Salvation and Parables

Introduction

One of the most interesting conversations I've gotten to have in the ministry is the conversation, "do you know how many times I've told him that and then he comes to me and said "Pastor Dave said this and It now makes sense!" It was usually with happy though a little frustrated parents or spouse who has said this to me! Maybe you can remember the day your realized you didn't anything about anything. That's the day you begin to "grow up." The Old Joke:

Teenagers Tired of being harassed by your parents? Act Now! Move out, get a job, pay your way, while you still know everything!

The sad thing is that I've met many legal adults who still act the same way, and I'm willing to bet you have also! I met with a person with a drinking problem and the answer was simple, you need to quit drinking do as the Bible says cut it out throw it away. I got an I know pastor you're right. That person never quit drinking and over time that person stopped showing up.

Some information needs to be found by yourself, sometimes you need that moment of realization that you yourself have to go through.

THE BIG IDEA: The Kingdom of God comes from hearing.

Jesus shares about the Kingdom of God in parables:

Jesus teaches this by use of a parable, Some info on parables:

An understanding of parables is essential if one is to understand the teaching of Jesus, since the parables make up approximately 35 percent of his recorded sayings.

Elwell, Walter A., and Philip Wesley Comfort. 2001. In Tyndale Bible Dictionary, 988. Tyndale Reference Library. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

The Reason Jesus Taught in Parables

There is little doubt that Jesus taught in parables because they are both interesting and compelling and therefore are one of the most effective means of communicating. When one reads Mark 4:10–12, however, it seems that Jesus taught in parables in order to keep people from understanding so that they would not turn and be forgiven. It seems as well that there is a mystery that is given to the in group and that the out group is prohibited from learning. Herein is the meaning of the term “mystery.” Rather than being that which is not known or understood, as the word is used today, the biblical use of this word is usually for that which has been revealed by God and would not have been known had God not revealed it. The content of the mystery is not explained here, but from Jesus’ teaching on the kingdom elsewhere, it probably refers to the fact that the kingdom is present in Jesus’ own words and actions.

The other factor crucial for understanding this passage is that the word “parable” in biblical usage has a broad meaning referring to any striking speech or dark saying intended to stimulate thought. Jesus did not spoon-feed his hearers; rather, he taught in such a way as to bring about a response, and where there was a response, he gave additional teaching. Consequently, it is not merely that parables are interesting, poetic, and arresting (as important as those characteristics are). In addition, parables stimulate thought and bring about response—if hardness of heart does not prevent it. It is as if Jesus were saying, “If you cannot hear what I am saying, I will reveal my thought in parables.” Where there is response to this initial teaching, additional information is given.

Elwell, Walter A., and Philip Wesley Comfort. 2001. In Tyndale Bible Dictionary, 990. Tyndale Reference Library. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

So Jesus's preaching and teaching style was using readily accessible things to tell major truths. This method of teaching was prominent throughout western and Hebraic culture for millennia and was used until about the 1800's as a major teaching technique. Why because is allowed the learner to discover the truth for themselves, it was like the spouse getting for the first time, this drink is killing me and my family. I am a lover of Church and American history and as you study the reformation and the medieval era and into antiquity you would see that they would teach how to learn, not data points. I would argue that it's our need for data points and not revelation of God that has hindered the proclamation of the gospel. We must preach the word!

The reception of this parable:

So looking at this text we see Jesus was teaching many things before he gets to the sowing of the seed. (v1-2)

Mark doesn't record what he taught, but it was most likely along the lines of his other teachings or revealing of who he truly is like he did with the pharisee.

He then shift gears to the sowing parable (v2.)

Any Jewish of Greco-Roman audience would have been familiar with a parable lesson. That is how many things were taught at that time.

Any good farmer or gardener when hearing how the Sower sowed would be able to tell you, that's not how you do that! Now they didn't have major sowing tech that we have but they did have paths that farmers would walk down and then they would sow the seed making sure it got into the ground. His audience would have been mostly people who were in farming, almost everyone was in the 1st centaury.

He finishes his teaching with:

Mark 4:9 “9 And he said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.””

We don't know how the wider audience responded.

The Disciples Response:

Most of these men were believers in Jesus' and so they sought more about this teaching

Mark 4:10–11 (NKJV)

10 But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable. 11 And He said to them, “To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables,

This is what a believer does when they hear the truths of the kingdom of God.

