On Palm Sunday, we're going to continue on in our series in the
book of Matthew. We are in Chapter 9 now.
We've made it. Through Chapter 8 last week.
But chapter 8 and 9 we have been focusing on the miracles of
Jesus. Matthew wrote these down in this
way chronologically or or in a way that many stories are lumped
and. Piled together because that's
what the way the holy. Spirit told him to write it,
but. But there's a.
Reason that we need to pay attention to each.
Story because it's all. Revealing to us salvation.
Who? Christ.
Is how how Christ has. Come to save.
People and so today specifically.
We're in Matthew Chapter 9 one through 7 and I've titled the
message Getting saved out of. Worked, works based religion.
Now, many of you when you hear the word religion, there's
usually a negative connotation to it, right?
Like. We we think, oh, religion is man
made and and you've. Probably said this before I have
said this. Before that, Christianity isn't
about religion, it's about a relationship, right?
You don't have to raise your hand if you said that.
I know what we mean when we say. That but we.
Also have to understand that the word religion in and of itself
isn't a bad word it it just means devotion.
Religion is an outward expression of our.
Faith. And it's an.
It can be ordered and organized because.
If we look at scripture. The Bible does make it.
Clear that God is. Particular, and he does care.
About. How we come to him and how we
live. And there are certain commands
and and and laws and yes, there is also grace and forgiveness.
And we come to. Christ as we are, but.
But he's doing a work in US and conforming us to something.
There is truth to follow. So religion in and of itself is
not a bad word. The word is used several.
Times in the New Testament in James chapter one verse 26 it
says if anyone thinks he's religious and does not bridle
his tongue but. Deceives his heart this.
Person religion is worthless, religion that is pure and
undefiled. Before God the Father is this to
visit. Orphans and widows in their
affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world, that's
not a bad thing. There's a, there's got.
To be an organized way in which not only we come to the.
Lord, but but that we also live our.
Lives so that we can grow in our faith and that's what the word
really means is a devotion. What is our devotional time look
like? How?
Are we devoted to the? Lord, how is it organized?
It's a good thing that we have organized church that we have,
we meet at a certain time where everybody can be like, I can be
there at that time and, and we can do this and we can do that.
And it ends at this time. And hopefully the preacher does
end on time, you know, so that we can get out for lunch.
The problem with religion happens when you start adding
people to it, though. When you add people, when you
add men, corrupt men who are sinful, and all human beings are
sinful. We're all imperfect in nature,
and we have If you're a Christian, you have two natures.
You want to follow God with one of one part of your nature, but
then you want to follow your own desires.
That's called your flesh. You do that and there's this war
in US. And so when you add these
imperfect men and women to religion, now you have corrupt
systems, and now you have systems.
Which which is probably what? You think of when we say the
word religion is people trying to control.
Access to God. And that's what I mean when we
say works based religion, because Christianity is
different from any other religion out there in the world.
We are saved by grace. Alone, through faith alone and
Christ alone, we do nothing on our own merit.
That song that we were seeing singing is explaining that we
don't come to Christ with our own works.
Nothing. I bring only to the cross of
Christ. I cling.
It's the work that he did. But when we are involved.
With. Trying to carry on this religion
that Christ started. We corrupt it.
And so then what people have done is they've added.
To scripture they've. Added to or misinterpreted the
Bible, misinterpreted the Old Testament, misinterpreted what
Jesus has said, and and and they.
Say OK, Jesus is good, but we also got to do XY.
And Z to get to heaven. We got to be worthy of his
sacrifice. We've got to meet him halfway
and you've got to keep this up in order to.
Have the grace or to have. The gift, which makes zero sense
logically. And there are workspace
religions all. Out there that have it.
Wrong and therefore even the atheists have a religion right
everything is a devotion or an organized way of thinking about
something and so why I've titled it today getting saved out of
workspace religions because anybody who does get saved
basically needs to get. Out of their way of.
