[0:00] I hope we all have a desire to see people coming into the kingdom, people coming to know the Lord Jesus Christ. We long to see people being saved. That's our hope. That's our prayer.
[0:10] I hope it is. I hope it's the hope and the prayer of everyone here. I hope you have that desire to see people coming into the kingdom, to see souls saved and come to know the Lord Jesus Christ for themselves.
[0:22] It is, of course, what leads to the growth, ultimately, of the church, the expansion of the church. If there's no conversions, then one day there will be no church.
[0:33] That's the simple truth of it. And that's why we pray that God would pour out his blessing on his work and that he will draw souls to himself and that for generations still to come, there will be a church of Christ in this place.
[0:48] And we long to see people come to faith in Jesus so that that might happen. And, of course, all God's people are told that they have to be evangelists evangelistically minded people.
[1:02] We have to be gospel minded people. We are given that great commission by the Lord himself. Go into every world. Make disciples of every creature. Baptising them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
[1:16] And teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And that's the commission that Jesus gave to his first disciples and the commission that his church has received ever since.
[1:27] Go. Make disciples. Grow the church. Not that we can do it ourselves. We can plant. We can water. We cannot give the increase. Only God himself can do that.
[1:38] But if the church is not planting and not watering, God will not give the increase. We are told to do what we can do and leave God to do what only he can do.
[1:51] We're here to follow the master's instructions. He himself was the great evangelist. He was the great soul winner. It's urgent what we call the soul winner.
[2:02] And it's a tremendous love book all about how we go about the business of preaching the gospel. How we go about sharing our faith with other people.
[2:14] And how we ought to pray that the Lord would bless our believers. But Christ himself is the ultimate soul winner. Human beings can be soul winners in one sense. As God blesses them.
[2:26] Christ himself is the ultimate soul winner. And as we read the pages of the gospel, we come across Jesus encountering different individuals at different times.
[2:39] Bringing many to faith in himself. Bringing eternal life and salvation to many as a person. We can do no better in many ways than to follow him.
[2:50] He's our ultimate example. Imitate him. You won't go wrong. Needless to say. In this passage here, we read about a young man who meets Jesus.
[3:04] And on the surface of it at least, he's seeking salvation. Isn't he? What must I do to inherit eternal life? This guy knows. Bounding up to him in the street.
[3:19] Asking, yearning for eternal life. What a wonderful thing. I'm sure we can all identify that with that. Can we? I'm sure we can all identify with having folk running up to us and saying, how can I be saved?
[3:32] I wonder, can we all say that? The other day I was in Nairn High Street. And a man came up to me and asked how he could become a Christian. And while we were talking, two kids from Nairn Academy, the local high school, they came along and they joined in the conversation.
[3:51] They said, how can we become Christians? And the questions were flying. And the Bible verses were flying around. Tears were falling. And then there was a funny ringing sound.
[4:04] And I thought, what's that? And it was my alarm clock going off, waking me up. And it was a dream. And it wasn't real. And that happened. But wouldn't it be great? Wouldn't it be great if that was the kind of thing that happened?
[4:16] People coming up to the Lord's people and saying, tell me how I can fit Christ. Tell me how I can be a Christian. Tell me how I can have eternal life.
[4:26] That's what happens in the story. It's unusual, isn't it? It doesn't happen every day. It probably doesn't happen very often at all. But it does happen.
[4:37] We give thanks that it does happen. Wouldn't it be great? And we can dream of such days. Pray for such days. We have revival times when people do come with these kind of questions.
[4:50] And people get so nervous about salvation. Pray for such days. Pray for such days. Coming around again. Pray for such a thing.
[5:01] I want us to look at the story this morning. Under three headings. Three headings. Walking away. Watering down. Welcoming in. Walking away.
[5:13] Watering down. Welcoming in. Look at this well-known incident in the life of Jesus. So I've just described it there from my dream.
[5:24] It didn't really happen. But I wish it had. On near high street. It does happen here to Jesus. And so we see here in the first place. A young man runs up to him.
[5:35] Doesn't say that here. But we can see the story in Matthew and Mark. And we get different details across these three different Gospels. And we read that a young man came running up to him. That this guy's keen.
