FEARFUL FACTS ABOUT SALVATION

LUKE 13:22-35

      On the way to Jerusalem (Lk. 9:51) Jesus answered the question, “Who will be invited to sit down in the Kingdom of God and eat supper at God’s table (Lk. 14:15)?” In the answer Jesus taught some fearful facts about salvation.

      David Smith said, “The question is not whether the saved be few or many, but whether you be of the number.”

      In the middle of Jesus’ sermon, certain Pharisees came and warned Jesus about the threat of Herod Antipas. Instead of fearing man, Jesus taught these fearful facts.

      In October of 1818 Andrew Jackson visited a revival service in Nashville where the evangelist, Peter Cartwright would preach. The General entered as Cartwright read the text, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mk. 8:36) With all the seats occupied, the famous Indian fighter and war hero stood, leaning on the middle post. At the sight of Andrew Jackson, the pastor tugged on Cartwright’s jacket, whispering, “General Jackson has come in; General Jackson has come in.”

      Peter Cartwright recounted, “I felt a flash of indignation run all over me like an electric shock, and facing about to my congregation, and purposely speaking out audibly, I said, ‘Who is General Jackson? If he don’t get his soul converted, God will damn him as quick as he would a Guinea negro.’”

 1. God will only save a few (Mt. 22:14).

1 Pet. 3:20 [GW]. They are like those who disobeyed long ago in the days of Noah when God waited patiently while Noah built the ship. In this ship a few people-eight in all-were saved by water.

 2. Salvation has a point of entry (Jn. 3:3).

Mt. 7:13 [GNB]. Go in through the narrow gate, because the gate to hell is wide and the road that leads to it is easy, and there are many who travel it.

 3. The choice must be made to enter salvation (Dt. 30:15).

1 Tim. 6:12 [MKJV]. Fight the good fight of faith. Lay hold on eternal life, to which you are also called and have professed a good profession before many witnesses.

 4. The door of salvation is narrow (singular), and Jesus is that only door (Acts 4:12).

Jn. 10:9 [ESV]. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.

 5. Most try to enter salvation another way but cannot (Jn. 7:34).

Mt. 7:14 [CEV]. But the gate to life is very narrow. The road that leads there is so hard to follow that only a few people find it.

 6. The door of salvation will close (Gen. 7:16).

Mt. 25:10 [ESV]. And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.

 7. The loss of salvation is final (Lk. 16:26).

Mt. 25:11 [GNB]. "Later the others arrived. 'Sir, sir! Let us in!' they cried out.

 8. God will announce that He does not know those whose names do not appear in the book of life (Mt. 25:12).

Mt. 7:23. And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

 9. Souls in hell will remember the lost opportunity for salvation (cf. Heb. 10:17).

Lk. 16:25. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

10. Souls in hell will see the saints in heaven (Mt. 8:11-12).

Lk. 16:23 [ESV]. and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.

11. Heaven is eternal, and hell is eternal (Mt. 25:46).

Mt. 13:49 [HCSB]. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out, separate the evil people from the righteous,

12. Not all invited to God’s supper will come (Mt. 22:8).

Lk. 14:24 [ESV]. For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.

13. Many thought to be in heaven will be in hell (Mt. 19:24, 30).

Mt. 7:21 [ESV]. Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

14. Any plan of salvation that bypasses the cross of Christ is a false path (1 Cor. 1:18).

Mt. 16:21, 23 [ESV]. From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.

 23. But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man."

15. Those who willingly refuse God’s gracious offer of salvation will be accountable for rejecting Christ (Mk. 12:5-9).

Mt. 23:34-37 [GW]. I'm sending you prophets, wise men, and teachers of the Scriptures. You will kill and crucify some of them. Others you will whip in your synagogues and persecute from city to city.

 35. As a result, you will be held accountable for all the innocent blood of those murdered on earth, from the murder of righteous Abel to that of Zechariah, son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.

 36. I can guarantee this truth: The people living now will be held accountable for all these things.

 37. "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you kill the prophets and stone to death those sent to you! How often I wanted to gather your children together the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings! But you were not willing!

16. Those who commit the unpardonable sin will not see Christ until the second coming when it will be too late (Rev. 1:7).

Lk. 19:41-42 [GNB]. He came closer to the city, and when he saw it, he wept over it, saying, "If you only knew today what is needed for peace! But now you cannot see it!”

  I. How is it possible to be saved? (Jn. 3:4-7)

      A. Not a physical birth

              a. Age (old)

              b. Ancestors (womb)

      B. But a spiritual birth

Ezek. 36:25. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

 II. What must be done to be saved? (Acts 16:30-33)

      A. God wants to save you (Jn. 3:16).

      B. You need to be saved (Rom. 3:23, 6:23; Jas. 4:17).

      C. You can be saved (Rom. 5:8, 10:9).

      D. God will save you (Acts 3:19; Rom. 10:13).

III. When is it time to be saved? (Acts 26:28-29)

      A person far away or close to salvation remains lost and will go to hell if death should come (Mk. 12:34).

      H. A. Ironside’s mother told the reluctant youth “friends may laugh you into hell, but they can never laugh you out of hell.”

      The songwriter P. P. Bliss slipped into a church service and heard a preacher say, “To be almost saved is to be entirely lost.” Bliss then wrote the words,

“‘Almost persuaded’” now to believe; ‘Almost persuaded’ Christ to receive;

Seems now some soul to say, ‘Go, Spirit, go Thy way,

Some more convenient day, on Thee I’ll call.”

‘Almost persuaded,’ come, come today. ‘Almost persuaded,’ turn not away;

Jesus invites you here, Angels are lingering near,

Prayers rise from hearts so dear; O wand’rer, come!

‘Almost persuaded,’ harvest is past! ‘Almost persuaded,’ doom comes at last! ‘Almost’ cannot avail; ‘Almost’ is but to fail!

Sad, sad that bitter wail–‘Almost,’ but lost!”