Before the Fire Falls

“Before the Fire Falls”

.

In these verses Jesus tells us that the fire of God’s judgment is going to fall! There will be a reckoning day. Every man will stand before God and give an account for what he is done with Jesus Christ.

When do you get ready for that day?

Today is the day to get ready for Judgment day!

You don’t wait until your 65 and say, I better start saving for retirement.

You don’t wait to the day your son graduates from high school to say, I better start saving to send him to college.

Those decisions have to be made in advance.

There is a Day of Judgment coming so…you can’t wait until that day to get ready! When that day comes he would be too late.

Peter was standing there when Jesus told about the coming judgment; and he wrote about it in 2 Peter.

,-“The heavens and the earth, are, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment

The earth also and the works that are in it will be burned up”.

Peter tells us there is going to be a judgment, and the earth will be burned with fire, purified and made new, free from the disease of sin and the dominion of evil.

Having told us about the fire of judgment that will fall, Jesus gives us four steps to take, before the fire falls”

Step #1:

1. Accept Jesus Payment for Your Sin.

V:49-50.

Jesus connects his future coming in judgment to send fire, with his present work to suffer and die for sinners. Jesus said,

V:49-“I am come…

Jesus came to bring judgment on sin; he looks to the future when sin will be judged by the fire of God’s wrath. Jesus says I wish that the fire of God’s wrath was already burning. Jesus mourns the fact that evil continues to exist in this world. The Lord Jesus could eliminate all pain, suffering, disasters, disease, and death. But that would mean the end of us too, so God in his grace holds back the fire of his wrath from fall.

The image of fire in the Bible most frequently refers to God’s judgment. John the Baptist said that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Ghost and with fire.

-“Our God is a consuming fire”.

Jesus came to earth to demonstrate the fire of God’s judgment on sin, at the same time satisfy the judgment of God on sin.

V:50-Read.

Jesus says before the fire of God’s judgment falls on and the earth; I have something that I must experience. And he used the image of baptism to describe it. Obviously he’s not talking about water baptism, he had already been baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. Jesus is speaking about his baptism into death by crucifixion; on the cross Jesus would experience the fire of God’s wrath on sin! Jesus said I am constrained, anticipating, consumed with this, until it is accomplished. Jesus was consumed with, focused on why he came in this world, to go to the cross and experienced the fire of God’s judgment on sin! And on the cross Jesus declared it is finished! The work of redemption had been accomplished, our sin has been atoned for, Satan had been rendered powerless, the wrath of God had been appeased, and access to God had been provided through the death of Jesus Christ on the cross!

Jesus understood why he came to this world. Fire, and baptism, judgment on sin.

Jesus knew he was headed to the cross to experience the fire of God’s judgment, but he did not turn back. He set his face with determination to go to Jerusalem and be baptized into death and suffering on the cross. And Jesus was not satisfied until it was accomplished.

Think about it Jesus said, I am come to go to the cross and suffer for your sins and I will not rest until the job is done. That was a driving ambition of his life and ministry. With his heart set on accomplishing the great work of our salvation, he pressed relentlessly toward the baptism of the cross. Apart from his death and across we can never be saved.

The story is told about a father and son who were caught in a prairie fire. The father told the son we must run and get around the wall of fire and get behind the fire. The son asked his father, why are we running toward the fire, to get behind the fire? And the father answered, the fire cannot burn, where the fire has already been.

The fire of God’s wrath has already burned at the cross, if you want to escape the wrath of God, run to the cross!

Jesus bore the wrath of God on the cross, so you will never have to! Now Jesus invites you to accept the payment that he made for you on the cross.

Jesus took the fire of God’s judgment for you and me, and the world.

But for those who refused to accept Jesus payment for their sin, they would experience the wrath of God themselves.

Your sin will be judged in Jesus Christ, or punished in hell, but it will never be overlooked.

Before the fire of God’s judgment falls, accept Jesus payment for your sin.

There is a second step you must take before the fire of God judgment falls.

Step #2:

2. Expect Division within Your Own Family!

V:51-53.

The division that Jesus and the gospel brings is both for time and for eternity. Jesus says I’ve not come to bring peace on earth, but rather division. When you hear these words you automatically think about what the angel said on the night that Jesus was born.

-“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men”.

And Jesus is called “the Prince of peace” by Isaiah.

Were told in -“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”.

Jesus death on the cross, made possible reconciliation, peace between a Holy God and sinful man. Did Jesus come to give peace to man? Absolutely he did! But the peace that Jesus came to give is personal peace, not world peace.

You can have peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ.

But Jesus brings division in the world we live in. When you trust in Jesus as your Savior, believe the Bible is the word of God, and truth for living, you will find that it brings division. Division between individuals, families, and nations.

The Lord Jesus, the gospel, and the truth of the Bible divides people!

The exclusivity of the gospel divides people into two groups. Those who believe that Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven, and those who do not.

