I want to invite your attention to the Gospel, According to Luke
the 12th chapter and we want to begin reading.
There in verse 49, the words of Jesus spoke in a long, long time
ago, Luke chapter 12 beginning there, in verse 49, from the new
King James, Jesus said I came to send fire on the earth and how I
wish you were already kindled but I have a baptism to be
baptized with and how distressed I am until it is accomplished.
Why do you suppose that I came to give peace on Earth.
I tell you not at all, but rather division for from now on
five and one house will be divided three against two and
two against three father will be divided against son and son
against father, mother against daughter and daughter, against
mother mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and
daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
You know, there's a popular perception in the world today
concerning Jesus Christ. That Jesus was a man of Love who
came to bring only peace to the entire world.
In fact, a very popular song that is sung around the 25th of
December was a message that is that Jesus came to bring peace
on Earth and Goodwill toward men.
That is message was peace through love But you know, even
the Jews have this expectation. When the Messiah came, they
thought that he would bring peace and that peace would come
to every one of them but folks, Jesus, absolutely shattered.
That expectation in verse 51. When Jesus said, do you suppose
that I came to give peace on Earth?
I tell you not at all, but rather division for a little.
While this morning, I want to talk about the idea that Jesus
was and is The great divider. And what did he mean?
When he said those things? as we read in your hearing, just
a moment ago and verse 51 of Luke chapter 12, Jesus says, do
you suppose that I came to give peace on Earth?
I tell you not at all but rather division.
When Jesus said that statement, as I mentioned, just a moment
ago and you're hearing Jesus literally shattered, all Jewish
expectations regarding the Messiah, for example, the
psalmist David would record in Psalm 72 that in his days.
The righteous would flourish with an abundance of Peace.
Even a man by the name of Zacharias and you might remember
him, Zacharias was the father of John, the Baptist.
Who was the Forerunner that went before?
Jesus Christ to prepare the world for the kingdom and
Zacharias? He said this.
He said when the Messiah would come, he would visit and notice
and he would guide our feet into the way of peace.
Do you remember the words of Jesus, that were spoken after
that woman, and Luke chapter 7 and verse 50.
The Bible says that she came and she was a very sinful woman, I
don't know all the things that she was guilty of, and, you
know, it really doesn't matter. We categorize, and we classify
sin, but the Bible does not, but we do understand that the people
that knew her recognized her as a sinful woman.
And the Bible says in Luke chapter 7 and we can only
picture in Our Minds Eye. And as she comes to the feet of
Jesus, his feet were Dusty. No doubt.
He wore sandals and they didn't have asphalt and concrete like
we have today. So, when people would walk, they
would walk in Dusty ground. So, no, doubt the feet of Jesus
were Dusty in the Bible says, she recognizing who he was and
all that, he was she fell down at his feet and she was crying
so hard that the tears, drip down to the feet of Jesus and
the Bible. Will says that she washed his
feet with her tears and then she dried his feet with her hair.
I said all that to say this, remember what Jesus said to her.
He said, go in peace, he said thy faith, hath saved Thee the
time that Jesus healed, the woman that had a hemorrhage.
He told her go in peace, Jesus said, in John 14 and 27, he
said, Peace, I leave with you. My peace, I give to you.
Not as the world gives. Do I give it to you, let not
your heart. Be troubled.
Neither be afraid. Furthermore, in John chapter 16
Jesus said these things I've spoken to you that in me ye that
you might believe may have peace.
So saying all of that, when Jesus said that he came to bring
division, no doubt it shattered their expectations but you know
there was another reason to do you.
Remember when all the prophetic accounts that speak of Jesus
They speak of him as being the Prince of Peace.
He was the one that would bring peace.
Let me just say this as an aside, you know, the Pharisees
and all of those religious leaders that rejected Jesus.
There was one thing about the Pharisees in the midst of all
the bad stuff that Jesus said about the Pharisees, not
everything was bad. In fact there was one aspect of
their life that Jesus actually recognizes and praised Jesus
says what they say do it. But don't do as they do.
Don't Follow their example. Why is that?
Because they say and they do not what was he praising the
Pharisees for. He was praising the Pharisees
for knowing the word of God. They understood that now they
wanted to broaden their phylacteries and take these
pouches of scripture for everybody to look at them, and
praise them and recognize how spiritual that they were.
