Tag Archives: The Gospel

Luke 12:22-30 – “Entering Through the Narrow Door”

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My sermon notes for Sunday morning, April 14th.  Remember, these are my personal study notes and not a manuscript of the sermon. They are provided as an outline each week for our Tabernacle Church family. The church provides a live stream of the service each Sunday at 10:30 on Facebook. We also provide the services through YouTube by Sunday afternoon.  You can find Sermon Notes, Family Devotional Guides, Prayer List, and other resources at our Church Website.

Luke 12:22-30

INTRO

  • Jesus continues to teach on the Kingdom of God
  • Jesus’ emphasis is on the HOW TO not the HOW MANY
  • Enter through Repentance and Faith
  • Do not delay

What is the narrow door?

The Gospel. The good news of Jesus Christ

  • The narrowness of the Gospel
    • We are sinners
    • He is our redeemer John 14:6
  • Scripture Alone, Grace Alone, Faith Alone, Christ Alone, God’s Glory Alone
  • Many will seek (at the end…judgment)
  • Broad gate. Many. Wide and easy

Relativism – there is no absolute truth (whatever I think)

Pluralism – Everything is true (You do you)

How does one enter?

Strive – v. 24 – agonize

  • Seeking, Struggling
  • NOT WORKS, but the quickening of the Holy Spirit and coming to Christ.
  • Colossians 4:12 – Used in reference to prayer
  • Deny yourself, and take up his cross daily and follow me…whoever wished to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. Luke 9:23-24
  • It costs us everything of the old life (But once we see Christ for who He is… we do not care)

Why not everyone?

  • Lack of urgency
    • There is time. Life is good. No big deal
  • Pride and self sufficiency
    • I am fine.
    • We saw… we experienced!?!
    • Acquaintance of Jesus. Listener to His message. (Our culture today… we know, we believe)

Why the ultimate rejection?

God does not know them – vv. 25 & 27

  • I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!

Matthew 7:21-23 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Weeping and gnashing of teeth…but your yourself cast out – v. 28

2 Thessalonians 1:7a-11  when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels [8] in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. [9] They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,

2 Thessalonians 2:9–12 – [9] The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, [10] and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. [11] Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, [12] in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Who can come?

People will come – v. 29

  • Those invited
  • Those who have responded

There is NO REASON to try and reconcile God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility… THEY ARE NOT ENEMIES THEY ARE FRIENDS therefore, they do not need to be reconciled.

Remember, the emphasis is not the HOW MANY, but the HOW TO

Here’s what I know:

  • God must open the heart and mind
  • People must repent and believe
  • I must share the Gospel
  • From my perspective… what I can control… THE GOSPEL IS THE KEY COMPONENT!!!!!!!

East, West, North, South – v. 29

  • To totality of the recipients
  • Beyond the chosen nation of Israel (Gentiles)
  • Who can come… whoever hears and comes (invitation to come)
  • 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 – [13] But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. [14] To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. (ESV)

Last/First – v. 30

  • Gentiles and Jews (Jews thought they were the ONLY ONES)
  • Believers today who are content, not growing (Last… getting in, but barely)
  • Those that have dedicated their life to Christ.  Him before self!

The What Now

  • We must make sure our life is right… have we come to Christ? Have we entered through the narrow door? Repentance and Belief
  • We must make sure we get evangelism right (How we share the Gospel).
    • This is the difference between a real faith and a false faith

Evangelism not about doing everything we can to get a person to make a decision for Christ.  Evangelism is sharing the Good news of the Gospel.  It is being faithful to God by presenting the good news; that Christ, by His death, and resurrection, has secured a way for a holy God and a sinful people to be reconciled.

  • The decision is costly. Luke 9:62
  • The decision is urgent, so make it soon. Luke 12:20
  • The decision is worth it, so you want to make it. John 10:10
Mark Dever, 9Marks https://www.9marks.org/article/a-biblical-understanding-of-evangelism/

Ephesians 2:1-10 – “Our Hope in Christ”

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My sermon notes for Sunday morning, March 31st. Remember, these are my personal study notes and not a manuscript of the sermon. The notes are provided as an outline each week for our Tabernacle Church family. The church provides a live stream of the service each Sunday at 10:30 on Facebook. We also provide the services through  YouTube by Sunday afternoon.  You can find Sermon Notes, Family Devotional Guides, Prayer List, and other resources at our Church Website.

Ephesians 2:1-10

INTRO

  • Easter Sunday.  He is Risen?
  • Luke 24:36-49; Acts 1:1-11
  • What now? What does this mean for us today?
  • I am afraid we have turned Easter into and event.
    • Sunday best… going to church
    • Family gatherings
  • Easter is about a person
  • And the hope we have in that Person…JESUS
  • As we consider:
    • Who we were without Christ
    • Who we are in Christ
    • Who we are for Christ

WITHOUT CHRIST

We are spiritually dead – v. 1

  • Dead to spiritual things
    • Not sick, but dead
  • In trespasses and sins

We are spiritually enslaved – vv. 2-3a

  • Dead, but alive
  • To the world
    • Values and morals apart from God’s truth
  • To the devil
  • To our own flesh
    • Sin nature

We are spiritually condemned – v. 3b

  • Children of wrath

IN CHRIST

But God did something!

