Will You Be Persuaded To Repent?

Luke 16:31

Torment and Tragedy

• Opportunities lost• Sin brings eternal agony• Wicked man who will be

forever miserable• Godly man who will be forever

happy• Testify to them “lest they come

to this place of torment” (16:28)

Luke 16:19-31

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Helping Sinners Remain in Sin will not Persuade them to Repent

• Sumptuous living (danger of luxury), Luke 16:19; Prov. 30:7-9– Trusting in riches prevents repentance,

Lk. 16:14-15; 1 Tim. 6:8-10– Material things do not prepare

you for eternity, Matt. 6:19-21; Lk. 16:25 (“good things”)

– Do not be deceived by the lie that riches satisfy! Lk. 16:13 (Prov. 23:5)

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• Selfish indulgence of the flesh, Gal. 5:19-21–Rich man refused to show

mercy, cf. Lk. 16:19-21–Not showing compassion to

others is sin, 2 Tim. 3:1-4

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Helping Sinners Remain in Sin will not Persuade them to Repent

• Satisfaction with the status quo, Lk. 16:19– Radical change required to avoid torment!

Rom. 2:3– Sin hardens and deceives

us into thinking we are safe before God when we are lost in sin, Heb. 3:12-13

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Helping Sinners Remain in Sin will not Persuade them to Repent

• By the word of God? (16:29)– Moses and the prophets

persuade the lost to believe in Jesus, Acts 17:2-4; 18:4; 19:8; 28:23• Promises and prophecies fulfilled, Lk. 24:44-48• Wisdom for salvation through faith, 2 Tim. 3:15

– God’s word persuades us to get right with God, Acts 2:22, 36-40; 26:22-28

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Will You Be Persuaded to Repent…

• By the terror of the Lord? 2 Cor. 5:11– The judgment is real, yet it is difficult to

persuade men to prepare for it, 2 Cor. 5:10; Rom. 2:5-9 (2 Ths. 1:8-9)

– Fear of hell is a proper motive to use to persuade sinners to repent, Matt. 10:28; Acts 17:30-31; Rom. 11:22; 2 Pet. 3:9

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Will You Be Persuaded to Repent…

• By one raised from the dead? Lk. 16:31– Example of Lazarus, Jno. 12:9-11– Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Matt. 28:1-8;

Rom. 1:4 (10:16)– A heart that refuses the

empty tomb will not be persuaded to repent!

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Will You Be Persuaded to Repent…

– Faithful people of God in the OT were persuaded of God’s promises, Heb. 11:13• Lived and died in faith

– Some were almost persuaded by the gospel, but lost! Acts 26:28

– Others were fully persuaded, 2 Tim. 1:12– Prepare for your death and judgment – Repent

and obey the gospel!

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