09/25/2022 - Part 1 - The Gospel: God’s Only Path to Salvation

Grace Place Atlanta COGBF 4700 Mitchell Street Forest Park, GA 30297 Website: atlantacogbf.org Email: info@atlantacogbf.org Phone: (404) 241-6781 Wayne D. Mack, Pastor / Pastor Wayne D. Mack Sermon Notes September 25, 2022 The Gospel: God’s Only Path to Salvation Part 1 Luke 16: 19-31 NKJV 19 “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. 20 But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, 21 desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. 26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’ 1 27 “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, 28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ 29 Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ ” Romans 1: 16 & 17 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” Read Luke 16: 19-31 NKJV The Rich Man and Lazarus This story is not about being rich or poor, but rather about God illustrating, yet again, His one and only method by which He draws mankind to Himself and saves them. The Bible is replete with parables, object lessons, life stories, and real life experiences where God uses His one method to draw men unto Him! Titus 2:11&12 . . .says . . . 11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 2 Why is this message so critical? Because, for many generations, and among a multitude of cultures and religions, people have gone about to concoct and carve out their own path to God and salvation. But sovereign God has chosen to employ/enact just one method to reach man and draw them to Himself. He will not compromise it. It’s non-negotiable. That method is the Gospel. What is the Gospel? It is the power of God to salvation! That is, it tells how God by His power saves everyone who believes on His Son. This power is extended equally to Jews and Gentiles. The Apostle Paul said in Romans 1: 16 & 17 . . . 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” The Gospel is not my personal rendition or version of salvation. It’s not any preacher’s private viewpoint, or any denomination’s exclusive interpretation. It is God’s prescribed way of divinely speaking to the heart of man regarding his lostness and Christ’s deliverance through His death, burial and resurrection. It is the power of God that brings salvation (which means deliverance) The Gospel power delivers sinners from the penalty and power of sin. If a man or woman are to be saved, it must be through faith in Jesus Christ as proclaimed in the Gospel. 3 The Gospel is the only remedy, the only medicine, the only fix God has rendered that breaks the curse. It breaks the fever. Look at this “figure of speech” FEVER in Romans 1:18 & 19, 24-32 that only the extra-strength power of the Gospel can break. Anyone ever had a fever and sweats that just would not GO? But when it finally broke, it was undeniable. 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 24 Therefore God also gave them up (a judicial term used for handing over a prisoner to his sentence; in this case) to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. [Such were some of us; but this is the extreme where sinners refuse to hear and believe the compelling remedy of GOSPEL] 26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind [corrupted and contaminated mind; possessing too much impurity], to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all 4 unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. This is a very real picture of how every man and woman looks prior to hearing and believing the GOSPEL. God wants all of humankind to know that the only power that can deliver fallen man from his state of sin sickness is the extra-strength power of the GOSPEL. There is no other remedy under heaven that God has approved to free man. • • • • • • Just going to church won’t do it. Just reading your Bible won’t do it. (a great start) Just keeping the 10 Commandments won’t do it. Following a strict religious group won’t do it. Being baptized won’t do it. Singing in the choir or working in the church, or feeding the hungry or clothing the naked, or visiting the shut-ins won’t do it. It will take the power of the Gospel alone to bring salvation and deliverance to sin drenched man. In our lesson text, found in Luke, Chapter 16: 19-31, we have the rich man and Lazarus which inspired this message. Today’s title is: The Gospel: God’s Only Path to Salvation. [The Gospel is, What Gossip A’int]. 5 19 “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. 20 But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, 21 desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. 26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’ 27 “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, 28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ 29 Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ ” 6 As stated at the beginning of this message, people want to avoid hell, but only on their own terms. 26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’ [Also,] Did you know that according to this passage, it is implied that people in hell will want to help those relatives back home who have yet to die [to not come to dreadful hell? So, they would want to warn them. Listen to Verses 27 & 28 says . . . 27 “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, 28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ What does this say to you in addition to the desire to warn those who are still living the life? It says: Hell is Real. Let me build on this point. Let’s say, hypothetically, that Lazarus or anyone from the dead could return to warn those who are still among the living .. . What could they say to convince those still living on earth to “Get Saved?” Give their life to Christ? The answer would be a Big NOTHING! There’s nothing Lazarus or the rich man, or no person could say that isn’t already being said to convince a person to believe God’s message of hope and deliverance. Oh yes, may people say, “if someone came from the dead and said Jesus is 7 Real, and Heaven is Real, and Hell is Real – they would give their life to Christ. They would get Saved. NOT! Why? Because that’s not God’s plan for reaching the heart of man. God knows that that approach would come short of bringing men and women to salvation! Why? Because it leaves Christ out and plays to their fears. And more tragically, it never addresses their clear and complete need to be forgiven of their sins and be made right with God through the shed blood of Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death on the Cross. The Gospel: God’s Only Path to Salvation END Sunday 9/25/2022 8