102 Sermon Illustrations on Gospel

A story is told of two

men who got into conversation on a boat when returning

from India. One was an English sportsman and the other was a

missionary. The sportsman said, "I've been in India for 25 years, and I never saw one

of the natives converted." "That's queer," answered the missionary, "did you

ever see a tiger?" "Hundreds of them," was the reply, "and I have shot

dozens in the hunt." "Well, I have been in India for many years," said the

missionary, "but I have never seen a tiger. But under the power of the Gospel of

Christ, I have seen hundreds of the natives of India turn to the Savior!" You

see, one loved hunting and was looking for tigers. The other loved individuals

who needed God and was looking ways to bring them to Jesus! The Bible

says, "And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and

they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever."

\reference{Dan. 12:3}{Daniel 12:3} 252

"If you believe what you like in the Gospel, and reject what you

like, it is not the Gospel you believe, but yourself."

Some weeks ago there was a man who, speaking about a house, said,

"It was built for the proprietor," and he meant that as a

recommendation. I asked him, "What advantage would he have?" "Well,"

he replied, "you surely know that if a man put up a house for himself,

he would put it up better than if he were doing it for another. In a

house that was built for the proprietor I expect extra conveniences, I

expect no shoddy workmanship, no jerry masonry, I expect that when the

proprietor built the house for his own occupation, it was worth going

in for." I said to the man, "You reason rightly, my friend." For the

same reason I am going to stick to the gospel, that is why I am not

going to flit. You may flit if you like. The Gospel of God was made

and fashioned for his own occupation in the person of the Holy Ghost.

I claim this, whatever your new doctrine, whatever the doctrine you

are peddling in our country today may claim, the Holy Ghost will seal

nothing but the Gospel of God, nothing but the atonement of Jesus

Christ. The Holy Ghost will not inhabit your philosophy, will not

dwell in your man-made theology. -- J. Robertson.

By J. Wilbur Chapan, "Present Day Parables."

The young “Jehovah's Witnesses” girl tried to convince me of the Divine origin of her sect. For hours we talked about the Bible and God's promises of salvation. Finally, I decided to challenge her.

“Tell me,” I said, “by what authority do you come out on visitation?”

I knew her answer would be, “Jesus told us to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.”

“And can you tell me what the word 'gospel' means?”

Exactly as planned, she replied, “Yes, it means good news.”

“You and I have been talking for a couple of hours. You told me that only 144,000 were going to Heaven, and that neither of us had much of a chance for that. You also told me I could not possibly be sure of salvation. Now, as I see it, this is all bad news, not good news. So why don't you go home and study your Bible, get some good news for folks, and then try again to preach the Gospel?”

Specializing in bad news is not only a habit of religious cultists. It would be an interesting survey to check up on the news media and see what percentage of the stories they report are really good news.

The good news is that there is Good News; will you believe it?

In three important areas that involve your eternal destiny, we will examine bad news, as given by some religionists and the Good News from God's Word, the Bible. Then you decide.

WHICH WILL YOU BELIEVE? BAD NEWS OR GOOD NEWS

BAD NEWS

Expiation of sin: “Sin must be expiated. This may be done on earth through the sorrow, misery and trials of this life, and, above all, through death.” (Paul VI, Indulgentiarum Doctrina, January 1, 1967)

Assurance: The Roman Catholic Church teaches that for one to feel assured of Heaven is the sin of presumption. (St. Peter's Catechism, 1972)

Destiny after Death: “Purgatory is the fiery sword of after God set before the gates of Paradise after Adam and Eve were driven from it: each of us have to pass through that fire to return.” (Fr. Anthony, C.M.M., October 1976)

GOOD NEWS

Expiation of sin: “For by one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.” Hebrews 10:14

Assurance: “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life.” 1 John 5:13

Destiny after Death: “For we know, that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” 2 Corinthians 5:1

If you have been believing bad news, we invite you to start believing the Gospel. Trust Jesus Christ as your perfect Saviour from sin. Your efforts only add up to bad news. The good news is that He died for your sins, was raised from the dead and because He lives, you can live with Him for eternity.

What Good News this is!

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[Original illustration at this number was added to HolwickID #1862]

An African woman, who had heard for the first time from a

missionary the story of Christ and the Cross, exclaimed "I always knew

that there must be such a man as that!" When we speak of the witness

of humanity to Christianity, that is what we mean: that Christianity

must be true, because it is adapted to man, ancient, medieval, modern

man, wherever he has appeared in the past man, in whatever state we

can imagine him to exist in the ages to come.

In our day and age we are confused about a great many things. One of the most momentous of our confusions is a misunderstanding of the Christian faith. However, this misunderstanding is not only by those on the outside looking in on the faith, but even those on the inside looking out. This is why the confusion is so momentous. The church is the lighthouse of the most important truths of God, and so when the church is in confusion, it is a dire matter.

This confusion concerns the Gospel and what it is. Let me start by saying what the Gospel is not. The Gospel is not a set of propositions. It is not a set of facts that God has entrusted to us. Yes, I know, it sounds like a strange thing to have to say, but it is relevant to how I often hear people construe faith in this manner. I often hear believing faith spoken of as if it were something akin to intellectual assent. And faith as intellectual assent goes hand in hand with the Gospel as a set of propositions. You see, if the Gospel is a proposition or a fact like 2 + 2 = 4, or the atomic weight of carbon is 12, then faith in the Gospel is merely giving intellectual assent to the facts of the Gospel. But faith is not merely thinking in your head, “Yes, I think Jesus died for me,” as one thinks, “The atomic weight of carbon is 12.”

The great danger in treating the Gospel as a set of facts is that we think that we can memorize it and then be done with it. Or even worse, memorize it and so master it like one masters a set of facts. Having it mastered we then are seemingly in control of it; we become the masters of salvation. This is a perilous spiritual state.

The incredible story of God breaking into human history is a thunderous lightning bolt. We dare not attempt to master it. Rather we ought with a humble burning find ourselves being mastered by it. This is faith: with a panting heart and an awestruck mind, trusting and hoping in the wonderful story of God’s redemption of us and of the world.

Faith is a living, breathing, pursuit of God. It is a stretching out of the arms of the heart and the reach of the mind, a stretching to God. And the Gospel is the awesome promise that such a stretch will be met.

____________

Copyright © 2002 Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM). Reprinted with permission. "A Slice of Infinity" is a radio ministry of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries.

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[Original illustration at this number was a duplicate of HolwickID #13206]

SALVATION

(IMPORTANT DECISION)

According to writers Kent McDill and Melissa Isaacson, Don Calhoun worked for five dollars an hour at an office supply store in Bloomington, Illinois. He had attended two Chicago Bulls basketball games in his life, and now he was going to his third. When he strolled into Chicago Stadium, a woman who worked for the Bulls organization walked up to him and told him they were selecting him to take part in a promotional event during the game called the Million Dollar Shot.

The Shot came after a time-out in the third quarter. If Calhoun could shoot a basket standing seventy-nine feet away that means he had to stand behind the free throw line on the opposite end of the court and throw the ball three quarters of the length of the court-he would win one million dollars.

Calhoun played basketball at the Bloomington YMCA but he had never tried a shot like this before. He took the basketball in his hands and looked over at Michael Jordan and the rest of the Bulls. He could see they were pulling for him.

Calhoun stepped to the line and let fly. As soon as the basketball left his hand, coach Phil Jackson said, "It's good." Indeed, the ball went through the basket in a swish. The stadium crowd went wild. Calhoun rushed into the arms of Michael Jordan, and the Bulls players crowded around slapping him on the back.

When Don Calhoun went home that night, he had only two dollars in his wallet, but he would receive fifty thousand dollars a year for the next twenty years of his life.

Sometimes one action, one decision, one moment can change everything for you. So it is when you choose to receive Christ into your life.

Born again, Conversion, Gospel, Repentance, Salvation

John 1:12; 2 Cor. 5:17

Contemporary Illustrations For Preachers, Teachers, & Writers

Editor Craig Brian Larson, Baker Books, p. 199.