Thinking about how they. Are a good person.
How they make it to God and really understand.
How we're supposed. To come to the Lord.
Through Jesus. And so I've got three points on
our text today, and the first one.
Is this if you're? Thinking about that person in
your life that's like, man, this would be so good for them to
hear. Or maybe you're like, yes, I'm
finally going to learn how to talk to my neighbor or talk to
my my coworker. Well, here's where I think it
starts. If you want to get.
People saved out of workspace. Religion, then you've.
Got to have faith. That gets your friends to Jesus.
Let's look at this first part of this text.
It says. In Chapter 9, verse one and two
and getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own
city and behold, some people brought to him a paralytic lying
on a bed, and when Jesus saw their.
Faith, he said to the paralytic take.
Heart, my son, your sins are forgiven.
Hey, a little bit of context. We.
Over the last several weeks have talked about where Jesus is He's
been. Around the Sea of Galilee, he's
doing his ministry all around. The Sea of Galilee He crossed
over to the other side. Through a storm, he challenged
the disciples faith on the other side.
Last week we talked about. He met some demons there.
He cast the demons into. Pigs and it's a crazy story.
You should read that go. Listen to the sermon last.
Week. But now.
It says that they're. Getting back into the boat and
going. Across to the other side.
Again and came to his own city and we know from context.
That. Before he came over, he was
staying with. Peter, where he healed his.
Mother-in-law, we looked at that.
So, so the house. That they're in now is back at.
Peter's house with his. Family and his mother-in-law
and. Jesus is.
Preaching there, he's teaching and.
There are all these people. That are pressing around.
He's become extremely famous because not not, not only.
Because of his. His.
Preaching and teaching that is contrary to the religious.
Leaders of the day. He's also proving who he.
Is and proving what he's saying is true and worth listening to
by doing miracles and casting out demons and healing people
who are sick and. And so that's.
Kind of the context here and and it's not in, not.
All these details are. In Matthew.
So we have to go. To Mark's version to get a
little. Bit of the fuller.
Story here so mark chapter. 2. It says and when he returned to
Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home
and many were gathered together so that there was no more room,
not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to
them, and they came bringing to him a.
Paralytic carried by 4. Men, and when they could not get
near him. Because of the crowd, they.
Removed the roof above him and when they had made an opening
they let down. The bed.
On which the paralytic lay. So the fuller.
Picture from Mark. Is is.
That this is that famous story. Maybe you've heard it.
Before of the. Friends lowering down their
paralytic friend from the roof because there was no room inside
of this house. As he was preaching.
To the word, to them. It's such an interesting
experience, you know to. To think of these guys's faith
was was that is that if I could just.
Get my friend to. Jesus that a miracle could.
Happen and that's what I'm talking about in my.
My first point is that. Their faith is what Jesus.
Is is somewhat amazed by and he's moved.
By that they would press through.
And and go through all this action to get up on top of the
roof. I mean, it's not telling us how
hit they got him up on the roof. Maybe there's stairs that go up
to the? Roof a lot of times in.
Israel there are there are flat roofs.
That you can go up and walk on and there are.
Stairs to get up there. But anyway, they've got him on a
stretcher and they're taking them up there and they decide
we're going to just. Cut right through here.
And you know, if that was my home, I'd.
Probably be you know. A little bit angry, right?
If it was at church. You know, and they're like, man,
I need to get somebody to Jesus. You know, I'd say there's quite
a. Few empty seats like you didn't
need to. Do that, but here it's.
Jam packed, you got hundreds, if not, if not, you know thousands
surrounding the house. It would be crowded around.
Jesus, but the thing. Here I want to focus on is
their. Faith, their faith.
Was willing. To do whatever it took.
To get them this man in front of Jesus.
Now you and I cannot believe. For another person.
So let's. Not get that mixed up.
I can have all the faith in the world, but that ain't getting my
spouse, my kids, my friends, my coworkers to heaven.