And Jesus condemned that But he certainly didn't condemn, the
fact that they understood the law and they understood the word
of God saying all that, the Pharisees knew that Jesus would
come to bring peace. What's the problem?
The problem was those Jews didn't understand, the kind of
peace that Jesus was going to bring.
They thought that Jesus was going to bring National peace.
Do you remember in the last week of the life of Jesus Jesus comes
up from Jericho. And the Bible says, as he's
traveling along. And by the way, from Jericho to
Jerusalem, was an upward climb that ascended or so I'm told
about 3,000 feet. And as you can, as you went up
there, it went about 15 miles worth of rough, rough and rocky
road. Do you remember what happened in
the last week of the life of Jesus?
He's traveling to Jerusalem, he had a mission to do.
He understood. He would be crucified, but he
understood all of that and people were walking along, have
you ever stopped to consider all of those that did not recognize
him as the great Messiah and the Christ?
And all of that they were following Jesus to Jerusalem.
Anyway. You know why?
They misunderstood the kind of mission that he was going to do
and they misunderstood about his kingdom.
They thought that he was going to establish an Earthly Kingdom
and they thought he was going to bring National peace to them.
And you know, by the way, contrary to what those Jews
said, when they wanted Jesus crucified, when they said to
pilate, when pilate said, behold your king and they said, we have
no King. But Caesar make no mistake about
it. Hated Caesar.
They couldn't stand Caesar. And they thought that when Jesus
was going to be the king, he would remove all the physical
National oppression, and all the political oppression, and they
didn't understand what his role was.
In fact, in Luke chapter 1 and verse. 74, this is Zacharias
again. This is the father of John the
Baptist and he said this To grant us.
That we being delivered from the hand of enemies, might serve him
without fear. Zacharias was talking about
something else. He was talking about, spiritual
deliverance, from spiritual enemies.
Now, how do I know that look and Luke chapter 1?
Let's look at these two verses together.
This is how I know that. Look one 74 and 75.
This is spiritual deliverance from spiritual enemies.
He goes on to say a saying that verse 474 to grant us that we
being delivered from the hand of our enemies might serve him
without fear in Holiness and righteousness before him all the
days of our life. So the promise was the result of
something spiritual. It was the Result of Salvation
now. John the Baptist came.
He was the Forerunner came before Jesus and he came to
establish. He came to tell the world that
Jesus was going to establish a kingdom.
And that kingdom was a kingdom of peace.
Now, even Zacharias. Reflects on the idea.
It wasn't National peace. It wasn't physical piece.
It was spiritual peace. In fact, what did Jesus do?
He came to this world and did the very same thing?
His mission began when he was about 30 years old.
He is Ministry lasted about three years until 33 ad and he
preached Peace, A kingdom of Peace, but that was spiritual
peace. Now, very important.
The kingdom that Jesus talked about in the peace that Jesus
offered. And the peace that Jesus offers
today. Does not come to just anyone.
Let me say that again. The peace that the Lord offers
does not come to just anyone, it comes to all of those that obey
the gospel and live according to the word of God. remember my
sermon that I preached a few years ago on peace and every
circumstance of life, Paul writing to those at best
salonica, talked about the idea. He said that I would I'm going
to pray that you might have peace, that the God of Peace
would Grant you peace in every circumstance of your life.
Hey, you know, there are things in life that are not peaceful.
There are things in life that are difficult.
There are things that you will go through that.
You don't feel very peaceful about and if you reflect only on
the physical things in your life, to determine whether you
have peace of mind or not, then you're going to be all over the
map and that's not the peace. The Lord was talking about.
Now I want to have the piece that not only comes from the
Lord, but I want the piece that's going to.
I'm going to be able to use in every aspect of my life.
What kind of piece is that it is spiritual peace.
It is the peace, that passes all understanding.
Here it is. Let me tell you what spiritual
peace is. Spiritual peace is to have peace
of mind, to know, and understand that everything is right.
In the eyes of God, regarding our relationship and regarding
the status of my soul And you know what?
It's a matter of understanding to that regardless of difficult
times that God is in control of my life in time and he's in
control in eternity. And that's what Paul was talking
about when he said about the peace that surpasses all
understanding spiritual peace but this piece is conditional on
obedience. But you know when we talk about
the Jews, Choose their rejection of Israel was fixed.