It has always been challenging to take our "On Eagle's Wings" team of young Native American believers to do reservation outreach. But going to Alaska to do it has meant a really challenging challenge! With a suicide rate 20 times greater than that of the rest of the young people in America, the young Native Alaskans are a desperate mission field. You can probably imagine that the logistics of this kind of outreach are pretty exciting - especially when some of the villages you're in are 400 miles from the nearest road! The entire team has to be transported by missionary planes and fishing boats! Since the planes are just single or twin-engine aircraft, you can choose between taking less people with more luggage, or more people with less luggage. Since we need every seat filled with a team member, the sacrifice is going to be in how much baggage each of us takes. The limit is 20 pounds per person - for five weeks! It's hard to travel that light, but it's important. When you carry just the basic essentials, you can move more people and go a lot farther!

Well, I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "More Baggage ... Less People."

A team moves farther and faster with less baggage ... and so does the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That's why the powerful Apostle Paul, who could have dazzled a crowd with his incredible theology, kept his message to the lost very simple. Our word for today for the Word of God, 1 Corinthians 2:1-2 -"When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified."

Now, with all the Christian truth Paul could have presented (that he knew there was to present), when it came to the lost, he carried an unencumbered Gospel. Like us packing for our missionary trip to Alaska, he limited himself to the basic essentials, and he left out anything that would unnecessarily encumber the message he was carrying. His message: Jesus Christ and His death on the cross for you.

Now one reason we may not see more people interested in our Jesus is that we may have, without realizing it, added baggage to the simple Gospel message. Baggage like rules, rituals, religion - all of which obscure the real issue, which is a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Sometimes we encumber the Gospel with lifestyle issues. "Now, you need Jesus - and what are you doing with an earring there?" Or we attack their wrong music ... or their wrong relationship ... or their wrong entertainment. We're trying to clean them up before they have the Cleaner-Upper inside them! Stick to Jesus and His cross!

It's also tempting to load down the Jesus story with the baggage of our group's special theological emphasis. There are distinctives in every denomination and group that makes them them - and they often concern very important areas of Christian truth. But they're not part of the Gospel. They are what we will teach this person after they have been to the Cross and made Jesus their Savior. Then, those teachings may become essentials to their relationship with Christ. But now, before they know Him, those emphases may be extra baggage - baggage that means, like traveling in those little planes in Alaska, will be carrying less people - to Jesus.

If a lost person stumbles over Jesus or His cross, then the responsibility is theirs. If they stumble over baggage that we add to Jesus and His cross, then the responsibility is ours. And the consequences can be eternal.

Aren't you glad you don't have to carry all the Christian baggage when you try to win the heart of a lost friend or loved one? Unpack all the other Christian things, and just deliver the essentials - the incredible news that Jesus loved us enough to die for us, to rescue us from the death penalty of our sin. Stick to Jesus!

________________

Copyright © Ron Hutchcraft Ministries, Inc., PO Box 400, Harrison, AR 72602. Used by permission. Written by Ron Hutchcraft. "Practical Answers to Real Life Issues"

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1. Sing them over again to me,

Wonderful words of life;

Let me more of their beauty see,

Wonderful words of life;

Words of life and beauty

Teach me faith and duty.

Chorus

Beautiful words, wonderful words,

Wonderful words of life.

Beautiful words, wonderful words,

Wonderful words of life.

2. Christ, the blessed one, gives to all

Wonderful words of life;

Sinner, list to the loving call,

Wonderful words of life;

All so freely given,

Wooing us to heaven.

3. Sweetly echo the gospel call,

Wonderful words of life;

Offer pardon and peace to all,

Wonderful words of life;

Jesus, only Saviour,

Sanctify forever.

*

“I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise. So, as much as is in me, [I am] ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.” (Romans 1:14-16 NKJV)

He is not ashamed of the Gospel

• debtor — 1 Cor 9:16-17 — the debt he owed to all nations was the obligation laid on him to preach the Gospel to them. (Alford)

• Greeks…Barbarians — i.e., to all the world (Wordsworth), philosophers and common people (Macknight); “Barbarian; given from mode of speaking” (Strabo); One who speaks in a foreign or unknown tonguo (1 Cor 14:1l); “Barbarus hic ego sum; quia non intelligor all ulli.” (Ovid)

• so — on the principle that all alike have a claim upon me. (Vaughan)

• as…is — I will do my part.

• ready — Gk., a readiness is in me.

• Rome — the capital and theater of the whole world. (Bengel)

• ashamed — Ps 40:9-10, 31:17, 119:46, Mark 8:35, 2 Tim 1:8 — perhaps in reference to greatness and glory of Rome

• gospel…Christ — though its origin be so mean, and its claims so vast.

• power…God — Ps 110:2, 1 Cor 1:18, 23-24, 2:4-5, 2 Cor 10:4-5, Jer 23:29 — Gk., a power of God; a manifestation or proof of His power.

• salvation — deliverance from sin and its consequences.

• every one — no respect to class, nation, character.

• believeth — Mark 16:16 — salvation by faith. Belief of heart unto righteousness.

• Jew first — salvation of the dews, and offered first to them. — Rom 15:8, Luke 2:30-32, 24:47, Acts 3:26

• Greek — Rom 3:28-30 — who shall not be lost bee. the Jew refuses to be saved.

The Grecian

Four characteristics marked Grecian life and religion:

I. Restlessness.

II. Worldliness. The Greeks look upon this world in its fallen state, and pronounce it all “very good.” The results were threefold:

1. Disappointment;

2. Degradation;

3. Disbelief in immortality.

III. The worship of the beautiful.

IV. The worship of humanity.

The Roman — F. W. Robertson, M.A.

I. The public life at Rome:

1. The spirit of its religion — begun from the idea of duty;

2. The result of all this — government, as its highest earthly expression.

II. Private life: we find

1. Manly courage;

2. Female honor and chastity.

III. The decline of Roman life

1. Corruption of the moral character;

2. Scepticism and superstition;

3. Religion degenerating into allegiance to the State;

4. Its decline into expediency.

Paul and the Gospel — R. V. Price, M.A.

Our text speaks words

I. Of power — “The power God unto salvation”

II. Of love — “I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ”

III. Of encouragement “To every one that believeth”

IV. Of universal hope — “To the Jew first, and also to the Greek

The Gospel, the power o f God unto salvation — Dr R. Newton

I. The nature of this avowal. “Not ashamed.”

1. Of what is this spoken? Of the Gospel’s —

(1) Doctrines,

(2 Precepts,

(3) Threatenings,

(4) Promises,

(5) Privileges;

2. By whom?

3. To whom?

4. What was implied in it?

II. The ground of this avowal:

1. The Divine energy of the Gospel;

2. The powerful combination against which it has to contend;

3. Its saving efficacy;

4. Its impartiality.

Learn

(1) The evil of religious cowardice;

(2) The necessity of consistency in religion;

(3) Your obligation to make it known;

(4) Your duty to expect your efforts to meet with success.

The Gospel, a touchstone of character — R. Cecil, M.A.

I. What there is in the Gospel of Christ to make carnal men ashamed of it:

1. It proceeds upon principles so contrary to the natural man, and so brings down human reasoning and the pride of intellect, that men are shocked at its positions and requirements;

2. It exposes a man’s grand idol;

3. It demands absolute submission;

4. The world attributes regard to the Gospel either to a weakness of the head or heart;

5. The Gospel levels men.

II. Why Paul was not ashamed of the Gospel. Because he knew it was

1. The power of God;

2. The power of God to the greatest end, salvation.

The power of God. — The Thracians had a very significant emblem of the almighty power of God. It was a sun with three beams — one shining upon a sea of ice and dissolving it; another upon a rock and melting it; and a third upon a dead man and putting life into him. What a striking illustration of the power of God in the Gospel ! It melts the hardest heart, and raises to a life of righteousness those who were “dead in trespasses and sins.”

The power of the Gospel — A little girl one Sabbath morning was much affected under the sermon, and on her return home, earnestly entreated her mother would accompany her to chapel in the evening to hear how delightfully the minister talked about Jesus Christ. The child was so intent on this object that she made the request with tears, and the mother, at last, consented to accompany her importunate girl to the chapel. The preacher chose for his text Romans 1:16. The woman was seriously and effectually impressed by the Word of God, was led earnestly to seek salvation and obtained mercy by faith in Christ Jesus. The wife now naturally became anxious for the salvation of her husband, and persuaded him also to attend the chapel. He also submitted to the influence of the truth, and both the parents became grateful to God for the child whose importunity led them to hear the Gospel of salvation. — Cheever

“In the whole world there is no other distinction recognized by the Gospel, but those whom we love, and those whom we ought to love.” — Bishop Heber.