They have to have. Their own personal relationship
and devotion to Jesus Christ. Faith in Him alone, right?
Everyone has to have that faith moment.
But it does work. God works this way.
Though God uses other people, He uses us.
To make sure his message. Gets across to other people or
to. To make sure that we we get them
in front of someone who can deliver the message.
You see? That's what's going on here.
Jesus is. Preaching the word of God and we
don't have now. Jesus physically here at church.
OK, but spiritually speaking, he.
Is with us. When we gather, but even.
Probably. More in line or more in context
when we. Preach the word of God.
Jesus is speaking to us. When we.
Read the Word of God. When we sing the word of God,
when we hear. It out loud this is.
Jesus talking to us now I'm not saying all of my words
specifically, especially when I tell my.
Stories and stupid jokes are. God, So don't get that wrong.
I'm not a prophet. There's no such thing as a
prophet anymore. I work for a nonprofit
organization. You know, we don't believe in
prophets anymore. But the word of God preached is
as if God is speaking. To your heart and your soul.
When it is done truthfully and accurately.
Now there's a lot of false. Preaching.
We'll get to that later. So then.
How does it work we? In somehow, some way, need to be
desperate to get our friends and family in front of Jesus.
Meaning get them to church, get them to a hearing of some
preaching or. Bring Jesus.
To them by expounding on scripture.
Yourself. Learning it from church,
learning it in your discipleship groups, and then being able to.
Read these words. And tell the people and even
praying you can intercede for another person by praying and
saying. Lord, I'm trying to get.
This person to you and obviously God.
Is is everywhere all? At once and so.
But you're you're. You're you're.
Coming to God on their. Behalf that's.
What these guys are doing, this guy could not get there on his
own. People need other people to lead
them to Jesus and to be desperate.
To do so. So my question is, do we have?
That type of faith do we think the power of the preached word
of God. Can change his soul.
Do we? Pray with enough faith to
believe that God can save a Sinner as he saved.
US because that is the way that it works.
Romans 10/17, one of my favorite.
Verses that I always have to go back to is that.
When we're thinking about how. Does God save people like?
We know it's through the crucifixion and faith.
Like. Faith in Christ and Him dying
for our sins. That's how He.
Saves people, but how does it work?
In time. Well, God uses something and
it's. Called a call.
Before someone repents and believes they have to be.
Called they have to hear the word.
Nobody just believes out of nowhere, not hearing anything
that's not. How God does it?
Even if there was some kind of supernatural working where God.
Was was. Leading a person or you've heard
sometimes that you know, maybe in the Middle East or in Muslim
countries that they get dreams they're not necessarily getting
saved in the dream, but they're getting they're getting drawn
and pulled to go listen to. The word preached out loud.
And listen to someone who can explain it to them.
This is how it works. This is biblically how it.
Works, and I know that there are some people who might disagree.
With that but this? Is where I come back.
To this verse. Romans 10/17 So faith comes from
hearing and hearing. Through the word of Christ, this
is how faith. Comes about.
God does it this way. It has to have a call.
Again, I I I make fun of this quote by Saint Francis of Assisi
who says share the Gospel and if.
If possible, use words. Well, that's ridiculous.
And he's talking about. Do good works out.
There in the world and maybe. People will see Christ.
In you but no. It just doesn't work that way
without the the audible call. Nobody's going to see it, man.
You know that Christian really takes.
Care of their yard. Really.
Well, they must know Jesus, you know.
Or look at look. You know, look at.
Look at how they drive. The speed limit all the time
down our Rd. It might help that they know
you're a Christian and they see that you.
Live a a godly life. But it's not enough to get them
saved. They need to hear, do you have
enough faith to share with them? And again, it doesn't have to be
our own. Our own.
Words. And that's why.
I always tell people, what should I say?
To someone and it's like. Well, there's all these words.
All you got to do is just try to.