The religious leaders had rejected, Jesus.
They were plotting his death. There were people that would
join in screaming for his blood. There were even those that said
that he did Miracles and perform Miracles by the power of the
devil, remember, Matthew, 12, a few weeks ago when he cast out a
demon from that young man. And the Bible says that some
said, oh, could this not be the son of David?
Meaning the Messiah A' and the Pharisees said, no, it's not the
son of David, he does. So by the power of Beelzebub or
the power of the devil now, what's my point in that my point
is they rejected Jesus as the Messiah that he was and is they
rejected him as the Savior, and when that happened, please get
this, they forfeited, their Monumental opportunity to have
peace, spiritual peace, at the Lord offers Their blindness of
their minds and ignorance and unbelief.
Had put them in a state of rejection.
So instead of uniting all of mankind in the Kingdom, the
Lord, divides them. And we're going to talk about
the extent of that division later, but the Lord divides
them. How do I know that verse 51?
Do you suppose that I came to give peace on Earth?
I tell you not at all, but rather division.
So, the first thing we notice is this, John, the Baptist came and
he preached about the kingdom of Peace, it would be a spiritual
peace. Jesus did the Very same thing,
he came and preached the kingdom of Peace, spiritual peace.
It is conditional on our obedience beginning first to the
gospel and then obedience to the word of God, all the days of our
life and that brings us to the second part.
I want to talk about the dividing event.
Jesus came a said I came to bring fire and what was he
talking about? I came to bring fire.
He said, do you think that I came to bring peace is not at
all. I came to bring fire.
Look at verse 49 and 50 this read those together.
And they're really three points to our lesson.
Verse 49 and 50. I came to send forth on the
earth and how I wish you were already kindled but I have a
baptism to be baptized with and how to stress them, I until it
is accomplished. Now, what Jesus was doing is he
was dividing all of humanity and he's putting all of humanity
into classifications of people. And I want you to understand
this, please, would you do this understand that?
The word of God, only describes Herbs two categories to people.
That's it. We're going to find that they
are in the saved and they are the Lost.
Now Jesus says, I came that phrase right there is more than
just a simple verb. Denoting, an action.
For example, I might say I came to church I came over there.
I might say, I have come from this place and all that is,
that's a, that's a verb talking about an action that I did.
But did you know that every single time and you can trace
every aspect of this in the New Testament, every single time
that Jesus said I came or I have come, it was a technical term,
describing his mission every time.
It described his mission and it described his purpose.
So what's that mean, it means that his purpose was according
to Jesus was to bring fire. Meet me noticed, a couple of
these times when Jesus said this about, I have come or I came.
He said, first of all, he said, I have come that you may have
life And have it more abundantly.
He said I came not to destroy the law or the prophets.
I came not to destroy, but to fulfill, he said I came to seek
and save that, which is lost. So, when we put it all together,
what did Jesus do he came to give life?
He came to give light, he came to bring peace and he came to
seek and save And if you don't though except the things that he
offers Jesus says, I have come to bring fire on the earth.
I need to make a point here about fire and I need to make a
point about Luke chapter 3 and verse 16.
Do you remember when John the Baptist was preaching there and
there were those in the audience and we're not sure all that were
there in the audience, but you remember what happened?
John the Baptist is describing. The difference between himself.
And Jesus and he said the one that's coming after me, as I
paraphrase is mightier than I whose shoes or sandals as some
translations render it. I'm not even worthy to loose or
or bind or whatever. I'm not even worthy of that.
And then he says I baptize you with water talking about the
baptism of repentance before X2. I baptize you with water but You
are going to be baptized with the Holy Ghost and with fire.
Have you ever heard somebody say?
Well, you know what, I want to be baptized with the Holy Ghost
and with fire, I what what John the Baptist said.
What did he mean? Well, first of all, if somebody
says today they want to be baptized with the baptism of the
holy spirit, it's too late. It's not going to happen.
In fact, in all of mankind, in all of history, even in the days
of Miracles, baptism of the Holy Spirit, only happened two times.
It happened in Acts chapter 2, as the Bible says, a fulfillment
of that, which is spoken by the prophet, Joel, that my spirit
would be poured out over All Flesh and baptism of the Holy
Spirit. On the day of Pentecost, came to
12 men on the day of Pentecost, the apostles Yes, and they spoke
in tongues as the spirit. Gave them utterance utterance,
that's the first time. Second time, acts 10, And the
baptism of the Holy Spirit came to the household of Cornelius.
