ROM: 9:1- 5. PAULS HEART FOR THE LOST
SO IN THE LAST SESSION WE WERE TAKEN UP TO THE HEIGHTS OF GOD’S WORK IN US AND HOW THROUGH ALL THINGS WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS IF WE LOVE HIM. PAUL IDENTIFIED FOR US GOD @WORK IN THAT IT WAS GOD WHO HAS CALLED US, PREDESTINED US , JUSTIFIED US, GLORIFIED US AND IN ALL THINGS ARE BEING SANCTIFIED. NOTHING IN THE WHOLE OF CREATION CAN SEPARATE US FROM GODS WORK IN US TAKING PLACE.... 8:38 NOT DEATH NOR LIFE NEITHER ANGELS NOR DEMONS, NEITHER THE PRESENT NOR THE FUTURE , NOR ANY POWERS, NEITHER HEIGHT NOR DEPTH NOR ANYTHING ELSE IN THE WHOLE OF CREATION , WILL BE ABLE TO SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD THAT IS IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD . BECAUSE GOD LOVES YOU
HERE IN CHAPTERS 9 – 10 – 11 PAUL’S THEME IS TAKEN UP WITH THE PLACE OF ISRAEL IN GOD’S PLAN OF SALVATION AND WITH SUB THEMES LIKE JEWISH UNBELIEF AND THE PROBLEMS THAT UNBELIEF RAISED. FOR INSTANCE HOW COULD THEY MISS THE PROMISE OF THE MESSIAH? ROM 1:2, 3:21 AS HE HAD BEEN PROMISED BEFOREHAND IN THEIR SCRIPTURES. AFTER ALL THE MESSAGE WAS FIRST FOR JEW ROM 1:16. HOW COULD THEY PARTAKE IN ALL THE ADVANTAGES THEY POSSESSED V4 -5 AND YET REJECT THEIR OWN MESSIAH V5 OUTRIGHT APOSTASY.
HOW CAN IT BE EXPLAINED? HOW DO WE RECONCILE GODS COVENANT PROMISES TO THE NATION OF ISRAEL IN THE PAST AND FIT THEM INTO THE FUTURE. HOW DOES THE JEWISH – GENTILE SITUATION FIT IN WITH GODS PLAN OF SALVATION? WHAT IS THE FUTURE FOR THEM BOTH? THE NEXT THREE CHAPTERS GETS TO GRIPS WITH DIFFERENT ASPECT OF GODS RELATION TO ISRAEL PAST PRESENT AND FUTURE.
ALL THIS CAUSED PAUL TO HAVE GREAT ANGUISH OF HEART AND PERPLEXITY OF MIND 9: 1-4. LOOK HOW HE PERSONAL REFERS TO HIMSELF AND HIS FELLOW JEWS 9:3.I HAVE GREAT SORROW AND UNCEASING ANGUISH IN MY HEART. FOR I COULD WISH THAT I MYSELF WERE CURSED AND CUT OFF FROM CHRIST FOR THE SAKE OF MY BROTHERS THOSE OF HIS OWN RACE. WHY SUCH ANGUISH AND PERPLEXITY OF MIND, WHY IS HE WILLING TO GO TO SUCH LENGTHS TO BE CURSED AND CUT OFF FOR THE SAKE OF HIS BROTHERS? WHY? 10:1. BROTHERS, MY HEART’S DESIRE AND PRAYER TO GOD FOR THE ISRAELITES IS THAT THEY MAY BE SAVED.
• ROM: 9:1- 5. PAULS HEART FOR THE LOST TO BE SAVED
PAUL DESIRES HIS BROTHERS TO BE SAVED THIS AFFECTS EVERY AREA OF HIS LIFE, HIS CONSCIENCE HIS MIND , HIS HEART HIS AFFECTIONS AND HIS ACTIONS HE’S PREPARED TO SACRIFICE FOR OTHERS. PAUL AS A HEART FOR HIS JEWISH BROTHERS, BUT WE MUST REMEMBER THE PAUL WAS COMMISSIONED AS AN APOSTLE TO THE GENTILES AND PETER TO THE JEWS GAL 2:8. YET ON ALL HIS TRAVELS PAUL’S FIRST PORT OF CALL WAS THE LOCAL SYNAGOGUE: ACTS 13:1 IN SALAMIS 13:14 IN ANTIOCH 14:1 IN ICONIUM 17:1 IN THESSALONICA 17:10 IN BEREA 18:4 IN CORINTH 19:4 IN EPHESUS. IN SO DOING WINNING MANY JEWISH CONVERTS TO CHRIST. BUT THE GREAT MAJORITY OF JEWS REJECTED THE MESSAGE.
