What is So Urgent About Salvation?
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Luke 14:15–24 (NLT)
15 Hearing this, a man sitting at the table with Jesus exclaimed, “What a blessing it will be to attend a banquet in the Kingdom of God!”
16 Jesus replied with this story: “A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations.
17 When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to tell the guests, ‘Come, the banquet is ready.’
18 But they all began making excuses. One said, ‘I have just bought a field and must inspect it. Please excuse me.’
19 Another said, ‘I have just bought five pairs of oxen, and I want to try them out. Please excuse me.’
20 Another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’
21 “The servant returned and told his master what they had said. His master was furious and said, ‘Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and invite the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’
22 After the servant had done this, he reported, ‘There is still room for more.’
23 So his master said, ‘Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full.
24 For none of those I first invited will get even the smallest taste of my banquet.’ ”
INTRODUCTION:
A- Jesus never wasted words.
1- He did not beat around the bush… He went straight to the point. Salvation is urgent!
I- ALL WAYS DO NOT LEAD TO HEAVEN. (Luke 14:15)
I- ALL WAYS DO NOT LEAD TO HEAVEN. (Luke 14:15)
Luke 14:15 (NLT)
15 Hearing this, a man sitting at the table with Jesus exclaimed, “What a blessing it will be to attend a banquet in the Kingdom of God!”
A- The scriptural evidence makes it clear that everyone will not enter Christ’s Kingdom.
A- The scriptural evidence makes it clear that everyone will not enter Christ’s Kingdom.
1- Jesus made this clear to the Samaritan woman. (John 4:13-24)
John 4:13–24 (NLT)
13 Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again.
14 But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”
15 “Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water.”
16 “Go and get your husband,” Jesus told her.
17 “I don’t have a husband,” the woman replied. Jesus said, “You’re right! You don’t have a husband—
18 for you have had five husbands, and you aren’t even married to the man you’re living with now. You certainly spoke the truth!”
19 “Sir,” the woman said, “you must be a prophet.
20 So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?”
21 Jesus replied, “Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem.
22 You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews.
23 But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way.
24 For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”
2- Paul’s words regarding the Jews make this clear. (Romans 9:1-3; 10:1-3)
Romans 9:1–3 (NLT)
1 With Christ as my witness, I speak with utter truthfulness. My conscience and the Holy Spirit confirm it.
2 My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief
3 for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed—cut off from Christ!—if that would save them.
Romans 10:1–3 (NLT)
1 Dear brothers and sisters, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved.
2 I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal.
3 For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law.
B- Jesus is the only way into the Kingdom.
B- Jesus is the only way into the Kingdom.
1- Jesus made this claim for himself.
(John 14:6)
John 14:6 (NLT)
6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
2- The Apostles made this fact clear in their preaching.
(Acts 4:11-12)
Acts 4:11–12 (NLT)
11 For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, ‘The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’
12 There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”
II- ALL WHO ARE INVITED WILL NOT ENTER HEAVEN. (Luke 14:16-20, 24)
II- ALL WHO ARE INVITED WILL NOT ENTER HEAVEN. (Luke 14:16-20, 24)
A- A great supper has been prepared.
A- A great supper has been prepared.
1- Jesus talked about it.
(Luke 14:16)
Luke 14:16 (NLT)
16 Jesus replied with this story: “A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations.
(Matthew 26:29)
Matthew 26:29 (NLT)
29 Mark my words—I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new with you in my Father’s Kingdom.”
B- All who are invited to the supper will not enter. (Luke 14:17-20, 24)
B- All who are invited to the supper will not enter. (Luke 14:17-20, 24)
Luke 14:17–20 (NLT)
17 When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to tell the guests, ‘Come, the banquet is ready.’
18 But they all began making excuses. One said, ‘I have just bought a field and must inspect it. Please excuse me.’
19 Another said, ‘I have just bought five pairs of oxen, and I want to try them out. Please excuse me.’
20 Another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’
Luke 14:24 (NLT)
24 For none of those I first invited will get even the smallest taste of my banquet.’ ”
1- The invitation has been extended.
(Matthew 11:28)
Matthew 11:28 (NLT)
28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.
(Revelation 22:17)
Revelation 22:17 (NLT)
17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life.
2- The individual must accept and prepare for the event.
Note the example of the ten virgins (Matthew 25:1-13)
Matthew 25:1–13 (NLT)
1 “Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.
2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.
3 The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps,
4 but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil.
5 When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
6 “At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’
7 “All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps.
8 Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’
9 “But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’
10 “But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked.
11 Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’
12 “But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’
13 “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.
III- ONLY THOSE WHO ACCEPT THE INVITATION WILL ENTER HEAVEN. (Luke 14:21-23)
III- ONLY THOSE WHO ACCEPT THE INVITATION WILL ENTER HEAVEN. (Luke 14:21-23)
Luke 14:21–23 (NLT)
21 “The servant returned and told his master what they had said. His master was furious and said, ‘Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and invite the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’
22 After the servant had done this, he reported, ‘There is still room for more.’
23 So his master said, ‘Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full.
A- Notice the extent of the invitation.
A- Notice the extent of the invitation.
1- Whoever will may come.
(John 3:16)
John 3:16 (NLT)
16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
(Romans 10:13)
Romans 10:13 (NLT)
13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
From the religious Pharisee Nicodemus to the thief on the cross.
B- The basis of the invitation is grace. (Luke 14:21-23)
B- The basis of the invitation is grace. (Luke 14:21-23)
Luke 14:21–23 (NLT)
21 “The servant returned and told his master what they had said. His master was furious and said, ‘Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and invite the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’
22 After the servant had done this, he reported, ‘There is still room for more.’
23 So his master said, ‘Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full.
1- Those invited were not invited on the basis of their abilities.
a- the poor
b- the maimed
c- the lame
d- the blind
e- whoever will
2- God’s invitation to salvation is a matter of grace, not works.
(Ephesians 2:8-9)
Ephesians 2:8–9 (NLT)
8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.
9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
C- The issue of salvation is urgent. (Luke 14:23)
C- The issue of salvation is urgent. (Luke 14:23)
Luke 14:23 (NLT)
23 So his master said, ‘Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full.
1- Salvation is so urgent because of our sin and helplessness.
(Romans 3:23)
Romans 3:23 (NLT)
23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.
(Romans 6:23)
Romans 6:23 (NLT)
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
CONCLUSION: