Christ's Call for Sinners

Introduction: Simple Signposts to the Celestial City and the Text

0:00 Will you turn with me, please, to the Gospel according to Luke, Luke's Gospel, Chapter 5, Luke's Gospel, Chapter 5, and I shall begin the reading at verse 27 and read through verse 32, Luke, Chapter 5, and verse 27. Speaking of our Lord Jesus, Luke writes,

0:55 And there was a great multitude of tax collectors and of others that were reclining at table with them. And the Pharisees and their scribes murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do you eat and drink with the tax collectors and sinners? And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are in health have no need of a doctor, but they that are sick. I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

The Universal Reality of Sin and the Illusion of Self-Righteousness

1:35 Tonight marks the third message in a brief series that I have entitled, Simple Signposts to the Celestial City. In John Bunyan's immortal work, Pilgrim's Progress, he uses the phrase, the celestial city. As a synonym for heaven, that place of eternal blessedness and glory, where the scriptures tell us God will dwell in his immediate manifest presence with all of his children forever and forever.

2:18 The celestial city is the place where there will be no more crying, no more sorrow. No. No more tears, no more death. And taking John Bunyan's terminology for heaven, namely the celestial city, we are considering some simple signpost to the celestial city.

2:48 Now I'm conscious that in a real sense, the whole of the Bible is one massive signpost to the celestial city. For the Apostle Paul could say, For the Apostle Paul could say to Timothy in his second letter in chapter 3, Timothy, from a babe you have known the which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

3:29 Bible, Bible with recitedness.

4:00 For to that our attention upon the third of these signposts to the heaven verse.

4:25 I am not come to heaven.

5:05 I'm not saying that.

7:47 Teaching of Jesus himself in particular.

8:03 I'm saying that there are some people who are natively, inherently, naturally righteous and therefore fit for heaven. Teaching of the Bible in general. Romans chapter 5 and verse 12. The Apostle Paul writing by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit concerning God's saving work in Jesus Christ.

8:35 Romans 5, 12. Therefore through one man entered into the world. Into the world. And through the one man.

9:08 The Lord is giving a lesson on prayer into God's family.

13:28 Some men and women, boys and girls, who are inherently, natively, who can make themselves righteous,

14:29 who are described as worthy officials, just leaders of our Lord's day.

14:49 And one of the marks have shown upon them. You were dazzled with their brilliance.

15:27 Month after month you never wash the inside and it's all filled with layers of dry. And who knows what else. Jesus said that's what you Pharisees are like. You see it was that crowd that was disturbed.

16:06 The Jesus of notorious sin. It was in that setting that he said. I am not come to call the righteous but sinners. Like the Pharisees.

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector: A Picture of False vs. True Righteousness

16:23 Who in their own eyes. These to the 18th chapter of Luke. For this graphic picture of the mindset of a Pharisee. Chapter 18 and verse 9.

16:37 This parable unto certain. Now notice. Who trusted in themselves. Tell others it not.

16:52 There were people who trusted. They were righteous. This is going to expose the foolishness of such notions. Two men went up into the temple to pray.

17:07 The one a Pharisee. The other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself. God thank you.

17:18 That's a good start. To start with thanks. But that's about the only good thing in his prayer. I thank you.

17:26 Not that you have forgiven me. Or a hell deserving sinner. But he says I thank you. I am not as the rest of men.

17:35 The saying is God I thank you. I am not a sinner. Thank you. I am not as the rest of men.

18:03 Then he goes on to tell God what he has done. If there is anything lacking in what he is. In and of himself. He says I make it up by what I do.

18:11 I fast. Twice in the week. Standing afar off. Would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven.

18:23 But smote upon his breast saying. God be merciful. Be propitious. Turn away your wrath from me.

18:33 Not a sinner. In the original there is the definite article. Turn away your wrath from me. Jesus says I say unto you.

18:46 This man went down to his house justified. He went down to his house with his sins forgiven. Had no heart knowledge and felt experience. Audition as a sinner before God.

Assertion 1: Only Those Who Know and Feel Their True Condition as Sinners Will Be Saved

19:17 And Jesus said. I did not. This simple signpost. Personal questions.