As a sign, please understand it was for a sign and it was for a
sign to show to the Jews that the Gentiles are also going to
be in the Kingdom. And that's why Peter says how
could we how could we keep from baptizing them or forbid water
when they receive the same thing that we did?
Meaning back on the day of Pentecost that was a sign.
Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Only happened twice now, what
about fire? I've heard people say I want to
be baptized with fire. If you say that you want to be
baptized with fire, you don't you don't understand what that
means. That means judgment.
That's what John was talking about.
He said, because of your willful rejection.
Some of you are going to be baptized by fire.
Meaning judgment Hey, you know fires a very interesting thing.
Fire does two things. Fire consumes that which is
combustible and fire also purifies.
For example, you can throw something that is flammable and
you can throw it on the fire and it's going to burn it up.
It's combustible. It destroys that, which is
combustible. But if you take gold and you
subject gold to the fire, all the impurities rise to the top
and they scrape off the impurities.
And what do you have? You got pure gold?
Do you see the point? The point is the fire that Jesus
was talking about was going to do two things.
It was going to destroy or condemn one that is combustible.
And the other that is going to be pure with a pure heart, it's
going to purify that person. And you know, that's exactly
what the Bible talks about about the gospel.
The gospel, by the way. Is the instrument of fire that
Jesus used? It is the instrument that he's
talking about. The gospel does one of two
things it saves or offends based upon your and my response to it.
So the gospel is going to burn me up if I disregard it and it's
going to save me if I accept it. Isn't that great?
Somebody might say, well, you know that's just foolish yet.
The Bible says about that, that God chose the foolishness of
preaching to save them that believe now in verse 49.
He said this. And how I wish it were already
kindled. That's the new King James.
And that's really in a form of a statement, but the King James
renders it in the form of a question and what will I if if
it be already kindled? Now some say that Jesus was
speaking about the fact that there are already conflicts
among the people over Doctrine and all of that.
And while that is true, that's not what he's talking about.
When he said that I came in other words, it's my mission.
It's my purpose to do. What to bring fire on the earth.
What is that? That is the that is the
instrument of fire is the gospel.
And how I wish it were already kindled.
If you start a fire, what do you do?
You get kindling? You get Twigs, you get bark, you
get whatever, you have to get to get the fire going and then it
becomes great flames. You know what Jesus was saying?
I came to bring fire, I came to be the great divider.
I came to do all of that and I wish it were already kindled and
the event that he's talking about, he's talking about his
death on the cross. The cross is the kindling.
That's going to get the fire started.
And it's the gospel fire. That's going to either purify or
punished and the Kindle there that he's talking about is his
own death. He said how I wish it were
already kindled. Now how do I how do I know that?
That's what it's talking about. Look at Luke 12 and verse 50.
Verse 15. But I have a baptism to be
baptized with and how distressed I am until it is accomplished.
Now, Jesus was talking about an event.
He was talking about a terrible event and make no mistake about
it. Guest cemani was not the only
time when Jesus was an Agony about the cross Let me just
mention one little thing and made, give you a little better
appreciation for Jesus. You know, Jesus lived about 33
years. But his entire life was a
Perpetual Gethsemane. He knew every day of his life,
what his purpose or his mission was he knew that his life would
have to be in view of his death and it would have to be
absolutely perfect, so he can be the sin sacrifice of all
mankind. He knew that.
What do we do when we when were tempted give in mess up?
Make mistakes fall down, have to get back up, have to ask
forgiveness, that's us. What about Jesus?
The Bible says he was in all points tempted.
Like as we are yet without sin in that great and his whole
entire existence was in view of the kindled event of the Cross,
all the days of his life. So when Jesus said my my when my
soul is in agony and he was agonizing In The Garden of
Gethsemane and his sweat, whereas it was great drops of
blood falling to the ground. That wasn't the only time he was
in agony. He was in agony because he knew
what was coming and he said and how I wish it were kindled.
He said, in verse 50 I have a baptism to be baptized with that
word. Baptism is the Same word that we
use it for its baptizo and it means to plunge.
