First Sunday after Trinity Luke 16:19-31 It is revealed in Holy Scripture that there is an eternal damnation of sinners.

If nothing else would be taught in Scripture, then we men must despair. Scripture also teaches us that Gods Word can keep us from eternal doom.1 The folly of so many people that do not want to hear the saving Word of God is incomprehensible. This let us now The Folly of Those Who Do Not Hear Gods Preserving Word Before Damnation; This is the folly of all follies, 1. because the condemnation is so frightful; a. the rich man, after he died, was in hell and in torment,2 he suffered pain in the infernal flame. b. he saw Abraham from afar and Lazarus in his bosom,3 but he himself was excluded from the joy of eternal life. c. he asked in vain for a little refreshment and relief from his 4 pain. d. no salvation is possible from condemnation. Is it now not a folly over all follies, instead of being seriously concerned with escaping this terrible fate through Gods Word, to seek only good days on earth, to live sumptuously every day with the rich man?5 2. because Gods Word certainly keeps us safe from condemnation; a. the five brothers of the rich man should hear Moses and the prophets, i.e., Gods Word, thereby they can be kept from condemnation; that they also will not come to the place of torment.6 b. the actual cause of the damnation of the rich man was that he had not heard Moses and the prophets in his way of luxurious living; Gods Word would have preserved him from damnation, c. Lazarus = God is his help and confidence, has thereby escaped condemnation, that he has set his trust in God, Whose revelation is present in the Words of Holy Scripture, that he also has rightly heard Moses and the prophets.

1 2

John 8:51. v. 24. 3 v. 23. 4 v. 24-25. 5 v. 19. 6 v. 27-29.

O folly above all follies, Gods Word, which keeps us safe from damnation, and all, who rightly hears the Word, truly preserves from damnation, do not want to hear it or do not hear it right! Let us hear Gods Word with diligence and fairness, in order that we escape eternal damnation. Chr. K.