God’s rich mercy – v.4a

  • Not getting what we do deserve

God’s great love – v. 4b

God’s immeasurable grace – v. 7

  • Giving us what we do not deserve
  • His Grace through Faith
  • Precious gift of eternal life

We are alive together with Christ – v. 5

  • Clothed with His righteousness
  • Resurrection power…ALIVE

We are raised up in Christ – v. 6a

  • Death to life
  • New creation

We are seated with Christ – v. 6b

  • Authority
  • Lord and master

Colossians 3:1-4

made us alive … raised us up … seated us. These are historical events in the life of Christ: His resurrection from the dead and enthronement at the right hand of God. But Paul also applies them to believers. Paul teaches a union between Christ and those who come to trust in Him (1:3; Col. 3:1–4), so that what is said of the Redeemer can also be said of the redeemed. What once happened to Jesus will one day happen to believers as well (2 Cor. 4:16): they will be resurrected to glory at His return (Rom. 8:11; 1 Cor. 15). For the present, there is a new mind (4:23, 24; Rom. 12:1, 2), a new identity as God’s children (Rom. 8:14–17), and a new ability to live free from the control of Satan (Rom. 8:1–4; 2 Cor. 5:17). These realities are all part of what it means that the believer is united to Jesus Christ in His resurrection.

R. C. Sproul, ed., The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version (2015 Edition) (Orlando, FL: Reformation Trust, 2015), 2093.

FOR CHRIST

So that we may live for Christ.

  • It is a gift
  • His workmanship
    • Our value, purpose, mission
  • For good works
    • Living for His glory
  • Which God prepared before hand
    • GOD DOES NOT MAKE MISTAKES
  • Walk in them
    • Daily, Passionately, Purposefully

The Essentials of the Gospel

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What are the essential components of the gospel? – Karl Graustein

  1. The character of God.
    The Bible describes God as holy (Ps. 99:3, 5, 9; Rev. 4:8), righteous (Ps. 11:7), just (2 Thess. 1:6), and perfect (Matt. 5:48). He hates sin and has nothing to do with it. In fact, He pours out His justified wrath on sin (Rom. 1:18; Eph. 5:6).
  2. The character and nature of man.
    At the same time, the Bible describes man as having a sinful nature (Ps. 51:5), hopelessly separated from God. We are unable to please God in and of ourselves (Rom. 8:8). We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23). We cannot save ourselves, and we deserve the wrath of God (Rom. 2:5).
  3. God’s love for man.
    Yet despite our sinful ways, God has shown His great love for us (John 3:16; Rom. 5:8). In His mercy, He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for us. On the cross Christ paid the full penalty for our sins and became the object of God’s wrath (2 Cor. 5:21).
  4. Man’s response to God.
    If we confess and turn away from our sins and believe in Jesus Christ and the work He did for us on the cross, we can be saved (Mark 1:15; Rom. 10:9). If we possess faith to trust in God and the love He showed us through Jesus Christ, we are genuine Christians. We are justified – we receive forgiveness of our sins and are credited with Christ’s righteousness, Jesus’ life of perfect obedience (Rom. 3:24-27). In short, God restores our relationship with Him and adopts us into His family because of His grace and not because of anything we do (Gal. 2:16; Titus 3:5).

Luke 7:36-50 – “How Do We Respond to Jesus?”

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My sermon notes for Sunday morning, July 8th.  Remember, these are my personal study notes and not a manuscript of the sermon. They are provided as an outline each week for our Tabernacle Church family. The church provides a live stream of the service each Sunday at 10:30 on Facebook. We also provide the services through YouTube by Sunday afternoon.  You can find Sermon Notes, Family Devotional Guides, Prayer List, and other resources at our Church Website.

Luke 7:36-50

INTRO

  • 2 People, 2 Reactions. 2 Hearts.
  • A glorious picture of salvation
  • Forgiveness of sin
  • Understanding the serious of sin
  • Coming to Jesus as Savior and Lord

The setting – vv. 36-39

  • Pharisee invited Jesus to come to his house
  • Sinner approaches Jesus
    • Humility
    • Great cost
  • Pharisee saw Jesus as a religious person
  • The women saw Jesus as her Savior

  The Pharisee was appalled that Jesus allowed this women in her presence…. She was a sinner.   Jesus knowing His heart responded.   A parable on forgiveness – vv. 40-43

  • Money lender and debtors
  • Cancellation of debt. 500 and 50
  • Who will love more?

A contrast of two hearts – vv. 44 – 47

  • The comparison. Two hearts

The salvation proclamation – vv. 48-49

  • YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN

    When we understand the seriousness of our sin, we see Jesus Christ in a much different way

  • Savior
  • Lord

Therefore, we must get the Gospel right.

The Gospel

God is the sovereign creator and worthy of all praise.

  • His greatness, goodness, and glory.
  • He is holy, righteous, loving, and just.
  • Gen. 1:1-“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
  • Rev. 4:8-“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”
  • Rev. 4:11 –“Worthy are You , our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they exist and were created.”
  • Matt. 4:10 – “You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only you shall serve.”
  • Matt. 22:37-“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.”

Man is separated from God because of our sin

  • Man is separated from God.
  • He is holy and we are sinful. (Adam and Eve.  The fall.)
  • Rom. 3:23-“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
  • Rom. 6:23-“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
  • Eph. 2:1 –“You were dead in your trespasses and sin.”

Christ’s redemptive work

  • His life, death, burial, and resurrection is God’s only provision for the forgiveness of our sin. Jesus died the death that we deserved for our sin. The righteous died for the unrighteous.
  • John 3:16-“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
  • Rom. 5:8-“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
  • Eph. 2:8-9 “For by GRACE you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” 

Our Response

  • We must respond to this good news!
  • We must repent of our sin, place our faith and trust in Christ, and give our life over to Him.
  • Believe on, Come to, Trust in, Follow after, Live for
  • John 14:6-“I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
  • John 1:12-“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.”
  • 1 John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”