you were trusting in, how much more diligently you search the Scriptures for a promised morsel of bread? Now that your soul has seen the festering of its wounds, you do not rest until God Himself speaks in the volume of the Book? Isn’t His Word is more precious, and His Grace more marvelous? The rich man did not love Lazarus and could easily look past his pleadings, but your heavenly Father sees all of your sufferings and will surely raise you again. His Son Jesus Christ has purchased your mercy and reconciled you completely to God.