What shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel?

Now I'm just going to read part of one verse tonight, 1st Peter chapter 4, 1st Peter chapter 4. If you can find that in the Holy Bible toward the end of the New Testament. Now, there might be some in this audience and you don't know who we are. Well, my name is Stan Wells and I live in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

And my good friend here, Mr. Alec Dryborough, he lives in Ontario in the London area. And we have known each other for a long time. And we're delighted to be sharing tonight in the gospel message.

I'll be as simple and as clear as possible and as short as possible. Got verse 17, 1st Peter chapter 4, verse number 17. Now here's the question.

What shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? What shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? That's all I'm going to read. Trust the Lord will bless His word. It has been well said that the way to convey material truth, whatever material, is to ask questions and receive answers.

Everywhere we go, people ask me all kinds of questions. Like, for example, I was in an international airport there the other day. And this lady said to me, now where is that accent from? And I asked her, where do you think? See? So here's what the Bible does.

It asks questions and it answers them. See this man, Peter, in his writings, he has asked all kinds of questions. And he makes and gives answers.

And I'm just going to spend a few minutes and I'm going to show you that in this question, there are three simple thoughts. Number one, the gospel. Number two, the people.

Number three, the end. Somebody says, how do you get that out of it? Well, just listen. The gospel of God.

What shall the end be of them that obey not? And we have come to tell you in a sentence or two, the gospel, what it's all about. I'll quote you the Bible. Here's the message that we proclaim wherever we go.

How that Christ died for our sins, according to the scriptures. He was buried and he rose again, according to the scriptures. I want to show this audience tonight that the gospel message surrounds three T's.

Number one, the tree. Number two, the town. Number three, the throne.

That's where the Lord Jesus is tonight. The day that the Lord Jesus Christ was crucified outside the cities, the walls of the old city, Jerusalem. There were likely hundreds on the north side of the city that day.

To watch what was happening. But I want to show you tonight that in close to the Lord Jesus Christ dying on that tree. There were two men.

They were colleagues. They were fellow people of a certain class in the nation of Israel at that time. And they watched Jesus of Nazareth die before the darkness fell at 12 noon local time.

One was saved. The other was lost. So I've come to ask you tonight, as the gospel is announced and the tree is presented.

I would like to ask you tonight. Are you saved? Are you born again? Are your sins forgiven? Or are you lost? And on your way to eternity without the Lord Jesus. God, your people.

You can't be both at the same time. These were friends. They were partners in crime.

They had a history behind them. But I want to show the youngest child here tonight. Here's the gospel.

The tree. The cross. On one side are saved folk.

And on the other side are lost. Somebody says, how did this man ever get saved? Well, I'll tell you in a very simple way. He said to his fellow one day, to make it very simple.

I'm just a poor sinner. And he says, so are you. We're here because we deserved it.

Your soul tonight, have you understood what the Bible declares? Wherefore, as by one man, as Adam. Sin entered into the world. And death by sin.

Death has passed upon all men. For that all have sinned. I tell audiences in different countries where we are privileged to be.

You know, the first person that told me that I was a sinner. Was my mother. I can remember she was three years in bed in Venezuela, South America.

And I was a little boy beside her. And my older brother, we used to kneel there at our bedside. At six o'clock in the evening.

And you would say, boys, God wants you to know. That you're not ready for heaven. Maybe you've never known it before.

Make it personal tonight. Somebody says, how could I be saved? Here's a man, you know what he said? He seemed to sense. That he'll never get another opportunity.

Often this matter of salvation settled. And he turned to the Lord Jesus. And he said, Lord, remember me.

When I come as to my kingdom. Here's a man felt his need. Spiritually speaking.

He recognized the one that could meet that need was dying on the tree. Here's the response. Today, shall I be with me in paradise? That man was assured right there.

That when he left this life. He would be in heaven. With the Lord Jesus Christ.

I love the gospel hymns that we quote all the time. Here's one of my favorites. You're here tonight.

And maybe you've never heard the gospel in your life before. Or you've heard it from day one. Jesus died on the tree.

Means the sentence passed on me. Has descended on his head. And that he.

The Lord Jesus Christ. Has died instead. He took my place.

He bore my sins. The man's telling us. And he's offering you tonight's salvation.

In this very meeting. I want to notice. That one day across.

That hillside and the Kidron Valley. There was a loud cry went out. The Lord Jesus Christ said.

It is finished. What's that all about? The work of redemption is completed. God is satisfied with the death of his son.

What happened next? Two men come in here. And they take that body down. And they put it in a tomb.

And they buried him. Nicodemus. And Joseph of Arimathea.

I can see them in my mind's eye. I've read it recently. It was a very touching thing.

They took him down from the tree. And they buried him in the tomb. The Bible shows.

There were four people. At his funeral. Two men and two women.

I stood in a gravesite recently. Where there was hundreds to hear the preacher. And as the casket was lowered into Mother Earth.

And the gospel went forth. I thought of the Lord Jesus. The eternal Son of God.

That brought the worlds into being. And at his funeral. Four.

That's the tomb. Could I remind you tonight. That the tomb is ahead of all of us.

The tomb means death. Bible. It's appointed unto men once to die.

When he comes once. Since I stood on this platform the last time I was here. I have been close unto people.

That were suddenly taken into eternity. Without a moment's notice. Some of them listened to us preach the gospel as you are tonight.

And I seem to sense. That they would never be back. What an honor and a privilege.

To pour into their soul and heart. How they could be saved. We must.

It needs to die. The soul that sinneth it shall die. Sin after it's finished bringeth forth death.

