Gospel Meeting 16/06/2019

Luke’s Gospel ch18 vs15 – 27,

                         ch19 vs8 – 10

In these scriptures we find two of the great Gospel truths:

a)      vs17 – if we are to enter The Lord’s kingdom, we come with the spirit of a child… pure, simple, obedient, and having a childlike faith and trust.

b)      vs10 – “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost”

The Lord Jesus Christ is the only Saviour of sinners to whosoever will accept Him.

At the heart of Jesus Christ’s Gospel is The Cross.

It is the most important event in the entire history of the human race.

Whilst there are many other very important events, they are all related to a time or generation. However, Calvary’s Cross is about eternity, and our personal response to it decides where we will each spend eternity – Heaven or Hell. There is no third option.

There at Calvary, the sinless, perfect Man, God’s eternal Son, Jesus Christ, laid down His life for sinners like us.

The speaker then gave four illustrations of the above two great Gospel truths:

1)      “Jesus Christ’s Life, Death and Resurrection” (Luke’s Gospel ch18 vs31 – 33)

Hundreds of detailed prophecies concerning Jesus Christ were all fulfilled exactly as foretold. Without becoming the perfect sacrifice for our sins, He could not be our Saviour. He paid the full price of our sins in His own blood.

“No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father”

-     John’s Gospel ch10 vs18

“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out”

-    John’s Gospel ch6 vs37

 2)      “The Rich Young Ruler (vs18 – 25)

Here was a test case! Would he have the same faith as a little child?

He had status, power, wealth and was a young man. He also had many good morals. He asked a most important and direct question to The Lord Jesus Christ – “what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He did not like Christ’s answer -  to sell all that he had, give it to the poor, and to follow Him.

Sadly, he was committed to self. He would not do it, he loved his money much more than Jesus Christ. He wanted fleeting riches more than the eternal riches Christ was offering him in Heaven! He lacked the simple faith and went away from Jesus very sorrowful…

The Lord then says how hard it is for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. The temptations which can easily beset a rich person are so many and so various. They may be sorry that they cannot serve both, but when one must be quit, it shall be their God and not their worldly gain.

“No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon”

- Luke’s Gospel ch16 vs13

3)      “Blind Bartimaeus” (Marks Gospel ch10 vs46 – 52)

What a contrast! Here was a man that had nothing. A blind beggar. Yet he cries out in simple faith and trust -  “Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me” He recognised that Jesus Christ is indeed The Messiah.

He immediately received forgiveness and sight. Bartimaeus knew his needs and cried out to The Lord.

Dear reader, how about your needs? Can you say tonight “I am a sinner”, “I need a Saviour”? Come to Jesus Christ tonight in simple faith and repentance and be saved for eternity!

Unlike the rich, young ruler, Bartimaeus “followed Jesus in the way”.

4)      “Zacchaeus “ (vs1 – 10)

This man was very well known. He also was rich.  A chief tax collector in Jericho and despised by people for stealing through his work, and for collaborating with the Romans. However, he had good thinking - “he sought to see Jesus who he was”. The Lord had already prepared an appointment with him.

He recognised his sins and repented, wanting to give back all the money he had cheated people of, and with interest. He received Jesus Christ joyfully.

In the case of the rich, young ruler, the people having heard from Christ that it was very hard for the rich to be saved, questioned “who then can be saved?”… Christ’s answer was “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God”.

Here, a very rich man was saved! A great transformation followed.

Zaccheaus showed a simple childlike faith.

Four illustrations, and dear reader, whoever you are, Jesus Christ loves you and is seeking you to come to Him tonight and be saved.

What other way can you be forgiven and enter into His kingdom, than by faith in His blood which has the cleansing power?

“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become the children of God”

-    John’s Gospel ch1 vs12

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast”

- Ephesians ch2 vs8 -9