Jim Carrey in an interview on 60 Minutes said:

“I’m a Buddhist, I’m a Muslim, I am a Christian.

I am whatever you want me to be… It all comes down to the same thing”.

Many people prefer to think that God will save everyone in the end, and that no matter what you believe we all are spiritually unified, and many roads lead to heaven.

Even some “so-called Christians” are starting to think this way. One Christian said, “I am personally trusting Jesus Christ as my means of gaining God’s favor, and a permanent place in heaven; but someone else could get to heaven based on living and exemplary life”.

Jesus said something totally different:

-“Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life, and no man gets to the father but by me”.

When you believe what Jesus said, it will bring division! Who Jesus is, and what Jesus said divides people! V:51-53-Read.

When it comes to who Jesus is, you must make a choice; you choose to be with him, or against him; one must take sides.

Jesus says this division reaches even into your family. If you trust Jesus as your Savior, and began to follow him, you must expect division and rejection even from those closest to you.

People who reject Jesus and the Gospel place themselves in opposition to God himself. The division that happens on earth, will happen in eternity when God separates the lost from the saved, the sheep from the goats.

I know what some of you are thinking, you’re thinking, but God is a God of love, grace, mercy; and you are right! But God is not a doting, sentimental God who accepts anyone on any terms. You must remember that God is a God of holiness, justice, and must judge sin. That is what you see on the cross; as God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son… But only those who believe in him will not perish but have everlasting life.

These words are offensive to a pluralistic society; but Jesus said, that he was the savior, the son of God, and the only way to heaven; and you either believe it are not!

And if you believe that Jesus is who he says he is, then you must receive him as your personal savior, and follow him as you’re only Lord!

Because this is true, you will be stirred to share the gospel, because people without Jesus go to a devils hell!

All roads do not lead to God, you are either for Jesus or against Jesus, and this divides people.

There is coming a day of judgment, when the fire will fall; and before that happens we need to understand that preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ will bring division, persecution, hostility, and anger to those who reject the message of the gospel, the truth of the Bible. It was true during the days of Roman persecution, and is true today with attacks on Christians from Muslim extremist and totalitarian governments. In America there is a division, hostility, ridicule toward biblical convictions, and rejection of the gospel.

But nowhere is division more painful than in a family. When someone from a non-Christian family is saved, it often disrupts the family relationships.

There are places in the world where a person’s decision to follow Jesus Christ means they will be cut off from their families.

By the grace of God many of these relationships are restored when other family members come to know Jesus. When you start sharing the gospel with your lost family members, sometimes division and hostility occurs, but you must share the gospel with them. When you stop saying the same things, going the same places, and conviction grips the heart of other family members, division occurs.

Many times there’s less hostility, but there is the underlying burden of knowing that they are not saved. Our first allegiance is to Jesus Christ, and there are times when His claim on our lives brings us into conflict with other people.

If you follow Jesus, and believe the Bible, there will be division, conflict with other people sooner or later. The very existence of division is one proof of Christ foresight, and the truth of Christianity.

Jesus is pressing his listeners to make a decision; choose sides! There’s no middle ground, you’re either for Jesus, or against Jesus.

There is a third step you must take before the fire of God judgment falls.

Step #3:

3. Discern the Signs of the Times.

V:54-57.

The Jews didn’t need NBC weatherman Willard Scott, or any local forecaster to tell them what was coming. Weather forecasting was very simple in those days. A cloud in the West, coming off the Mediterranean Sea, meant a rain shower. Wind blowing up from the south, coming off the desert, meant hot weather. Everybody knew about the weather simply by observing nature.

Jesus said you can discern the weather, but you cannot discern this time. As they watched Jesus go about his teaching and healing, they should have seen what was happening. They should have recognize the spiritual signs that pointed to the fact that Jesus was the Messiah. But they could not see it…they would not see it.

The crowd could predict a storm, but they could not see the coming storm of God’s wrath! They could not see that Jesus was fulfilling every prophecy of the Messiah, the Savior in the Bible! The clouds of love, and the wind of God’s grace was blowing right in their face, and they could not discern the opportunity, to trust in Jesus as their Savior.

What specifically should they have seen?

They should have seen Jesus was no mortal man, the authority, power of Jesus was on display. Jesus was a perfect man, no sin, pride in his life, his conduct was perfect. His words were unlike any ever heard, no man ever spoke like Jesus!

Jesus miracles were done in public for all to see, including healings, raising the dead, calming storms, casting out demons. Jesus said I cast out demons by the finger of God, to prove the kingdom of God has come to you. Never had there been such a display of power!

The signs that a great spiritual thunderstorm was brewing was there for all to see, if they would just open their eyes.

How tragic that men today can predict the weather, split-atoms, put men on the moon; but they are blind to salvation through Jesus, and the coming judgment on this world. They know how to get to the stars, but they do not know how to get to heaven!

These people fail to recognize the signs of who Jesus was, and they miss the opportunity to accept him as their Savior. Their failure to discern the times resulted in judgment on the nation, and the destruction of the Temple in A.D. 70.