19:45 Men, women, boys and girls. By means of the gradual impartation of biblical knowledge in a Christian home. Where as you learned the law of God and the ways of God. And were carried to the house of God and heard the truth of God.

20:24 Your conscience began to feel the light of the word and the law. And you became perhaps at a very early age. Conscious. Because mommy and daddy won't let me cuss.

20:34 And tell dirty jokes. And talk back. And smart mouth the neighbors. And run across the neighbor's lawn.

20:48 And stick my tongue out at him if they dare to say anything to me. Everybody thinks I'm a nice little guy. A nice little gal. I know that in my heart.

20:52 I've got a heart that's full of lies. That's full of deceit. And full of stupor. Maybe God brought you to know and feel yourself to be a sinner.

20:56 And you're a sinner. And you're a sinner. But you're a sinner. And you're a sinner.

21:00 And you're a sinner. And you're a sinner. And you're a sinner. And you're a sinner.

21:04 And you're a sinner. And you're a sinner. And you're a sinner. And you're a sinner.

21:10 And you're a sinner. And you're a sinner. And you're a sinner. And you're a sinner.

21:14 And you're a sinner. And you're a sinner. And you're a sinner. And you're a sinner.

21:18 And you're a sinner. And you're a sinner. And you're a sinner. And you're a sinner.

21:23 And you're a sinner. And you're a sinner. And you're a sinner. And you're a sinner.

21:44 And you're a sinner. And you're a sinner. And you're a sinner. And you're a sinner.

21:48 And you're a sinner. And you're a sinner. And you're a sinner. And you're a sinner.

21:56 And you're a sinner. through clouds and is not sitting under the gospel and unusual intervention of

22:29 God my question is this my friend have you been brought to know and you have

23:10 been made alive who were dead with his own tell people they are sinners that's very damaging to their selfless me the day of judgment will be very damaging to

23:49 self-esteem when Almighty God all moral universe that they are infinitely worthy of hell and says depart from me you cursing fire that's the turn of my deceptive self-esteem bruised by Holy Ghost conviction now then have it

24:28 eternally shattered in the day of judgment but shattered it will be now by Holy Spirit conviction or then if you can strut about that he would by his

24:55 words that in P at the 115 this is a faithful worthy of all the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and

25:18 all the world version on this simple signpost not only does it tell us that

25:59 only those who know and feel their true condition as sinners will ever be saved

Assertion 2: Jesus Christ Alone Can Save Sinners

26:05 by Jesus Christ but it as I remind you the words I am come and in Mary's womb

28:11 none of us would bear say I am come and since into this world we would say I was born on such-and-such a date and as I grew up and as I listened to the Holy 字

28:38 the spirit of cursed air say stephens bright for the desires you find it times Jesus adds these words to them I am come down from heaven not to do my own will but the will in come down from heaven down up in these words is his conscience in john 1 1 in the beginning was the word and the word was with god

29:17 the beginning with god became i'll never ceasing to be what he had always been i am come contains the mystery of what happened in mary's womb when by the power of the holy spirit second person of the godhead took to himself a true human soul and body normal nine month development as it is

30:00 described in galatians 4 in the gospel it tells us that when her time to bring forth the child involves the one who is as much god as though he were never man as much a man as though he were never god united in the one person two in the one happened in mary's womb of the marvelous realities

30:37 of that life that was so human so vulnerable and she says he was holy harmless undefiled self from sinners he could look his most bitter enemies in the eye and said which one of you can convict me of i do all am come those words is the mystery of what happened in mary's womb

31:10 the wonder and the marvel of that holy life the wonder and the marvel of that amazing years of the death he is the dead with one word came forth could not stand omnipotent voice of power am come all the validation of my identity i'm going to

31:53 came this if you're interested in life i don't come you're going to be a replaced i don't take it simply naire am co the ret acompt this is what to decide ov

32:39 rules i justUT across could excel Christ alone can save sinners from sin. Jesus Christ in all the uniqueness of His person as the God-man. Jesus Christ in all the wonder and marvel of the validation of His identity as God's Messiah. Jesus Christ in the perfection of His work.

33:21 Perfect life, unbearing, sin-atoning death. A glorious, triumphant life.