[5:47] This guy is earnest. That he's desperate. How absolutely wonderful. That somebody would come up. So eager. To ask about salvation.
[6:00] What a wonderful thing. I wonder what modern evangelism would teach us to do. At such a point. There would be those I suppose that would say.
[6:11] Well. Get him to sign a card. Or to sign a pledge. Or to say. This day I've become a Christian. Maybe get him to recite. A sinner's prayer.
[6:23] I've seen that kind of thing at the end of. Kind of. Large gospel crusade. Meetings. Take this literature away. You're going to need it for your new life. Start going to church.
[6:35] There's good advice. That could be given. But. But. How readily. Most folk. Would embrace. Such a person. How readily. They would say.
[6:45] This is fantastic. You've become a Christian. This is just. Wonderful. News. That wasn't. Jesus.
[6:56] Approach. To this young man. None of that. Was Jesus. Approach. To this. Young man. We call him. The rich young ruler. And again.
[7:08] Different gospels. Will maybe say. Why that's the case. We're told. He is very rich. We're told. We're told specifically here. That he was young. But we're told elsewhere. That he was young. A ruler. I don't know what that would mean.
[7:19] Was he a young prince. A young aristocrat. Was he wealthy. Because his father was. Making business. I don't know what he could. Would be. In our society.
[7:30] But he's described that. He's the rich young ruler. I don't know. The rich young man. Just to. Just to. To make that easier. For us. But what does Jesus do. With this. Rich young man.
[7:42] That seems so eager. To find. The way of God. The way of salvation. Jesus. Jesus lets him walk away. Jesus lets him walk away.
[7:53] I wonder how many of our churches. I wonder how many of us as Christians. Would do that. So weirdly. That anybody would ever come up. Saying. I want to be a Christian.
[8:06] I want to find eternal life. And we would allow them. Just to. Walk away. That's what Jesus does. That's because he wants.
[8:16] Jesus. Jesus will not bring the price tag. Down. He's not going to give this guy. A bargain. Salvation. A cut price. Salvation.
[8:26] Because he knows. In the way that only Jesus can know. Jesus knows where this guy is really coming from. And he knows. That he's not there yet.
[8:37] And he's not ready. And what he's asking for. He doesn't really know. What he's asking for. And Jesus doesn't try to get a pledge out of him. And he doesn't try to get a decision out of him.
[8:48] And he doesn't try to get him to recite some kind of sinner's prayer. Or to get a promise out of him. In fact.
[8:59] The really strange thing about the story. Or one of the strange things about it is. That from the very outset of this encounter. Jesus seems to exude. A kind of negativity.
[9:11] Towards the guy. You would think. On one level. There would be nothing but positivity. This is wonderful. That somebody would come. Asking such a thing. But Jesus seems to be so negative.
[9:22] From the whole outset. Of his encounter. With this man. Jesus would tell his disciples. Follow me. I'll make you fishers.
[9:34] Of men. I'm going to make you fishermen. And they'll go out. And in your nets. You'll catch fish. And it won't be just fish fish. It'll be human beings. I'm sending you out.
[9:44] To catch human beings. For the gospel. To bring them in. Bring folks. Into the kingdom of God. I'm making you evangelists. Of fishermen. Of people.
[9:55] And here of course. Is the ultimate. Fisherman. Change the e-reach for a moment. Forget about the fishing nets. But think about a fishing rod. Instead. Think of the fishing rod. And in.
[10:06] In this story. What you've got. Is the equivalent of. Jesus. As. As fishing rod. And a fish. Has jumped. Onto the hook.
[10:17] Yeah. And he's got. He's got the fish. Right there. The fish has jumped onto the hook. Saying. Catch me. Fish. Don't normally do that. Do they? You stand there. Hours something.
[10:28] To wait for a fish. And then it comes. There's a fish there. And as he effectively. Jumped onto Jesus. Hook. And said. Catch me. Save me. Fish me. I'm willing.
[10:39] I want to be caught. That's. What's happened. And what does Jesus do? He takes this fish. And he lets it go back in the water. And he doesn't catch you.