YOU AND I HAVE OUR OWN NATION BEFORE US, BRITISH CITIZENS HEADING FOR A LOST ETERNITY. YOU AND I HAVE OUR OWN RELATIVES, FATHERS AND MOTHERS, BROTHERS AND SISTERS, SONS AND DAUGHTERS, UNCLES AND AUNTS, GRANDCHILDREN AND GREAT GRANDCHILDREN WHO ARE WITHOUT CHRIST IN THIS WORLD. DOES THEIR PRESENT CONDITION OF BEING LOST AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF REMAINING IN (SIN) AND BEING (HELL BOUND) DOES IT CONCERN US?
I WOULD LIKE TO TELL YOU A TRUE STORY WHICH TOOK PLACE IN A CHURCH WHERE THE LEADERS HAD GATHERED TO DISCUSS WHAT COLOUR TO PAINT THE CHURCH SANCTUARY QUITE A HEATED DISCUSSION HAD BROKEN OUT ABOUT PAINT PIGMENTS . DURING THE DISCUSSION A MOTHER CALLED TO ASK ABOUT HER SON WHO HADN’T COME HOME FROM THE PREVIOUS NIGHT. HE HAD BEEN RECENTLY DISCHARGED FROM THE MILITARY AND WAS WORK AS A CUSTODIAN.
WHILE A FEW CONTINUED ARGUING ABOUT COLOURS, OTHERS SPREAD OUT TO SEARCH THE ROOMS IN THIS LARGE CHURCH. THEY FOUND SCOTT’S JACKET IN THE JANITOR’S CLOSET AND PULLED IT OUT, AS THEY DID PACKAGES OF SYRINGES FELL OUT OF THE POCKET ONTO THE FLOOR. SUDDENLY THE SEARCH TOOK ON A MORE SERIOUS TONE. A SHORT TIME LATER ONE OF THE PASTORS ALONG WITH THE JANITOR BURST INTO THE MEETING WHERE THEY WERE STILL DISCUSSING THE PAINT COLOURS, “CALL THE POLICE, WE’VE FOUND HIM ON THE FLOOR IN THE BATHROOM.”
THE POLICE ARRIVED AND CONFIRMED OUR SUSPICIONS. SCOTT HAD BEEN DEAD FOR SEVERAL HOURS. AN OVERDOSE OF HEROIN HAD KILLED HIM. LATER THE PASTOR REFLECTS ON WHAT HAS TAKEN PLACE, “I HAD SEEN SCOTT IN THE CHURCH CAR PARK TALKING TO SOMEONE IN A FANCY BLACK CAR. HAD I WITNESSED THE DRUG DEAL? IF I HAD BEEN MORE CONCERNED ABOUT SCOTT’S SPIRITUAL CONDITION THAN THE COLOUR OF THE CHURCH SANCTUARY, WOULD HE STILL BE ALIVE TODAY?
IN LUKE 22:24 -30 JESUS EXPLAINED TO HIS DISCIPLES THAT TRUE GREATNESS IN HIS KINGDOM IS NOT MEASURED BY WHETHER WE GET WHAT WE WANT FROM OTHERS - BUT BY HOW WELL WE SERVE OTHERS. FRIENDS EVERY HUMAN BEING OUTSIDE OF CHRIST ARE FACING SPIRITUAL DEATH THE GREAT ACT OF SERVING THEM IS TO COMMUNICATE THE GOSPEL TO THEM WITH EVERY FIBRE OF OUR BEING. TO WITNESS TO THE LOST IS NOT THE JOB OF THE EVANGELIST, PASTOR OR THE MISSIONARY ALONE; BUT YOUR JOB AND MINE....#
IN THESE OPENING VERSES WE ARE GIVEN A GLIMPSE OF PAULS CONCERN FOR THE LOST - LETS US UNPACK THIS CONCERN TOGETHER.
