Looking Deep Within: Saved Sinners Will Save the Lost

Looking Within: Reflecting on our Past

Before we get to the primary word, I would like to read a few scriptures as a backdrop for what we will talk about this morning. Starting in Deuteronomy, in the 24th Chapter we will be covering verse 16:

King James Version Chapter 24

16 The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin.

Also, I would like to read in the Gospel recorded by Matthew; in that 12th Chapter, we will start reading at verse 36:

King James Version Chapter 12

36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

I just want to talk to you from the subject of looking within yourself. While we are living and marrying, sending children off to College, retiring and living life. I encourage you to remember there is more to life than what we see everyday.

We have been saved and fit for the kingdom upon our confession of faith and the belief of our hearts. Yet and still we have been left here on earth to accomplish God’s will. We are here to win a war and the consequences are an eternity in heaven or hell. In all things, we need to look beyond this place… this is not our home.

Truth be told, we are becoming more like the Pharisees and Sadducees. We cling to our own and are busy with daily affairs of creating or being involved in “perfect service”. It’s hard to remember when we too were prisoners of sin.

Instead drawing closer to the great commandment of the Church, the saints hardly ever “go” anywhere ((in terms of going to the world and telling them about a risen savior that can save them from a very real hell)). We go on thinking that we are better than the unsaved. There is nothing new under the sun and prosperity gospel is just a newer spin of focusing on the personal advantages of serving God. There is a condemnation resulting from sinful lives. We are saved to forewarn people from the eventual consequences of sinful behavior without repentance.

King James Version Chapter 3

9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;

When you look at this scripture, I would like to focus on the word better. In the Greek language Prochometha derives from the word Procho (which means to have and advantage). It seems like times haven’t changed much from that day. It seems like there was flaw with the collective priorities of the people. We still have a problems with that today. Sunday morning seems to be the most divided time in America and around the world. We collect ourselves according to race, income status, education and even Church size. Yes, there are some people that won’t step foot in a small Church while other’s won’t go to a large Church. Many won’t attend unless the Pastor has a seminary degree… while others won’t sit under Pastors that have gone to seminary as they think this corrupts their walk with God and their knowledge is flawed due to teachings outside of the Bible. Instead of seeking an impartial God whom is not a respecter of persons, we seek out a God that will give us the advantage over someone else. We gather in our sometimes tightly knit circles and collectively say we are better (er… we have the advantage) because we are saved.

Like Paul said, Jews and Gentiles are both under sin… we all make mistakes… no one will ever be perfect… no one could keep the law prior to Jesus.

There Isn’t Such a Thing as a Righteous Man Outside of Christ

King James Version Chapter 3

10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

This is our key verse for the morning… there is none righteous - not one. We need to realize that our righteousness is as filthy rags in the sight of God. I come to bring you good news that we need to look within ourselves and remember that. Remember you are not perfect, remember that you too have flaws… that you too aren’t perfect. To be even more blunt, remember that you have sinned. Why?

When you do so, you can look straight in the eye of the sinner and not respond in pride (which will push them away from God) and plant seeds to save their soul. We are a collective group of sinners alive through Christ left here to save dying sinners on their way to hell.

King James Version Chapter 3

11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

As we suffer long to save souls, we need to take a step back to remember without the Holy Spirit one can’t really understand God’s will fully. The Jews had their Messiah right in front of them and didn’t know it. Well learned educated men of valor were not able to rightly discern what was right before their eyes. They sought the approval of others such as themselves. They longed to be amongst themselves and hold titles of prestige. All things had to go according to plan. We do so today, if you’re not dressed right, talk right or still struggling with sin; we are the first ones to speak from an open place of rebuke. We need to start speaking from a place of understanding that God can do anything for them that believe. He can do anything but fail. We need to replace their current situation with the answer: Jesus Christ and him crucified for our sins.

We need not be surprised when people fall short of the glory of God; there is none that seeketh after God (correctly without the Holy Spirit), there are times when we have gone the wrong way too. There was a time when we were not profitable for the kingdom of God. There was a time when we too were not saved.

I encourage you to remember those days when you approach the unsaved and babes in Christ. Remember your own personal struggles to overcome sin… but share your story. Share it as often as you can… with anyone that will listen. People need to hear about the power of God behind your ability to come out of the places where the devil had placed us. People overcome their own sin by faith and the testimony of the believers. We teach the word, but share with them the Holy Spirit from God helps them to understand it. Let them know they are never alone. When temptation comes, they will often be alone or alone with a crowd of unbelievers with a choice to make. They need the know God is always there and will never leave or forsake us. We need to equip people to fight their personal battle of whatever sin they have no matter if it is at home, on the job, or even at Church.