[10:51] And he allows it to. Go away. Again. And you think. Lord I don't understand. Is that what you've told us to do?
[11:02] Is to find people like this guy. Who want. Eternal life. Or he wants to find the door. Eternal life. And to. Give them an interest. Eternal life. So they do want it.
[11:13] But here's somebody that seems to know enough. That I do want it. And you let them go. Lord. What's going on? We don't understand.
[11:25] If. If he applied for. Evangelism training college. He'd probably get rejected. He'd say. No. You know the first thing. About evangelism. You've let the fish go.
[11:36] You've let that person go. If he was applying for. Missionary training school. Or ETS. Perhaps he'd be saying. Yeah. You haven't got a pastor of heart. This man wanted to be saved.
[11:47] You've let him go. You gave him no. Encouragement. If he'd written the book. Of the soul winner. We'd be saying. You're a hypocrite.
[11:58] You're not interested. In winning souls. Somebody came to you. Wanted to save. And you're not interested. What's going on? You'd say. Jesus. On the surface of the air.
[12:09] Is a very poor. Evangelist. You wouldn't want him. On your mission team. You know. You put together a team. To take to camp. Or to go on a mission. Training thing. Or something.
[12:19] And you say. Well we don't want people like you. On the team. We want people that want to win souls. Not that we're going to. Send them away. Again. So is Jesus wrong?
[12:32] Of course not. Was he right? Of course. Jesus never wrong. He doesn't make mistakes. And he's not making a mistake. Here. Did he love souls?
[12:43] Of course. Does he love souls? Of course. So much. That he gave his life. In order that souls. Might be saved. There is no greater.
[12:54] Love. Than the love of the Lord. Jesus Christ. The one who paid. The ultimate. Price. The one. Who had infinite. Compassion. And infinite zeal. For saving souls.
[13:06] We even read. I think it's in Mark's account. Of this story. That he loved. This young man. And he watched him. Walking away sadly. Because he loved him. Some people speculate. On the basis of that.
[13:18] That he did. Come to genuine faith. At a later date. I've seen a theory. That perhaps he was. Joseph of Arimathea. Another rich man. Who gave. Who bought the tomb.
[13:31] For Jesus. But that's pure speculation. Pointless. There's no more. There's nothing. Biblical about that. It'd be nice to think so. But we don't know. Some people speculate. Perhaps. He came back.
[13:41] At a later stage. And was. Genuinely. Converted. We don't know. What we do know. Is at this point. Jesus. Let's him. Walk away. And at this point.
[13:53] We need to learn. Even for ourselves. There's a time. When you have to let people. Walk away. If they don't. Want. Want. The gospel. On gospel terms.
[14:05] And they don't want. Salvation. On the terms. That God. Stipulates. We'll come to that. Walking away. In the second place.
[14:16] We've got this. We've got watering down. Watering down. What is Jesus. Doing here. Why does he let this young man. Walk away. Well it's because.
[14:27] However much he loves souls. And he does. He loves God. More. And he loves the word. Of God. More. That's what matters.
[14:38] To Jesus. And he doesn't. Dilute. The gospel. At any time. Or for anybody. And he doesn't water it down. And he doesn't compromise it.
[14:50] Because it's the truth. And he doesn't compromise. The truth. Or water down the truth. And neither. Should you or me. He does not do. Cut first. Salvation. And it's great.
[15:02] In one sense. If this young man. Says. I want to know salvation. But Jesus. Is going to make him see. What salvation is. Do you really.
[15:13] Want it. And Jesus won't. Compromise. That standard. Not even. As it were to. To win. A convert. What it adds. To his numbers.
[15:24] And with his own. Holy Spirit. Giving wisdom. He sees. That this young man. Is not waiting. For salvation. And this young man. And this young man. Is understanding. At this point.
[15:35] Is inadequate. And he doesn't actually know. What he's asking. And he doesn't realise. The implications. Of what he's asking. His knowledge of God. Is inadequate. Which is the point.
[15:47] Jesus picks him upon. At the very beginning. Good teacher. What must I do. To inherit eternal life. Jesus is fine. Calling me good. Only God is good. And he's wanting.