1. PAUL’S HEART FO THE LOST STEMS FROM HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST
9:1. I SPEAK THE TRUTH IN CHRIST, I AM NOT LYING WE WILL ONLY EVER POSSES A HEART FOR THE LOST IF WE LIKE PAUL HAVE BEEN BROUGHT INTO A RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST, NOTICE HE IS IN CHRIST.
• DEMONSTRATION. TAKE THIS GLASS- HOW CAN I EMPTY THIS GLASS OF AIR? ONLY AS I FILL THIS GLASS WITH WATER IT EMPTIES OUT THE AIR AND IS FILLED WITH WATER. IF WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A CONCERN FOR THE LOST WE FIRSTLY MUST BE EMPTIED OF SELF WE MUST ALLOW CHRIST TO FILL OUR WHOLE LIVES – WE MUST STOP STRIVING TO SAVE OURSELVES BUT ALLOW CHRIST TO TAKE FULL POSSESSION OF OUR LIVES.
PAUL ALLOWED CHRIST TO TAKE FULL POSSESSION OF HIS LIFE – HE WAS IN CHRIST - HE HAD EXPERIENCED A GENUINE CONVERSION BEFORE HE WAS TRYING TO WORK OUT HIS OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS BY HIS RELIGIOUS LIFE ACTS 9: HE HAD BEEN HUMBLED BEFORE GOD AND HAD RECEIVED CHRIST. HE HAD BECOME DEEPLY AWARE OF THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST IN HIS OWN LIFE. THIS BROUGHT ABOUT A CONCERN FOR THE LOST IN HIS LIFE.
ARE YOU IN CHRIST TODAY? (PAUSE) HAS THERE BEEN A TIME IN YOUR LIFE WHEN YOU ACTUALLY WAS FILLED WITH CHRIST BROUGHT TO A PLACE OF REPENTANCE AND RECEIVED CHRIST? (PAUSE) WE WILL ONLY BEGIN TO HAVE A GENUINE CONCERN FOR THE LOST TILL YOU ARE FILLED WITH CHRIST AND EMPTIED OF SELF.
LISTEN TO THE STRONG WORDS OF CHARLES SPURGEON “HAVE YOU NO WISH FOR OTHERS TO BE SAVED? THEN YOU ARE NOT SAVED YOURSELF. BE SURE OF THAT…. THE SAVING OF SOULS, IF A MAN HAS ONCE GAINED LOVE TO PERISHING SINNERS AND HIS BLESSED MASTER, WILL BE AN ALL-ABSORBING PASSION TO HIM. IT WILL SO CARRY HIM AWAY, THAT HE WILL ALMOST FORGET HIMSELF IN THE SAVING OF OTHERS….. IF SINNERS WILL BE DAMNED, AT LEAST LET THEM LEAP TO HELL OVER OUR BODIES. AND IF THEY WILL PERISH, LET THEM PERISH WITH OUR ARMS ABOUT THEIR KNEES, IMPLORING THEM TO STAY. IF HELL MUST BE FILLED, AT LEAST LET IT BE FILLED IN THE TEETH OF OUR EXERTIONS AND LET NOT ONE GO THERE UNWARNED AND UNPRAYED FOR.”
PAUL COULDN’T ESCAPE THIS CONCERN FOR THE LOST HIS CONSCIENCE CONFIRMED IT IN THE HOLY SPIRIT V1 WHICH LEAD TO A HEART WHICH HAD GREAT SORROW AND UNCEASING ANGUISH V2. AS A RESULT HE WAS WILLING TO SACRIFICE HIMSELF V3 FOR THE SAKE OF THE LOST.