Open it up and like. Oh, Jesus said this.
Here and read. This because the word does the
work. That's the other way it works is
that God uses. His own word to bring about that
faith. Isaiah 5511 So shall my word.
Be that goes out. From my mouth it shall not
return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
Not a word. Falls to.
The ground without God having. Used it for its purpose.
Now, people will reject. We know that probably most of
the time, but and we know that God is sovereign and, and and
it's not just by humans own capability for them to
understand these things that they come to faith.
But we must understand that people come to faith by a call,
and that comes from us having enough faith to get our friends.
To Jesus, who, by the way, is the word of God.
Made flesh. There's so much that what that
means by the way and I can't get to it but.
The word of God. He is the communication
physically from God to us that we could comprehend.
He became human. The word of God is.
Something that you should. Revere that you should have
respect for that. You should believe that.
There's power in the word. A quote.
That might help us understand this from John Calvin, he says.
We owe to scripture. The same reverence that we owe
to. God, because it has proceeded.
From him alone and has nothing belonging to man mixed with it
this. Is what you would call.
Comes from the doctrine of. Scripture is that all scripture
is God. Breathed.
And it was. It was written down.
As the Holy. Spirit carried along men to
write it down. It's perfect.
It's not like some of God's ideas, some of man's ideas, and
we mixed. It together.
No. This is all God's.
Truth being controlled when it was written, so much so that
there are no errors, do. We have that type of faith.
In. God's Word that we would read
it. To them, say it to them, invite
them to come and hear it. And I'll tell you what, there's
a great opportunity next week. Easter, by the way, a lot of
people for. Some reason, and maybe you were
one of those. Maybe you came to faith.
Because you started. To come and come into church on
Easter. But people.
Come to church on. Christmas and Easter, we call
them creasters, you know, and they do that, you know, I don't
know, out of some kind of like maybe religious obligation, it's
been built into their, you know, kind of culture or history,
family history. They come on Christmas and
Easter and that's. That's why we do.
We make a big. Deal of Easter?
Well, most. Importantly, because what it
really is is Resurrection Day. Jesus rose from the dead on a
Sunday and one day. A year we celebrate.
That around the time that that we think it possibly could have
happened on the calendar and it's OK.
To celebrate those types of holidays.
But the other reason is that we know that.
There's a lot of people that got God uses this for people that
are lost that I. I can't tell you all the reasons
why people are coming to church on that day.
Maybe they. Got dragged to church.
And they didn't want to go, maybe.
They're there because they're desperate.
Maybe it's because the friend brought them, but that.
Could be you do? We have enough faith to invite
them. Secondly, we need to in order to
help people. Get saved out of workspace.
Religion because we need to. Realize that false.
Religion minimizes Jesus and we need to be diligent about
knowing the true. Jesus so that.
We can warn them of the false teachings about him.
It goes on and says and behold, some of the scribes said to
themselves, this man is blaspheming.
But Jesus, knowing their hearts, said, Why do you think evil in
your hearts? Jesus has.
Come to his own people. Mind you, the Jewish faith was
in the beginning. Set up by God, He chose a
people. To represent him to the.
World and he had told. Them time and time again, I'm
I'm coming. Even though you reject my
prophets and and kill them, I'm coming.
Finally, myself. I'm coming.
The sun is coming, the Messiah is coming, and he will.
Set all things right, he. Will come.
To forgive you of your. Sins and they've missed it,
they've missed it. They've missed his mercy and
compassion. His.
Power the religious people. Reject him for not fitting into
their made-up system. Because what did they do?
They even corrupted the system that God established.
They. Corrupted it, did you know?
That the Bible has 6. 113 Old Testament laws in command.
Some of those things are moral, some of them are ceremonial,
some of them. Are civil, we say.
Definitely the moral commands. Still.
