Be Our King

 Gtcotr/ws042821

A couple of Sunday’s ago we discussed Jesus going through Samaria and meeting a woman at Jacob’s well in the old city of Shechem. I showed a few pictures looking down on that old city from Mount Gerizim. I also shared that many of the Bible stories, both in the Old and New Testaments, took place in that place.

·        It is where Abraham built his first altar to Jehovah in the Promise Land.

·        It is where Joseph’s bones were buried after the exodus from Egypt and the conquering of the land of Canaan.

·        It is where deacon Philip held his first revival recorded in Acts 8.

·        It is where the Kings of Israel lived as well as many of the prophets including Elijah and Elisha.

·        It is also the setting for our Bible story this evening from the book of Judges concerning the sons of a mighty man of valor named Gideon.

The Setting: Share the story of the Midianites, Gideon, Baal, the fleece, the 32,000 to 300 army, defeat of the 120,000 Midianite army, Jehovah shalom and the forty years of peace in Israel.

There is no better way to tell the rest of the story than to simply read it. 

Judges 8

28  That is the story of how the people of Israel defeated Midian, which never recovered. Throughout the rest of Gideon’s lifetime — about forty years — there was peace in the land.

29 ¶  Then Gideon son of Joash returned home.

30  He had seventy sons born to him, for he had many wives.

31  He also had a concubine in Shechem, who gave birth to a son, whom he named Abimelech. 

Judges 9

1 ¶  One day Gideon’s {see Jud 6:32 } son Abimelech went to Shechem to visit his uncles — his mother’s brothers. He said to them and to the rest of his mother’s family,

2  “Ask the leading citizens of Shechem whether they want to be ruled by all seventy of Gideon’s sons or by one man. And remember that I am your own flesh and blood!”

3  So Abimelech’s uncles gave his message to all the citizens of Shechem on his behalf. And after listening to this proposal, the people of Shechem decided in favor of Abimelech because he was their relative.

4  They gave him seventy silver coins from the temple of Baal-berith, which he used to hire some reckless troublemakers who agreed to follow him.

5  He went to his father’s home at Ophrah, and there, on one stone, they killed all seventy of his half brothers, the sons of Gideon. {see Jud 6:32 } But the youngest brother, Jotham, escaped and hid.

6  Then all the leading citizens of Shechem and Beth-millo called a meeting under the oak beside the pillar at Shechem and made Abimelech their king.

7 ¶  When Jotham heard about this, he climbed to the top of Mount Gerizim and shouted, “Listen to me, citizens of Shechem! Listen to me if you want God to listen to you!

8  Once upon a time the trees decided to elect a king. First they said to the olive tree, ‘Be our king!’

9  But the olive tree refused, saying, ‘Should I quit producing the olive oil that blesses both God and people, just to wave back and forth over the trees?’

10  “Then they said to the fig tree, ‘You be our king!’

11  But the fig tree also refused, saying, ‘Should I quit producing my sweet fruit just to wave back and forth over the trees?’

12  “Then they said to the grapevine, ‘You be our king!’

13  But the grapevine also refused, saying, ‘Should I quit producing the wine that cheers both God and people, just to wave back and forth over the trees?’

14  “Then all the trees finally turned to the thornbush and said,     ‘Come, you be our king!’

15  And the thornbush replied to the trees, ‘If you truly want to make me your king, come and take shelter in my shade. If not, let fire come out from me and devour the cedars of Lebanon.’ ”

16  Jotham continued, “Now make sure you have acted honorably and in good faith by making Abimelech your king, and that you have done right by Gideon and all of his descendants. Have you treated him with the honor he deserves for all he accomplished?

17  For he fought for you and risked his life when he rescued you from the Midianites.

18  But today you have revolted against my father and his descendants, killing his seventy sons on one stone. And you have chosen his slave woman’s son, Abimelech, to be your king just because he is your relative.

19  “If you have acted honorably and in good faith toward Gideon and his descendants today, then may you find joy in Abimelech, and may he find joy in you.

20  But if you have not acted in good faith, then may fire come out from Abimelech and devour the leading citizens of Shechem and Beth-millo; and may fire come out from the citizens of Shechem and Beth-millo and devour Abimelech!”

21  Then Jotham escaped and lived in Beer because he was afraid of his brother Abimelech.

22 ¶  After Abimelech had ruled over Israel for three years,

23  God sent a spirit that stirred up trouble between Abimelech and the leading citizens of Shechem, and they revolted.

24  God was punishing Abimelech for murdering Gideon’s seventy sons, and the citizens of Shechem for supporting him in this treachery of murdering his brothers.

