OPEN: I read the true story of a teenager was out on his driveway one day playing basketball and he lost one of his contact lens. He was frustrated. He searched and searched and searched for it but couldn’t find it. Totally discouraged he finally went into house and told his mother that the lens was nowhere to be found.
The mother didn’t say much, she just went outside and in a few minutes came back with the lens in her hand. The boy was shocked: "Mom, I really looked hard for that. How'd you manage to find it?"
She replied "We weren't looking for the same thing. You were looking for a small piece of plastic. I was looking for $150."
(R.Digest 10/92 p. 66)
That mother was looking for something she regarded as extremely valuable. And because it was valuable, she didn’t give up till she found it.
Jesus came looking for something really valuable.
Scripture says that He came to seek and save the lost.
In fact – Jesus’ very name means “Savior”.
When the angel appeared to Joseph, he told Joseph that “(Mary) will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21
The name “Jesus” means – “Savior”.
And that’s the whole theme of the New Testament: Jesus came to seek and save the lost.
The New Testament is all about salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ.
Now this sermon series on Christianese – Christian words the world may not understand and today we’re going to focus on the word: SALVATION.
And in our text in Isaiah we find that salvation is extremely important to God.
When someone is saved – it’s a time of excitement and joy for God.
Notice what it says:
“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those
who bring good news,
who proclaim peace,
who bring good tidings,
who proclaim SALVATION,
who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!"
Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices; together they shout for joy.
When the LORD returns to Zion, they will see it with their own eyes.
Burst into songs of joy …” Isaiah 52:7-9a
This is GOOD NEWS.
These are GOOD TIDINGS.
The watchmen of the city SHOUT FOR JOY.
And everyone BURSTS INTO SONGS OF JOY.
Our salvation is a big deal with God.
But now… WHAT are we being saved from?
ILLUS: When I prepare my sermons I’ll ask myself questions just like that. And spitball for a while throwing all kinds of thoughts in the mix trying to find the best answers I can think of. And I could think of all kinds of things that God saves me from…
But then I got to thinking – “I wonder what the Bible says?”
That’s a good idea, don’t you think?
I mean I AM a preacher and this is about God’s ideas rather than mine.
So… what does the Bible say we’re saved from?
Let’s hear again the words of that angel:
“(Mary) will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people FROM THEIR SINS.” Matthew 1:21
In John 1:29 we’re told that John the Baptist “saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who TAKES AWAY THE SIN of the world!”
THAT is what we are saved from… we’re saved from our sins.
Paul tells us that BEFORE we became Christians
“you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.” Ephesians 2:1-3
What that is saying is this: anyone who is not a Christian is an object of wrath
Before we became Christians, our destination was hell.
Romans 3:23 drives this home when it says: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
And Romans 6:23 tells us that “the wages of sin is death.”
How many of you believe that?
How many of you believe that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God?
How many of you believe that anyone outside of Christ is going to go to hell?
Of course we do… it’s in the Bible.
But - when it comes to this issue… I have a problem.
I struggle with the idea that people are sinners.
I suffer from a spiritual disease known as “Pollyanna-ism”
(Yes, it’s actually a psychological term)
ILLUS: The word comes from a Disney movie about a little girl named Pollyanna (starring Haley Mills) and the story revolved around her optimism and her belief in the goodness of people.
I suffer from Pollyanna-ism – I tend to believe in the goodness of people.
I tend NOT to see them as being sinners.
There’s something inside of me that struggles with the idea that people outside Christ will go to Hell. And a lot of people struggle with that.
You see, the problem is this: we live around folks who seem so “NICE”.
Our perception of them is that they don’t do anything wrong.
My son once told me “Dad, you don’t anything wrong!”
Do you agree? Do you believe i don't do anything wrong?
Of course not! I do do things that are wrong.
But when it comes to how we see others, we often don’t perceive those around us as doing anything wrong in their lives.
Of course, the problem is that the Bible says THEY DO.
Folks do things and say things and think things that are wrong.
They’ve all sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (just like you and me)
Now why do I perceive folks as being sinless… or at least “kind of OK”?
Part of the reason is that they’re not going to air their dirty laundry in front of us.
ILLUS: This morning at first service, Jim T. offered the communion meditation and was talking about sin. At one point in the meditation he said “Now we’re all going to go right down the line and each of us going to tell what a major sin is in our lives.”
Then he paused.
“Nah,” he said. “We’re not going to do that”, and as everyone gave a sigh of relief he continued with his meditation.
Now why were people uncomfortable with Jim suggestion?
Why wouldn't they want to share their "sin"?