It means to dip and it means to immerse but there's something
else. It also means overwhelm That's
what Jesus did. He did an event, he did
something that was overwhelming. That was the baptism of the
cross. He calls his suffering a
baptism. You know, that one time, he
challenged James and John remember when they wanted to be
in the cheap seats are the chief seats?
Remember the mother of zebedee's sons.
Oh, when you go in your kingdom, can I have one of my boys on
your right? One of my boys on the left.
Misunderstanding everything. You know what Jesus says in
response to that. This is beautiful, Matthew
chapter 20 and verse 22. Jesus said, but Jesus answered
and said, you do not know what you ask.
Are you able to drink the cup that I'm able to drink and get
this? Here it comes.
And be baptized with the baptism that I am to be baptized with.
Now we know he's not talking about John's baptism because we
understand in Matthew chapter 3, that was long before.
Matthew chapter 20, what happened Jesus comes on the
scene and he's going to be baptized by the baptism of John.
John says, no, no. You should baptize me.
And Jesus said, no, this is to fulfill all righteousness.
When did that happen? Matthew chapter 3?
So, when Jesus says, I have a baptism to be Baptized with it.
Can't be talked. It can't talk about and it's not
talking about John's baptism is talking about the cross.
Jesus said regarding baptism this baptism, he says and how
just stressed I am until it's accomplished.
That word distressed comes from the word soon.
A coma a and it's a verb that means to seize.
It's the same word that's used to be in the grip of Fear.
Have you ever been afraid of something in your life?
Surely you have. I don't care who you are and if
you say, I've never been afraid, you're not telling the truth or
and I say this out of respect, you don't mentally have the
capability of understanding your surroundings and your
circumstance because I guarantee you this, if you're living in
your life you've been afraid. You have been afraid of
something. Sometimes we get afraid every
day. Nothing wrong with fear.
Sometimes people say why do you keep falling?
Well, I'm afraid. Jesus lived in fear, in fact,
that's what the word distressed me.
Do you want to talk about fear? He was in fear.
He was afraid. But remember, as you've heard me
say in so many times gone by there is no such thing with of
Courage. If there is no fear, it means to
be gripped with fear. It means to be under tremendous
Relentless pressure, and he would be under that Relentless
pressure until when he's on the cross.
Everything happens. He's totally in control and he
also understood by the way. Oh, one more scripture, one more
scripture has to be. Be fulfilled.
He said it's the one about when you're going to give me the sour
wine, the vinegar. So I got one more prophecy to
fulfill. So he said, I thirst there it
is. There's the sour vinegar.
And then he said what he said, it's finished.
It's accomplished and he said to his father into thy hands I
commend or I commit my spirit. Then it says he bowed his head
as a picture of willfully submitting to his death, totally
in control. He was under the distress soon,
a coma I until it was over until he said it's finished.
And that just give you a greater appreciation for Jesus.
The Great Dividing event is to cross.
A brings us to our next Point. What extent does Jesus divide
Now, I said he's the great divider.
The dividing event is the cross. He said, that was my purpose or
my mission to do what bring fire.
What's fire? What's the instrument of fire?
It's the gospel and it's going to put two people in different
categories. If it saves, or fans based on
your response, he said, I wish it were already.
Kindled are over with and that's the cross.
But he divides. Number one in eternity.
That is so sobering to me, the division is in eternity.
Very quickly in verse 42 of our text.
In Luke 12. I'm just going to go through
this really quickly just by way of a narrative aspect of that.
Jesus tells a story, now, every time Jesus gave a parable, his
Parables were always true. In fact, for a parable to be
true and parables are laying alongside a comparison.
And for a parable to be true, it had to be true on the physical
side as well as the spiritual side.
Now every aspect of every Parable that he ever preached
was true. They were equal true, physical,
and spiritual both sides. He said, I'm going to tell you a
little story. He said, master has servants and
the Masters going away and nobody knows when, but he is
going to come back. What?
The master do? He gave them something to do, he
gave them something that they were entrusted with now the thus
the master their depicts, the Lord, the Lord is going away and
the servants have responsibilities.
Now, in verse 42, it describes a faithful faithful servant, who
does what he's supposed to do and he distributes the
responsibility appropriately when the master comes back.
He's blessed. That's a picture folks.
Of someone that accepts the gospel and obeys it.