In speaking of Pantheism, Bishop Thomson says: “If God is matter, and matter is God, then surely we may add with Pascal, ‘It is no matter whether there be any God at all.’”

“The obstinate have nothing to do with God; the title of all converts is, A willing people” — Bishop Hall.

“The great hindrance to compliance with the Gospel invitation is perhaps not so much a desire of things unlawful, as an unlawful desire of things that, in their proper place, may be good for us to possess.”

Recipe for a Miracle

1 cup Tension

2 cups Stress

1 teaspoon of Guilt

2 heaping cups of Limited Time

3/4 tablespoon of Urgency

A dash of “No Other Choice”

3 heaping cups of Faith

Fold ingredients gently into a bowl. Mix vigorously and add a few tears. You’ll sweat a little as you knead the dough. Pack it firmly between your hopes and dreams and form into a perfect little ball. Sprinkle it with a little faith (I recommend Hebrews 11), rolling the ball in the flour until fully covered.

Place it under a veil of belief and allow it to rise.

Put it in an oven that has been pre-set at the perfect temperature for the heat of trials and tribulations.

Allow it to brown under the warmth of God’s love. Remove after due season and allow to cool in the confidence of His promise.

Garnish with your praises. Arrange neatly on a platter of thankfulness and serve to friends, families and, oh yes, strangers … invite them too!

Pass on the recipe to all who request it and let them know that with this recipe, they have the makings of a miracle!

Who Wants Good News?

Read: Romans 1:24-32

Although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God. —- Romans 1:21

Bible In One Year: Ezekiel 5-7; Hebrews 12

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Do people really want to hear good news? Maybe not, broadcaster Paul Harvey suggests. The bad news about crime and tragedy may seem more interesting, and actually more compatible with their own tastes. As an example, Harvey cited the failure of the Good News Paper in Sacramento, California. It printed nothing but good news — and folded after 36 months.

What, then, about the best news of all, the gospel — the good news of Jesus and His love? It’s the good news of full and free forgiveness through faith in Christ and His sacrificial death. Why do many people avert their eyes, close their minds, and refuse to listen when the best of all good news is being communicated to them?

The sad fact is that we all are afflicted with what has been called theophobia — a fearful dislike of God. Although we were created to have a close relationship with God and need His life-fulfilling presence, we actually are God-haters (Romans 1:30) until we are born again.

Let’s keep on proclaiming the good news in the confidence that the Holy Spirit will break through the hostile indifference of God-haters, capture their attention, and win their believing response to the saving message of grace. After all, that’s what He did with you and me. — VCG

So send I you to hearts made hard by hatred,

To eyes made blind because they will not see,

To spend — though it be blood — to spend and spare not —

So send I you to taste of Calvary. —- Clarkson © 1954 Singspiration, Inc.

In a world full of bad news, our only hope is the good news of Jesus.

Sermon on the Good News of the Gospel. Matthew 11:3-5

GOOD NEWS OR BAD NEWS?

======================

I. Where's the good news?

II. What is good about the Good News of Jesus.

A. Jesus gave his own answer.

B. The good things that Jesus offers us.

III. You can know the Good News is good for you.

A. Hope you're saved?

B. Salvation is our response to what Jesus has already done.

C. You can know you are saved.

IV. The bad news about the Good News.

A. The blessings are not automatic.

V. Good news or bad news - for you?

*

[Original illustration here was a duplicate in HolwickID 25837-26027]

“Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.” (Philippians 2:14-16 NKJV)

The Word of Life

• do…things — Jam 5:9 — needful, right, however humble the work, or difficult

• murmurings[complaining] — 1 Cor 10:10 — probably referring to Israelites

• disputings — inward questionings

• that…be[become] — Matt 5:45, Eph 5:1 — that ye may be regarded as

• harmless — pure

• the…rebuke[fault] — 1 Pet 2:12 — irreproachable

• crooked…perverse — Deut 32:5 — “in reference to their moral obliquity and their distorted spiritual growth.” (Ellicot)

• among…world — Matt 5:14, 16, Eph 5:8

• holding…life — John 6:63 — manifesting the Gospel by living and preaching the Word, from Whom they have life

• in…Christ — day of judgment

• that…vain — 1 Th 2:19 — but find that his zeal is productive of hoped for results

Lights in the world — C. H. Spurgeon

These lights are intended –

I. To make manifest — a Christian should so live as that all may see Christ reflected in his daily actions.

II. For guidance — we are to hold forth to those in darkness the Word of life.

III. For warning — there are many false lights in the world, shown by the wreckers of Satan, but place you the right light on the rock.

IV. As a cheering influence — Christians should carry sunshine wherever they go.

Christian lights — D. Longwill, M.A.

How may we shine best as “lights in the world?”

I. By having in our hearts God’s love and truth.

II. By not concealing the light.

III. By possessing the reflector — a blameless life — good works.

IV. By frequently trimming and feeding the lamp.

The duty of private Christians to teach the Gospel to others — Dr Leifchild

I. The duty — “to hold forth the Word of life.” This Gospel is “the Word of life.”

1. To those in a state of moral and spiritual death.

2. To those that are pardoned.

II. The chief and appointed ways of performing this duty.

1. By the public and standing ministry of the Gospel.

2. By the working together of all Christians.

3. By the working of private Christians, by educating the poor; by discourse and conversation, by earnest remonstrance, personal entreaty, and renewed appeal; by visiting the sick.

Manifesting the life of Christ — For no greater good can be conferred on a State than that men should be intimate, and well acquainted with each other’s character. Since, where a light is not reflected from their good works in the face of each other, but where a moral darkness is around them, there we are sure to find that no one receives properly the honour due to his worth. It is meet, then, that every man should exert himself never to appear to anyone to be of the base metal, but always artless and true.

“The Apostle, perhaps, alludes here to those towers which were built at the entrance of the harbours, with fires kept burning on them, to direct the mariner in dark and stormy nights to a safe and quiet haven.” — Beza

“A man without religion is like a horse without a bridle.” — Anon.

Luke 8:4–15 — Parable of the Seeds (the Sower, the Soils)

« Leader information shown in this fashion »

A. This parable is named or known

1. most commonly as the Parable of the Sower

2. but, more accurately, as the Parable of the Soils – why?

a. it is the soils that differentiate the results

b. as the soils represent different people hearing the gospel and we can thus identify with those differences

3. the thought is that we need the reminder that it was good seed that was used throughout — the different results are not its fault

B. The Parable itself — 8:4–8 (NKJV) — Parallel passages: Matthew 13:3–9, Mark 4:3–9 — 5 “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it. 6 Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, a it withered away because it lacked moisture. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. 8 But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop b a hundredfold.” When He had said these things He cried, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

1. a. Matthew and Mark insert into verse 6 these or similar words: “But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away.”

2. b. Matthew & Mark expand verse 8 with these or similar words: “But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”

3. Try and put yourself in the place of one of the many Jews who have just came to listen to the Rabbi;

a. what have you heard?

(A) « a lesson in agriculture »

b. what have you learned?

(A) « some planting prospered greatly, some very poorly »

c. is this what you expected?

(A) « not really; I wanted to see miracles or hear that we were going to be freed from the Roman yoke »

C. The Disciples Question and its Answer — 8:9–10 (NKJV) — Parallel passages: Matthew 13:10–18, Mark 4:10–13 – 9 Then His disciples a asked Him, saying, “What does this parable mean?” 10 And He said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, b that ‘Seeing they may not see, And hearing they may not understand.’” c

1. a. Mark begins this section this way: 10 But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable.

2. b. Matthew inserts this into verse 10: 10 “For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”

3. c. Matthew also gives this fuller quotation from Isaiah 6:9–10:– 14 “And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: ‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, And seeing you will see and not perceive; 15 For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.’” and then adds: 16 “But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; 17 for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”

4. Who asked the question, “What does it mean?” and when?

a. who « — a crowd of disciples, not just the twelve »

b. when « — after the multitude of people had left — so these were the people who in listening, heard and understood that there was more to this than just a farming lesson »

5. How does the Holy Spirit assess the condition of the majority of the Jews of both Isaiah’s and Jesus’ day?

a. were they physically disabled? Yes No

b. then what? … and why?