SO A HEART FOR THE LOST CAN ONLY STEM FROM A RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST, AND WILL CAUSE US TO HAVE A CONCERN FOR THE LOST, BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN AWAKENED TO THE TRUTH THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE SAVIOUR WHO DIED FOR THIS WORLD - AND OUTSIDE OF CHRIST PEOPLE ARE HELL BOUND.
SO HOW ARE WE GOING TO CONVEY OUR CONCERN FOR THE LOST – ARE WE GOING TO HAVE A FATALISTIC ATTITUDE “WHAT WILL BE, WILL BE ?” DO NOTHING AT ALL?” JUST CROSS YOUR FINGERS AND HOPE FOR THE BEST?” NOPE!
2. PAUL’S HEART FOR THE LOST IS COMMUNICATED.
V1 I SPEAK THE TRUTH IN CHRIST - I AM NOT LYING,. FIRSTLY PAUL IS SAYING THAT ALL HE IS ABOUT TO SHARE IS THE TRUTH. HE IS NOT LYING – MANY JEWS THOUGHT HE WAS A FOOL AND A LIAR – AFTER ALL HE WAS ON THE FAST TRACK IN PHARISAIC CIRCLES HE WAS ADVANCING BEYOND HIS PEERS IN JUDAISM THE ONE TRUE RELIGION, HE PERSECUTED THIS LITTLE SECT AND YET NOW HE HAS GIVEN IT ALL UP TO BECOME PART OF IT.
PAUL NEW THAT WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO HIM, WAS THE TRUTH IN CHRIST - HE HAD SEEN HOW THE TORAH AND THE PROPHETS HAD COME TOGETHER - IT ALL MADE SENSE TO HIM. JESUS CHRIST WAS THE PROMISED MESSIAH... WHY COULDN’T THEY SEE IT? IT WASN’T SOMETHING HE HAD MADE UP. I SPEAK THE TRUTH IN CHRIST I AM NOT LYING....
A FEW DAYS AFTER HIS CONVERSION PAUL WOULD BEGIN COMMUNICATING THE TRUTH IN CHRIST TO HIS JEWISH BROTHERS – THIS BAFFLED THE JEWS LIVING IN DAMASCUS AS THEY SAW WHAT HE ONCE WAS AND WHAT HE HAD BECOME AND SO THEY CONSPIRED TO KILL HIM ACTS 9:22-23. YET THIS NEVER DETERRED PAUL. ON ALL HIS MISSIONARY JOURNEYS PAUL, PREACHED - HE DEBATED - HE REASONED – HE SHARED – HE COMMUNICATED – HE PROCLAIMED THE GOSPEL. 9:1 I SPEAK THE TRUTH IN CHRIST – I AM NOT LYING MY CONSCIENCE CONFIRMS IT IN THE HOLY SPIRIT (CANT YOU EXPERIENCE HIS SINCERITY AND UTTER PASSION)
I SUPPOSE ONE OF THE GREAT PROBLEMS CHRISTIANS HAVE TO DO BATTLE WITH IN COMMUNICATING THIS GOSPEL TO OTHERS TODAY IS THE REACTIONS WE FACE, RIDICULE, REJECTION, APATHY, YOU MIGHT EVEN FACE HOSTILITY. BUT WE NEED TO RISE ABOVE OUR OWN SELF IMAGE OF WHAT OTHER PEOPLE WILL THINK ABOUT US…….BECAUSE ITS NOT ABOUT US IT’S ABOUT THEM AND THEIR STANDING BEFORE CHRIST.
