Who is Lost?
Notes
Transcript
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9/11 Confusion, fear, doubt, anger, sadness.
Text
3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Introduction
What is the kingdom of God?
Rule, authority, and presence.
Two kingdoms: The kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness.
Jesus’ teachings often centered on the kingdom of God.
And central of what Jesus taught was the invitation to enter the kingdom.
You are either in the Kingdom of God or Lost.
You are either in the Kingdom of God or Lost.
It is this truth that Jesus came.
43 but he said to them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.”
It is this truth that Jesus taught.
It is this truth that Jesus healed.
35 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction.
It is this truth that the Church has its purpose.
31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.
Transition
One of the ways Jesus communicated the truth about God’s kingdom was through stories called parables.
Parables were a way to convey moral, transcendent principles in an allegoric story that people could understand and relate to.
We begin a new series that will focus on three parables, teaching of Jesus, that reveal the truth about the Kingdom of God and those that are lost.
Text
1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him.
2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
Tax collectors and sinners where interested in hearing what Jesus had to say.
Why or how could sinners be interested in what Jesus said?
The Good News of the Kingdom Inspires Hope.
The Good News of the Kingdom Inspires Hope.
People were drawn to Jesus—because He gave hope (the message of the Kingdom).
People are looking for hope.
But who often stands in the way of hope? Religious, self-righteous people!
Self-righteousness opposes the Kingdom of God.
Self-righteousness opposes the Kingdom of God.
2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
Self-righteous people are more concerned about rules, traditions, and themselves, than those who need hope.
Self-righteous people embrace a false hope that one’s own efforts is all you need.
Self-righteous people are more concerned about appearances than transformation.
Self-righteous people are, in fact, opposers to the rule, authority, and grace of God’s Kingdom.
The irony of it all is that whether a “sinner” or a “Pharisee,” the Word of God declares:
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Without Christ, all are lost.
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Conclusion