(A) what: « they were spiritually disabled. »

(B) why: « continued disregarding & disobeying God and His commands had impaired their spiritual ears, dimmed their spiritual sight, and dulled their spiritual thinking, making them hard of heart (”seared consciences” – 1 Timothy 4:2) »

6. How does Jesus rank the “mysteries of the Kingdom of God” that they are hearing in these parables?

a. « as much or more than the words of the prophets, for these would have desired to hear them; the words that Daniel, Job and Noah would fain have heard »

b. why? « — because these were healing words; bringing the deliverance from spiritual illness, ie., sin; to those who see and hear these words, they bring great blessing »

D. The Explanation of the Parable: – 8:11-15 (NKJV) – Parallel passages Matthew 13:18–23, Mark 4:14–20 — 11 “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; a then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. 13 But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while b and in time of temptation fall away. 14 Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked c with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. 15 But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.” d

1. a. Matthew adds, “… and does not understand it … “

2. b. Matthew and Mark expands this thought: “… but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.”

3. c. Mark puts it more fully: 19 “and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.”

4. d. Matthew is fuller here, and Mark only slightly less so: “But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

5. What is the primary purpose here of the “word of God?”

a. « that men and women might hear and be saved »

6. What handicaps face our witness of this to unbelievers?

a. « the opposition of the satanic forces – we are at war »

b. « temptation, testing, trials »

c. « cares and responsibilities of life »

d. « distorting impact of wealth »

e. « allurement of things »

7. is the amount of fruitfulness conditioned by the hearer?

a. Yes « — those who hear but it doesn’t last bear no fruit »

b. No « — those with “noble and good hearts” who both hear and keep the word, can still have differing fruitfulness — Paul tells us why in the matter of converts and in the area of spiritual gifts; why? … it is done in accordance with the will and purposes of God »

8. What is the mark of the fruitful? « — perserverance (continuing until maturity; patience) »

9. What do you learn about Jesus, the Teacher, in this passage?

a. « He arouses the interest of those who are really seeking by whetting their appetite so that they will come to Him »

b. « He does not cast His pearls before swine … most precious truths are for those who will value them »

1. Shepherd of love,

You knew I had lost my way;

Shepherd of love,

You cared that I’d gone astray.

You sought and found me, placed around me

Strong arms that carried me home;

No foe can harm me or alarm me–

Never again will I roam!

Chorus:

Shepherd of love,

Saviour and Lord and Guide,

Shepherd of love,

Forever I’ll stay by Your side.

2. Shepherd of love,

Contentment at last is mine;

Deep in my Heart,

There’s peace and a joy divine.

The future’s brighter, burden’s lighter,

My cup runs over each day;

You grace supplied me now provides me

All that I need for the way.

Clearly, every Christian is called to go out into the world and bring people into the kingdom. We’re supposed to share what we’ve been given.

But what exactly are we supposed to share?

Here’s your message in two words: Good News.

Mark 16:15 (NLT) tells us to “preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere.”

Do you like to get good news? Everybody does.

Do you like to share good news? Most people do. In the Warren household we compete in who gets to share good news.

I know you’re thinking, “The people I work with, my friends -- they’re not interested in the Good News.” You’re dead wrong! They may not be interested in religion, but they are interested in the Good News. The problem is not that your friends and co-workers aren’t interested. The problem is you have forgotten how good the Good News really is.

Once you’ve been a Christian for a while, you forget how miserable it was to live without hope. You forget what it was like to worry where you would go when you die. You forget what it was like to have guilt and fear and regrets and bitterness and boredom in your life before Christ brought meaning and purpose and significance.

What happens is -- the longer you’re a Christian the more you tend to take for granted how good the Good News really is.

If you go out on the street and ask, “How do you convince God to like you?” 99 percent of the people will say, “You’ve got to work real hard to get God’s approval and you’ve got to be really, really good. You’ve got to keep a lot of rules and you probably have to follow a lot of regulations and do some rituals. You’ve got to be religious. I'm none of those things -- so I'm never going to please God or get to know Him.”

The Good News is that you get right with God through a relationship based just on trusting -- not through a religion of rules, regulations and rituals.

When I trust my life to Jesus Christ I’m given three incredible, fabulous, wonderful benefits. These are the three benefits you need to share with people: He takes care of your past, your present and your future.

• He forgives your past.

If we were to take everything you’ve ever done or said or thought and make a movie of it and show it on a screen to everybody, you’d be really nervous! And probably embarrassed.

And so would I -- because none of us bat 1,000. Nobody’s perfect. Everybody's made mistakes. Everyone has skeletons in their closet -- things they wish had never happened. God comes along and says, “When you trust Jesus Christ with your life, I take that movie and I burn it. I take everything you’ve ever done and wipe the slate clean. You get to start over with a brand new life.” Is that good news?

• He takes care of the present and gives you a purpose for living right now.

You are not an accident. God created you for a purpose. But you’re never going to know God’s purpose for your life until first you get to know God. When you get to know God, you’re going to know who you are. When you figure out God, you’re going to figure out yourself. I meet people all the time saying, “I'm just trying to find myself.” You probably aren’t going to like yourself once you find yourself! They say, “There’s something missing in my life.” God’s missing! You weren’t made to live and go through life just on your own power.

• He gives you a future.

And that’s a home in heaven. Most people hope they’re going to heaven. But they’re not sure. Most people think if you do more good in your life than bad, maybe God will grade on a curve and say, “OK, you can come in.”

Wrong! It doesn’t work that way. You won’t get into heaven on your own power, because you’re just not good enough. The Bible says that heaven is a perfect place -- free of sorrow, suffering and sin. That means only perfect people get to go there. If he let imperfect people into heaven, it wouldn’t be perfect anymore. And that leaves me out and it leaves you out, too.

There’s only one way you can get into heaven: on somebody else’s ticket. Since none of us are perfect, God came to earth in human form and that form was called Jesus Christ. He lived a life of perfection. He died on the cross, paid for our sin and then went back to heaven. Now you get into heaven on his ticket -- if you trust him.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23, NIV)

It’s a gift. That means you can’t earn it, you can’t work for it, you can’t own it in any way other than accepting it.

Think about these three things: God says you get to know him just by trusting. If you trust His Son with your life, you get forgiveness for your past, a purpose for living in your present and a home in heaven in the future. Is that Good News? I guess so!

Do you think anybody you know would be interested in that? Of course!

Satan has fooled you. You think that none of your friends or the people you work with are interested in hearing the Good News. You’re dead wrong. The world is hungry for the Good News. They’re looking for it. There’s a great spiritual hunger in our world. I’ve discovered that the Good News keeps sounding better and better because the bad news of the world keeps getting worse and worse.

*

And when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished … And the last state of that man is worse than the first. — Matthew 12:44, 45.

My dear comrades, don’t make the mistake of substituting the alleviation of social ills for the regeneration of men and women. Take a man out of the slums, a poor, ragged, drunken man, separated from his family, get him to sign the pledge, and take him off into the country; settle him in a new home; bring his wife and children back to him, and give them every comfort, get him a position where he can earn enough money to keep his family properly, and then let him die in his sins, and go to hell at last. Really I would not bother with it; it would not be worth while. — Wm. Booth.

Eternity–where? Is aught worth a care?

Friend, oh, shall we-oh, can we e’en venture to dare–

In life that is passing as mist in the air,

Do aught till we settle Eternity–where?

Acts 28:16–31 — The Gospel Published at Rome — (outline by F. F. Bruce, NICNT) « Leader information shown in this fashion »

{A.} The Birth of the Church (1:1–5:42)

{B.} Persecution and Expansion (6:1–9:31)

{C.} The Acts of Peter & Beginnings of Gentile Christianity (9:32–12:25)

{D.} Church Extension from Antioch & Apostolic Decree at Jerusalem (12:25–15:35)

{E.} Paul Leaves Antioch & Moves to the Aegean World (15:36–19:20)

{F.} Paul Plans to Visit Rome and Gets there by an Unforseen Route (19:21–28:31)

{1} He Prepares to Leave Ephesus for Macedonia and Achaia (19:21–20:6)

{2} The Journey to Jerusalem (20:7–21:16)

{3} Paul at Jerusalem (21:17–23:30)

{4} Paul at Caesarea (23:31–26:32)

{5} Paul’s Voyage and Shipwreck (27:1–44)

A. Caesarea to Myra (27:1–5)

B. They Trans-ship at Myra and Sail to Crete (27:6–8)

C. Paul’s Advice Rejected (27:9-12)

D. They are Caught by the Wind Euraquilo (27:13-20)

E. Paul’s Encouragement (27:21-26)

F. They Approach Land (27:27-29)

G. The Sailors’ Attempt to Escape Frustrated (27:30-32)

H. The Meal on Board (27:33-38)

I. The Shipwreck (27:39-41)

J. Safe Ashore! (27:42-44)

{6} Winter in Malta (28:1-10)

A. Welcome to Malta! (28:1-6)

B. Works of Healing in Malta (28:7–10)

{7} Rome at Last (28:11–31)

A. The Last Lap: ‘and So We Came to Rome’ (28:11-15)

B. Paul Handed Over to be Kept under Guard 28:16 (NKJV)

1. 16 Now when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard; but Paul was permitted to dwell by himself with the soldier who guarded him.