Transferred to the New
Testament, the ceremonial ones. Christ fulfilled those the
civil. Ones there's some good
principles in there, but don't. Fully apply to us what the
Pharisees. Did of Judaism was add thousands
of laws on top of these 613 laws.
Because they they. Wanted to make sure that they
never broke any of. God's laws so.
They made-up their own way of being protected from breaking
God's laws, and maybe that starts from the right.
Heart, right? But that's where.
Legalism comes from it's like. OK, God's Word says this, but
we're going to take it further or God says this.
And we're going to. But we're going to say.
Oh, that's not a big deal. There's two sides to this.
Thing with religions that minimize Jesus, it's overdoing
it with legalism and under under preaching repentance and
following the Lord's commands. Anyway, they call this guy.
They call Jesus a blasphemer. Because they reject that that he
has the. Power to forgive sins, if you if
you remember. He had just said.
The the crazy thing is about this story is they bring this
guy on the the. Cot to.
Jesus, and instead of Jesus healing him right there.
What did he? Say, he said, my son, your sins
are forgiven. Now, you can only imagine what's
going on in everybody's head because they might, you know,
some of them did believe that he was the Messiah, and probably.
Got it. A lot of people were like, what
does? That mean, you know, I was
coming here for a healing. I was coming here.
For you to do. Something for me and you're
telling me my sins are forgiven? The Pharisees are like.
Whoa, wait a minute. They know that this has
implications. To it because later we'll we'll
see that it. Says only God can forgive sins.
But they're they're. Saying he's a blasphemer.
Why? Because blasphemy means to
slander or revile, to speak in an irreverent or impious manner.
To speak. Lightly or profanely about
sacred things. And in this instance, if Jesus
wasn't God. He would be guilty of.
Blasphemy of of basically bringing God down to his own
level, speaking lightly of it or profanely of it, reviling God,
abusing the holiness and. Glory of God.
By making it common. And that's so, as I said.
There are examples on both. Sides of this of how?
Religion. Either is too LAX or too
legalistic. We're we're either irreverent.
And we think it's, you know. Jesus.
Jesus is good with. Everything I do in my life and
he loves me and he doesn't want me to change anything, do
anything. I don't need to even look into
my own heart. I don't even need to agree with
sin, but sin is sin as long as I just mentally.
Have this. Ascent of who Jesus is and never
change anything and nothing ever happens in my life and I
continue to sin nonstop and feeling no remorse that's OK and
that's. The type of Jesus.
That some people preach that. It's.
There's no forsaking sin. There's no following after
Christ. There's no joining in with His
mission and what He's doing with His Church on earth.
There's no. There's no loving him back and
we know that. That's just erroneous and.
I would say that our. Country and all over the.
World there are churches that to.
Try to reach more people and these what I'd call seeker
sensitive. Churches to try to.
Reach more people They really. Leave a lot of stuff.
Out they really just won't say a lot of the things we have been
walking verse by verse through Matthew and what I've found.
Is Jesus. Is a pretty intense guy, he is.
He's also more loving, compassionate, gracious, kind,
and powerful than you could ever imagine.
But he also. Challenges and when you walk
through. The word verse by verse.
You're not leaving anything out, you get to.
Hear all that God has for you. You get to hear the whole
counsel of God. But but there are churches where
it's like. We're going to jump from.
Topic to topic. And we're going to do the things
that we believe. The.
Seekers, Not even the believers. But the seekers?
How can we get them in and fill these seats?
How can we? What's interesting to them?
You know, let's do. A pop psychology series.
You know, and then. Let's do oh, this.
One drives me nuts. Is the.
At the movie series. There are a lot of churches that
it's like they take they'll. The newest movie that's out,
we're going to do a sermon on the plot line of the movie and
sometimes. They dress up like the.
Superhero in the movie they. Got their whole their whole
stage. Is this background of this this
movie right? I could go on and on.