[15:57] From the outset. This young man. To think. And to think. Who is God? Who is Jesus? Why am I. Even coming up to him. Asking for eternal life.
[16:09] Jesus is getting. Thinking. From the outset. And he knows. That this young man's. Knowledge. Of God's word. Is inadequate. So this guy thinks.
[16:20] As long as I keep. The commandments. And in his mind. He keeps them. And he's always kept them. And he's kept them perfectly. His knowledge of the scripture. Is such. That he doesn't know. His own heart.
[16:31] And he doesn't know. That no human being. Can. Keep the commandments. Perfectly. He claims. I've been doing this. All his life. I wasn't telling you. That young fella. I've been keeping the commandments. I'm prettiness about it.
[16:42] I'm conscientious about it. I'm so good. And Jesus. Looking at him. Thinking. You don't know the first thing. About your own heart. You don't know. That nobody.
[16:53] Can keep these. Commandments. And you're coming to me. All self-righteous. All down. Arrogant. And thinking. What a good boy am I. You don't know the first thing.
[17:06] About the gospel. You don't know. What you need to be saved from. And you don't know. Why you need. To be saved. His knowledge. Is completely. Insufficient. At this point.
[17:17] He doesn't know. What he's asking. He's found. He's self-righteous. I guess. On the outside. He did live. A moral life. If his words. Are anywhere near truth. Then.
[17:27] It would appear. That on the outside. He lives. A very. Respectable. Life. If he genuinely. Doesn't commit adultery. And doesn't murder.
[17:38] And doesn't steal. And doesn't be a false witness. And he honors his father and his mother. And he says. I've been doing this for years. My record is unblemished. Go check it if you want to. I'm so good. If he doesn't know.
[17:50] These things. Then. He's. He's ticking all the boxes. Of human. Religion. And he's got. So.
[18:01] Like him. Works. Righteousness. Really. He thinks. I'm okay with God. Because I live such a good. Life. And such a respectable. Polite. Spotless.
[18:12] Life. It's interesting. Jesus. Didn't. Doesn't list. The tenth. Commandment in there. I think that they're all there. From five through to nine. Number ten is not there. About covetousness.
[18:23] I wonder. If Jesus. Had said. Are you covetous? Or do not covet. Would he have. Said. Near. Again. But Jesus doesn't mention that one.
[18:33] I wonder if that's why. Jesus doesn't mention. Maybe the guy. Couldn't have said yes. To that one. But he seems to have. In his own mind. He can say yes. To all the others. What Jesus is doing is. He's exposing. The reality.
[18:45] Of this man's. Intience. To himself. He's building up to a point. Where he's wanting to show. You're not there yet. Your heart's not right.
[18:57] With God. You don't even understand. The gospel. You're saying you want to know. The salvation of the gospel. You don't even understand it. What Jesus knows.
[19:07] Is that however closely. To keeping these. Later commandments. Five through to. Nine. Where is the place. For a human. One, two, three and four. Where is God.
[19:18] In his heart. Does he have any other gods. Before. God. That's the first and greatest. Commandment. Isn't it? Love the Lord your God.
[19:29] With all your heart. Soul. And mind. And Jesus seems to know. That this man. Doesn't. So he mentions. That second table. About human relationships.
[19:40] And sins. On a human level. But he doesn't mention. Any of these. First four. Which pertain to. A person's relationship. With God.
[19:52] And Jesus. Is kind of saving that. As his. His punchline. As it were. Once upon a time. The communist party. Of East Germany.
[20:03] As it stood at that time. They drew up their own list. Of ten commandments. And it was all about. How to be a good citizen. In a Soviet. Country. But they also.
[20:16] Alongside it. They said. And people should keep. The other ten commandments. The Bible. Ten commandments. And they reckoned. If folk did all this. No adultery. No murder. No theft. No lies. They did a great.
[20:27] Country. Country. And. One day. Somebody from the communist party. Was. Explaining to. A Christian. That we. In East Germany.
[20:37] Give such a high place. To the ten commandments. They said. Well what have you done with the first? You have no other God before me. Because. God didn't have any place. In this set of.
