Kid's Good News
Vol 2-issue 8        May/16/2003

Bible Story
Lazarus and Rich man

There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and ate big meals every day. But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table. Moreover the dogs came and licked the sores of beggar.

So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torments in Hades (a Greek word for hell), he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. Then 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."

But Abraham said, "Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us."

Then the rich man said, "I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment."

Abraham said to him, "They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them." And he said, "No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent." But Abraham said to him, "If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.

Historial Events
Charles Finney - Part 4

Charles started studying theology and it happened that one Universalist minister came and started preaching his wrong doctrines. People were so convinced that majority of them were shaken in their minds. According to the Universalist, there is no eternal punishment for sinners, because God is love. How could a loving God punish people endlessly or forever? In one of the evening meetings, Charles stood up and said, "These preachings are new to me and I do not believe that they are taught in the Bible." He also said, "I will examine the subject, and if I find his views to be true biblically, then I will become a Universalist myself." After that he arranged a meeting in which he proposed to deliver a message opposing the views of the Universalist. Christians were amazed seeing the boldness of Charles.

The day when Charles was to give his message, the house was crowded. He gave his views from the Bible and defended the biblical view of judgment. People had satisfaction with Charles's answers and even the Universalist felt that the people were convinced that his views was wrong. So the universalist spoke on the topic of atonement of Christ and started preaching that because Jesus died on the cross He literally paid the debt of all mankind, and that God will not punish those whose debt has been paid, that is, those whose sin is forgiven. So according to the universalist eventually all men are saved and none will experience the judgment of God. People were confused with all these things. so Mr. Gale told Charles to reply on this topic. Charles agreed to speak and once again meetings were arranged.

Charles gave two lectures on this subject and these meetings were a great success. He was able to show that atonement of Christ did not mean the literal payment of the debt of all the sinners in the sense which the Universalist maintained. He explained that just because Christ died, all the human beings are not saved automatically, but he only removed an obstacle so that every person can have the opportunity to repent from their sins, believe in Christ and to accept Salvation. He maintained that Jesus only pointed out what was the requirement for a person to receive forgiveness of sin. He paid the price in full, but we have to accept His forgiveness and receive Christ in order to receive that salvation. These arguments put a stop to the wrong views of the Universalist so that he did not proceed any further. Mr. Gale was also greatly surprised with this argument and his views on atonement were corrected. It converted a young woman. It opened the door for Charles to get his license to preach the Gospel. In the year 1824 Mr. Gale and others examined Charles and voted unanimously to give him the license to preach the Gospel.

  This week's Riddle #47

About whom it was said, "On this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it"?

Kids, who will be able to answer correctly, their names will be published
here.  While answering please do not forget to write your "name" and "age"  To send your answers click here

Answer: Jesus appeared to more than five hundred people.

Winners:  

Sorry, this time we did not receive any correct answers.