The greatest lesson I have learned from this story is the value of being content with what God has given me, where He has placed me, and how He is using me.

The Apostle Paul wrote:

1 Timothy 6:6 ¶  Now godliness with contentment is great gain.

Not every move up the proverbial ladder of success is a promotion. We have all been given special abilities and have a best use to God. Much like the members of our body, each member is fit to the task to which they were created and called.

We cannot afford to allow the world and its ideals to set the course of our lives. It is a wise person who knows their value to God, family, and community.

A second lesson I have learned from Judges 7, 8, and 9, is the importance of honoring those who have gone before us and paved the way for our peace. One of the reasons why the nation of Israel ended up in turmoil again was punishment from God for supporting the treachery of their leader Abimelech. They forgot to treat Gideon and his descendants with the honor they deserved for all they accomplished. 

Romans 13 encourages us to give honor to whom honor is due and : Proverbs 3:27  Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do so.

And by the way, Jotham means Yahweh is Perfect! Of course He is and He has a perfect plan for your life.

The Great Mystery

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Genesis 2 NKJV

18 ¶  And the LORD God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.”

19  Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name.

20  So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him.

21 ¶  And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place.

22  Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.

23  And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.”

24  Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

25  And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

“It is not good that man should be alone.” How prophetic!

Everything we read in the Word of God is just that, God’s Word.

·        66 books

·        1189 chapters

·        31,102 verses

·        Penned by 40 authors

·        From 3 continents

·        In three languages

·        Taking over 1500 years to complete

Yet it all fits together as one orchestrated and detailed account, telling one story, about one subject, contained in one person, whose end is revealed from the very beginning. The Bible records God’s eternal plan in the greatest detail, describing events before they ever happen.

The world is a stage set by God Himself, hosting a play written before the ages to tell the story of the Gospel and bring about His plan for His only Son, Jesus. Every person is a player and God has cast each one to His preferred role. However, how the role is played is up to each individual. They are allowed to play the hero or the villain; they can play the lead or have no lines at all. Each scene fits together to reveal the eternal plan of God. There is nothing more precise than the predetermined will of God.

I would like for us to look at the familiar account we read from Genesis 2 in a new way this morning. I believe we can gain added insight and grow our faith by viewing this passage from a different facet than we are used to seeing it. To set the stage, first let me say:

·        It is evident God created man with a social need. Social security comes from the mutual respect and support of someone like you.

o   Social security does not come from a relationship with a father, even when that father is good and loving and kind.

o   Social security cannot come from a relationship with a pet.

o   Social security comes from another person just like you – known, accepted, common experiences, and a shared life.

o   Genesis 2:18 …“I will make him a helper comparable to him.”

§  Like him.

§  Who understands him.

§  Who walks where he walks, think like he thinks, faces what he faces, and does what he does.

§  Same goals, needs, joys and same toils.

§  To sit with him, walk with him, work with him, play with him, share with him, support him, encourage him, and be productive with him.

§  The same as him … to help, support, and secure him.

§  A helper comparable to him …

It would be enough if that were all that was intended in the creation of the woman. However, God having spoken of the loneliness of Adam and his need for companionship to share life with, is but the overlying visual of a greater underlying truth. What truth? His heart and His plan for Jesus!

We would be mistaken to imagine the Bible and God’s unfolding plan for mankind was absent His motivation to be the best Father to His Son, Jesus.

Before we look further into the verses from this passage in Genesis, let me ask you to consider Jesus in each of the truths we will share this morning. When we conclude I will bring it all back together so we can make application of these truths in our lives this coming week.

In the beginning Adam lived in a wonderful paradise which supplied each need and every desire he could possibly imagine. He walked with God, His Father, in this paradise and was given dominion over all the works of God’s hand. The birds, mammals, reptiles, and even the fish loved and obeyed Adam. Food was abundant, the air fresh and clean, the water crystal clear, and refreshing, the climate perfect, and it never rained. Adam could lay down with the lion and the lamb with no fear, no sin, and no pain.

But … Adam was lonely. He had a father, and he had an abundance of pets he knew by name, he was rich, and he had a good life with no needs … what he didn’t have however, was someone like him to share it with.

Let me pause here for a moment. Can you see Jesus in Adam? In 1 Corinthians 15:45, Paul calls Jesus the last Adam. 1 Timothy 2:13 says Adam was formed first, then Eve. Colossians says all things were made by Jesus and all things were made for Jesus.