Has spiritual peace because it's conditional on your obedience to
the gospel. He is living a life in a safe
condition because he's doing what the master said, until he
comes back, what's going to happen with that person.
He's going to be rewarded, that's talking about the
Judgment when the Lord comes back.
But you know, there's a flip side of that too.
When the master comes back, there's going to be some that
are not going to be faithful in verse 46.
And I'm glad the Lord said this. Not me verse 46.
The master of that servant. This is the unprepared.
One Unfaithful will come on a day when he's not looking for
him. And at the hour, he's not aware
that get this and will cut him in two and appoint him with
portion with the unbelievers. Now the phrase cut him in two,
we do not have time to go into this but the phrase cut him into
is a term that's used throughout the Bible and it's always
talking about punishment. You're taking notes I'm going to
give you the passengers. We can't turn their 1st Samuel,
15 and 33. Daniel chapter 2 and verse 5.
Daniel chapter 3 and verse 29. Hebrews 11 and verse 37.
Now, did you see the contrast? Did you see the contrast between
the faithful and the Unfaithful? What a drastic?
Huge contrast. But that shows the difference of
the division in eternity either faithful or Unfaithful rewarded
or punishment. All right.
Now, what did I say so far? I've said there's a common
theme. I've said your obedience to the
gospel. Is what determines?
Whether you have spiritual peace?
It is the event is the cross, but that sends in the message of
Jesus, and the instrument is the gospel.
So, we have to obey that and whether we obey or not
determines, whether we are saved or the gospel offense.
Secondly, we find also that we are we must obey the gospel in
order to be saved and Jesus separates people in eternity
saved or lost really quickly really quickly.
Turn in your Bibles to First Corinthians 15.
We want to talk about what is the gospel?
This last week we're up north knocking doors.
And there was a fellow at the door.
He said, gospel is a gospel meeting.
He said gospel, I love that word gospel, good news, I love that
word too but what does it actually mean?
What does gospel mean and what does it actually mean to obey
it? Let's just look at the passages
really quickly. First Corinthians chapter 15
beginning in verse 1, moreover Brethren, I declare unto you the
gospel, which I have preached unto you which also ye have
received and wherein you stand by.
Which also, Also, you are saved. Here's a condition.
If you keep in memory, what? I preached unto you unless you
have believed in vain for I delivered unto you first of all,
how that I also received, how that Christ died for our sins,
according to the scriptures, how he was buried and how on the
third day he rose again. According to what according to
the scriptures. Now somebody might say, no, wait
a minute, you're talking about obeying the gospel that is a
historical event. Jesus died on the cross.
He was taken down and buried, and he rose from the dead, the
third day, that's a historical event.
How can somebody actually obey that first of all?
Look at Romans chapter 10, In Romans chapter 10.
The Apostle Paul missed a very, misunderstood passage to in the
world today. And beginning there in verse 13,
for whosoever, shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be
saved. And how shall they call on him
in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in
him in whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear?
Without a preacher? And how shall they preach?
Except they be said as it is written.
How beautiful are the feet of them?
them that preach the gospel of peace and bring Glad Tidings of
good things but let's go further, But they have not all
obeyed, the gospel for Isaiah, saith unto them who hath
believed our report. So faith comes by hearing and
hearing by the word of God. Now, did they hear absolutely
Verse 18, but I say, have they not heard?
Yes. Verily, their sound went out of
all the Earth and their words, unto the ends of the world.
Faith comes by hearing hearing what the gospel salvation comes
in. Obedience to the gospel.
Now look at Romans. Chapter 6.
We're talking about obeying the gospel and how do you do that?
Romans chapter 6. and verse 17, the Apostle Paul says, but God
be thanked He said, but God be thanked that you were the
servant of sin. You no longer are though why
you've done, what you've obeyed from the heart that form of
Doctrine delivered. You now, the form is exactly
what we talked about. In First Corinthians chapter 15,
what is it? It's the gospel, it's the death,
the burial, and the resurrection of Jesus.
That's what they did. They obeyed from the heart that
pattern or form All I got to figure out how to do is, do that
and I'm home. Free.
Look at Romans 6. Beginning in verse 3.
How do you do that? Know, ye not that.
