Come & See (2 of 4)

Service Notes

Review of India’s Independence Day

Tonight we will have a time of prayer with Erik & Rebekah Elrod

Mark you calendar for September 7-10th / Family Dinner / International

Time of Prayer with Lydia Littlefield

Bible Reading

Focus on two aspects of the story.

The power of the Gospel in the message Andrew shares.

The response-ability of Simon

Result will be us rejoicing in the power of the Gospel

John 1:35–42 (KJV)

35 Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;

36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!

37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.

38 Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?

39 He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.

40 One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.

41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.

42 And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.

Sermon Intro

How many of you have siblings? How many of you have siblings here? Family church. How many have a sibling here and your name is Andrew?

Review of the story with Andrew and Josh in the story.

Freeze Frame with Andrew headed to Josh.

Want to look at what would motivate this brother to go find his brother.

Could you imagine Andrew just going to his seat?

The gospel doesn’t just make converts — it saves those converts.

What happened to Andrew? He was saved.

Common term: Are you a Christian? (Once in the Bible - little Christ)

Distinction made: Are you born again?

Theological Accurate: Are you in Christ? (400+ references)

Jesus revolution: Are you a follower of the Way? Are you saved?

Verb Form: Are you saved? (Through the years I have heard many people answer this question about being saved from physical harm) Eph 2:8-9 “8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

The Word made him unto Salvation

What happened to Andrew? He encountered the Word

We are born of God and converted by means of hearing the powerful word of God, the gospel. 1 Peter 1:23-25 “23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.”

In a culture increasingly interested in therapy over theology, the Bible alone is able to make us wise for salvation.

Over a period of time our society has slowly exited the moral world and it now lives … in a psychological world. The difference is that in one [world] there is right and wrong and in the other there is not. In the other world, we[’re] [either] comfortable or not, psychologically healthy or not, dysfunctional or not, but we are never sinners. - David Wells

The Bible says that we are. Thank God for that message.

2 Timothy 3:15 “15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

Transition: Andrew before you go to your brother. Let’s have a quick conference on the evangelism. Lets call it the Romans 1:16 Conference. We will follow the divisions made by the word FOR / used as because.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ

Romans 1:16-17 “16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”

Paul was not saying this in an evangelistic crusade, he was saying this to fellow believers.

Paul recognizes that if the people are going to take the gospel to Rome, they’d better be clear about what the gospel is.

We do a good job of evaluating and knowing the problem with this word. Romans 1:18 “18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;”

Jesus saves. That’s why he’s called the Savior. The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation!

Paul and the Gospel

Paul knew he was commissioned. Romans 1:1 “1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,”

Paul knew he was obligated to carry the Gospel. Romans 1:14 “14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.”

Paul was eager to preach the Gospel. Romans 1:15 “15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.”

Paul was not eager because of his ability or the ease of his audience.

You don’t have to tell somebody not to be ashamed unless their temptation is to be ashamed.

Paul did not have great orator skills. His words were not enticing.

To the Jewish audience the Gospel was a stumbling block. To the gentiles it was foolishness.

According to tradition Paul was not much to look at.

A friendly conversation about the most controversial topic it all of the world”

He was eager to share the Gospel because he knew “it was the power of God unto salvation.”

Paul will challenge Timothy to not be ashamed. 2 Timothy 1:8 “8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;”

I expect many of us in here know we have been commissioned to preach the Gospel. You might even feel the obligation. Put our view of the power of the Gospel will determine our eagerness to share it!

For it is the power of God unto salvation

If left to ourselves we can’t repent and believe.

We are born with a natural desire for rebellion, self-interest, and disobedience. Romans 7:18 “18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.”

Even with the knowledge of God’s existence everywhere, people naturally choose to suppress the truth. Romans 1:18-20

We couldn’t think our way through to it. No matter how smart or clever you may think you are. Without God revealing this truth to you. You will never know it. 1 Cor 1:21 “21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by [Lets read this together] the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.”

The salvation provided in the gospel is the need of every single person in the entire world.

