In the story Jesus told of the rich man who died and went to hell, while Lazarus the poor man died and went to heaven, the question is, “did the rich man go to hell because of his wealth?”

The answer is no. Wealthy people CAN be saved.

Then why DID the rich man go to hell?

Listen to the conversation between this rich man in hell, and “father Abraham.”

In Luke, chapter 16, the rich man appeals to Abraham to send someone from the dead to testify to his brothers on earth: “for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.”

But Abraham said to him, “They have Moses and the Prophets, let them hear them.”

But he said, “No, father Abraham, but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.”

Abraham answered, “If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets (the Bible), neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.”

The determining words are “NO, father Abraham.”

NO?

NO???

Abraham told him that they have the Bible, the Word of God, and this is what will bring them salvation if they will “hear it.”

But the man in hell says, “NO, but ……” and changes the subject.

He said “NO” …to the Bible and he thought a personal visitation from the dead, seeing a miracle, would persuade his brothers.

He was refusing the Word of God, and demanding a supernatural experience.

Abraham made it clear that salvation is to be found in God’s Word, the Bible, which God gave to mankind to reveal to man all about God and about salvation.

What is your response to the Word of God?

If it’s “NO, but …..” then you’ve missed it and nothing else will be able to persuade you.