Choosing Salvation: The Eternal Gospel of Jesus
Summary
In this sermon, I was reminded of the profound truth that Jesus has given us everything we need through His life, death, and resurrection. The wrath of God was poured out on Jesus, and this gift of salvation is freely available to us today to accept or reject. This choice is ours to make, and God will honor our free will in this decision. I was also reminded that every human being will have a "come to Jesus" moment at the end of days. Some will be gathered to eternal joy and life with Jesus, while others will be gathered and enter into eternal condemnation. This is a stark reality, but it is the truth of what the Lord says.
In the sermon, I was also challenged to consider the reality of the eternal gospel. The eternal gospel starts with a king, Jesus, who wants to make everything right. This includes all the things in the world that are not right, relationships that seem they can't be fixed, and injustices that seem so wrong. The gospel says Jesus comes to fix all of it. However, those who do not believe in Jesus are already condemned, but those who believe are saved and belong to Him. This is a powerful reminder of the choice we all have to make.
Key Takeaways:
- The wrath of God was poured out on Jesus, and this gift of salvation is freely available to us today to accept or reject ([50:34]).
- Every human being will have a "come to Jesus" moment at the end of days. Some will be gathered to eternal joy and life with Jesus, while others will be gathered and enter into eternal condemnation ([47:48]).
- The eternal gospel starts with a king, Jesus, who wants to make everything right. This includes all the things in the world that are not right, relationships that seem they can't be fixed, and injustices that seem so wrong ([36:01]).
- Those who do not believe in Jesus are already condemned, but those who believe are saved and belong to Him ([37:20]).
Study Guide
Bible Passages:
1. Revelation 14
2. John 3:18
3. Psalm 75
Key Points from the sermon:
1. The inevitability of death and judgement.
2. The importance of the Eternal Gospel and its impact on our lives.
3. The consequences of rejecting God and the reality of eternal punishment.
Observation Questions:
1. What does Revelation 14 say about the judgement of those who reject God?
2. How does John 3:18 describe the state of those who do not believe in Jesus?
3. What does Psalm 75 reveal about God's judgement?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Revelation 14 illustrate the severity of rejecting God's salvation?
2. What does John 3:18 imply about the importance of faith in Jesus?
3. How does Psalm 75 reflect God's justice in dealing with the wicked?
Application Questions:
1. How can we ensure that we are living in alignment with the Eternal Gospel?
2. In what ways can we share the reality of God's judgement and the hope of His salvation with others?
3. How can we respond to the reality of eternal punishment as described in the Bible?
Devotional
Day 1: The Eternal Gospel Starts with a King
The gospel is not just a message, but a story that begins with a King. This King, Jesus Christ, is the central figure of the gospel and His reign is eternal. Despite the world's rejection and rebellion, the King will rectify all wrongs and establish His kingdom forever.
Revelation 14:6-7 - "Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people. He said in a loud voice, 'Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.'"
Reflection: Reflect on a recent situation where you felt the world was winning and people were rejecting God. How did you respond to this situation? How can you remind yourself of the promise that Jesus will rectify all wrongs, even when it seems difficult to believe?
Day 2: The Wrath of God and Eternal Punishment
God's wrath and eternal punishment are aspects of His justice. They are not contradictory to His love and mercy, but rather, they are expressions of His holiness and righteousness against sin.
Revelation 14:9-11 - "A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: 'If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand, they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.'"
Reflection: The concept of God's wrath and eternal punishment can be difficult to accept. How do you reconcile this with your understanding of God's love and mercy? Are there any misconceptions or fears you have about God's wrath that you need to address?
Day 3: The Call to Endurance and Evangelism
As followers of Christ, we are called to endure in our faith and to share the gospel with others. This task may be challenging, but it is a crucial part of our calling and mission.
Revelation 14:12 - "This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus."
Reflection: Reflect on your current efforts in evangelism. Are there opportunities you might be missing to share the gospel with others? How can you cultivate endurance in your faith, especially when faced with rejection or indifference?
Day 4: The Harvest of the Earth
The harvest of the earth is a metaphor for the day of judgment. It is a reminder of God's justice and the urgency of living righteously and sharing the gospel.
Revelation 14:14-16 - "I looked, and there before me was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one like a son of man with a crown of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, 'Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.' So he who was seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested."
Reflection: The metaphor of the harvest signifies the day of judgment. How does this image impact your understanding of God's justice? How does it motivate you to live righteously and to share the gospel with others?
Day 5: The Fall of Babylon
Babylon represents anything that rejects God, including power, position, authority, and money. The fall of Babylon is a reminder that God's sovereignty and justice will ultimately prevail over the values of the world.
Revelation 14:8 - "A second angel followed and said, 'Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great,' which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries."
Reflection: Babylon represents anything that rejects God, including power, position, authority, and money. Are there any 'Babylons' in your life that you need to address? How can you ensure that your life is aligned with God's sovereignty and justice, rather than the values of the world?
Quotes
1. "Lord Jesus, you have given us everything we need in your life, death, and Resurrection. The wrath of God was poured out on you and so Lord that is freely available to us today to accept to believe but also to reject if we want to shake our fists in heaven." - 50:06
2. "We have to respond to the truth of this good news. What is the Eternal gospel? It's the Eternal gospel. There's a lot in this section I invite you to spend time thinking about all the particulars." - 31:43
3. "The Eternal gospel starts with a king who is the king of the world and he wants to make everything right. Can you think of things in the world right now that are not right? Can you think of relationships in your life just yours that aren't right that seem they can't be fixed?" - 35:19
4. "Turn to him, believe in Jesus, follow the lamb he is true. But if you already know him, it calls for endurance. Endurance for what? Endurance for sharing the truth of the Gospel of who he is to tell others because there's still time to tell people." - 38:56
5. "This is a moment that everybody's going to face and the Earth was harvested. These are people, these are people facing the day, the day of days. Swing the sickle because the Harvest is ripe, come and trample the grapes because the wine press is full." - 38:56
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