[20:49] Moral rules. For how. Good East German citizens should live. It didn't start. With a love for God. And a love for his word. And a love for his truth. And that's where they all have to stand.
[21:01] And if God doesn't come first. And if you don't love the Lord your God. And you have. Other gods. With a small g. Besides the one through God. With a capital G.
[21:12] Then you're never. Ever. Going to be able to keep. Any. Of God's commandments. Because that's what comes first and foremost. Do you love. The Lord your God. With all your heart. And soul.
[21:23] And mind. And still. Jesus knew. This fellow. Didn't. And it mattered much more to him.
[21:35] Was his wealth. He's a rich young man. And he's not willing to part. With it. To help anybody else. His money. Is his God. And he will not give up.
[21:49] A penny of it. Jesus said. Sell what you have. Distribute to the poor. And you'll have treasure in time. Come follow me. But when he heard. He said. He became very sad. For he was extremely rich.
[22:01] And that's when he turned. And walked away. You'll get that here. But you'll get it. Matthew. And Mark. Jesus knows. This. Lad. Has his gods.
[22:13] And he's not going to give them up. That's why he knows. That this fellow. Is not ready for salvation. Because you cannot have. Salvation. Without God. You cannot have salvation.
[22:25] Without Christ. You cannot have salvation. If the things of God. And the person of God. Does not matter more to you. Than anyone. Or anything. Else. Jesus discerns that.
[22:36] About. This. Rich. Young man. God. Does not recognize. She. Conversions. There is no such thing. As a cut price conversion.
[22:49] You cannot have salvation. That. Leaves out. The Lord. That's what this. Devil. Wanted. Some of you.
[22:59] Have heard of. Dietrich. Bonhoeffer. Is killed by the Nazis. A Christian. Writer. Pastor. Back at the time. The second world war. He. He once said.
[23:11] Grace is free. But it's not cheap. Grace is free. But it's not cheap. We get God's grace. Free. But it was bought out of Christ. The Christ.
[23:22] Of the blood. Of Christ. And the only way. To come to Christ. The only way. To experience God's grace. Is through the death of Jesus Christ. On his cross. And we won't come that way.
[23:34] We don't come. Any way. Grace. It's free. But it's not cheap. It comes at a high price. And there are no bargains.
[23:45] In that world. There is no cut price. Way. To faith. And the church. Has to be in the same position. That Jesus adopts here.
[23:57] Which is that salvation. Is not giving. Any old way. To any old person. Who asks. In the loosest. Most casual. Way.
[24:07] We can't give salvation anyway. But we can't give false assurances. To people. Who have never come. By the cross. Some people will tell us.
[24:18] I'm a Christian. I don't go to church. If I'm a Christian. Or. I believe. But. You know. Maybe I don't. Read my Bible all the time. Or maybe I don't do this. Or maybe I don't do that. And the church must never.
[24:31] Give false assurances. By people who as it were. Trying to slip in the back door. Of the church. Or to find salvation. In some. Cheap. Confess.
[24:42] Bargain. Way. There's only one way. And it's through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. And when we come that way. As a way. We take the whole package.
[24:53] That means putting the Lord. At the centre of all things. And you can't say. Like this young fellow. I want Jesus. But I want to. Hold on to my own life as well.
[25:05] But I want to hold on to this. Old habits as well. But I want to not change this and that. About my life. I want to still. Put my job first. Before anything else. I want to put my family first. Before anything else. I want to put my money first.
[25:16] Before anything else. But I am a Christian. And the church. You never say. Okay. You're a Christian. You've said the prayer. You've done the. Come to the prayer. You've been to the session.
[25:27] Whatever. It's no good. If it doesn't involve. That living. Personal. Relationship. With the Lord Jesus Christ. Where a person has asked.
[25:37] The Lord to save him. No matter what. Take away. Anything. As long as I have salvation. This man's not at that point. Jesus recognises him.
[25:50] As a church. And as God's people. Were called on to recognise. There is no such thing. As a water. Down faith. The American. Gospel singer.
[26:01] Steve Taylor. Tells a story about. He was asked to play. A concert in a church. In Daffy. I think it was. And. And he agreed.