Look at it this way… fornication happens usually in a bedroom, adultery happens in a bedroom… drug use normally happens at a residence. You buy alcohol from the liquor store, marijuana from the weed store. Need I go on? People need to have the Holy Spirit with them there… In that moment, in that time when a decision is made. They need God there (not us). When a person knows you story and we are accessible, they might not only remember your testimony… they might even give you a call to ask for a prayer.

Setting Boundaries - Working with the Lost

King James Version Chapter 3

13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:

14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:

15 Their feet are swift to shed blood:

16 Destruction and misery are in their ways:

There is another side to looking in and remembering that old man. We need to recall how unstable we were while we were unsaved. This helps us to create natural boundaries. Truth be told, sinners are still out there… they will run schemes to defraud the Church. They will still lie… they are still bitter… they are still violent... They are still leading a life that leads toward eternal damnation and death. If provoked, they will raise hands to avenge themselves. Carefully placed words from God will work wonders. We plant seeds and let God give the increase and fall back in our natural boundaries set by God. What are those natural boundaries.

King James Version Psalm 1

Ps 1:1 Blessed is the man

That walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly,

Nor standeth in the way of sinners,

Nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

To be that blessed man, we realize the goal is to win people to God… we don’t take counsel from ungodly people. We don’t go to the places were ungodly people love to hang out. Key word here is counsel… we are trying to give proper counsel and guidance from God to His creation. Accepting wordly counsel defeats the purpose of God. This allows the unsaved to take the role we are supposed to have = Spiritual Adviser. We are a royal priesthood (aka: Spiritual Adviser), created in Christ Jesus to do spiritual works. When we do this, we chip away at the first natural boundary God has given us as believers.

The second thing we need to do is not stand in the way of sinners. The last thing we should want as children of God is to be remembered for condemning people from their sin. We are a walking/talking window to God and heaven for the unsaved… while that is an unfair position to be in, we are placed there by those that don’t believe. Just like a window, we have to keep it clean… people need to see clearly through that window… and when the advice is right. They will want to knock on the door to find out more about Jesus.

True Righteousness is Found Through Christ

We do these things while knowing:

20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

It is impossible for us to keep the law… mankind alone simply can’t do it and reaffirming if we try to showcase our brand of righteous alone to save souls - it will fail.

King James Version Chapter 3

22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

There is only one man that has walked the face of the Earth without a blemish. This is the track record people need to see… this is the story should hear first. Why? We will still come short of the glory of God… there will be times we make mistakes. People need to hear that he walked down here and suffered the same temptations in the flesh we did and He conquered them all.

Our personal good doesn’t amount to a hill of beans… the world sits and waits for us to fall. This is a great short fall of the Church. The Church should have taught the world to follow us as we follow Christ. We still have time to tell the story that the foundation must be placed on a rock… not on sand… the tide can wash away the sand. Not on soil, because soil can sink… but on Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.

All other ground is sinking sand!!

When we realize that no matter if we are black, asian, white, mexican, indian or any other race… there really is no difference with God.

The Earth is the Lord’s the fullness there of and all of them that dwell therein… God love each and every single one of us. While He hates the sin, He still does love us. What good does it do us if we don’t clean the window of our lives to show a dying world that we serve a living savior?

Where would be if someone didn’t live the life and walk uprightly before us?

We need to look deep within ourselves and remember where we came from. Saved sinners will save the rescue the lost.

Closing comments

Jesus came down to Earth and lived among us for 33 1/2 years. Walked and talked to us and the Word says in Mark 15:37-39:

37 And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.

38 And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.

39 And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.

Because of this we now can go directly to God in prayer. We don’t need sacrifices of Bulls and Goats for our sins and a high Priest to enter into the Holy of Holies for us.

King James Version Chapter 3

24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., ). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

It is by the faith is His blood to declare not our - but His righteousness. That is what makes us good. That is why God forbears us. This is how we are justified and the sole purpose of Christian justification. It is the outright belief in Jesus.

King James Version Chapter 3

27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

It is not that we are lifted up to boast about us… we have not power. It’s not about how perfectly we have walked according to the law. Not even about works: now works with faith will die, we are talking about conversion here. Getting people in the door. People should study to show themselves approved… there should be a work that shows you love Him.

When you do these things… you won’t fail.

That’s all I have for you today....

The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., ). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.