2. What influence by the centurion Julius do you see? … why?

a. What? « – in the special provisions for Paul quite distinct from all the rest of the prisoners – his own residence, his own guard »

b. Why? « – perhaps Paul’s citizenship or status, perhaps Julius’ instructions; probably because of Julius’ experience with Paul and events of the trip from Jerusalem to Rome »

3. What were the benefits?

a. « for Paul’s health (was probably in late 50’s; see Phm 1:9) »

b. « allow him to continue some aspects of his ministry »

C. Paul and the Roman Jews 28:17-29

1. The First Interview 28:17–22 (NKJV)

a. 17 And it came to pass after three days that Paul called the leaders of the Jews together. So when they had come together, he said to them: ‘Men and brethren, though I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans, 18 who, when they had examined me, wanted to let me go, because there was no cause for putting me to death. 19 But when the Jews spoke against it, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, not that I had anything of which to accuse my nation. 20 For this reason therefore I have called for you, to see you and speak with you, because for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.’ 21 Then they said to him, ‘We neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor have any of the brethren who came reported or spoken any evil of you. 22 But we desire to hear from you what you think; for concerning this sect, we know that it is spoken against everywhere.’

b. What purpose does Paul have in this interview?

i. To clear up « – any questions about his imprisonment »

ii. To explain « – his appeal to Caesar did not attack Jews »

c. What defence does he make …

i. … of his actions? « – nothing against people or customs »

ii. … of accusations? « – the Romans found no cause »

d. How does he seek acceptance by these Jews?

i. He states that « – he looks for the hope of Israel »

ii. He draws attention « – to his (Roman) chains »

e. How does the ‘hope of Israel’ come into view?

i. Acts 23:6, 26:6-7 « – Paul Pharisaic doctrine; party strife explained Jews seeking to kill him (2 Jews, 3 opinions) »

ii. Cf Ezekiel 37:11ff « – these Jews thought that only by the resurrection of the dead could they enjoy the Messianic kingdom; this was a particularly precious promise to the Jewish diaspora »

f. What is there reaction …

i. … pro? « – they have heard no occasion against Paul; they want to hear further what he has to say »

ii. … con? « – they have heard evil of the sect of the Way »

2. The Second Interview 28:23-29 (NKJV)

a. 23 So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening. 24 And some were persuaded by the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved. 25 So when they did not agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had said one word: ‘The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers, 26 saying, “Go to this people and say: ‘Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand; And seeing you will see, and not perceive; 27 For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.’” 28 Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it!’ 29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed and had a great dispute among themselves.

b. In what ways did Paul and the gospel get a fair hearing?

i. « There were many who came to hear »

ii. « They listened to a 12-hour sermon! »

c. What was Paul’s philosophy of ministry?

i. His message was « … Jesus »

ii. For resources, illustrations, etc., he used « … Scripture »

d. What resulted? … what can we say about this today? « – some believed and some did not; this will always be the response to the preaching of the gospel; it saddens us, but there are always those who will refuse to accept the truth »

e. What, according to Paul and Isaiah is the problem? « – deaf ears and blind eyes result in hearts that do not understand »

f. 2 Corinthians 4:4; why do the following reject the Gospel?

i. Jews … « because Satan blinds them »

ii. Gentiles … « because Satan blinds them »

iii. It takes … « the Holy Spirit’s work to give spiritual sight »

g. In Paul’s letters (the ‘prison epistles’) we no longer find the phrase ‘to the Jew first’ – are the full details of this episode because this constituted the final rejection of Jesus Christ by the Jews? « – discuss: was this a dispensational divide or an outcome of Paul’s being kept from ordinary ministry? What should the church be doing for Jews today – telling them the gospel or helping them go back to Palestine? – My opinion? … a historical reality, a practical necessity, not dispensational; see Acts 1:8 “in Jerusalem AND in ..”. »

D. The Gospel Advances without Hindrance in Rome 28:30-31

1. 30 Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, 31 preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.

2. What opportunities did Paul have in his ‘house arrest’?

a. Available « – to be visited by seekers and believers »

b. Occupied « – in evangelism and discipling »

c. Apologetic value « – this done under full view of authorities »

3. How did his arrest limit Paul? « – from ordinary missionary work of going to the lost as he had in the past »

4. Was he released after 2 years (see Philemon 1:22, Titus 1:5, 1 Timothy 1:3, 20, 2 Timothy 4:11, 16)? « – a period of freedom seems indicated in these and tradition as Eusebius E.H. II.xxii »

The entire Gospel -- as Scripture communicates it -- must be set before unbelievers for their conversion, speakers at the 24th annual Southern Baptist Founders Conference said as they examined the doctrines that compose the Gospel of Jesus Christ. From regeneration, repentance and faith to justification by faith, preaching and future glorification, speakers sought to sketch the full biblical landscape of God’s saving work in Christ.

The conference opened with a sermon on man’s response to God’s work of grace in salvation: repentance from sin.

Preaching from Psalm 51 -- King David’s well-known confession of sin -- Joe Thorn, pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Elburn, Ill., said that repentance is an irreducible part of saving faith, but it is also a necessary aspect of a believer’s daily pilgrimage.

“Repentance is not just one thing that happens when we become a Christian,” Thorn said. “Repentance and faith are the breath of a [Christian] man or woman of faith on a daily basis. [Martin] Luther said in the first of his 95 Theses, ‘When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said ‘repent,’ he called for the entire life of the believer to be one of repentance.’”

Justification by faith sits at the heart of the Gospel and is a foundational teaching which 16th century reformer Martin Luther called “the standing or falling of the church,” several speakers noted.

Ray Ortlund, pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville, Tenn., said the ultimate apologetic of the Gospel and its central truth of justification is churches that are filled with people who live humble, Christ-like lives.

When a person knows that he has been justified by God’s grace, he is then freed to love and serve others instead of working hard to impress them, said Ortlund. “I want to lead people to Christ, and I long for our churches to be growing by conversions,” Ortlund said. “We’ve got to reach the masses with the Gospel. We have to be living proof of the doctrine of justification by faith. They don’t know about our confessions of faith, but they know true beauty when they see it.... Orthodoxy outperforms heresy at the level of everyday life ... and justification changes how we view and feel about others.”

Ortlund examined the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector found in Luke 18:9-14. Believers must demonstrate the humility of the tax collector, who “went home justified,” and not the Pharisee, who viewed himself as righteous because of his own works, Ortlund said.

“The tax collector sees the only remedy for his guilt -- Christ,” he said. “We demonstrate the Gospel by the humility that relocates us to the level of other sinners.... Let us be orthodox enough to stay low before God,” he added.

Sam Waldron, a pastor at Heritage Baptist Church in Owensboro, Ky., distinguished between two kinds of “callings” that go forth when the Gospel is preached: general and effectual.

The general call goes out to all men in the proclamation of God’s truth, but the effectual call is that which sets a person’s heart free from sin and enables them to believe in Christ, he said.

It is important to understand how the Gospel relates to effectual call, Waldron said, because those who are saved must first have their hearts renewed by the regenerating work of God; only then will they trust in Christ for salvation. And it is the preaching of the Gospel that God uses to regenerate the hearts of sinners, he said.

“[The effectual call] comes to people before they believe in Christ,” Waldron said. This effectual call is prior to any human response. It is, therefore, prevenient.

“Before effectual calling, we were just minding our own business going to hell,” Waldron said. “We were not thinking about God. There was nothing good in us. We were not asking to be saved. At best we were oblivious to spiritual things. At worst, we positively despised the idea of being saved and serving God.”

Tom Nettles, professor of historical theology at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., said one who exercises genuine saving faith believes specific elements regarding both the person and work of Christ.