People say I don't want to be reminded. Oh dear people. Every second of the clock.

They're moving into eternity. Have you thought of the tomb? You see the nation of Israel thought that's the finish. Of Jesus of Nazareth.

He'll never be back. And just to make absolutely sure that in their view. That he wouldn't rise from the dead they got a big stone.

And they put it at the mouth of the tomb. And they sealed it. Said that's it.

Finished. He'll never be back. You know what? Early on the third day.

The first day of the week. The Lord Jesus Christ rose from the dead. Nobody saw it only the Father in heaven.

And the stone was rolled away to let the world see he's up and away. Forty days later. He ascended.

He passed through the heavens and sat down on the throne. In heaven. The Lord Jesus.

He heard his father say. When he passed through the heavens and sat down. Thou art my son.

This day. Have I begotten thee? He's alive. Resurrection has taken place.

That's the gospel that we proclaim. How that Christ died. For our sins.

He was buried. And he rose again. Now.

If I have understood it correctly. See the man that asked that question. Peter.

He was near enough. The Lord Jesus. Before the darkness fell.

At the cross. To see what was happening. He's an eyewitness.

Of the sufferings of Christ. Me gladly. Proclaim the gospel.

Oh, it's God's good news friend. Would you accept that tonight? Now that brings me to the next simple thought. The people.

I want to just give you a simple example. Because the time is very limited. Of how a soul.

Obeyed the gospel. That's what the message is all about. And that's why this meeting has been convened.

That you. Whoever you are tonight. Might obey the gospel.

Center here. And obey. It is the voice.

Of the spirit that cries. Here's a man. He's going down in the desert.

He's reading the holy bible. A man called Philip draws beside him. And he hears him read.

And he's brought up beside him. And he's directed. To talk to this dear soul.

He's reading Isaiah 53. He didn't understand it. And he said to the preacher.

Who is this man Isaiah talking about? Is it himself? Or of some other man? He told him the story of the Lord Jesus. He was living in Jerusalem himself. At that particular time.

When he was crucified. And when he was slain and raised again. He knew first hand all about it.

He likely quoted to him one of the. Very verses there. The Lord Jesus.

He was wounded. For our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities.

The chastisement of our peace. Was upon him. And with his stripes.

We are healed. I like the hymn writer again. Here's one of the verses.

Wounded for me. Wounded for me. There on the cross.

He was wounded for me. Gone my transgressions. And now I am free.

All because Jesus. Was wounded. For me.

My last friend you think. We don't know what we're talking about. 60 years ago almost.

In the old country. When an honored servant of Christ. That's now in heaven.

Was preaching the gospel. I find that. A lost.

Guilty sinner. On the way to hell. That.

Deserved to be there. But the Lord Jesus Christ was presented. As my savior.

Here's what we sung that night. I do believe. I will believe.

That Jesus. Died for me. And on the cross he shed his blood.

From sin to set me free. And people are asking. All the time.

Was there something physical happened? Oh dear people nothing. I was assured. As I took Christ as my savior that night.

In an instant of time. I was saved by the grace of God. 60 years almost.

Have rolled their course. Friend if you get to Christ tonight. It's for time.

And for eternity. Somebody says how did you know. That this man that listened to Philip.

And the chariot that day as he is going home. To Ethiopia. Listen to his confession.

I like it. You see the preacher asked him. How he was saved.

You know what he said. I believe. That Jesus Christ.

Is the son of God. Friend of mine. Please accept.

What the Bible teaches. And you could leave the meeting tonight saved by the grace of God. Obey.

There is no other way to be happy in Jesus. Today but to trust. And obey.

You take a savior tonight. He is offering you the gift of salvation. Will you accept it? Would you think to give her.

Maybe a boy or a girl. A famous preacher. Was asked one day as a boy.

Of 16 years of age. When he heard the message that we are proclaiming tonight. The older friend said to him.

Could you thank God for sending his son. To die on the cross for you. He says I could.

Worst prayer he ever made. He thanked the Lord Jesus. For dying for him.

In his place. In his death. Man of sorrows what a name.

For the son of God who came. Ruined sinners to reclaim. Hallelujah what a savior.

Bearing sin. And scoffing rude. In my place.

Condemned he stood. Sealed my pardon. With his blood.

Hallelujah what a savior. There's all kinds of examples in the Bible. Just before I sit down.

I want to tell you another thing. There's all kinds of examples in the Bible. Of those who wouldn't believe.

The word we use. They disobeyed the message. That came to the end of their life.

I'll give you one simple example. And I'll just use Peter's writings. He talked about a lady one day.

That received. Two heavenly messengers into her home. In the city of Sodom.

Sat at her very table. Took the meal that was prepared. One day.

Early in the morning. She disobeyed God. She became a pillar of salt.

Hundreds of years later the Lord Jesus said. Remember Lot's wife. Had your people.

I've come to tell you from my heart tonight. You have eternity to face. Two ways before you lie.

And as you leave the building. You have a choice to make. One upward to the sky.

One downward to the lake. Will you choose the right one tonight? Somebody says don't understand it. Friend of mine.

When the day is done. You'll either leave this world. With your sins forgiven.

And be in heaven. Or leave the world without Christ. And go down at last to hell.

God help your friend tonight. I hope it will never happen to you. And you children.

That know the gospel from day one. We would urge you tonight. Think of the gospel.

Think of the people. Think of the end. I'll quote my question again.

What shall the end be. Of them. That obey not.

The gospel. Of God. Oh friend.

Take Christ as savior tonight. As our brother continues. Thank you for listening.