33:32 Why, when Joseph was scratching his head, and if he had a beard, stroking his beard, wondering what to do. Mary, the woman to whom he was engaged, was pregnant. Wondering what course of action he should take according to the ancient law of Moses. An angel appeared to him as recorded in Matthew 1.21 and said,

33:52 Fear not to take unto you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit, and she shall bring forth a son, and he shall call his name Jesus. Dear people, could language be plainer? The angel said, Joseph, she's not pregnant.

34:19 I am not come to call the person on this simple signpost, let me ask you again.

35:17 A person beside his dad, in a carpenter's shop, as we read this thing to be said.

37:38 I think he was out of his tree. On one occasion he was so close to others that he was skipping his normal meal times. And he from our sin. And go further.

38:08 And behold the Son of God in the garden of Gethsemane. The Father holding up the cup.

39:33 Live like the devil and die and go to hell.

39:40 There's not something more to all of this than just going to church and going through rituals and forms and ceremonies.

39:52 It was real in... Upon Golgotha!

40:33 Any other we must... No more narrow than Christ himself.

40:45 We considered his words in the first signpost of the celestial city. I am the way. Not one of many ways.

41:03 And neither is there salvation in any other. Neither is there salvation in any other. Neither is there salvation in any other. He was merely echoing the words of his Savior.

41:10 My friend, we stand by a simple signpost to the celestial city. It's made up of these words of Jesus. I am not come to call the righteous.

41:29 Only those who know and choose will ever be saved by Jesus Christ. Assertion number two. Jesus Christ himself and Jesus Christ alone can save sinners from their sins. Thirdly and finally on that signpost there is another.

Assertion 3: Jesus Christ Saves Sinners by Calling Them to Repentance

41:47 Thirdly and finally on that signpost there is another. Thirdly and finally on that signpost there is another. Assertion and it's this. Jesus Christ saves sinners by calling them to repentance.

41:55 I am not come to call the righteous. They that are healthy have no need of a doctor. But they that are sick. The divine medicine for sinners.

42:17 Jesus says it is my calling them to repentance. The divine remedy.

42:38 He does not save sinners by making them into Pharisees.

42:43 That is by stroking people and telling you're okay. I'm okay. Everybody's okay. Feel good about yourself.

42:49 My friends listen. This feel good about yourself religion. That is being propagated in every level of our society is a damning lie. Until you feel so bad about yourself.

43:14 It's not making up a story. It's just facing reality. That's all it is. And Jesus Christ saves sinners by calling them to repentance.

43:25 Not by making them into Pharisees. Who feel good about themselves. And preen themselves. And say thank you God.

43:30 I'm not like other men. And if there's any deficiency in what I am. Then Lord look at what I do. I've been baptized.

43:37 I've joined the church. I take the sacrament. My friends don't insult God with such trinkets. He's not impressed.

43:46 Remember this is the God. Who punished his son upon the cross. What do you think you're holding up your little report card. Of how many wafers you took.

43:56 And how many times you went to communion. And how many times you went to church. times you went to Sunday school, what does that mean in the face of a God who poured out His wrath upon His Son upon the cross? Don't insult God by throwing your little cheap trinkets when He purchased sinners at the price of the blood of His own Son. Don't try to

44:18 impress God with your trinkets. The way Jesus Christ saves sinners is by calling them to repentance. Not making them into Pharisees. Not making them into intellectual adherents who will subscribe to the tenets of the Christian faith intellectually.

44:37 No. And not by causing them to just go through a ritual of decision. Raise a hand, pray a prayer, I'm alright forever. My friend, more people are going to hell out of decision rooms than probably any other place other than bar rooms and whore houses.

44:53 They will straight to hell out of decision rooms where they pray a little prayer. That they parrot, that someone puts in their mouth and then they get absolution. You prayed the prayer? Yes. You were sincere? Or somebody

45:03 will say, no, I was faking it. Of course they're going to say I'm sincere. Then they pat them on the back and say, well now if you meant it, you're saved. Don't ever doubt it. You're fixed up.