This is a pet peeve of mine. If you didn't know, that's the
that's irreverent. Honestly, you're bringing all
this common worldly stuff in and you don't believe the first
point that it's. The word of God that saves
people. And that it's if you just get
them to Jesus, not all this pop psychology, not just kind of
bait and switching them. That's not how it works if you
believed in the word. Of God you would give.
Them the word of God and if you had a.
Proper fear of the Lord or respect of the Lord you'd be.
Like I'm going to do this in in in a in a.
Reverent way by the way. You know, one of the things that
on our website we we came up with these kind of three phrases
reverent. Worship Biblical.
Teaching faithful community. And that's what we mean when we
say. Reverent worship is like we.
Want to and we want to. Keep it biblical, we.
Want to keep it within? God's will we.
Want to worship in the ways that he's?
Said to I don't want to keep taking artistic license to the
the. Extremes of now I.
Look just like the world. I do not believe.
That that's what God's will is for His church.
We are to look like separate to some degree, weirdos.
You know, to the unbelievers. Like boy, they're weird.
You know. They follow the laws they have.
Well manicured I'm just kidding that's not that is not it right
it's no they they don't they don't join in with in the jokes
at work and and they. They have their.
Schedules laid out so much so that they they make.
Sure that corporate worship is a.
Priority and they're always meeting and they're always
studying the Bible and they're always praying and they're
praying at meals and it's like. These people are just weird.
You know, to the world. Right.
That's a good thing, because we don't care what the world.
Thinks I care what God. Thinks even more so than trying
to reach people with some bait and switch tactic now.
The other side. Is the legalism adding all kinds
of things that God did not say? That's where we have.
A lot of false religions, right? Every other religion that you
can think of. That we're close to is the fault
of works. Based religion, meaning that
we've we've added now these. Extra steps to get to the Lord.
We've got to not only follow the Bible.
But this other book, this. Other book.
And then we've got to believe that.
The Pope or the prophet or the. President and his writings are.
Equal to scripture. And, and and bring all that into
account and that's all keeping people.
Separated from God as well. False.
Religion minimizes Jesus, and it minimizes them on both sides.
If you think you. Have to work your way or follow
the law to get to Jesus. Or join a religion and do all of
its sacraments to be worthy. What are you doing?
You are minimizing Christ on the cross.
You're saying that he's not enough.
You're saying that he's not powerful enough, he's not big
enough, and that his death wasn't sufficient.
And far be it from any of us to ever.
Think that or say that that's. Blasphemy.
That is heresy. Jesus is enough.
We need to get in front of Him, hear his words, understand how
big. He truly is.
He is God, everybody. Wants to become just a.
A teacher these days, though, I've.
Noticed it you know you're you're on on YouTube or
Instagram or Facebook and even athletes and actors and famous
people, they might all of a sudden.
Get a taste for Jesus. And although they're not
qualified because they barely know anything, they're spending
minutes or hours doing videos about teaching Christians.
What the Bible? Says and how to live.
Everybody wants to be a teacher. Everybody wants and this.
Is where Where? We're scared of religion.
We're like. I don't have to follow anybody
or do anything. I can just me and my Bible.
You know, me and my Bible go up to the mountains and I, I don't.
Meet a lot of people that take their Bible.
Up to the mountains, but me and my Bible alone and I don't need
church, I don't need any organized way of devotion.
And what ends up happening is they themselves fall into false
teaching and all kinds of beliefs because they're not
believing that God. Did leave a structure, He did
leave. A church he did leave.
His body here on earth and there is a whole.
History of the Church that we can go.
Back and look at and we can say here's where they got it wrong.
Here, here and here, and here's. Where they fought bad teaching.
Here and here, and we don't have to reinvent the wheel.
James 31. Not many of you should become
teachers, my brothers, for you know that.
We who teach will be. Judged with a greater strictness
and Jude 110 tells us. That false teachers will be
judged in. Hell, Jude 110 But these people
blasphemy all that they do not understand blasphemy, and they
are destroyed. By all that they.