We can clearly see the unfolding of God’s plan from the very beginning was to bring about not only the creation of mankind but also to create a helpmate for Jesus, comparable to Him, for Him to share His wealth and His life with. I believe God’s eternal intent was to create a Bride, which is the Church, and fashion her for His Son who was lonely. Jesus had a loving Father, and He had servants and angels, and all manner of created things. But Jesus wanted someone like Him with whom He could share His wealth and His life. Jesus, like Isaac, needed His Father to find Him a bride.

I find it intriguing that when Eve ate of the forbidden fruit and fell into sin, Adam decided to partake also insuring he would not be separated from the love of his life. There is no doubt Adam willingly separated himself from his God so he could be with his wife.

Jesus did the same thing. He found a way to accomplish the same thing for His bride, although Jesus did not sin. Yet, Jesus, willingly and purposefully, took upon Himself the sins of His bride … He who knew no sin became sin for us, that we might become the righteous of God. Jesus made us flesh of His flesh and bone of His bones.

2 Corinthians 5

17  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

18  And all things are of God …

21  For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Ephesians 5

25  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

26  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

27  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

 

30  For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

31  For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

32  This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

You are the Eve of Christ. He was lonely before you. There was no one like Him. You are His social security if you will. One made like Him. Fashioned by God’s own hand as a helper, comparable to Him. You are the Bride of Christ, flesh of His flesh and bone of His bones. For this reason shall Christ leave His Father’s house and be joined to His Bride, the Church, and they two shall be one in spirit, and live together in a new paradise for ever and ever. The mystery we sometimes cannot understand is that everything is all about Jesus. God’s plan was for the future of His son with His Bride and the family they will be together in paradise on planet earth throughout eternity.

What do I take away from today’s message that will help me be more like Christ this week?

1.   We have been re-created in the image of God’s dear Son.

a.   To be like Christ … comparable to Him.

b.   To help Him, support Him, follow Him, obey Him, and respect Him.

c.    We are cherished covenant partners with Jesus in life.

d.   We share with Him in His inheritance as joint heirs of God.

e.   We rule and reign with Him in heavenly places.

f.    We have authority and dominion over all creation.

2.   We have a great future.

a.   An affectionate future.

b.   A blessed future.

c.    A productive future.

d.   A future that is out of this world! Literally!!!

e.   We are engaged to a King … and not just any King … the King of the Universe whose Daddy is the Creator of all things.

3.   Jesus longs for a covenant relationship with you.

a.   You were created to be His Bride.

b.   You are designed to be His social security.

c.    To talk with Him.

d.   To walk with Him like no other.

e.   Listen to His dreams.

f.    Share your dreams with Him.

g.   Follow His lead.

h.   Support His decisions.

i.     He will never leave you or forsake you.

Ok men … it you have ever imagined your mom or wife, or any woman had it is so easy … here is your chance to show how a good wife acts. Lol. Seriously … Life is not easy but doing it right pays really well.

If you have not said yes to Jesus’ invitation to become His bride, let me encourage you to say yes to Him today. God will save your soul and Jesus will become your Lord, your friend, and your eternal security.

The Fountain

Gtcotr/ss041821

This morning we are going to be reading a passage from the fourth chapter of the Gospel of John. While you’re finding our text let me share a couple of pictures with you. I apologize for their quality, but it was a hazy day.

                             

This is a picture overlooking the modern-day city of Nablus. Nablus is situated in a valley between Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal, about 35 to 40 miles north of Jerusalem in the region of Israel we know as Samaria.

The Bible refers to this city by a few other names. You may have read about the city of Shechem where Abraham built his first altar to Jehovah after entering the land God promised to give to him and his descendants. This is that city of Shechem. In fact, if you look closely near the bottom of the picture, just a little left of center, you may see a ring of stones. This is the spot where Abraham built his first altar recorded in Genesis 12.

Here is a closer view of the archeological ruins of the altar.

The city is also referred to in the Gospel of John as the city of Sychar. Today about 800 Samaritans still live on this hillside in the city of Samaria, just above the old city of Sychar. Some years ago we produced several television programs from this place. This is the site of the first mission outreach from the first Church in Jerusalem in which Deacon Phillip, turned Evangelist Phillip, went down to Samaria and preached Christ to them and they all got saved. You can read about it in Acts 8.

This area is such a Bible rich place. Jacob originally bought a piece of ground from a man named Shechem. 450 years later the children of Israel buried the bones of Joseph here when they conquered the Land of Canaan under Joshua’s leadership. For several years now, this area has been under radical Palestinian control and it has not been a safe place for people to visit. However, the tomb of Joseph is still an attraction for those who brave the journey under armed guard. The last time I visited Nablus, 14 or the 18 political seats were held by members of Hamas. Nonetheless, there are about 800 Samaritans who still live and worship in the old city of Samaria which sits on the top of Mount Gerizim overlooking Nablus.