We affirm the biblical doctrine of human depravity

No one can seek God on our own. Romans 3

No one can fulfill the Law’s demands. Roman 8

All are spiritually dead in sin. Ephesians 2

As a creature the natural man is responsible to love, obey, and serve God; as a sinner he is responsible to repent and believe the Gospel. But at the outset we are confronted with the fact that the natural man is unable to love and serve God, and that the sinner, of himself, cannot repent and believe (Pink, Sovereignty of God, 187).

Great news! We have not be left to ourselves.

Last week I went to the ENT. He told me own its own my ear would not heal. I assured him I was not on my own. / Emphasis here is not (1) request for prayer which I would appreciate (2) or my belief that God can heal to ear (3) nor to express to you my trust in God if He chooses to no heal my ear — it is to point out how we do not view ourselves as ALONE in this world

God sought Adam and Eve as they hid in the Garden Genesis 3:9

God has been seeking His lost loved ones ever since. Luke 19:10 “10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

God sent Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and we have the inspired Gospel.

It is TRUE that no one can seek God on our own

That does not mean we cannot respond willingly to a God who is actively seeking us by the POWERFUL Holy Spirit inspired Gospel!

Though I cannot call the President that does not mean I am not able to answer the phone if he were to call. - Leighton Flowers

We all agree that no one can fulfill the demands of the Law outside of Christ

However we can admit that fact and place their faith in the One who fulfilled the Law in our place?

We all agree that we were all once dead in our sins and trespasses but have been raised to walk in newness of life.

But should also agree that the Prodigal repented and was able to come home!

We were dead and now alive. Luke 15:24 “24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.”

Deadness is LOSTNESS, not a lack of moral ability to respond to God’s appeals to be reconciled.

Transitional Statement: This matters to me. This matters to us. Not because it is a theological argument to win, but it is a truth about the power of the Gospel we need to rejoice in.

For therein is the righteousness of God revealed

Romans 1:17 “17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”

Progression: Not ashamed, it is the power of God, how the righteousness of God is revealed.

What does that mean? It means that God saves through the message of the gospel as it is proclaimed.

Paul knew this on a personal level.

Phil 3:6-9 “6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:”

The righteousness which is of God by faith

Where does faith come? Romans 10:17 “17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

How will be people hear? Romans 10:14 “14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?”

No longer now under the wrath of God. Now under the righteousness that has been provided.

Do you know this on a personal level?

To God be the Glory

O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood, To every believer the promise of God; The vilest offender who truly believes, That moment from Jesus a pardon receives

If you know this personally than you should take the Great Commission personal.

Paul knew this was the message all needed

The salvation provided in the gospel is the need of everybody in the entire world.

We share this message for the sake of of mankind. Romans 1:5 “5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:”

Understand why we prayed over the Littlefield’s second daughter as she heads to Asia this week.

You will never know why we emphasize teaching God’s Word to children

You will never know why we as a church give nearly $200,000 a year and we are asking for more this missions conference

Andrew it is time to come and share the good news with your brother!

Brother - I have good news!

This story has been repeated time and time and time again throughout history.

Titus 3:3-5 “3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;”

Before we close.

We have looked at the power of the Gospel. Let me remind you of the purpose.

Is the purpose of the gospel to inform the elect they were chosen? No, that is not what the Bible describes.

Is the purpose of the gospel, to make an offer you can’t refuse? No, that is contrary to all the verses that call on us to respond.

Is the purpose what what John 20:31 explicitly states: John 20:31 “31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”

The purpose is clear. God sent the gospel to make an appeal to those who are lost.

Today we make an appeal to you. We pray you see the kindness and the love of God.

When we were without hope.

When we deserved hell because of our rebellion

When we could not come to God in our our wisdom

When our works were considered filthy rags in his site

He sent His son.

The kindness. The love. This is good news. This is worth sharing

Closing

Let me tell you about some resources

Tonight we will walk through this marked New Testament / the Invitation

Book called Done is great booklet to help people thinking Biblical about the Gospel

Let me encourage you to take one more red Gospel invitation card with you this week