7. Parables & Stories Regarding Salvation We have talked about thus far:
(By: Emerson Blythe)
1. Salvation, What does it Mean?
(some people make fun of it, etc.)
2. Salvation, Who Needs it?
(Good people, bad people, etc.)
3. Salvation, Do we Appreciate it?
4. Salavation, Where do you get it?
5. Salvation, How do you take it?
6. Salvation, When do you realize it and how do you keep it?
Today we want to look at SOME PARABLES AND STORIES OF JESUS REGARDING SALVATION, AND THE LESSONS IMPLIED THEREIN.
1. The lost coin and sheep, Lk. 15
(Luke 15:1-11 KJV) "Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. {2} And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. {3} And he spake this parable unto them, saying, {4} What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? {5} And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. {6} And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. {7} I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. {8} Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? {9} And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. {10} Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
LESSONS LEARNED:
1. THE SERIOUSNESS OF BEING LOST.
The Pharisees were complaining about Jesus associating with SINNERS. They felt that sinners ought to be shunned and left alone. Jesus felt that sinners needed to be ministered unto and SAVED! On another occasion when the Pharisees were making a similar complaint, (Mat 9:11-13 KJV) "And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? {12} But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. {13} But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
SO, IF A PERSON IS LOST IT IS A SEROUS MATTER, AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT IT!!!
Then Jesus gave the stories of the lost sheep and the lost coin to bring the lesson home. When you lose a sheep or a coin, you are not unconcerned; you go about to make it right. You search diligently until you find it. How then can we be so unconcerned when our brothers, sisters, husbands, wives, parents or children are LOST IN SIN???
Second, we learn the lesson of how Heaven rejoices at the salvation of a lost soul. As the Shepherd rejoices with the sheep, or the woman with the coin, Jesus says, I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
2. The Parable of the Lost Son (Prodigal Son).
(Luke 15:11-32 KJV) "And he said, A certain man had two sons: {12} And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. {13} And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. {14} And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. {15} And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. {16} And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. {17} And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! {18} I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, {19} And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. {20} And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. {21} And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. {22} But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: {23} And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: {24} For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. {25} Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing. {26} And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. {27} And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. {28} And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and entreated him. {29} And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: {30} But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. {31} And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. {32} It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found."
There is something different about this story. The Shepherd left the ninety and nine, and sought for the one lost sheep. The woman swept the house and sought diligently for the lost coin. But the man in this story did not leave home and go after the lost boy. What is the difference? Someone has said, The lost coin did not know it was lost, and if it could have known, there was nothing it could do about it. The lost sheep knew he was lost, but he didn't know what to do about it. But the lost boy knew he was lost, and he knew the way back home, so it was not necessary for the father to leave home and go after him. And besides, if the father had gone after him, do you think the boy would have listened, before he hit rock bottom?
WHAT LESSON DO WE LEARN?
Number one, we learn that WE HAVE TO LEAVE SIN TO RECEIVE SALVATION. When the angel foretold the birth of Jesus, he said of Mary, (Mat 1:21 KJV) "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." Not "in" their sins, but "from" them.
The Prodigal Son did not call his father and ask him to wire him some money, but he said, "I will arise and go back home." He knew that's what it would take to be saved.
Some folks want to be saved from the CONSEQUENCES of sin, but they don't want to get out of it and go back to God. They want the father to wire them some money and let them stay in the hog pen. But that's not the way it works! REPENTANCE always comes ahead of salvation. (Acts 3:19 KJV) "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord."
AND, SECOND: we are impressed again with the joy associated with the lost boy who comes home: "It (is) meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found!"
3.THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS, Luke 16.
(Luke 16:19-31 KJV) "There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: {20} And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, {21} And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. {22} And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; {23} And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. {24} And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. {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. {26} And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. {27} Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: {28} For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. {29} Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. {30} And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. {31} And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead."
WHAT ARE THE LESSONS LEARNED? HERE THERE ARE MANY.
FIRST, THERE IS A DIFFERENCE IN RICHES AND RIGHTEOUSNESS.
(1 Tim 6:5-6 KJV) Paul spoke of some "...supposing that gain is godliness:" and said, "from such withdraw thyself. {6} But godliness with contentment is great gain."
SECOND, WE LEARN THAT JUST BECAUSE WE ARE DOING WELL HERE IS NO ASSURANCE WE WILL DO WELL IN THE HEREAFTER.
THIRD, WE ARE IMPRESSED WITH THE THOUGHT OF WHAT A NIGHTMARE IT WILL BE TO DIE LOST AND AWAKE IN THE FLAMES OF HELL WITH NO RELIEF AND NO ESCAPE!!!
