HAVE YOU SOLD OUT COMPLETELY TO FOLLOWING CHRIST? (4 OF 4)
by Jerry Branch
Scripture: MATTHEW 13:45-46
This content is part of a series.
Have You Sold Out Completely To Following Christ? (4 of 4)
The kingdom of God requires a sell out
Kingdom of God Series
Jerry Branch
Matthew 13:45-46
11-17-02
Here in the 13th chapter of Matthew, Jesus, once again uses a parable to tell about the Kingdom of God... Remember what a parable is?
We said it is a 'laying alongside of' or a 'comparison', or it is "an earthly story with a heavenly meaning"...
in other words, Jesus is using a story that is relevant to the people of His day, and by using this story, He illustrates the 'spiritual and heavenly counterpart'.
Now, it is not really surprisingly, that some Christians tend to be just a little uncomfortable with these parables that the Lord uses. In fact, these are usually the same ones who are uncomfortable with the Lord's teachings on just about anything, such as tithing, abstinence, adultery, abuse, addictions, Lordship, and so on.
Now, we might first ask why, but we find their uncomfortableness comes, especially when Jesus starts talking about the issues of obedience and the COST of following Him...but when it comes to this particular parable, part of their discomfort comes from wrongfully thinking that Jesus is talking about being able to 'buy' salvation...which we all know isn't true, because all of the Inspired Word of God makes it 100% clear that salvation is totally, absolutely, 100%, a FREE GIFT of God! 'Not by any works that we might be able to boast...so we could not take any of the credit!' (Eph. 2.9)
Salvation is a free gift from God....
This is one of the reasons I am happy to be a Southern Baptist....and I hope you are also....this is one of our primary tenets of our faith that is so well stated in our Baptist Faith and Message...Listen... "Salvation involves the redemption of the whole man, and is offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, Who by His own Blood obtained eternal redemption for the believer."
This is a confession of what we Sout ...
The kingdom of God requires a sell out
Kingdom of God Series
Jerry Branch
Matthew 13:45-46
11-17-02
Here in the 13th chapter of Matthew, Jesus, once again uses a parable to tell about the Kingdom of God... Remember what a parable is?
We said it is a 'laying alongside of' or a 'comparison', or it is "an earthly story with a heavenly meaning"...
in other words, Jesus is using a story that is relevant to the people of His day, and by using this story, He illustrates the 'spiritual and heavenly counterpart'.
Now, it is not really surprisingly, that some Christians tend to be just a little uncomfortable with these parables that the Lord uses. In fact, these are usually the same ones who are uncomfortable with the Lord's teachings on just about anything, such as tithing, abstinence, adultery, abuse, addictions, Lordship, and so on.
Now, we might first ask why, but we find their uncomfortableness comes, especially when Jesus starts talking about the issues of obedience and the COST of following Him...but when it comes to this particular parable, part of their discomfort comes from wrongfully thinking that Jesus is talking about being able to 'buy' salvation...which we all know isn't true, because all of the Inspired Word of God makes it 100% clear that salvation is totally, absolutely, 100%, a FREE GIFT of God! 'Not by any works that we might be able to boast...so we could not take any of the credit!' (Eph. 2.9)
Salvation is a free gift from God....
This is one of the reasons I am happy to be a Southern Baptist....and I hope you are also....this is one of our primary tenets of our faith that is so well stated in our Baptist Faith and Message...Listen... "Salvation involves the redemption of the whole man, and is offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, Who by His own Blood obtained eternal redemption for the believer."
This is a confession of what we Sout ...
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