There are several other important biblical sites associated with this relatively small piece of land in Israel. One of which is Jacob’s well.

 

If you will look closely at this picture you can see in the very middle a larger building with several little red dome-type roofs. This building is built over Jacob’s well. This well supplied water for Jacob and his sons as well as their sheep. During the New Testament period, and still today, the Samaritans believed they were the original descendants of Jacob and therefore rightful heirs to the covenant of God instead of the Jews who worshipped in Jerusalem.

The Jews in Jesus’ time, and indeed even today, believe the Samaritans are not the true or pure descendants of Jacob but were a mixed race of people who were living and worshipping in doctrinal error. Jews who traveled from the Galilee region to Jerusalem avoided traveling through Samaria out of concern they might become unclean and therefore unable to enter the temple to participate in feasts or prayers once they arrived in Jerusalem.

Suffice it to say the Samaritans didn’t like the Jews either and so they were continually divided over racial and religious lines. Both groups believed the other group to be prejudice and intolerant. They both worship Jehovah but won’t worship together. How silly is that!

It seems that early in the second year of Jesus’ ministry, He and His disciples went to Jerusalem. No doubt they followed the preferred route along the eastern bank of the Jordan River southward to Jericho and then up from there to the city of Jerusalem avoiding Samaria all together. The journey took about a week to walk.

Once in Jerusalem, Jesus ministered to people and taught the word with authority and gathered quite a following. When the Pharisees took notice of Jesus and how many people were being baptized, Jesus decided it was time for Him to return to the Galilee and continue His ministry there.

Let’s pick up with this account in John 4:

John 4 NKJV

1 ¶  Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John

2  (though Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples),

3  He left Judea and departed again to Galilee.

4 ¶  But He needed to go through Samaria.

5  So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.

6  Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour.

7  A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.”

8  For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.

9  Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.

10  Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”

11  The woman said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water?

12  “Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?”

13  Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again,

14  “but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”

15  The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.”

If you have not read this account before or aren’t familiar with it, I encourage you to take some time and familiarize yourself with the whole story. There are so many life principles which can be drawn from the encounter this Samaritan woman had with Jesus.

The response she had to what Jesus offered seems quite normal to me however … what is normal to some people may not be normal to everyone.

During our recent mission’s trip to assist those dealing with the emergency needs of Native American Indian children in Arizona, we were fortunate to have Allan Morrel, a missionary to America from Honduras, lead the daily devotional time for our COTR Team. During one of the morning Bible studies, Allan encouraged us to realize that it should be normal for a Born-Again Believer in Jesus to do the things Jesus asked.

I came away from that time with a greater understanding of what a true encounter with Jesus offers each individual. People who have not met Jesus may feel it is completely normal to be prejudice, or to hate, or to harbor anger or resentment, to steal, to engage in immoral behavior, take drugs, cuss, lie, cheat, or live a selfish or sinful lifestyle.

However, When we meet Jesus, He changes our normal. Something powerful happens. Souls, minds, and hearts are transformed. We are no longer the same and we should begin to act like it.

This Samaritan woman came to the well believing one thing and she left a changed woman. In the rest of the story we find out that the woman had been married five times and was currently living with a man who was not even her husband. No wonder she came to the well at noon, she was most likely an outcast from the community and disallowed to draw water with the women and certainly not with the men! Who wants a husband-stealer at the early morning or late evening daily water drawing event … some man might feel obliged to carry her water home for her.

There is no doubt this woman did not have the best reputation, but something changed her life that day and her witness changed the whole town.

No doubt she had her reasons, and she had her beliefs … but Jesus changed all of that. One minute it was normal for her to hate Jews and the next moment she was introducing everyone she knew to Jesus, the King of Jews.

“Give me this water!”, she said. That’s what any sane and normal person should do when they find something they’ve always longed for but never knew existed. The Good News is, you can still ask for that water and you can still tell others where to find it.

Whoever drinks of Christ receives a fountain of water springing up unto eternal life! You see: When you receive Christ you don’t just get a drink of water, you become the fountain. 

Something happens … something miraculous … something life-changing … something everlasting … something so powerful you should not be able to keep it to yourself.

This woman at the well had an experience and she wanted everyone to know it.

If you are born again and …

·        You don’t want to tell others about Jesus – that’s not normal.

·        You don’t want to forgive others – that’s not normal.

·        You don’t want to go to church – that’s not normal.

·        You don’t want to read your bible – that’s not normal.

·        You don’t want to pray – that’s not normal.

·        You don’t want to financially support the work of the Lord – that’s not normal.

