God want people to decide for themselves!
Yes, God want people to decide for themselves when and how they want to believe Jesus!
A. I always wonder!
When the prodigal son went back home. His father gave him such a warm welcome!
Why didn’t he go out to look for him when he was lost and almost starved to death!
Yes, this was what the father did at the return of his son!
The father said: For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.
So they began to celebrate. Luke 15:24
***** “He was lost and is found”! But how was he found? By himself!
1. Yes, we are ambassadors therefore on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us;
We beseech on behalf of Christ, be ye reconciled to God! 2 Cor.5:20
***Yes, we may beseech.
2. But still you have to reconcile to God!
B. This was before the story of the prodigal son! Luke 15:4-10
1. Suppose one of you has 100 sheep and loses 1 of them.
Does he not leave the 99 in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? Lk.15:4
2. And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home.
Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, `Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' Lk.15:5-6
3. I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents
than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. Lk.15:7
4. In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." Lk.15:10
C. But still these are what sinners have to do for themselves! Acts 2:40-42
1. And with many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying: Save yourselves from this crooked generation. Acts 2:40
2. They then that received his word were baptized:
and there were added into the church in that day about three thousand souls. Acts 2:41
3. They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Acts 2:42
4. Yes, please pay attention: They devoted themselves to the followings-->
a. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching!
b. They devoted themselves to the fellowship!
c. They devoted themselves to the breaking of bread!
d. They devoted themselves to prayer!
D. Fair or not this is how it going to be! Ezekiel 18:20-24
1. The soul who sins is the one who will die.
The son will not share the guilt of the father, nor will the father share the guilt of the son.
The righteousness of the righteous man will be credited to him, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against him. 18:20
2. But if a wicked man turns away from all the sins he has committed and keeps all my decrees and does what is just and right,
he will surely live; he will not die. 18:21
3. None of the offenses he has committed will be remembered against him.
Because of the righteous things he has done, he will live. 18:22
4. Declares the Sovereign Lord: Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked?
Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live? 18:23
5. But if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits sin and does the same detestable things the wicked man does,
will he live? 18:24
6. None of the righteous things he has done will be remembered.
Because of the unfaithfulness he is guilty of and because of the sins he has committed, he will die. 18:24
E. Conclusion: Gal.6:4-5
Each one should test his own actions.
Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load.
May the Lord bless you and keep you always! Preaching this on November 17, 2013.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUvMNxdzyxE