Today Is the Day of Salvation

Intro: How many times have you heard “I’ll believe in Jesus if…”

Who are some people in the Bible that didn’t believe in Jesus right away?

Matthew 12:38–39 “Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.” But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” “Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.””

What are some reasons people say that they’ll believe in Jesus after?

1. What Is the Purpose of the Mighty Works of Jesus?

What came before the word “then?”

Rebuke: to reproach someone for something, to show disapproval of actions

What are the might works of Jesus? Matthew 11:5 “The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them.”

Why did Jesus rebuke the cities? Because they did not repent

What is the purpose of the mighty works of Jesus?

To prove that Jesus is the Messiah Matthew 11:1-6

To bring people to faith in Jesus

2. What is the Danger of Not Believing in the Mighty Works of Jesus?

Woe: Woe to you” is not a grim call for vengeance, but an expression of regret it combines warning and compassion. Jesus is sad about the fate the city has brought down upon itself.

Jesus is grieved by sin. He is holy and just, but He is also loving and full of mercy and grace.

What was the relationship of God with Israel in the OT?

A compassionate Father. He warned them to repent, but also told them what would happen due to rebellion.

What do we know about Bethsaida? John 1:44, Mark 8:22-26, Luke 9:10-17

John 1:44 “Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.”

Mark 8:22-26 - Jesus gave sight to a blind man

Luke 9:10-17 - feeding of the 5,000

Jesus compares these cities to Tyre and Sidon

What do we know about Tyre and Sidon? Ezekiel 26, 28:20-24

Ezekiel 26 - READ

Ezekiel 28:20-24 - READ

They were the enemies of Israel

Where do we see a city that was in sackloth and ashes? Jonah 3:6–8 “Then word came to the king of Nineveh; and he arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes. And he caused it to be proclaimed and published throughout Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; do not let them eat, or drink water. But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God; yes, let every one turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands.”

How will it be more tolerable? What is a passage that provides commentary on this?

Romans 2:1-16 - READ

Where else can we see the day of Judgement? Matthew 10:15, 2 Peter 2:9, 1 John 4:17, Jude 6, Revelation 14:6-7

Matthew 10:15 “Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!”

2 Peter 2:9 “then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,”

1 John 4:17 “Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.”

Jude 6 “And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day;”

Revelation 14:6–7 “Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people—saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.””

V. 23 - It is mostly translated as a question.

What does Jesus mean by being exalted to heaven? Some commentaries say that it meant that Capernaum was proud and lifted themselves up to the highest place possible, heaven.

Hades: The lowest place possible

Sodom: Wickedness - It was more wicked than Tyre and Sidon

Matthew 10:15 “Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!”

What difference is seen between verses 21 and 23? Repented vs. Remained

1 John 2:15–17 “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”

3. What is the Result of Believing in the Mighty Works of Jesus?

Repentance: In a religious sense implying pious sorrow for unbelief and sin and a turning from them unto God and the gospel of Christ.

This leads us back to the very beginning of Jesus’ ministry

Matthew 4:17 “From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.””

We will end with a story that demonstrates repentance

Luke 15:11-32

Finally, Hebrews 4 picks up on this idea from Psalm 95:7–8 “For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture, And the sheep of His hand. Today, if you will hear His voice: “Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion, As in the day of trial in the wilderness,”

Today is the day of salvation.