Like unreasoning, animals understand instinctively they
are. Outside of the church, but.
Wanting to make their way in, maybe even start their own
church, right? But Jesus is who we.
Follow and we do it his. Way.
In Mark's version of the story. Of this passage it says.
Now some of the scribes were sitting there questioning in
their hearts, why does this man? Speak like that he is.
Blaspheming. Who can forgive sins but God
alone? You know what?
They're partially right here. Only God can forgive sins.
Now they're wrong about calling Jesus a blasphemer, but only God
can forgive sins, and that's. What this story is about, that
is what this story is about, Christ has the authority to
raise up. Sinners from spiritual paralysis
will go on in the passes. For which is easier to say your.
Sins are forgiven or to say rise and walk, but that you may know
that the son of man has authority on earth to forgive
sins he then said to the. Paralytic rise Pick up your.
Bed and go home and he rose and went home, and when the crowd.
Saw it, they were afraid. And they glorified God, who had
given such authority to men, So he in these.
First parts of these verses. He's he's almost reasoning with
them like. Why are you?
Why are? You confused.
Why do you have this? Wrong.
Which is easier for? Somebody can just say your sins
are forgiven. Like what's the big deal with
that? Compared to what I'm about to
do, that's what he's saying. I'm not just saying I have.
The authority. I will prove it to you.
And he's a man of action and of proof, not just of talk.
And he makes this man. Rise.
He is proving that he is God in the flesh, mercifully.
And by the way, just so you know, this guy does absolutely
nothing. Here's where we get.
Rid of workspace religion. Here he did nothing.
His friends. Brought him on a cot and we
don't have any. Record of the guy.
Saying a single thing. He didn't come and say let me
pass the test, Jesus, let me say this magical incantation in the
right formula and hope you'll save me.
It doesn't. Say, he said a single.
Thing. But Jesus looks at him
mercifully and wants to bless him by forgiving his sins, which
is more important than healing him, but using him as an
example, showing he has the authority to even do so.
And this man represents. Our state.
You want to get saved. Out of a works based.
Religion or get saved at all. Then you have to come to Christ.
However you got there. With bringing nothing with 0.
Ability to do anything because that's what this this guy's
picture. Is meant for.
Us to see this is called. Doctrinally, total inability.
Ephesians 21 says that. All people.
Are dead in their trespasses and
sins, the Psalms. Tells us that we were.
Born in our iniquity and sin. We are spiritually dead.
And no one, no one can even reason their way to believing
who. Jesus is.
It is a miracle. It is a gift.
In fact, I love this verse. John 644 No one can come to me
unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him
up on the last day. You see?
What's going on here is this guy has nothing that he can do.
For the Lord. No qualifications, basically
useless. Now what?
Does that do to yours? And my pride, did you come here
today thinking, you know what, I could I have some things to
offer to Jesus if I add myself to what's going on here?
I mean he. Could really use.
Me, you know I, I. Could really do some great
things for the. Lord, and then He'll have favor
on me, and then maybe if I do it well enough, I can get to
heaven. But we know how.
That track record works out is you start.
With maybe some, well, intentions and then what
happens? You just fail over and over
again. And then what ends up happening
and then you leave. You just never come back for a
while. Just like you just feel.
Guilty that you can't measure up, you can't do the things
that. You thought you could do for the
Lord just. Rest, though, in the fact that
he's not asking anything of you. As far as it goes with.
Salvation. He's doing it all.
No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws.
One of my favorite analogies of this was by Vodi Baucom, who?
Said it's like this. You know we think of salvation.
As we're out there. Drowning in the the ocean,
that's our sin. We're in our sin and Jesus comes
along and he throws a. Life raft or a life preserver
and he's like just. Swim to it, you know, just swim
to it. Grab it.
And once you grab. It that's.
You doing the work of repentance and faith and and and and trying
to understand and study and all of that and if you just.