LETS RECAP: WHY DID HE COMMUNICATE THIS MESSAGE IN THE FIRST PLACE ? ROM 10:1 HE WANTS THEM TO BE SAVED. THEY ARE HIS BROTHERS! HE HAS FOUND THE TRUTH AND THE TRUTH HAS SET HIM FREE! “ IF YOU HAD FOUND THE CURE FOR CANCER COULD YOU REALLY KEEP IT TO YOURSELF?” WE HAVE THE CURE TO SIN AND WE SHOULDN’T BE ASHAMED TO SHARE THE GOOD NEWS. ROM 1:16 I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL BECAUSE IT IS THE POWER OF GOD FOR THE SALVATION OF EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES FIRST FOR THE JEW AND THEN THE GENTILE
LIKE PAUL EVERY BORN AGAIN BELIEVER HAS RECEIVED THE TRUTH IN CHRIST ..... WE HAVE ENTERED INTO A RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST.... THE NATURAL RESPONSE IS TO COMMUNICATE THE GOSPEL TO OUR FAMILY OUR COMMUNITY, OUR FRIENDS IGNORING THIS DIRECTIVE WILL HOLD HORRIFIC CONSEQUENCES – WE NEED TO COMMUNICATE THE TRUTH BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE. ARE YOU COMPELLED TO SPEAK? ACTS 4:18 -20
FRIENDS DO YOU HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST? (PAUSE) THEN SHOULDN’T YOU CARE ABOUT THE LOST? (PAUSE) WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SHARED THE GOSPEL? (PAUSE) IF WE ARE GOING TO SEE THIS CHURCH GROW SUBSTANTIALLY WITH NEW BELIEVERS IT’S ONLY GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN EACH ONE OF US BEGINS TO COMMUNICATE THE GOSPEL TO OTHERS.
THE BIBLE SHARES WITH US THAT ROM 10:17 FAITH COMES FROM HEARING A MESSAGE. AND JESUS COMMANDS US TO GO INTO THE WHOLE WORLD AND PREACH THE GOSPEL MARK16:15 AND IN 16:20 THE DISCIPLES WENT OUT AND LIVED A GOOD LIFE, NO! THEY PREACHED EVERYWHERE! IF WE ARE CONCERNED FOR THE LOST THEN WE WILL COMMUNICATE TO OTHERS OUR CONCERN THROUGH THE GOSPEL MESSAGE..
SPURGEON WROTE, " I THINK I MAY SAY TO EVERY PERSON WHOM I AM ADDRESSING,-IF YOU ARE YOURSELF SAVED, THE WORK IS BUT HALF DONE UNTIL YOU ARE EMPLOYED TO BRING OTHERS TO CHRIST. YOU ARE AS YET BUT HALF FORMED IN THE IMAGE OF YOUR LORD. YOU HAVE NOT ATTAINED TO THE FULL DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHRIST-LIFE IN YOU UNLESS YOU HAVE COMMENCED IN SOME FEEBLE WAY TO TELL OTHERS OF THE GRACE OF GOD; AND I TRUST THAT YOU WILL FIND NO REST TO THE SOLE OF YOUR FOOT TILL YOU HAVE BEEN THE MEANS OF LEADING MANY TO THAT BLESSED SAVIOUR WHO IS YOUR CONFIDENCE AND YOUR HOPE? LET US ASK HIM TO GIVE US GRACE TO GO A-FISHING, AND SO TO CAST OUR NETS THAT WE MAY TAKE A GREAT MULTITUDE OF FISHES. OH, THAT THE HOLY GHOST MAY RAISE UP FROM AMONG US SOME MASTER-FISHERS, WHO SHALL SAIL THEIR BOATS IN MANY A SEA, AND SURROUND GREAT SHOALS OF FISH!" INSTRUCTION IN SOUL WINNING "
THERE IS SUCH A GREAT EMPHASIS TODAY UPON OUR LIVES SPEAKING OUT AS FRANCIS OF ASSISI SAID “ALWAYS PREACH THE GOSPEL, AND WHEN NECESSARY, USE WORDS.” THAT SOUNDS SO COOL DOESN’T IT BUT IN REALITY WE CAN LIVE MORAL UPRIGHT LIVES AND NEVER MAKE ANY IMPACT WHATSOEVER - LET’S FACE IT A MUSLIM EVEN AN ATHEIST CAN LIVE A MORAL AND UPRIGHT LIFE AND WITHOUT ANY MESSAGE WE HAVEN’T COMMUNICATED ANYTHING.
ALSO LETS REMEMBER WE ARE FORGIVEN SINNERS AND OUR LIVE ARE NOT ALWAYS PERFECT AS A CONSEQUENCE OUR LIVES OFTEN FAIL TO LIVE UP TO WHAT WE PROFESS SO OFTEN. SO THERE WILL ALWAYS BE “I TOLD YOU SO” “HYPOCRITE AND SO ON” IF WE NEVER SHARE THE GOSPEL EXPLAIN GODS GRACE THEY WILL NEVER KNOW. WE NEED TO COMMUNICATE THIS GOSPEL TO THE PERISHING.