So many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized
into his death. Therefore we are buried with him
by baptism into death that like as Christ was raised from the
dead by the glory of the father. Even so we also should walk in
newness of life. For if we have been planted
together in the likeness of his death, we should be also in what
the likeness of his resurrection.
If somebody might say no, wait a minute, I see that I see that
baptism is what they're talking about then obey.
The gospel is baptism, I get that.
But Frank a few passages ago, you said in Romans chapter 10,
in fact you read it right out of the Bible.
It says whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be
saved. That's true.
The question is, how do you call on the name of the Lord?
That's all we need to know. We've already proved that
obeying. The gospel is be baptized into
Christ for the remission of sins.
You obey that former pattern that Jesus did on the cross
died, buried resurrected. We've already proven that Bible
did that. All we got to figure out is what
does it mean to call on the name of the Lord?
And we're home free to in Acts chapter 22 Saul of Tarsus had
been on the Damascus Road. The Lord blinded him.
He sent him into it into town there and told him he's going to
somebody's gonna come Men, tell him what he must do.
He prayed for three days I would imagine you know you pray for
three days I've never prayed anything close to that long
sometimes sometimes we get a little drowsy or sleepy of some
brother praise for 15 minutes. Can you imagine somebody praying
for three days? Don't you think that in three
days? If something had to be said that
God, he got it. But people today say all you got
to do is say something, the Lord that's what calling on the name
of the Lord is near Home Free. But in Acts 22:16 after he had
prayed for three days ananias walks in, and what does he say?
He said what are you waiting for?
And now why tarriest thou arise and what?
And be baptized and wash away your sins?
What is it called calling on the name of the Lord?
It's obeying. The Lord.
How do you obey the Lord by obeying the gospel when you're
baptized into Christ. But finally not only not only
does Jesus divide through the instrument of the Gospel in
eternity. But the last point, he also
divides in time. Now, I'm going to tell you this,
there may be times in your life, I have seen many examples in my
life where I have known somebody that decided I want to be
baptized and they had to stand against their family for it.
I want you to understand that if you do something against your
family, it's nothing new. If you do something from a
spiritual perspective, for the Lord and for your soul and your
family doesn't like it, it has always been that way.
And it always will. In fact you know what Jesus said
he's talking about that dividing instrument of the Gospel.
You know, he says get this he said from now on Now he was
still living and he said from now on, you know, the Lord love
that phrase member when he said to his disciples from now on
you're going to be what you're going to be Fishers of Men.
In Luke 22 and 69 Jesus while anticipating his Ascension.
He said from now on the son of man will be seated at the right
hand of God in heaven. So when he says that phrase, he
means this is how it's going to be.
I don't know about you but that encourages me because, you know
what? I'm human too.
And I get discouraged like anybody and everybody else.
Oh, we get discouraged. but remember the Lord said, nope,
from now on from that long. Even families will be divided
over the truth. That's brought to the world
through the gospel. Yes folks.
The gospel divides. And it goes all the way back to
the dividing event of the cross. Back in the day of Jesus some
accepted him. Others did not some accept the
truth today. Others do not. and the reason
because is the is because the gospel is divisive You know, the
gospel is a serious problem that people that reject it.
In fact, sometimes you will be considered an outcast or a
weirdo if you obey it. People can't understand.
The standard that we live by. If we're Christians, they can't
get that. a lot of people don't understand that, what a weirdo
is that what an outcast and put you down and criticize you But
you know, it's always been that way.
Don't remember the disciples what they do to them.
Now, this has never happened to me.
I've had people bark at me and say, a little something here or
there, but I've never had this happen.
You what they did? They physically and verbally
cast them out of the synagogue's.
Now, I can't imagine when the Bible says, they were cast out
of the synagogue, I'm sure it wasn't like, you know, fellas.
I think it'd be great if you just went somewhere else.
No thanks. Appreciate your story and all
but no thanks I think you'd be better if you just don't come
back. That's not casting out the
synagogue's. They were violently cast out of
the synagogue's. You know why gospel divides It's
divisive, it's going to happen in our life.
They were social outcasts. Even today, even today.
Now, this is very sad. But Jesus said this, we have to
read it. Luke 12 and 53.