Make sure you don’t look at the weather every day, and fail to pay attention to the signs of the times that point the coming judgment of God on this world!Do you plan your life around the weather; and failed to plan your life around the spiritual weather. The signs of the times say, now is the time to love, live, witness and serve Jesus. The storm of judgment is brewing.

The winds of coming judgment are blowing, but most people prefer to ignore or deny them; please don’t do that! We live in a culture that despises the church’s witness, rejects the gospel, calls good evil and evil good, worships money, glorifies perversion, makes heroes of sinners, kills unwanted children, and worships self as a measure of all things. I believe stormy weather is coming soon. The storm warnings are out.

There is a fourth step you must take before the fire of God judgment falls.

Step #4:

4. Settle Your Account with God Today!

V:58-59.

In this short parable Jesus pictures you on your way to face the judge. You are at odds with someone, they are called your adversary, your enemy; and your case against them is going to be argued before the judge.

We are also told that you are guilty, and if you take your weak case before the judge, you would be found guilty and cast into prison, and you will not get out until you’ve paid the very last cent that you owe.

There are times when it is better for a defendant to go through all the trouble of a legal proceeding. This is true when the person is innocent and has a good chance of winning their case.

But when the defendant is guilty and there is no way to mount a defense, it is always better to settle out of court. Otherwise the guilty person will end up suffering the full penalty for their crime!

The legal situation is easy to understand, if you’re guilty of the crime, settle out of court.

But what is the spiritual application to the story that Jesus is giving?

Remember the context of these verses is the final judgment; when you will stand before the judge of this universe, God Almighty. The Lord Jesus gives us some great legal advice; he tells us that we need to settle our case with God out of court. The picture Jesus paints is a guilty sinner on their way to stand before God at the judgment. There is no way to defend yourself before a holy God.

We are guilty sinners; and the full penalty of our sin will be punished, if we go all the way to the judgment.

Jesus says don’t do that! Settle your case out of court!

Settling our case out of court begins with admitting that we are guilty! Unless we see how guilty and sinful we are, we will never know how bad we need to get right with God.

We need to follow the example of the man in this story, we need to confess that we are guilty sinners, and that we deserve to be punished for all the crimes, sins we have committed. We need to believe what God says: all have sinned… And the wages of our sin is death. We need to believe that people who die in their sins will end up in the fiery prison of hell, where they can never get out; because they owe a debt they can never repay.

Jesus is telling us, we have absolutely no chance of winning our case before Holy God.

So the first step to being reconciled to God, finding peace with God, is to declare your guilt before him, and recognize how hopeless your case really is.

When you really believe that you are guilty, and stand condemned you will be compelled to settle your case out of court before you stand before the judge.

Throughout his message Jesus has been saying he is coming soon, and there will be judgment; you need to settle things with God right away, before it is too late!

Get the picture, you are on your way to the great White throne judgment; if you stand before God unsaved, you will be cast into hell and never get out!

The debt of your sin is too great for you to pay!

Thank God Jesus tells us that our case can easily be settled; not because we are innocent, or because we can mount any kind of defense on our behalf. But calls the judge is also willing to be your savior!

V58-“make every effort along the way to settle with him… Before you stand before the judge

This is the legal remedy that God has provided in the gospel of Jesus Christ. The same Jesus who was coming in judgment is the same Jesus who suffered judgment when he was crucified for our sins, in his baptism by fire. By dying on the cross for our sins, Jesus fully satisfied the demands of God’s own righteous justice. Now Jesus offers to settle your case once and for all. The fire of judgment is quenched for all who trust in Jesus.

If you will come to him in faith, confessing your sin and asking them to be your savior, you will never have to suffer the punishment that you deserve for your sins. Our debt will be paid, and we will be justified before God.

Have you settled your case with God? How much better it is to settle it now at the cross of Christ, than to suffer the wrath of God eternally!

How tragic that some people never settle their case with God, by trusting in Jesus Christ!

Why wouldn’t you settle your case out of court this morning?

Some people have not yet discovered that their case is hopeless. They drift through life with the false illusion that though they are not perfect, they’re not bad enough to be damned. If you continue with that false illusion, you will be judged, and turned into hell.

Some people do not settle their case with God because they do not really believe there guilty.

They should listen to the Bible that says all have sinned, and the Holy Spirit that convicts them of sin.

Some people think they have plenty of time to settle the case with God. You should listen to Jesus, who says the Day of Judgment will happen suddenly.

Some people do not know how easy it is to get right with God. The Bible says, whosoever calls on the name of the Lord shall will be saved. You can do that today!

There’s so much to lose in the coming judgment, and so much to gain by coming to Jesus Christ today!

-“Truly, truly I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life”

Oh how gracious for Jesus to give us such a stern warning, before the fire falls, accept Jesus payment for your sins, expect division, discern the signs of the time, and settle your case with God today before it is eternally too late.