The Final Plea
Notes
Transcript
V.6:
He we see one last presentation of the Gospel, before the gavel of judgment falls.
This is the last moment to repent and believe before God’s wrath is poured out.
This timeless, eternal message goes out to all people, just as it always has.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ, since the beginning of time, has always had all of humanity in view.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ, since the beginning of time, has always had all of humanity in view.
Hence these famous “whosoever” proclamations.
John 3:16
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.
Romans 10:13
Romans 10:13
For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
And now, the plea will be made one last time.
V.7:
We see here the three main elements of the Gospel that the angel is preachIng.
Conviction
Conversion
Consecration
1) Fear God:
This is conviction!
At this point, there will be plenty of fear in the world, but it will be misplaced.
People will fear each other, they will fear the antichrist, but they won't fear God.
The Bible says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
The Bible says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
Proverbs 9:10
Proverbs 9:10
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Since people's fears will be misplaced, their values will be misplaced also.
They won't have Godly wisdom or understanding.
We aren't told to fear Satan or the Antichrist, we aren't told to fear each other, we are told to fear God!
We aren't told to fear Satan or the Antichrist, we aren't told to fear each other, we are told to fear God!
Matthew 10:28
Matthew 10:28
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Our world today suffers from a severe lack of a fear of God.
If you do not fear God, then you do not truly acknowledge His supreme and absolute authority over you.
The conviction of the Holy Spirit brings a fear of God, which will typically lead one to salvation.
That's when number 2 kicks in.
2) Give God Glory:
This is the conversion.
The saved will always glorify God, while the unsaved will not.
The saved will always glorify God, while the unsaved will not.
1 Corinthians 6:20
1 Corinthians 6:20
For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
Romans 1:21
Romans 1:21
because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
When we glorify God, it brings us to number 3.
3) Worship Him:
This is the consecration (to declare something to be sacred).
When we worship God, we are recognizing His holiness and sacredness.
Worship is the overflow of a heart filled with fear, awe, love and praise for God.
Worship is the pouring out of your soul as an offering.
Worship is the pouring out of your soul as an offering.
You will truly be able to say:
Revelation 4:11
Revelation 4:11
“You are worthy, O Lord,
To receive glory and honor and power;
For You created all things,
And by Your will they exist and were created.”
Notice that in this last presentation of the Gospel, God is identified as the Creator. This is important for two reasons:
Being the Creator establishes ownership. That means God is in charge, God is in control, and God makes the rules. This means that He has complete ability and authority to judge.
The creation is the great, indisputable proof of God, every other explanation falls short.
This creation is indisputable proof of God.
This creation is indisputable proof of God.
Psalm 19:1
Psalm 19:1
The heavens declare the glory of God;
And the firmament shows His handiwork.
Romans 1:20
Romans 1:20
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,
As such, people are without excuse. The entire universe testifies to the fact that there is a creator.
The orderly and consistent laws of physics
the perfectly designed construction of matter
the perfect balance of elements and living organisms which maintain a habitable ecosystem
the precise distance of the earth from the sun to neither be too cold nor too hot for life to exist
These are all proof of God.
They all proclaim that our existence was ordered and designed by a creator, not the random consequence of a cosmic burp.
It seems far more of a fantasy to believe that all of these things randomly came together by chance, in just the right order, in just the right time, at just the right place to create such a perfectly interdependent system, in which each piece relies on another, or else none of it works.
It is truly a fairy tale to believe that all of that can happen by chance. Thus, the creation is a witness to God, and all who refuse to recognize it are without excuse!
However, if you fear the Creator, your conviction will lead you to recognize the true Glory of the Lord, along your own sinfulness and helplessness.
Calling upon the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation will be the result of the Holy Spirits work of conviction.
This leads to true worship.
May we (the church) continue to make the plea for salvation as long as we have breath.
Every moment should be viewed as the last possible moment to repent and believe, no one is guaranteed a tomorrow.
Every moment should be viewed as the last possible moment to repent and believe, no one is guaranteed a tomorrow.
2 Corinthians 6:2
2 Corinthians 6:2
For He says:
“In an acceptable time I have heard you,
And in the day of salvation I have helped you.”
Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.