Lesson 29

Most Christians will use the Lazarus parable to extrapolate support for many beliefs. Some will say the parable supports the belief in a human’s disembodied immortal soul. If that is true then the Bible would be contradictory, as there are many verses saying the only way to gain eternal life is to believe in Jesus, those souls who do not, will die. Can you weave all Bible verses together without contradicting some?

Ezekiel 18:4 King James Version
Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

Romans 2:6-7 Good News Translation
6 For God will reward each of us according to what we have done. 7 Some people keep on doing good, and seek glory, honor, and immortal life; to them God will give eternal life.

John 3:16 Modern English Version
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.

John 6:40 International Children’s Bible
Everyone who sees the Son and believes in him has eternal life. I will raise him up on the last day. This is what my Father wants.”

Another belief derived from the Lazarus parable is that those who are in sheol can never leave it, they are doomed to be tormented there for the rest of eternity. However, God says he will redeem people from sheol and not leave them there forever. Jesus raises his believers on the last day but all will be raised at some point.

Psalm 49:15 King James Version
But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.

Psalm 86:13 King James Version
For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.

John 6:39-40 Christian Standard Bible
39 This is the will of him who sent me: that I should lose none of those he has given me but should raise them up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father: that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him will have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

Acts 24:15 International Children’s Bible
15 I have the same hope in God that they have—the hope that all people, good and bad, will be raised from death.