These elements include the truthfulness of God’s Word, the depth of one’s own sinfulness and the sufficiency and fitness of Christ as Savior and Lord, said Nettles, author of numerous books including “By His Grace and For His Glory” and “Baptists and the Bible.”

While they must understand and believe these elements of the Gospel with their minds, sinners must also embrace them wholeheartedly with their affections in order to be saved, Nettles said.

“Saving faith is not mere mental assent,” he said. “There is a pleasure in seeing the sacrifice [of Christ]. This is the only thing fit to give God glory and it pleased God [to offer up His Son], and we must see [this] same beauty and wisdom in the cross.... We will also have the same attitude God does about sin and rebellion and the rightness of God’s wrath against sin.

“...When we see the kind of death Christ died for sin, we will know we need to take refuge in this hope offered us. We will see it and embrace it,” Nettles added.

As for the glorification that believers will experience in the new creation, Ortlund said the people of God need to provide the world with a warm-hearted picture of glorification in the present life. But first the believer must apprehend the infinite beauty of the glory of God and the precious nature of the inheritance that is laid up for him, Ortlund said.

“People who have been lifted up to see a vision of the true glory are not nearly as prone to stoop to the sewer of sin,” Ortlund said. “We have a future that this world could never have given us and could never take away.”

David Sills, associate professor of missions and cultural anthropology at Southern Seminary, said the entire Gospel must be proclaimed to every tribe and tongue and nation so that God may redeem sinners. Sills served for many years as a church planter among the Highland Quichua people in Ecuador and is a former president of the Ecuadorian Baptist Theological Seminary.

All Christians are called to be missionaries to proclaim the Gospel where God has placed them, Sills said as he urged believers to be faithful in evangelism and missions and noted that one-third of the world’s 2 billion people have never heard the Gospel.

“The Gospel tells us that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and that we are guilty, filthy and powerless to change ourselves,” Sills said. “It also tells us that Jesus died on the cross to pay for our sins and give us His perfect righteousness.

“...There is no other Gospel. There are no relaxed requirements for [proclaiming it in] hard places,” he added. “...We must proclaim it to the nations. Jesus has commanded us to make disciples, not get decisions or merely group interested people together and call them ‘churches’ as we move on to the next area. Every person hearing me today is called to the task of international missions. Some are called to be senders and some are called to be goers. Both are absolutely essential.”

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword. — Hebrews 4:12.

Some time ago, a man took his worn New Testament to a book-binder to cover it with a fine Morocco leather cover, and to print “The New Testament” on the edge in gold-leaf letters. At the appointed time, he returned to find his New Testament beautifully bound. The bookbinder had one apology, however: “I did not have small enough type in my shop to print out fully the words on the edge, so I abbreviated them.” What is the abbreviation of “The New Testament”? Looking on the edge of his Book, the man saw T.N.T.

Thy Word is power and life;

it bids confusion cease,

And changes envy, hatred, strife,

to love, and joy and peace.

Then let our hearts obey the gospel’s glorious sound;

And all its fruits, from day to day, be in us and abound. — James Montgomery.

Imagine with me… you read an advertisement that declares one of history’s all time greatest preachers will be presenting God’s Word to the lost.

“Bring your unsaved friends, your unbelieving family members and all of your neighbors who need the Gospel!” the ad declares. You arrive at the service to find not only a huge crowd of non-Christians, but a large contingent of Christian leaders as well – Pastors, preachers, church growth specialists, teachers – all anxious to witness how the “best Preacher of all time” does things so they can take his successful techniques back to their own churches and organizations.

With great anticipation, the Giant of the Faith steps up to the podium. He’s not much to look at, for sure, but hey, image problems can be overcome with presence, right? As he begins to speak, it’s apparent that not only is he kind of an eyesore, he’s not even all that good of a speaker. I mean, with someone of his reputation, you would be hoping for the Christian equivalent of Tony Robbins.

“Well” you think, “hmmm. He’s not impressive looking; he’s not a dynamic, captivating speaker… it must be his content that has earned him the reputation of one of God’s all time great church builders.” Mild disappointment soon turns to puzzled annoyance as this supposed “great teacher” proclaims:

There is not one person here that is righteous.

None of you understand God’s truth.

Not a single one of you seek after anything Godly.

All of you have strayed from God’s plan and there is nothing about you worth anything.

There is not one single person here that is good, not even one.

Your words are like rotting dead people.

You are all deceitful on purpose.

Your mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.

You are quick to shed blood and you ruin everything you come in contact with.

You don’t know a thing about real peace.

You have no real respect for God.

With each passing statement different groups begin to mumble, shake their heads and the auditorium starts to empty out.

The unbelievers who have been fed a steady diet of “love yourself” all their life – by the world, the education system and even their churches – simply cannot believe this self-esteem-destroying, unloving condemnation. What kind of “Gospel” is this that makes you feel so bad about yourself? God is “love” and following Jesus is supposed to be the path to improving your life and helping you to finally learn to love yourself like you should. Much of the crowd sensing an attack on their self-esteem and self-worth quickly decide that this “preacher” is out of touch with the realities of the modern church.

The prosperity teachers begin to exit, wanting to escape all these “negative confessions” and faith-killing proclamations. Doesn’t this guy get it? Doesn’t he know that saying all these negative things will cause them to come to pass, and that “real faith” is “positive faith”? Hasn’t he learned that God has revealed to us today a more complete “revelation” – the positive-faith-filled-Word?

The seek-friendly-church-growth-experts make their disappointed exit realizing that they weren’t going to find anything here to help them attract the world into their pews. Every graduate of “Church Growth 101” knows that you don’t invite unbelievers in and start telling them how sinful and wicked they are. You’ve got to “meet people at the point of their need” and give them resources and ministries that will help them get their life turned around. The church of today is a church that is relevant and gives people what they seeking and helps them to fulfill their potential. This old fashioned preaching about sin just simply does not work today… it’s not “relevant” anymore… it doesn’t “reach” real people.

Many other Pastors start filing out knowing that Christianity only works when it is tolerant, inclusive and “loving”… all this talk of sin and wickedness doesn’t draw people to God’s love. People are looking for love, not condemnation. People need to feel accepted, not judged. This may have worked in times past, but we have come a long way past “browbeating” someone over “sin”. Several of those that are walking out are household names in American Christianity who have declared publicly that “preaching sin” is ineffective at a best, destructive at worst.

Every graduate of “Church Growth 101” knows

that you don’t invite unbelievers in and

start telling them how sinful and wicked they are.

Well with only a small handful of people left in attendance, you start to wonder how this “man of God” could possibly consider the night a “success”. He’s just emptied out a large auditorium and is left with what appears to be couple of poor people and a few others who don’t look like they would win any popularity contests… all of them weeping and sobbing; a couple of them actually flat on their face on the floor, crying.

Then the Apostle Paul makes his way down to the pitiful little group, and shares the Good News of Jesus Christ to those who have come to realize that they truly have a need for a Savior; those who are broken in spirit can have their spirits made new. Those who realize their sin, can have their sins washed away. Those who recognize their wicked hopelessness, can now embrace The Hope.

The list of points Paul preached are of course directly from God’s Word in Romans 3. The list of responses are also of course very real, and very common responses that we see all across “Christendom” today.

Do you see how far we’ve strayed from true Gospel today? How can people accept a Savior if they don’t realize they need to be saved from something? How can people truly repent if they don’t truly believe they have sinned? How can people understand salvation if they don’t understand condemnation? (This involves an understanding of what sin is, where it came from and why we all are “infected” with it… but that’s another Devotional).

The Gospel must be presented GOD’s WAY… in full, in balance and in truth. We are sinners. We are condemned. God has provided salvation.

What we have a lot of today is “Madison Avenue Salvation” that packages the Gospel in a way that makes it easier to “sell” and more “successful”. God help us and those who never hear the real Gospel.

Lord God, Help us to present the Truth about salvation with no spin or marketing. Help us to present Your Word just as You have presented without our “help” to make it more palatable. Open the hearts of those who need salvation and we pray you will send someone to them to teach them the truth about sin and the Savior. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Contemplation: How do you present the Gospel? Does talk of sin, condemnation or hell seem “counter productive” to you? When you hear someone preach or teach the “negative” parts of Scripture, what is your reaction? Do you think success is measured by numbers of positive responses?