3. PAUL’S HEART FOR THE LOST AFFECTED HIS WHOLE BEING
PAUL WANTS TO EXPRESS WHAT HE IS EXPERIENCING - IN REGARD TO HIS LOST BROTHERS, HIS CONSCIENCE IS AWAKENED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT TO THE CONDITION OF THE JEWISH NATION, HIS OWN BROTHERS LOST WITHOUT GOD - HIS CONSCIENCE CONFIRMS IT IN THE HOLY SPIRIT. HE SPEAKS THE TRUTH TO THEM, AND THE TRUTH IS THIS PAUL HAS A DEEP LOVE FOR HIS OWN PEOPLE THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL, WHO HAVE REJECTED CHRIST.
HE IS AWARE OF THE IMMENSE PRIVILEGES THEY RECEIVED V4-5 YET THEY REMAIN LOST. WHAT HE KNOWS UP HERE IN HIS MIND, TRAVELS TO HIS HEART - THE CENTRE OF HIS BEING AND HE EXPRESSES V2 I HAVE GREAT SORROW AND UNCEASING ANGUISH IN MY HEART. PAUL WAS AWARE THAT HIS JEWISH BRETHREN HAD REJECTED THEIR MESSIAH JOHN 1:11 HE KNEW ROM 9:6, AND NOT ALL ISRAEL WERE OFF ISRAEL 30 -32. AND THAT THE NATION OF ISRAEL WAS LIVING A LIFE OF WORKS WHEREAS THE SPIRITUAL ISRAEL WAS SAVED BY FAITH.
HOW DO YOU FEEL IN YOUR INNER BEING ABOUT THE LOST AROUND YOU TODAY? IS YOUR CONSCIENCE DISTURBED ABOUT THEIR SPIRITUAL CONDITION AND THE HELL THEY ARE GOING TO FACE? IS YOUR INNER BEING MOVED LIKE PAUL HAVE YOU DEEP SORROW AND UNCEASING ANGUISH, HE HAD A BROKEN HEART.
• BIBLICAL APPLICATION: CONSIDER THE PROPHET JEREMIAH 9:1 CONSIDER OUR LORD LUKE 19 41 AS HE WEPT OVER JERUSALEM AS HE APPROACHED THE CITY. MATT 23-38 JERUSALEM WAS DESOLATE
THIS PLACE WHERE CHRIST HAS PLACED US IN IS FULL OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE - SOME RELIGIOUS - SOME ATHEISTIC – SOME AGNOSTIC – YET THEY ARE ALL PEOPLE WITH A NEVER DYING SOUL -. SOME HAVE NEVER HEARD, SOME ARE TOO HEAR, SOME WILL REJECT AND SOME WILL ACCEPT. ARE WE NOT MOVED WITH COMPASSION TO ACT?
SO OFTEN IT TAKES A FAMILY FUNERAL TO MOVE US WITH SORROW AND TEARS - I’VE SEEN IT SO OFTEN – AND EVEN EXPERIENCED IT LIKE US ALL - YET LET US CONSIDER THOSE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD FROM THIS VILLAGE STANDING BEFORE THE JUDGEMENT AND DESTINED TO HELL. SHOULDN’T WE BE WEEPING?
THIS SORROW AND ANGUISH ACTUALLY CAUSES HIM TO SAY: FOR I COULD WISH THAT I MYSELF WERE CURSED AND CUT OFF FROM CHRIST FOR THE SAKE OF MY BROTHERS. V3. PAUL HERE IS SAYING THAT HE WOULD ENTERTAIN SUCH A WISH IF IT WERE POSSIBLE. HE WOULD BECOME ANATHEMA – CURSED – SEPARATED FROM CHRIST FOR HIS BROTHERS. JUST LIKE MOSES BEFORE HIM WHO PLEADED BEFORE GOD FOR THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL WHEN THEY HAD MADE A GOLDEN CALF EX 32:32. FORGIVE THEIR SIN- BUT IF NOT, THEN BLOT ME OUT OF THE BOOK YOU HAVE WRITTEN.
