Lessons in Salvation Part 2

OPEN: This is part 2 of Lessons in Salvation, The story of Zaccheus. Last week we talked about God’s mission “To seek and to save that which was lost and our mission to be available for Him to do that through us. Today I want to talk about two thoughts on salvation I see here, 1. Jesus Begins the Salvation process and this will touch some on last week. 2. Our Responds determines whether that process continues.

1. Jesus Begins The Salvation Process V.1,10

NOTE: This is God’s mission to seek and to save!

a. God always wants to be with us.

b. This trip through Jericho was not by accident. (on His way to Jerusalem to die) Luke 18:31-33, 19:28

c. The Salvation Process Begins with Jesus seeking us.

ILLUST:

Genesis 3:8 They Heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.

John 6:44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.

Matthew 1:23 Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which translated means, God with us.”

ILLUST: Someone might say, “Jesus hasn’t walked into my life.” Obviously He isn’t walking into coffee shops and factories or schools . . . but their are stories of people having dreams and visions and Paul says even creation itself should cause someone to seek after God and find Him;

There should be stories of us

1.Praying for, talking with and Inviting people to events where God might speak to them 2. Suffering with those in need. 3. Just plain loving people. That is how Jesus walks into peoples live today!

Might say I’ve had someone walk into my life like that but they weren’t following Jesus. All I can say is there are a lot of people who have found it’s best to live in these ways, its a good way to live but they have not trusted in Jesus for eternal life or to transform the depths of their life.

TRANS: Salvation begins with Jesus seeking us and pursuing us in all sorts of ways and when we sense that We need to respond if we want to experience Him.

2. Our Response Determines whether the Process continues. V.2-6

NOTE: This is at all levels of our journey with Jesus. If you do not want to know Jesus intimately you don’t have to. If you do not want to experience His eternal life, you don’t have to.

a. Anyone can respond

NOTE: You might senese or tell yourself, “God couldn’t love me, I’m worthless, I’ve done to mant terrible things . . .”

NOTE: This is the opposite of what Jesus taught and how He lived.

Small in stature

Chief Tax collector

ILLUST: Two men at the temple Luke 18:9-14. Rich Young Ruler Luke 18:18-27.

NOTE: The one thing they and we have in common is a Creator who traveled into Jerusalem to die for us so that we could have eternal life in Him.

b. Our response indicates how serious we are.

The crowd was in his way

ILLUST: I can remember several Christmas’ ago I found a picture of an outfit; shoes scarf, vest, under shirt, jeans the whole thing on april’s computer saved. So I went to the mall with this picture determined to find every piece of this outfit. There were sales ladies that stood in my way. I wold show them the picture of a cream long sleeve shirt and they would show me blue short sleeved shirts. I would show them the picture of a tan color sued flat and they would show something black with a heel. I was in store after store and I did not come home til I found every piece. I let nothing stand in my way! Zaccheus was serious and didn’t let any obstacle stop him from seeing Jesus.

Zacheus went ahead and climbed a tree.

ILLUST: The scriptures are filled with the notion that salvation is a serious endeavor and you must go after Him with all you have.

ILLUST: ,

Proverbs 8:17 I love those who love me; And those who diligently seek me will find me.

Jeremiah 29:12-13 Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

James 4:8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double minded.

c. Our responses determines whether the process of salvation continues. V.5

NOTE: If you really want to know Jesus He will make Himself known to you!

JESUS RESPONSE

“Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” v.5

The Process of salvation begins with Jesus but then we must respond and then Jesus responds . . . it’s called a relationship. It’s this reciprocol back and forth as He changes us and saves us.

Zaccheus Response

“And he hurried and came down and received Him gladly.”

CLOSE: Can I encourage you today to respond? When you sense God seeking you if you will respond he will respond so you can experience Him in His fullness. As you respond He will transform you as HE SAVES YOU!