If you are born again and …

·        You are always angry, frustrated, aggravated, irritated, upset, worried, hard to get along with, or afraid … something’s wrong with you … you aren’t living the normal life of a Believer.

·        The fountain of life within you should not be spewing muddy water.

If you are born again and you …

·        Are still getting drunk.

·        Participating in office gossip.

·        Hate people because of the color of their skin or their political views.

·        Still doing drugs.

·        Living an immoral lifestyle.

·        Cold or ambivalent towards the things of Christ.

·        If you are born again and you aren’t trying to make God smile.

·        Are selfish, demanding, greedy, chasing money.

·        Abusing others or living in sin

·        That’s not normal for a Believer in Jesus or a Follower of Christ.

What can you do about it? Well, it might actually take a little work. Here is what the Holy Spirit gave us through the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians:

Ephesians 4

22  Put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,

23  and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,

24  and put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

25  Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another.

26  “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath,

27  nor give place to the devil.

28  Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.

29  Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

30  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

31  Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.

32  And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.

Ephesians 5

1 ¶  Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.

2  And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering, and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

If you find you aren’t living like a normal follower of Christ should live, I mean like a disciple of Christ … like someone who has received the living waters springing up unto eternal life, here is what you need to do: (this is not a suggestion, it is a command from the Holy Spirit)

1.  Put off the old man.

2.  Be renewed in the spirit of your mind.

a.   Change your thinking to think like Jesus.

b.   Say no to sin.

3.  Put on the new man which was created according to God.

You can do this and believe me, you and everyone else, including Jesus, will be happier and better off. Take charge of your life today …

Condemnation

 

Gtcotr/ws040721

Mark 16 NKJV

14 ¶  Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.

15  And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

16  “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

1.  Jesus is busy … He always has something to do. You might have to wait, and you may not be the first. He knows exactly when it is the best time and your turn.

a.   Jesus sent a woman and two men to inform the disciples while they were waiting.

b.   A lot of people didn’t believe the prophets and even John the Baptist. They all said, “Jesus will be here in a little while and here is what He needs you to do until then.”

c.    That’s pretty much what I do each Sunday and Wednesday.

d.   But a lot of people, good people, people who love Jesus, just sit there.

e.   What we do while we wait might have something to do with how long we wait.

f.    Jesus said … while you’re waiting for Me, let me give you a:

2.  The Great Commission – “Go into all the world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature!”

a.   That’s our part …Go and tell.

b.   We are not responsible to save anyone, change anyone, criticize anyone, judge anyone, or condemn anyone.

c.    God has a perfect plan, and it demands a personal decision.

d.   God demands we participate in our miracles, especially the salvation of our souls!

                                         i.    People are born and live with an empty spot in their lives that only a relationship with their creator can fill.

                                        ii.    The Holy Spirit works in the hearts and minds of men and women, boys, and girls, to soften and ripen their lives for harvest.

                                      iii.    There are always lost people around us who are ripe for harvest or who need the seed, perhaps watering, a little weeding, and then there are those who are ready to fall off the vine into our hands.

                                      iv.    The harvest is plentiful, the laborers are few. In other words, there are fewer laborers than fruit. Or put into a fishing frame: There are more fish than fishers.

                                       v.    It is only sad that some people will purposefully close their heart and mind to Christ and the message of the Gospel, while others just needed a little more cultivation to say yes.

1.   Romans 1:18 … who suppress the truth …

2.   Romans 1:20 … they are without excuse …

                                      vi.    Romans 10:14 How shall they call upon Him … whom they have not heard.

3.  Saved or Condemned?

a.   John 3:16 God so loved the world … (people – souls)

b.   John 3:17 Jesus did not come to condemn the world but to save the world.

c.    So why are people going to be condemned? They aren’t going to be condemned as much as some people will condemn themselves.

John 3

18  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

19  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

·        Jesus instructed and anointed His followers to go and tell so people throughout the world could hear and be saved.

·        Jesus came from heaven to earth; He was born of a Virgin; He lived a sinless life; He made disciples; He died an atoning sacrificial death; He preached to the captives; He defeated Satan and put him to an open shame; He took the keys of death and hell away from him; He was raised victorious over sin, death, hell, and the grave; He appeared alive to more than 500 after His resurrection; He gave instructions to His followers as to what they should do; He was received up into heaven where He is seated at the right hand of the Father making intercession for us; and He is coming again in the clouds of glory to receive us unto Himself as soon as the Gospel has been proclaimed throughout the world to every ethnos.

Mark 16

19 ¶  So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.

20  And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.

Thus concludes our study of the Gospel of Mark.