Anyone & Everyone
8-11-01
INTRO: We have all been a part of misunderstandings. Either we didn’t understand a situation or someone misunderstood us. I remember a few weeks ago my wife and I had a “misunderstanding” about both of our driving habits. My wife seems to enjoy driving very close to the car in front of us. We were driving through San Antonio (she was driving and I was in the passenger seat) and the whole time I was pushing the invisible brake. I was sweating bullets! She was getting so very close to the car in front of us. So, when I finally brought that up for a “discussion” she proceeded to tell me what she “misunderstood” about my driving habits. For instance she tells me that I will turn on the blinker and let it blink for 3 minutes before I will ever change lanes. And when I do I sort of straddle the line for awhile. So we had this heated “discussion” the rest of the way home. I was seeking to try and help her understand why I drive like I do and she was doing the same.
Transition: Many people misunderstand the message of Christ to the world. Jesus came proclaiming good news to the world. He came proclaiming a life for all who would simply believe and live their lives for him.
I would like to read Romans 10:8-13. Let me ask you a questions: “Who is able to experience this life or as Jesus calls is, “being saved?” Anyone and Everyone!
Everyone. That means whether you are white, black, brown, etc. you can experience what Paul is talking about there. But people misunderstand this. Whether it’s because they were taught wrong or heard wrong or just haven’t read the Bible people have misunderstood the meaning and message of the Bible. For instance there are those who think “I don’t want any part of God because all that is for people who have it together.” Listen, if we had it all together there would be no need for God. So, because we don’t have it together we need God. There are those who say well, “I can’t come to Christ or God because I have done a lot of bad things in my life and how could God possibly want me?” Let’s be honest though. God has every right not to want us. Not to care about us. To obliviate us into a zillion pieces of nothing. But God has chosen to reach out his hand to us and say, there is a way out of your mess. There is a way out of your heartache and that is through me. And not only does God clean us up but man he wants to use us!
Another misunderstanding people have is “well, I have my own belief system and that will be enough.” Paul wrote to show his own Jewish people that in order to attain life and God’s pleasure is to look to Jesus—the fulfillment of the Old Testament. His Jewish brothers and sisters needed to understand that. His heart’s desire was to see that his people come to faith in Jesus-- the only way to salvation. “For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him.” Vs 12
If our belief system (or faith) does not have Christ at the center it is a failed belief system—and a failed faith.
Then, there are those who say, “Isn’t church membership the same as being saved?” Not at all. Church membership doesn’t necessarily “prove” you have been changed by Christ. What is the evidence that you have been changed by Christ? Your love for him (satisfaction) and willingness to obey his commands. Church membership is important and we take it seriously here at NCC but what is more important than that is what you have done with this promise.
“for Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Vs. 13
So, everyone (those who don’t have it all together, those who have done terrible things, those who have a wrong belief system, those who have church memberships) who calls on the name of the Lord WILL BE SAVED. But also look at the promise in verse 11. “Anyone who trusts in him will not be put to shame (will not be disappointed.) We will get to that promise in a moment.
Now there are even misunderstandings about the word “saved”. Does it mean, I am saved from my homework, saved from harm, saved from the boogie man? The main thrust or meaning of this word “saved” in a biblical sense is to be delivered, saved from harm, saved from your sin, rescued. The promise is that when you call upon the name of the Lord he will save you (rescue, deliver) from your sin.
How do I call upon him? Do I have to chant some weird thing? Do I have to hold on to beads? No, look at what the scripture says in verse 9-10 “For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.”
This scripture shows us that if we say with our mouths what our hearts already believe an amazing transformation happens! We are rescued from our sins. Unfortunately, many of us have been coerced by someone to pray something we haven’t first believed in our hearts.
ILLUSTRATION: Let’s pretend you and I were at a pool. You have just finished eating 4 hotdogs with lots of chili, onions, and sauerkraut. You feel like swimming some laps so you jump in the pool. After about your 2nd lap you begin to cramp up. I see you struggling a little bit and so I get out of my lawn chair and nervously watch you with great concern. I grab a rescue tube to be ready to throw out at you if you need it. I am ready to throw this out to you but I am waiting to hear one word—“help.” But you won’t say that word until you are convinced you need it. Jesus stands ready to rescue you. But first, you’ve got to believe in your heart that you need him and are in trouble without him and then confess that with your mouth. Your mouth must say what is first real in your heart.
There is another promise in this passage that is often overlooked. Not only does it say, “Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved,” but it also says in verse 11, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” (won’t be disappointed.)
You and I have all faced disappointments in life. Remember as kids when you opened up that present with all the cool wrapping paper on it and the cute bows? You rip open the box and it’s another pair of socks, or pajamas. You were expecting something but didn’t get it.
I don’t know what disappointments you have faced in your life but I know that sometimes the pain can be deep. Whether your mother wasn’t there for you or a broken relationship or you were really hoping to get a certain job and you didn’t get it. It’s hard to trust other people, and yourself. So, the reason why some folks hesitate to give their lives to Jesus is because they are afraid he is going to treat them like their father did, or husband or wife or employer.
What would you do if I said all of your greatest needs could be met in one person? What would you do? You would probably say, “Where is this person at, I’ve been searching for this all my life?” The great truth is that Jesus has been searching for YOU all your life. He won’t disappoint. What happens when you give your heart to Jesus and seek to live under his leadership? He heals your wounds, he fills your life with his presence, and he shapes your heart and takes good care of it. We are not just saved to go to heaven but saved to enjoy a relationship with Christ now.
“Anyone who comes to him won’t be disappointed.” Yes, there are some who have come to church or tried out religion and walked away. It’s more likely because they weren’t willing to come to Jesus on His terms. Yes, some Christians live their lives like we aren’t satisfied…like God owes us more. It’s probably because we have allowed the world to influence us in believing that satisfaction means an accumulation of stuff we can see, whereas God says your satisfaction is found nowhere outside of me. There are no regrets when you come to Christ. I have not met anyone who regretted giving their hearts to Christ. I read stories daily of Christians who are persecuted around the world—I never read of anyone saying, “I never should have followed Christ.” Many of them stand there in worship of the living God while blood flows from their bodies because of the wounds of their persecutors.
I hope I have helped clear up some misunderstanding about the message of the Bible. All people matter to God and wants everyone to know him. Every person who calls upon him will not only be saved but will not be disappointed in calling upon him.
You might be here tonight and for whatever reason you have not called upon Jesus to rescue you. I want to ask that you do that tonight. As we bow our heads and close our eyes if you want to call upon Jesus to save you I hope you first believe this with your heart. Now, with your lips will you repeat this prayer after me…..