Because we don’t like the idea of others knowing about our sins.
Outside of the purely pagan folks who enjoy doing and talking about all kinds of bad stuff, “nice” folks aren’t going to tell you what they’ve done wrong.
Over the years, I have learned that most folks are just like you and me.
ILLUS: A few years back I remember standing in the shower and suddenly I remembered something I’ve been ashamed of (something I’d said or done or thought). And a wave of shame and self-hatred swept over me like a flood.
Have you ever had that happen to you?
Of course you have!
We all have!
Robert Louis Stevenson wrote “All of us have thoughts that would shame Hell.”
But now here’s the problem: if you and I don’t believe that (that other people suffer from guilt and self-hatred) then we’re not going to tell people about Jesus.
I mean – why should we?
(I recited something like this in a rapid fire presentation)
I mean if someone is ok just the way they are - Jesus didn’t die for them.
Because they don’t need Jesus to save them from their sins.
They’re ok the way they are.
And IF they’re ok just the way they are… they don’t need to hear about Jesus and I don’t need to tell them and I’m NOT going to tell them because there’s no sense embarrassing myself telling them something they don’t need to hear, because I think they’re make it into heaven all on their own. They’re ok the way they are.
Do you see the problem???
The problem lies with my Pollyanna-ism.
It is my belief in the goodness of folks.
And the heart of the problem lies in the fact that I don’t see people the way God does.
Back in the book of I Samuel, the prophet Samuel is commissioned by God to anoint the next King of Israel. He sees one man and believes that man should be anointed, but God said “no”. Then Samuel saw that man’s brother and thought “this man ought to be a king.” But God again said “no.”
Finally God said “…Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." I Samuel 16:7
You see, I see people only on the outside… but God sees their hearts.
And because I can’t see their hearts I’m tempted to see people as “ok” and to doubt they’re going to go to hell. If that happens I won’t sense the urgency of telling them about Christ.
And so they’ll go to hell because I don’t want to embarrass myself by telling them about my faith.
Now here’s the good news.
I don’t have to convince people of their sin… that’s the Spirit’s job.
Jesus told us that the Spirit’s job was to “convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: John 16:8
I don’t have to convict people… that’s HIS job
The Spirit is the one who will make people feel their guilt and shame so they’ll WANT Jesus.
But once the Spirit has done His part - once He makes folks so they want Jesus - God wants me to be prepared to tell those folks about HOW to get what Jesus offers.
Did you catch the first part of Isaiah 52?
“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation…!" Isaiah 52:7
That was such an important statement that God repeated it in Romans 10:14-15
“How, then, can (the lost) call on the one they have not believed in?
And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?
And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?
And how can they preach unless they are sent?
As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
Isaiah 52 is all about God saving mankind thru Jesus Christ and the chapter is filled with excitement and joy at the prospect of people coming to Christ. But God takes the time to praise YOU if you care enough to bring the good news to the lost.
He even says your feet are beautiful if you share Him with others.
So, the question is: do you care enough?
If someone were to come to you and say “what do I have to do to be saved?” would tell them? Or would you say that MY feet are more beautiful than yours?
But here’s the deal – they asked you!
They didn’t ask me.
I’m the hired gun… but if you love Jesus so much you want to share him that’ll impress them. They may not talk to me… but they’re talking to you.
So what would you tell people if they asked “What must I do to be saved?”
Well, there are a couple of times in the Bible where somebody actually asks that question.
In Acts 2 for example Peter preaches to the Jews and told them they’d crucified Jesus. Peter’s sermon was so powerful that we’re told that “When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, WHAT SHALL WE DO?" Acts 2:37
Do you remember Peter’s answer?
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38
Now… that seems simple enough, doesn’t it?
What must we do to be forgiven by God?
REPENT and
BE BAPTIZED in the name of Jesus Christ.
You can’t beat that for simplicity can you?
Can you remember that?
Now, later on in Acts, we find Paul and Silas are in prison.
“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose.
The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped.
But Paul shouted, "Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!"
The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?"
They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household."
Acts 16:25-31
Whoa… wait a minute.
That’s not what Peter said at Pentecost.
What did Peter say? REPENT AND BE BAPTIZED
What’s Paul saying here to the jailor? BELIEVE IN THE LORD JESUS
Really? That’s odd, isn’t it?
Why would there be a difference?
Well, because the Crowd at Pentecost already believed in Jesus.