45:11 And they don't know a thing about repentance. They don't know a thing about this medicine that Jesus gives to sick sinners. What is this thing to which Jesus calls men and in calling them to it, saves them. I come to call the righteous but sinners. Well, the best

Defining Repentance: A True Sense of Sin, Apprehension of Mercy, and Turning to God

45:34 uninspired definition of repentance I've ever come across is in the Westminster Shorter Catechism. What is repentance unto life? The answer is this. Repentance unto life is a saving grace whereby a sinner out of a true sense of his sin and apprehension is the old English word. We would say

45:56 a laying hold of the mercy of God in Christ does with grief and hatred of his sin unto God with a full purpose and endeavor after new. Element number one, it is never experienced except a true sense of your sin. That's why this signpost says to know

46:34 and feel the nations and will with regard to their sin and with regard to the Savior. Repentance unto life is a saving grace whereby a sinner out of a true sense of his sin and apprehension, a laying hold of the mercy of God in Christ. In other words, there's no true repentance. God is a God of wrath

47:17 and of judginess who will punish from him and cry as they will cry in the day of judgment. The mountains to fall upon you and to hide you from the face of him that sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. God in pure justice outside of Christ and is a Bible says our God is a consuming fire. It's a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. But when I see

47:58 that that living God who is a consuming fire so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son and I see that in the Lord Jesus of full atonement has been made for the sins of all and any who will come unto God. There's not

48:42 the slightest evil thought. There is not the envious dishonest lustful and in true repentance is not only that. I didn't say do I now treat my sin. Listen to the definition

49:16 he does. That's a vital element of repentance. Acts 20 21 Paul says I preach repentance towards God. Isaiah the prophet said Lord while he may be found call upon him while he's near. Let the wicked

49:42 forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return he will have mercy upon him and to our God for he will abundantly pardon Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 9 they themselves report of us what entering in we had unto you how you turned unto God living in the true God and to wait for his son out of the heavens dear people repentance involves not only owning my sinnerhood and to cast myself upon the but it involves turning from my sin

50:25 turning from the disposition to be my own God and do my own thing and run my life by my own standards live by my own rules I turn from my sin with full endeavor of the message of life and salvation to me and incline my heart to embrace that message what can I do in the face of such mercy but I give myself

Application to Young People: The Sincerity of Your Love for God

51:09 away. It is all that I have to speak a word especially to you dear young people some of you that I have to call young men and women now and it seems a few months ago though it's been years when you were part of the crowd that lined up and had to get your smooch and jumped straddled me and hugged me all too quickly you've become young men young women I want to speak to you especially at this point you know what will be one of the surest know and believe because mom and dad what's my faith what's those in my

51:53 car and what's there you struggle don't you is one of the more am I saved or am I not to cut to all of that and ask yourself this question do I see in God revealed in Christ through the undivided love of God? My unrivaled of God and is it my

52:34 that you're saying irritated with what you know of God because you find he wants to stick his nose into every enough when you were small and mom and dad told you

53:16 God didn't want you to tell lies and didn't want you to kick your sister and poke your brother in the eye and God didn't want you to cheat at school and you began to get older and began to feel your hormones and your hemoan stirring throughout all of your humanity and then they began to tell you he didn't have the right to use your sexual appetites as you chose they had to be reigned in and harness tells me I can't do it the other kids do and I can't be where the other kids are and now I'm told I can't brag about making it for the first time I can't

53:58 brag about being deflowered and get together with the gals in the locker room and talk about how the guys made it with them and down underneath you resent that's a mark you lost is that you can give the Bible books of the Bible Genesis to Revelations for your sexual appetites touches you in your social relationships touches you in your relationship to mom and dad your lost is the devil I don't care how much you know and what's a perfect if you can honestly say

54:41 kids I love the God come to know at my mom and dad's feet and in this church in my Sunday school class I see that God is worthy of a thousand energies more than And I have to give Him. I see Him worthy if I had a thousand hands to serve.

55:06 I see Him as worthy of all of that. In the light of what He's done in sending His Son to die for a hell-deserving sinner like me. Young person, if that is the honest disposition of your heart to God, you've come to repent in the medicine. I go to bed one night with a fever and a sore throat.

55:43 Take some antibiotic and wake up the next morning and feel good. I'm not going to say, I won't believe I'm feeling good unless I know at the precise hour the antibiotics kicked in and killed the little bad guys in my system and the good guys are in. I just know I feel better. Say, thank you, Lord, for blessing the medicine.