How an Unbeliever reacts:

Jesus quotes Isaiah 6:9, 10 here

Mark 4:12 (ESV)

12 so that“ ‘they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven.’ ”

The truths of Christ are hidden from the unbeliever, if you don't believe this will not make any sense to you, and that is because you are spiritually dead. For your to understand what Jesus is doing you must believe in him or this is just another teaching.

(Give the gospel)

If you believe in that today you are a disciple of Christ, you are as we spoke about last weekend a member of God's family.

Repeating the Big Idea: The Kingdom of God comes from hearing.

Response to hearing the word:

You can understand the word of God (v11)

Christian only you can understand the oracles of God. The Holy Spirit is given to you, you're able to perceive the meaning of the word of God. Let me demonstrate, Paul said this:

Ephesians 1:3–14 (ESV)

Spiritual Blessings in Christ

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

Because you have heard the word of God

He blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places (v3)

Your chosen by God (v4)

Your blameless and holy (v4)

By love of God your now his son (v4-5)

You are given purpose (5)

We are blessed in the Beloved, Jesus (v6)

Your Redeemed, forgiven by the blood (v7)

Done by the sacrifice of his son, by his grace and lavish upon us! He makes himself known to us, it is God that makes you aware of him (v8-9)

He is redeeming all things to himself (v10)

Not universalism We gain the inheritance of God because we are his children (v11)

We have the hope of Christ, which is eternal (v12) - (Use the sick kids as how that is the hope God gave)

You can understand the word and the gospel (v13)

You're sealed by the Holy Spirit (13)

We will gain all this possession at a point in history (v14)

All for God's glory! (v15)

As a Christian you understand and marvel at what God is doing here, it may make your heart spring, "I am his your heart says," your soul burns knowing it has been redeemed, and your mind ponders what the grand things of God are for you and your family, all because you are able to hear about the kingdom of God as proclaimed by Christ.

You bear fruit, because it is a work of God,

Because you hear and receive the word of God you produce fruit.

Puritan Thomas Adams said this:"Divine Knowledge makes us understand the gospel, but it is divine grace which makes us live according to the gospel." Ore From the Puritans Mine pg. 208

When the good seed fell onto the soil of your soul

"20 But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.”"

You couldn't help but produce good works for all mankind. Jesus repeatedly says that you will make good works. Are you worried about your family, our nation that's why God has promised us fruit. If you're a believer you will produce fruit and that fruit will be used of God to change the nations. Your faithfulness will build lasting legacies for Christ. Let me tell you a quick story of Fruit:

I saw a video of a pastor Dale Partridge, he wrote the manliness of Christ we have on our book table out in the foyer, who went to his town council meeting and preached against an all ages drag show, and compelled them to withdraw the approval for such a satanic sexual exposure to Children. That is an excellent testimony to Jesus. He is being like Christ and loving the little ones.

Maybe hearing that you feel uncomfortable, I would say maybe God is calling you to some good works! What legacy are you building for Christ? Will your families see the legacy you've built for him, for them based on your fruit? Some of you are gifted with talents, musical, artistic, legal, mechanical, political, botanical, organizational, positional, finical image the good you can do for God's kingdom the legacy for Christ you will build and pass on to your family, our church, our nation. Think of the stories your Children and grandchildren will say?

Look at this example of fruit bearing as a result of hearing about the Kingdom of God from Joshua

Joshua 24:1–2 (NKJV) The Covenant at Shechem

24 Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem and called for the elders of Israel, for their heads, for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God. 2 And Joshua said to all the people, “Thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘Your fathers, including Terah, the father of Abraham and the father of Nahor, dwelt on the other side of the River in old times; and they served other gods.

He goes on to describe the events of the exodus and the time in the wilderness

Joshua 24:14–15 (NKJV)

14 “Now therefore, fear the LORD, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD! 15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

Joshua tells the people that he and his family will serve the Lord, and it was his believing and living our the kingdom of God that lead to this:

Joshua 24:24 (NKJV)

24 And the people said to Joshua, “The LORD our God we will serve, and His voice we will obey!”

His witness impacted all of Israel, when you become a Christian and bear fruit this will happen.

Joshua 24:31 (NKJV)

31 Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had known all the works of the LORD which He had done for Israel.

Your fruit will outlast you because you heard the word of the Lord. It will be a legacy like Joshua's. If you've heard the Kingdom of the Lord what are you doing to build up it's legacy by your fruit?

You sow the word of God

Finally You sow the word yourself if you've heard the word that the sower has sowed.

Matthew 28:18–20 ESV

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

For the Kingdom Of God to happen in a person’s life they must hear about Jesus