One scholar noted that the Jews at Pentecost “were knowledgeable about God, sin, atonement, the coming Messiah, and His coming kingdom. In fact, the Jews gathered on Pentecost (Acts 2) were probably far more knowledgeable about the God of the Bible than most mature Christians are today. “
(http://www.radicallychristian.com/what-do-they-need-to-know-before-theyre-baptized)
But this Philippian Jailor didn’t know any of that.
He didn’t know anything about Jesus or the God of the Bible.
Paul had to start with the basics… because if this man didn’t know Jesus there was no sense going any farther. Without Jesus this man could repent and get wet all day long and it wouldn’t have made any difference.
Now notice what we’re told next:
Paul and Silas “… SPOKE THE WORD OF THE LORD to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then IMMEDIATELY HE AND ALL HIS FAMILY WERE BAPTIZED.” Acts 16:32-33
So, did Paul and Silas baptize this man and his family?
YES! But not until after they’d spoken the word of the Lord to him and the rest of his household. Then they were baptized. Now how soon after these folks were taught were they baptized? (Immediately)
It was some time after midnight.
Notice – they didn’t wait until Sunday.
They didn’t call the church together to witness it.
They didn’t wait until more of the family could be there.
They did it “immediately.”
Why?
Because this was urgent.
This was salvation.
This was a matter of eternal life or eternal damnation.
Now… just to help you I’ve had an insert put into your bulletin this morning with a couple of graphics on them (I also showed them on the overhead).
This first graphic gives you an overview of all that takes place when a person is saved.
(https://akeymoment.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/steps-of-salvation1.jpg
It shows a “staircase” with each step representing a different step in salvation.
It begins with “God’s Part:
1. God Sent His Son
2. The Son shed His blood
3. And the Spirit Revealed the Word
Then the graphic focuses on the sinner’s part
1. Hearing
2. Believing
3. Repenting
4. Confessing
5. Baptism
6. And Remaining Faithful
Each step of the staircase has Scripture beneath it)
Now notice on this first graphic that it begins with “God’s Part.”
Without “God’s Part” you and I could do nothing to be saved. We could do everything else on this graph and we’d still be lost because it is by the Grace of God that we have the chance of salvation.
But the next part of the graphic deals with “Man’s Part”. And each of the stairs on that part of the staircase leads to the next. Without hearing you can’t believe; without believing you can’t repent; without repentance you can’t confess and without all of the previous items you can’t get baptized Biblically. Baptism is not the “end all” of salvation… it is the culmination of everything else that we do on our part to respond to God’s gracious gift.
The next graphic shows a very simple way to remember “Mans’ Part” in the salvation process. It’s called the “Five Finger Exercise” and the beauty is that it helps you remember the basics as you talk to others about what they must do to be saved.
(I took a graphic that showed a hand putting up the index finger, then the index and middle finger, and so till all four fingers and thumb are extended. Over each of the fingers I inserted a different part of man’s response)
1. Hold up your index finger – FAITH
2. Hold up your index and middle finger – REPENTANCE
3. Hold up your index, middle and ring finger – CONFESS
4. Hold up your index, middle, ring finger and now your pinkie finger – BAPTISM
5. And lastly your thumb – REMAIN FAITHFUL
Isn’t that simple?
You don’t have to be PH.D or Bible College Graduate to understand this.
All you need to do is be ready when God sends someone your way.
CLOSE: But when God does send someone your way… you need to realize the urgency of the task and the value God places on your faithfulness in this matter.
A man named John Mays wrote: I was on my honeymoon in the Bahamas when a man walked up to me and said, "Would you like to buy some cocaine? You can tell everyone how much you really enjoyed the Bahamas." After I said "No!" and got over the shock of that man's boldness, I wondered how Jesus would have responded if someone came up to him selling drugs.
Later that day, someone else came up to me selling drugs and that gave me another chance to share Jesus with them in a most creative way. After he told me that he had the "good-stuff," I asked him, "What have you got?" Once he said "Cocaine!", I said the following: "Is that all you have? I'm disappointed! I was hoping you would have something better than that. You see, I've got the real thing! What I have is all natural, pure and very powerful. And it makes me feel great all day and all night. And get this, it may be illegal in some countries, but not in this one, so you can't get arrested for having it!"
By this time the man was very curious and asked me what is this incredible "stuff" I was talking about. I said, "I'm talking about having Jesus in your heart! It's awesome what he will do for you when you get him inside of you! No drug in all the world is as good as having Jesus in you."
The man stopped smiling and got this real serious look on his face and said, "I want what you have. How do I get it?"
Now notice, John Mays was prepared to tell this man about Jesus… and he succeeded because he was committed to making sure this man had a chance at eternal life.
INVITATION