55:58 Whether it kicked in at 2 o'clock, 3 o'clock, 11, I could care less. Sore throat's gone, feel good. That's all that matters. Dear young people, children, do you see what I'm saying to you?

56:10 This is one of the great stumbling blocks that kids brought up as you are. But can you say that the God mom and dad serve, the God of the Bible, is the God you love? And you want to serve Him with all your heart? There is, you see, what the old catechism describes, full purpose of, an endeavor after, new obedience.

56:33 Christ has called you to repent. And if He's called you, that disposition will not fade away. That disposition you won't relinquish for the face and for the body of a young woman that catches your fancy, or a young man that is not godly. That is not Godly.

56:52 That is not a Christian. That you cannot court his or her interests with the approval of spiritually minded parents and elders and Christian friends. No, no, no! You will not serve for the form of a woman or the face of a young man.

57:13 And when career opportunities come, you won't sell your savior for big bucks, so you can drive big cars and have a big house and a big name and strut around like a big shot. You say, for me to live, is Christ and nothing is worth selling my savior for. That's the attitude of your heart. You're a Christian.

Summary of the Signpost and Final Exhortation

57:39 You're a Christian! Christ has saved you by calling you to repentance. Well, we've looked at this very simple signpost of the celestial city etched in the very words of Jesus. I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

58:05 And in that signpost, three simple assertions. Only those who feel and know themselves to be sinners will ever be saved by Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ himself and Jesus Christ alone can save sinners. Jesus Christ saved sinners by calling them to repentance.

A Warning to the Unconverted and Encouragement to Believers

58:29 Dear people, I have labored with every measure of strength and grace God has given me to preach with all my heart, to preach simply, to preach plainly, to preach with illustrations and applications that scratch where you itch. And yet I'm reluctant to close the service. You know why? Because I fear, as has happened so many other times, there'll be more than a handful who go out and say, so what's new?

59:09 I haven't told you anything. It's been simple, basic gospel. But my friend, if that does not become to you, the power of God to salvation, it would be better that you've never been born. And if you're ready to go out now and say so, God have mercy on you.

59:34 And know that while you go out to try to drive out of your mind what you heard tonight, not a few of us, before we pillow our heads, will pray that you won't be able to sleep until what you've heard takes hold of your heart. And for those of us who, by the grace of God, could face those three assertions, on this simple signpost, what a wonderful thing to be a Christian. Isn't it a wonderful thing to be a Christian? Let the world pity us as a bunch of weak-headed, weak-willed people who've got to lean on a book, and who've got to lean on a savior,

60:19 who aren't self-sufficient and self- Let them pity us. Someday their mouths will open with wonder when the Lord Jesus bursts through the skies and the scripture says, an amazing statement, my wife and I were discussing it last week, He comes to be glorified in me. Me to be glorified in Him, that I can understand. But for Him to be glorified in me?

60:48 Yes. When He's done with me, angels are going to go, Look what God did for Albert N. Martin. Look what God did for Vintzenbach.

60:58 Sinner friend, don't pity us. Pity your poor, impoverished state. And give yourself no rest, till in Christ you have what is ours in Him. Our Father, we thank You for Your Holy Word.

Closing Prayer for Conviction and Encouragement

61:34 We thank You for Your Holy Gospel. We thank You for Your Holy Son. We thank You for Your Holy Spirit. We thank You for Your Holy Word.

61:46 And we pray that the Word and the Spirit would so work through the Word that Your Son would by the mighty working of Your own power come to sinners this night, effectually calling them to repentance. We pray especially for our dear young people, children and grandchildren, some of whom are deeply distressed about whether or not they are ready to die, whether they would enter the celestial city. Lord, use the preaching tonight to help them. Where they ought to be encouraged, may they be encouraged.

62:24 Where they ought to be convicted, Lord, convict them and give them no rest until they cry out like blind Bartimaeus, son of David, have mercy upon me. Bless the preaching of Your Word to refresh the hearts of Your saints and to draw sinners to Yourself. We commit Your Word to Your care and to the ongoing ministry of the Holy Spirit through our Lord Jesus Christ.