Rev. David Holwick ZH The Quest for the Real Jesus, #8
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
October 26, 2008
Luke 18:18-22
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I. Salvation means different things to different folks.
A. Most are familiar with Bill Bright's "Four Spiritual Laws":
1) God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.
2) You have blown it by sinning.
3) God has provided a remedy by sending Jesus to die for you.
4) You must accept Jesus as your Savior.
B. Another evangelism tool is the "Romans Road."
1) A string of verses in Romans goes from our human condition
to God's solution.
2) Weakness of both - they rely heavily on Paul's teaching.
C. What would Jesus himself say that salvation entails?
1) How would you lead someone to Christ using just the gospels?
2) Does Jesus teach the same thing that Paul did?
3) I would like to examine the Gospel according to the gospels.
II. People need to be saved.
A. Jesus believed the world is messed up. Matt 11:23-24
1) God will judge the world just like he did Sodom and Gomorrah.
a) However, our judgment will be worse, because we have
the light of Jesus' teaching, and ignore it.
b) Those who reject God will face "weeping and gnashing
of teeth."
2) John the Baptist had a parallel message.
a) Both preached, "Repent, for the kingdom of God is at
hand."
b) John the Baptist has an episode where he challenges the
crowd on why they are "fleeing the coming wrath."
Matt 3:7
1> Obviously, they did not have the correct attitude.
3) The world's judgment is right around the corner.
a) Jesus says we should have a sense of urgency.
b) Catastrophe will come suddenly and there will be no
second chance.
B. Jesus believed YOU are messed up.
1) Jesus condemned human sin.
a) Religious hypocrisy.
b) Doubt of God's power.
c) Social sins.
2) Peter put it this way in his sermon on Pentecost - "save
yourselves from this wicked generation." Acts 2:40
3) People still consider this rather uncouth.
During a Billy Graham crusade in Australia, a Melbourne
daily paper received this letter:
"I have heard Dr. Billy Graham on the air, viewed him
on television, and seen reports and letters
concerning his mission.
I am heartily sick of the type of religion that insists
my soul and everyone else's needs saving, whatever
that means.
I have never felt that I was lost nor do I feel that
I daily wallow in the mire of sin, although
repetitious preaching insists that I do.
If in order to save my soul I must accept such a
philosophy as I have recently heard preached,
I prefer to remain forever damned."
#3115
a) Jesus' response would be - ok, be damned.
b) Salvation is a decision, not a guaranteed destiny.
C. Jesus came in order to save people.
1) Getting saved was more important than burying a family
member or gaining a worldly fortune.
2) Jesus summed up his ministry by saying, "The Son of Man
came to seek and to save what was lost." Luke 19:10
3) His enemies mocked him about this emphasis.
While he hung on the cross, they said:
"He saved others, but he can't save himself!" Matt 27:42
III. Only some will attain it.
A. It is hard for rich people to get saved.
1) Their salvation requires a miracle. Matt 19:26
2) But then, doesn't everyone's?
3) Jesus thought it was especially hard for religious people
to get saved!
B. Salvation is a narrow gate that few find. Luke 13:23-24
1) It is not according to human expectations - the first
shall be last.
2) Even those who think they have it, may not. Matt 7:22-23
IV. What people must do to be saved.
A. Have faith.
1) To the sinful woman who anointed Jesus' feet with perfume,
he said, "Your faith has saved you." Luke 7:50
a) Notice that "saved" and "healed" are synonymous here.
b) Real salvation brings wholeness to all of your life,
not just the spiritual side.
B. Repent.
1) Repentance is more than being sorry. (Joachim Jeremias)
2) It is a turning away from sin.
a) Zacchaeus the tax collector paid back what he stole.
b) The woman caught in adultery must stop sinning.
3) Repentance also means surrendering to a new master.
C. Be humble.
1) We must submit to God without preconditions.
2) The Parable of the Prodigal Son provides a good summary.
a) Luke 15:17 - He comes to his senses. (=repent)
b) Luke 15:18 - He turns back to his father, and admits
his guilt.
c) Luke 15:19 - He humbly asks to serve his father.
3) Parable of the Tax Collector and the Pharisee. Luke 18:13
a) He also shows a humble spirit by lowering his eyes and
his hand.
b) Jesus uses the word "justified," which is so important
to the Apostle Paul.
D. Obey God's commandments. Luke 18:18-22
1) Usually, he summarizes these as the Ten Commandments.
2) Obedience is a mark of discipleship, but in and of itself
it cannot save you.
a) When the rich young ruler told Jesus he had obeyed
all these commands, Jesus told him there was more.
b) Jesus challenged him to give up all his possessions,
and the man's refusal showed his heart wasn't really
devoted to God.
3) To truly follow the commandments, follow Jesus.
E. Produce fruit.
1) Parable of the Seeds:
a) They must accept the Word.
b) They must have a deep (not shallow) commitment.
c) They must overcome temptation and troubles.
d) They must produce fruit.
2) Why are false believers shut out of heaven? Evil deeds.
F. Endure to the end.
1) Genuine faith does not give up or give in. Matt 10:22
2) It lasts through hardship and persecution.
V. Is Jesus your Lord?
A. "Born again" is a cliche to many.
1) Note how candidate Sarah Palin's faith has been ridiculed.
2) Also, Minnesota congresswoman Michele Bachmann was filmed
at a church service where she said after prayer and
fasting she felt God called her to run for Congress.
Her opponent is using it to try to unseat her.
3) Jesus is the one who coined the phrase.
B. Perhaps it's a cliche because so many believers are half-hearted.
1) We may think we are genuine because we "prayed a prayer."
2) Brenda Goodine shares a story about her friend who decided
to talk to her bright four-year-old son, Benji, about
receiving Christ as his savior.
"Benji," she asked quietly, "would you like to have Jesus
in your heart?"
Benji thought for a few minutes and then rolling his blue
eyes answered,
"No. I don't think I want the responsibility."
Benji realized what many Christians still have not figured
out: salvation is a free gift but it comes with some
strings attached.
#27797
3) How committed are you?
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SOURCES FOR ILLUSTRATIONS USED IN THIS SERMON:
# 3115 "He Prefers To Be Damned," by Rev. John F. Mac Arthur, from his
commentary "Galatians: Liberated For Life," 1975, p. 135.
#27797 "He Recognized the Responsibility," by Brenda Goodine,
www.sermoncentral.com, newsletter, April 11, 2005.
Contributed by R. Darrel Davis
These and 30,000 others are part of the Kerux database that can be
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