Application: How foolish and arrogant we humans are when we feel like we need to “package” God’s Word to make it more attractive, or easier to swallow. It’s a mistake to conform Christianity to meet the “needs” of the world for the purpose of drawing response or increasing favorable opinion. Yes, Christianity takes different things from different cultures and societies… but that should only be true concerning those things where God gives liberty. When it comes to SALVATION, the message should never be “dressed up”, “re-packaged”, “marketed”, “watered-down” or “spinned” in order to get a greater response. Preach the Gospel as the Bible presents it, and let God worry about the results.

James 1:22 – But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (NKJV)

What is the most obvious Bible truth you have learned today?

What change in your life needs to be made concerning this truth?

What specific thing will you do today to begin that change?

The term “Born Again” is one of the most used phrases among present day religious people. Yet, if asked what the term “Born Again” means, ninety percent of the world¹s church members could not give a clear explanation. The vital importance of this study is shown in that Jesus said, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Here Jesus is saying that TO BE BORN AGAIN IS TO BE SAVED. Being born again is the plan of salvation that Jesus authored at Calvary. It is imperative that we understand what is required for us to be born again!

All agree that when Jesus went to the cross, he brought in the means of salvation for everyone who will accept it. But what really happened at Calvary? What can it do for me? How do I accept what was done there in my own personal life?!

Let us first consider what really happened at Calvary. There were three steps to the work of Christ‹death, burial, and resurrection. It is very easy to see that these three steps make up the act of being born again spoken of by Jesus. To die, to be buried, and to rise again‹that¹s to be born again. So we see that Jesus through his death, burial, and resurrection bought for us the plan of being born again spoken of in John 3:3, whereby we receive salvation.

The fact that Jesus purchased a plan of salvation for us is the greatest news the world has ever received. The thing we must understand is that not only was it necessary for Jesus to do something, but also it is absolutely essential for us to act upon what he did. Jesus told Nicodemus, “Ye MUST be born again” (John 3:7).

Now the astonishing thing is that Nicodemus was a religious leader of his day; yet, he had no conception of what it meant to be born again! We find that the very same thing is true in the day in which we live. Many men who fill positions of spiritual leadership in our world have no real understanding of the “Born Again” experience. Nicodemus inquired of Jesus in John 3:4, “How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother¹s womb, and be born?” Jesus answered, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus, you can¹t be born again of a woman. The second birth is a spiritual birth.

Notice that Jesus said without being born again we cannot see or enter the kingdom of God. In other words, we cannot be saved. On the day of Pentecost when Peter preached the first message after Calvary, the men cried out, “What must we do?” “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38). Here Peter was giving to them the plan of salvation‹repentance, baptism, and the infilling of the Holy Ghost. If being born again is to be saved, Peter was evidently talking to them about being born again.

Remember, there were three steps to Calvary -- death, burial, and resurrection. The way to accept Calvary in our individual life is to accept the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. We don¹t have to literally die, literally be buried, and literally rise again. Jesus was our substitute and did this for us. All we must do is accept what he did by spiritually dying, symbolically being buried, and spiritually rising again.

We take on his death by repentance which is spiritual death. When a person truly repents, he dies out to his own will, renounces it forever, and vows to live from that time on according to the will of Jesus Christ.

We take on his burial by baptism in water, by immersion into His name. Romans 6:4 says, “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism”. Baptism MUST be done by immersion; for something cannot be buried by sprinkling a little dirt on the top of it. That burial after a few days would certainly prove to be insufficient! Furthermore, EVERY baptism of which we have Biblical record was administered by immersion. That alone should determine our course of action on this matter.

Finally, we partake of the resurrection of Jesus Christ by the infilling of the Holy Ghost. This is the new life that enables us to live as a Christian should.

We see then that being born again means to spiritually die‹repent, symbolically be buried‹baptism, and spiritually rise again‹receive the Holy Ghost. Thus, in plain language an individual must repent of his sins, be baptized into the name of Jesus Christ by immersion, and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. IJohn 5:8 tells us, “And there are three that bear witness in the earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.” What is the one thing in which the spirit, water, and blood agree? Is it not the new birth? Blood covers our sins at repentance; the waters of baptism wash them away, thus making us clean for the spirit to come into our lives to dwell. When the Roman soldiers thrust the spear into Jesus¹ side after he died, the scripture tells us that there came forth blood and water (John 19:34). This was for cleansing of the nations. It takes blood and water to eradicate sin. Blood is the cleansing agent, and water is the flushing agent. When a jar is washed for canning, soap AND water are necessary to cleanse that jar so that it might be filled with good fruit. Likewise, blood and water are necessary to cleanse the human soul so that it may receive the spirit of Christ which is the Holy Ghost. This teaching was verified by Peter when he said, “Repent and be baptized FOR the REMISSION of SINS” (Acts 2:38). Repentance and baptism are both absolutely essential for the remission of sins!

Paul taught that the three steps of Calvary was the gospel that we should preach. In I Corinthians 15:1-4 he tells us, “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the GOSPEL which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I have preached unto you, unless ye have BELIEVED IN VAIN. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ DIED for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was BURIED, and that he ROSE AGAIN the third day according to the scriptures:”. Paul went on the say in II Thessalonians 1:7-8, “And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels. In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that OBEY NOT THE GOSPEL of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Paul told us that the gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. How can we OBEY the death, burial, and resurrection?‹by repentance, baptism, and receiving the Holy Ghost as we have previously explained. Notice that the Lord Jesus is to appear “in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel.” It is absolutely necessary for every human being to obey the gospel by being BORN AGAIN. Jesus told Nicodemus, “Ye MUST be BORN AGAIN” (John 3:7).

Let us consider another Biblical lesson given to us concerning this subject. The Bible teaches us that the things of the Old Testament were types and shadows of the things to come. When the priests of the law ministered by offering sacrifices, there were three major steps to their duties.

First they slew the animal to be offered on the brazen altar. The blood here was shed and caught in a container for use in the Holy Place. The flesh of the animal was to be consumed by fire. This teaches us of the first step of salvation‹repentance. When we repent, we present our bodies a living sacrifice, and our sins are covered by the blood of Jesus.

After the shedding of blood, the priests were ordered to wash at the laver and to cleanse themselves with water in preparation for entering the Holy Place. The laver, a round fountain-like structure, was overlaid in the bottom with a looking glass. When the priests bent over to wash, he was able to see himself so that he could be sure that he was clean. When an individual is baptized, he should examine himself to be sure that he is leaving the world behind once and for all. We see then that the second step of the tabernacle ministration plainly teaches us of water baptism. Blood and water cleansed them to prepare them for entry into the Holy Place, even as blood and water cleanses us in preparation of receiving the Holy One into our lives! After cleansing, the priest would then take the fire from off of the brazen altar and would enter through the veil into the Holy Place. The Holy Place had no doors or windows through which light could come. The only light to be provided here was to come from the golden candlesticks. These candlesticks consisted of seven wicks fed by oil from seven bowls. The wicks had to be lit with the fire brought by the priest from the brazen altar. The uniting at the candlesticks of the oil and fire to produce light is a perfect type of the Holy Ghost and fire promised to New Testament believers (Matthew 3:11). Without the light of the Holy Ghost, we could not see to live in the Holy Place which is where every Christian should live. God spoke of His great plan of redemption in the Old Testament in types and shadows; and then in the New Testament He spoke plainly to us so that we would have no doubt of His will! Once again we recall the words of 1 John 5:8, “There are three that bear witness in the earth, the SPIRIT, the WATER, and the BLOOD; and these three agree in one”. This Old Testament lesson beautifully reaffirms to us the absolute necessity of the full Born Again plan in each life for salvation!

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ

Acts 16:30-31 reads this way, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” Many have taken this scripture to teach that all that is required for salvation is to believe that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world; and from that point on, the individual is saved. It is definitely true that an individual must believe that Jesus is the Savior in order to be saved. However, Paul, who spoke these words in Acts 16, has some further teaching on the subject in Romans 10:13-15. Let¹s consider the text: “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him OF WHOM they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent?” If we wanted to be absurd, we could take this thirteenth verse to teach that all an individual must do for salvation is to call out the name of Jesus one time and he has received salvation. Paul tells us they can¹t call on him in whom they have not believed. Furthermore, he said that they can¹t believe in him OF WHOM they have not heard. We cannot merely believe. We must believe SOMETHING about Christ. When Paul told the jailer in Acts 16 to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, he went on to speak unto him the word of the Lord (verse 32). The word which Paul spake was apparently the GOSPEL; for the result in verse 33 was that the jailer and all his house were baptized at midnight. That¹s how essential baptism is for salvation. Paul took all these people out AT MIDNIGHT and baptized them!