FOURTH, WE ARE IMPRESSED WITH THE HORRORS OF HELL: JUST TO THINK WHAT A MAN WOULD GIVE FOR JUST ONE DROP OF WATER TO COOL HIS PARCHED TONGUE!
FIFTH, WE SEE THAT THE BIBLE IS WARNING ENOUGH, AND IF WE WON'T LISTEN TO IT, THEN GOD IS NOT GOING TO SEND SOMEONE FROM THE LAND OF THE DEAD TO WARN US. "THEY HAVE MOSES AND THE PROPHETS, LET THEM HEAR THEM."
SIXTH, IF ANY STORY JESUS EVER TOLD IMPRESSES WITH THE IMPORTANCE OF SALVATION, SURELY THIS ONE DOES! ARE YOU SAVED? --YOU DON'T WANT TO BE IN THIS RICH MAN'S SHOES!
AND, SEVENTH, IF ANYTHING WILL CAUSE US TO GET OUR PRIORITIES STRAIGHT, THIS ONE OUGHT TO. WE WANT OUR CHILDREN TO BE A SUCCESS IN LIFE; HAVE A GOOD HOME, A GOOD JOB, AND A GOOD EDUCATION. BUT THIS STORY IMPRESSES US WITH THE FACT THAT WITHOUT GOD, NOTHING ELSE MATTERS!!!
4. THE SUCCESSFUL FARMER OF LUKE 12:
(Luke 12:15-21 KJV) "And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. {16} And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: {17} And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? {18} And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. {19} And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. {20} But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? {21} So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."
AGAIN, THIS STORY IMPRESSES US WITH HOW WE OUGHT TO KEEP OUR PRIORITIES STRAIGHT. We let the farming and the barns and the jobs and the buildings and everything else come ahead of God and making things right with Him. Jesus calls such a man a "fool," and adds: "So is he that layeth up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God."
5. THE FIVE WISE AND FIVE FOOLISH VIRGINS, Matt. 25
(Mat 25:1-13 KJV) "Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. {2} And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. {3} They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: {4} But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. {5} While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. {6} And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. {7} Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. {8} And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. {9} But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. {10} And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. {11} Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. {12} But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. {13} Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh."
WHAT DO WE LEARN? (Mat 24:44 KJV) "Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh." As the old song says, "There is danger and death in delay."
6. THE PARABLE OF THE TALENTS, Matt. 25
(Mat 25:24-30 KJV) "Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strowed: {25} And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. {26} His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strowed: {27} Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. {28} Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. {29} For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. {30} And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
What a sentence: "Cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
7. THE STORY OF THE LAST JUDGMENT, Matt. 25
(Mat 25:31-34 KJV) "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: {32} And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: {33} And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. {34} Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."
(Mat 25:41 KJV) "Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels."
(Mat 25:46 KJV) "And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal."
What horrible words to hear: The sentence for the lost: "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels."
8. THE TREASURE HIDDEN IN THE FIELD, AND THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE, Matt. 13.
(Mat 13:44-50 KJV) "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. {45} Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: {46} Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. {47} Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: {48} Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. {49} So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, {50} And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth."
The gospel of salvation is like a treasure, or a pearl of great price. Those who find such sell all they have in order to buy it. Salvation is to important, and should be so important to us, that we would gladly give up anything that might get in our way in order to lay hold on it! Because the LOST will be cast into that furnace of fire where there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
And, finally, there is the story of the marriage invitation, Matt. 22.
(Mat 22:1-10 KJV) "And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, {2} The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, {3} And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. {4} Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. {5} But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: {6} And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. {7} But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. {8} Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. {9} Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. {10} So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests."
FRIEND, YOU ARE BEING CALLED TO THE MARRIAGE FEAST OF SALVATION RIGHT NOW. IF YOU DON'T GO, THE LORD WILL FIND SOMEONE ELSE TO GO BE WITH HIM IN HEAVEN. YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS SUCH AN OPPORTUNITY! THE LORD DOES NOT TAKE KINDLY TO SOMEONE SPURNING HIS INVITATION!
IF YOU ARE IN NEED OF SALVATION, WON'T YOU RECEIVE IT TODAY???
PITY THE MAN
I GUESS WE SHOULD PITY, THOSE IN THE WORLD.
WHO MUST USE THE EARTH FOR A BED.
I GUESS WE SHOULD PITY, THE MAN WHO MUST TOIL.
FROM DAWN TILL DUSK FOR HIS BREAD.
BUT THESE CAN BE RICH, IF THEY HAVE CONTENTMENT.
AND SHARE IN GOD'S SALVATION PLAN.
BUT IF YOU KNOW ANY, WHO THO THEY HAVE PLENTY
ARE LOST THEN PITY THAT MAN.
II