Will do those. Things then you will be.
Saved. But then he says, but Vodi.
Says this, but here's the. Problem Dead men don't grab
things we can't even reach. For the life preserver.
This paralytic cannot even reach out his hand to Jesus.
That was you and me. We can't come here and say that
I was so humble and I was so ready and I did this, this and
this and and now Jesus has mercy on me and I'm so thankful to him
and me. That's not how it works, however
you came to. Him.
It was a miracle. It probably happened because
somebody was had enough faith in Jesus and the Word.
Of God that they. Told you about him and.
Drug you to church or God? Drew you somehow to.
Hear the word of. God and eventually out of
nowhere, you're like, I understand.
I never understood a single thing.
It was all so terribly. Boring when I was a.
Child or or this or that, but all of a.
Sudden something flipped and it was like.
Wow, I I heard every word you said, preacher.
I can't believe it made sense and all the sudden you have
conviction and. This is how God works by.
Grace, you have been saved. I love how.
Ephesians 2 goes on. It says but.
God being rich in mercy. Because of the great love with
which he loved. Us, even when we were dead in
our. Trespasses.
Made us alive together with Christ.
When we were dead, He made. Us alive by his grace.
And his mercy. He was saved by faith.
And this is not of your own doing.
It's a gift of God, not a result of works that no man may boast.
This is what this. Story is pointing to and.
Here's how. Luke 526 this all also in Luke
and I just wanted to pull. This out as we close what how
Luke's. Version ends the story.
An amazement sees them all and they glorified God and we're
filled with awe, saying we have seen extraordinary things today.
Let me tell you this, when you see a Christian, a real true
Christian, you've seen an extraordinary miracle walking
you and me. When you look at your own life,
you can say you know what I am a miracle.
I was as good as dead. I was like this paralytic.
I bring nothing, I have nothing to offer, and yet God rose me
up. He revived my soul.
I want to follow Him now, and I don't do it perfectly.
And I slip and I fall, but the difference?
Is is that I love? Him and I need him.
I'm not concerned about doing life my own way anymore.
I want to find out how he wants me to live and I'm not going to
follow the false teachings I'm going to be.
Aware of who Jesus is so. That I can fight against it.
And that's our whole Christian life as we're spent.
We're trying to fight sin, find out who Jesus is more and more,
grow closer to him, and trusting though that he holds us in the
palm of his hand, we are safe and we are going to make it to
heaven. This is an extraordinary thing.
Do not lose the passion, don't lose the excitement, don't lose
the the miracle of your own salvation.
Allow that. To be the fuel for how you
follow. Him.
The rest of your life close with this.
Get your friends to Jesus next week and beyond.
Get right. Doctrine so you can point out
false religion that always minimizes the person and work of
Jesus. Christ.
Realize that only. God has the ability.
And the authority to save sinners.
And he does it. By the Spirit and through His
Word, let's pray. Oh Lord, we are so thankful God
that you. You reveal to us.
Week in and week out, day in and.
Day out, every hour. Your mercy, your kindness, Your
love. For.
Us, we are unworthy sinners, and yet you came and.
Saved us by grace. We don't deserve it.
We bring nothing. We have an inability or we had
an inability to come to you. Thank.
You, God, for those of us who are saved, who have placed
their. Faith in Christ.
That we have your. Spirit, and now we have an
ability to follow you. Help us, God to do that.
Help us to represent you out there in the world.
With our. Actions and with our mouth.
Help us to share the Word of God with.
The people around us that need to hear it and believe have
enough faith to know that it. Will be you and you.
Alone that does the miracle in them, but you will use.
Us, so use us, I pray. And Father, if there are any of
those who are dead in their trespasses and sins, spiritually
paralyzed, they don't know you. They've never.
Understood. I pray you'd give them that
ability. Now through the Holy.
Spirit. And help them to trust in you,
in Jesus name, Amen.