Some would object here by saying that we are saved by faith alone. It is true that we are saved by faith, but it is also true that true faith always produces action on the part of the believer. Let¹s study from James 2:14-22 to verify this point.

“What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or a sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works; shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works IS DEAD? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thus how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?”

When an individual believes on the Lord Jesus Christ, what do they believe about him? They believe the gospel, which is the death, burial, and resurrection (I Corinthians 15:1-4). James teaches us that faith without action is dead, or it is not really faith at all. When a sinner hears the true gospel and truly believes, he will obey the gospel. An individual obeys the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ by repentance, baptism, in Jesus¹ name, and the infilling of the Holy Ghost, evidenced by speaking with other tongues. (Write for our free booklet “Tongues‹Devilish or Divine”). This is the salvation of Calvary! “Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?” (or complete).

If you are still having trouble conceding to this teaching because of the element of works involved, let¹s reason concerning one more point. Being born again‹repentance, baptism, and receiving the Holy Ghost is not considered by God to be a work. In Titus 3:5 we are taught, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Ghost;”. This scripture tells us that regeneration which is being born again is NOT a work of righteousness.

Concluding this matter, we will cite a familiar Biblical example. In the great revival at Samaria in Acts 8:5-23, a sorcerer named Simon heard the preaching of Philip. He believed and was baptized and continued with Philip beholding the signs and miracles which were done. Many people would say that because Simon believed, he was saved. Yet the Apostle Peter said of him in Acts 8:23, “For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.”

It is impossible for anyone in the bond of iniquity to be saved; for the scriptures tell us, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36). Simon believed and was baptized, but he had not received the Holy Ghost; therefore, he was not born again. We cannot be half-born and survive. The entire work of Calvary is necessary for our salvation.

The thief on the cross

Many have asked, “If an individual must repent, be baptized, and receive the Holy Ghost for salvation, how was the thief on the cross with Jesus saved?” (Luke 23:38-43). First of all, it was impossible for anyone to be born again at this time, for the born again plan was not yet complete. Jesus had not died, been buried, and risen again. God has always had a plan of salvation for each dispensation of time. In Noah¹s day the only way of salvation was to get in the ark. In Moses¹ day the only plan was the law. In the church dispensation, the only way to be saved is to be born again. Jesus told Nicodemus, “Ye MUST be Born Again.”

May we point out as we conclude this study that we have been given the first church and the Apostles after which to pattern our teaching and practices. In each recorded account of conversions under the Apostles¹ ministries, the three steps of being born again are evident. In Acts 2:38, it was repentance, baptism, and the Holy Ghost. In Acts 8:12, Acts 10:44-48, and Acts 19:1-6, we find the born again experience taught and received. Why should we vary from this practice when we are to be built on the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone?

Do not allow anything to turn you aside from this truth‹You must be BORN AGAIN. If you haven¹t as yet, you should do so TODAY!

If you look like your passport picture, you probably need the trip.

I was raised in the Brethren/Mennonite tradition. We placed an emphasis on helping folks who were less fortunate than we were. When a natural disaster like a flood struck, the Brethren and Mennonites were always there to help. Unfortunately, our fundamentalist brothers criticized us for preaching a social gospel. They emphasized “believe, believe,” but we knew that it was hard to preach that to someone who has an empty stomach and holes in their shoes.

We were simply trying to emulate the life of Christ as He constantly healed and comforted the needy. Social Gospel? The gospel of Christ is social! If all of our church attendance and Bible study doesn’t make us much more compassionate people, the benefits are introverted and selfish. One very important reason for being a Christian is to uplift and benefit the lives of others, thereby being Christ’s representatives in distributing the grace of God to those who need it. After all, it was Jesus who gave us the story of the good Samaritan. Luke 10:33, 34 records this account: “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt deep pity. Kneeling beside him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with medicine and bandaged them” — that’s social!

We may be proud of the fact that we can quote the life history of every Old Testament saint and tell the chapter and verse where it is found, but if we don’t have a compassionate heart for those in need, we are like proud Pharisees instead of being Christ-like. When our feet hit the pavement this morning, we’ll soon know if our weekend worship was for show or for real. Let’s put feet on our faith and heart in our actions.

[beginning of this section is missing] they do these things, something in us lifts and straightens. The reason is that love is vitalizing. Love brings life back into us. Love does not raise the dead, but it raises us so that we can deal with death better. All these themes and directions for ministry come together, as so much of the New Testament does, in the three parables of Luke 15, and especially in the last. What we often overlook is the preface to these parables, namely, that some Pharisees have been grumbling about Jesus’ choice of company. He eats with the shamed, and these Pharisees -- good men in the worst sense of the word -- find the sight distasteful. So Jesus tells of a certain father and of his prodigal son. The son who wastes his father’s money on bibulous meals and foreign whores is guilty all right; no question there. But he is also a shamed son. He is a failure. His declaration of independence and his search for his own essential self have landed him in the gutter. There, homeless, derelict, and defiled, he thinks back to the family home, pictures the servants, and sees to what appalling depths he has sunk. His practiced confession therefore includes a lowliness clause: “I am not worthy to be called your son. Let me be as one of your hired servants.” What is remarkable, of course, and what all the generations of Bible readers have noticed with a chill down the spine, is that at the homecoming, the father does not wait to hear his son’s confession. He wasn’t waiting for that, first of all. Guilt does not interest him. No, he wants his boy. Hence, all the running and embracing and rejoicing. Hence, all the new clothing to help cover this youngster’s shame. The idea is to get a son dressed up for dinner. The idea is to put him back where he belongs, among safe people who love and accept him. The climax of this parable, a climax of Christian worship, and for that matter a climax of human history, is God’s table fellowship with the shamed. These are people worth feeding. We are not talking here about a proper little Sunday night gathering over ham sandwiches and coffee. No, as Robert Farrar Capon writes, this is “a neighborhood blowout,” full of music and dancing and refillings of the punchbowl. What’s the point? The point is that the shamed one had not only been lost. He had been mortified. And the dancing and the eating and drinking and embracing that go on into the night - all these are ways to raise the dead.

A QUARTER CENTURY OF SIGNIFICANT SHAME

Robert H. Albers, "Shame: A Faith Perspective" (Haworth, 1995).

John Bradshaw, "Healing the Shame That Binds You" (Health, 1988).

Donald Capps, "The Depleted Self: Sin in a Narcissistic Age" (Fortress, 1993).

Merle A. Fossum and Marilyn J. Mason, "Shame: Families in Recovery" (Norton, 1986).

Tom Goodhue, "Shame," "Quarterly Review 4" (1984), pp. 57-65.

Robert Karen, "Shame," "The Atlantic Monthly," February 1992, pp. 40-70.

Gershen Kaufman, "Shame: The Power of Caring" (Schenkman, 1980).

Gershen Kaufman, "The Psychology of Shame: Theory and Treatment of Shame- Based Syndromes" (Springer, 1989).

Christopher Lasch, "Shame," in "A Companion to American Thought," edited by Richard Wrightman Fox and James T. Kloppenberg (Blackwell, 1995).

Helen Block Lewis, "Shame and Guilt in Neurosis" (International Universities, 1971).

Michael Lewis, "Shame: The Exposed Self" (Free Press, 1992).

Susan Miller, "The Shame Experience" (Analytic, 1985).

Andrew P. Morrison, "Shame: The Underside of Narcissism" (Analytic, 1989).

Donald L. Nathanson, "Shame and Pride: Affect, Sex, and the Birth of the Self" (Norton, 1992).

Donald L. Nathanson, ed., "The Many Faces of Shame" (Guilford, 1987).

Carl D. Schneider, "Shame, Exposure, and Privacy" (Beacon, 1977).

Lewis B. Smedes, "Shame and Grace: Healing the Shame We Don't Deserve" (HarperSanFrancisco/Zondervan, 1993).

Leon Wurmser, "The Mask of Shame" (Johns Hopkins University Press, 1981).

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Copyright (c) 1996 Christianity Today, Inc./BOOKS AND CULTURE Review Volume 2, No. 2, Page 3.