HERE IN PAUL WE SEE A PICTURE OF THE SUBSTITUTIONARY LOVE OF CHRIST - FOR HE IS PREPARED TO DIE IN THEIR PLACE OF OTHERS. HE IS PREPARED TO BE DAMNED IN ORDER THAT THE DAMNED MIGHT BE SAVED. PAUL WASN’T THINKING THEOLOGICALLY HERE BUT FROM HIS HEART BECAUSE ONLY CHRIST CAN SAVE IN THAT WAY – BUT IT MAKES YOU ASK “HOW FAR ARE WE PREPARED TO SACRIFICE FOR OTHERS, THOSE OUT IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE LOST – HOW MUCH OF OUR TIME IS GIVEN OVER TO THAT CONCERN? ARE WE PREPARED TO SACRIFICE OUR MONEY – OUR ENERGY OUR GIFTS – ARE WE PREPARED TO GIVE OUR WHOLE BEING - TO SACRIFICE OURSELVES TO SEE OTHERS WON TO CHRIST?”
JAMES HUDSON TAYLOR IN CHALLENGING ENGLISH STUDENTS DURING HIS TIME TO BE INVOLVED IN CHINA MISSION WORK, USED TO TELL OF THE STORY ABOUT PETER, HIS CHINESE CONVERT AND DISCIPLE. ON ONE OF THEIR SEA JOURNEYS, PETER (WHO DO NOT KNOW HOW TO SWIM) FELL FROM THE SIDE OF THE BOAT. FORTUNATELY, THERE WERE FISHERMEN NEARBY, JUST A GRAB AWAY FROM WHERE PETER FELL. TAYLOR SHOUTED AT THE FISHERMEN AND ASKED THEM TO HELP HIS FRIEND, “HEY, HELP MY FRIEND, HE IS DROWNING.” HOWEVER, THE FISHERMEN DID NOT BOTHER TO DO HIS CALL FOR HELP BECAUSE THEY WERE BUSY LOADING THEIR CATCH FROM THE NET TO THEIR BOAT. TAYLOR CONTINUED TO YELL, “STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING, AND HELP MY FRIEND. HE IS JUST A GRAB AWAY.” BUT THE FISHERMEN CONTINUED ON THEIR WORK UNTIL THE LAST FISH WAS LOADED TO THE BOAT. THEN THEY JUMPED AND GOT PETER OUT OF WATER. THEY TRIED TO REVIVE HIM, BUT TO NO AVAIL. PETER DIED OF DROWNING. HE COULD HAVE BEEN SAVED BECAUSE HE WAS JUST A GRAB AWAY FROM THE FISHERMEN. THEN, HE ASKED THE STUDENTS/CHURCH MEMBERS WHAT THEY THOUGHT OF ABOUT THE CHINESE? SOME SAID, THEY ARE BAD, EVIL, SELFISH, UNCONCERN ABOUT THE SALVATION OF A DYING MAN. YOU KNOW HOW TAYLOR RESPONDED? HE SAID, “I SAW DIFFERENTLY. I THINK THE CHINESE ARE LIKE MOST CHRISTIANS TODAY, THEY ARE UNCONCERNED ABOUT THE PLIGHT OF THE SINNERS WHO ARE NOW JUST A GRAB AWAY FROM THEM. THE REASON IS THAT THEY ARE SO BUSY WITH THEIR WORK.”
THINK ABOUT IT... BE STIRRED ABOUT IT ... PRAY ABOUT IT ..AND ACT UPON IT. LIVES ARE DEPENDING UPON IT. AS BONAR,ONCE SAID NO HUMAN BEING WILL BE IN HEAVEN WITHOUT A HUMAN THUMB PRINT UPON THEM." CHRISTIANS LET THOSE THUMB PRINTS BE OURS, TOGETHER IN PARTNERSHIP IN THE GOSPEL.
AMEN,
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