Let's look at that. Passage Father will be divided
against son. And Son against father, mother
against daughter and daughter against mother and mother-in-law
against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her
mother-in-law. You know, I read this not long
ago, that there was a story about a couple a young couple
they got married. They were trying to get start
their life together. And they had Catholic
background. They were their members of the
Catholic church, but they studied the Bible and they
realize, wait a minute. I need to follow Jesus, the way
the gospel determines that I should do.
So they had a child that was born into this world and the
Catholic parent, grandparents wanted to baptize that baby in
the Catholic church by way of sprinkling and pouring and all
of that. You know what happened?
The parents said, absolutely not.
You know what the grandparents did they said?
Well, from now on, we won't even recognize that child's existence
and they didn't even call it by name.
You want to call it it? Called him it.
Gospel, divides. Some of you have heard me.
Tell the story 1984. There was a young man with that,
has mild cerebral palsy and epilepsy that I grew up with in
high school and he came to church with us every Sunday.
One day, he decided he wanted to be baptized into Christ because
that's what the Bible says. That's how you obey the gospel
we talked about. He wanted to be baptized into
Christ. He understood enough.
Sure he did want to be brother in Christ.
I want to be saved. That's what he said.
His grandparents said. If you do this, you're out of
the will You're done, you know what he said.
Oh, I love this. Then leave me out.
Man, that's great. Sometimes we think heroes.
Are these people that do great big, huge things in life, and
change history, and all that. You know what a hero really is
somebody that stands for the truth, regardless of opposition,
whatever that may be, that's a hero.
That young man was a hero. Folks, Jesus is the great
divider. I say this in closing.
The crosses the Great Dividing event and based on our obedience
or lack thereof, tiffa gospel, which is the dividing
instrument, we are divided in eternity and we are divided even
in this life in time. But here's the question and I
want to give you, I want to give you a very encouraging bursts,
that we're going to end with right now.
Because that's really the thing we talked about the price in the
cost. Yeah, that cost a lot.
It will cost you everything to be a Christian.
Yes, it will. We are not selling a cheap
religion because the Lord didn't either.
The question isn't the price of the cost?
The question is, is it worth it? Watch this.
When we already talked about the fact, yeah, there's you're saved
or lost by so sure, being saved. But watch this, the disciples
came to Jesus and they said we have given up everything to
follow you. We're talking about giving stuff
up, they gave it all up, you know what?
They didn't go back and get their luggage, they laid it down
and went with the Lord. They gave up everything for
Jesus. So you know what they said?
They said. What about all of us that have
given up everything to follow you, this what Jesus said, In
fact, let's just read what Peter said.
First Matthew 19:27, Then Peter answered and said to him.
See we have left all to follow you there for what shall we have
verse 29. Jesus said this.
Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters, or father,
or mother, or wife or children, or lands for my name's sake.
What are you going to get? Shall receive a hundredfold and
what else? And heater and inherit eternal
life. Is it worth it?
Remember remember when Jesus? In the Book of Luke.
He was preaching to those great multitudes and there were people
that were following him for all manner of reasons.
Do you remember what happened? As he's preaching to those,
great multitude only finally said, unless you eat my flesh
and drink my blood, you shall not have eternal life.
A story about obedience there, you know, the Bible says, it
says that many of them couldn't stand it and because he said
that, the Bible says, many, many stop following him that day and
we can only picture in Our Minds Eye.
The look on the face of Jesus, and the tone in his voice, when
he turns back to his disciples and says, Will you also go away?
And Peter says to, whom shall we go for thou Hast?
The words of eternal life? Is it worth it?
It's worth it. Look what you get.
Sometimes we talk about all the things you have to give up to be
a Christian. But look what you get, you give
up everything. You give up your land.
You get 100 fold. It says, and you got eternal
life. Are you here today?
And you're not a Christian because you have never obeyed
the gospel. We have proven from the word of
God. What that means you have to be
baptized in water in immersion and rise to walk in newness of
life. That's what you have to do to be
saved, obey the gospel. If you have never obeyed, the
gospel then come believing in Jesus.
Repent of your sins confess, his name as the Son of God and let's
baptize you today in water for the remission of your sins.
Maybe you have taken those steps though, but you're not living as
you should, it's a wonderful opportunity to come back.
Come repenting of those things confess, those things and we'll
pray with you and for you and God will forgive and restore,
like, it never happened. We thank you for listening to
our podcast, put on by the Church of Christ at 22:15 plans.
Road in Bakersfield, if you would like any additional
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