[26:12] He would play a set of songs. And earlier in the day. Before they came to that part. As they were kind of setting up. One of the elders. From this church. Came to him and said.
[26:23] Now remember. You'll do a gospel call. At the end of the concert. And he said. Nobody's mentioned this before. He said. Are you kind of organised. For that kind of thing.
[26:35] And he said. No. But. You know. It wouldn't be right to do. A Christian concert. Not about. Some kind of altar call. At the end. He says. Well. What are you going to do. With anybody.
[26:45] That responds to it. Have you got. Follow up. Organised. Who's going to counsel. Anybody that comes to it. You know. We haven't thought about any of that. The Holy Spirit can work. And he said.
[26:56] I'm not going to do it. I'm not going to do it. You know. If you're asking folk to. Get out of their seats. At the end. And make some kind of emotional response. Based on some songs they've been singing. And you've got no way of following that up.
[27:07] And no way of deciding. What you're going to do with these people. Afterwards. And how you're going to advise them. And how you're going to counsel them. He said. I'm not going to do it. You're not. In the place.
[27:18] To. Ground. And disciple. Such people. And the elder paused. And he said. Well is it not worth it? Suppose in 50 people came out. He said.
[27:28] Is it not worth it. If even one of them. Proved to be genuine. And Taylor said. No. It's not. Because then you've got 49 people. Who go away.
[27:40] Thinking. They became a Christian. Tonight. And they never. And needless to say. They're deluded. And they're deceived. And in six weeks time.
[27:50] Or whatever. They're going to be. If you've never seen them again. They'll have given up. Coming to church. And not only that. They'll have gone and told all their things. I've tied it. It doesn't work. And you've lost all their things. It's no use.
[28:02] Having 50 people. Streaming to the front. Saying. I want to be a Christian. When they don't know what it actually means. And nobody's going to tell them. What it is. There's churches. With folk that go out the back door.
[28:14] As fast as they're coming in the front. And the churches are walking up. And they're saying. This is great. New people coming every single week. And they don't realise that. The folk that started coming three months ago.
[28:25] They're never to be seen anymore. They're going out the back door. As fast as they come in. The front door. And so you're standing. And I don't know how the Lord will deal with us as churches.
[28:36] If we get into that mentality. That we tolerated that. That we encouraged that. That we promoted this watered down farce. Of telling people.
[28:47] Just because you've done A, B or C. And you've followed the step one, two or three. You must be a Christian. It doesn't work that way either. I wonder if the story is here. Simply to remind us.
[29:00] That sometimes. You have to let people walk away. If they don't want the gospel. On Bible terms. On God's terms. A God to the word. Of God. We don't want.
[29:12] A watered down. Farce. But let me finish. With a third thing. The welcoming in. Welcoming in. Because we still seek genuine conversions.
[29:24] Don't we? We want. We want. Genuine conversions. We plead for the Holy Spirit. For genuine conversions. And we work. For genuine conversions.
[29:35] We pray. For genuine conversions. We evangelise. In the hope. Of having genuine conversions. We want folk. To ask. What the rich young man.
[29:46] Asked. We want. We want them to ask. Knowing what they mean. When they say. How can I return my life? What must I do. To be saved? This rich young man.
[29:59] Got an answer from Jesus. He didn't like it. And he walked away. And Jesus. Let him. Walk away. But you should stop us. Being like Jesus.
[30:10] And preaching the truth. And tell. People. In the hope. And the belief. And the expectation. That some will. Hear. And receive that gospel. And will want the gospel.
[30:20] When the gospel tells. That they'll take it. Great. That's what you long for. But if they don't. Let them walk away. The gospel price.
[30:31] Cannot be cut down. The price cannot be slashed. To make it more. I'm sure this church. Could do with more converts. Every church. Could. Nail. Every church. Would love. To have more converts.
[30:43] Love to have more young people. Coming in. But not at any cost. Not at the cost. Of. Making a fool. Of the gospel. Of making a mocking.
[30:55] Of the gospel. We preach. To many. We do youth clubs. We do kids clubs. We do courses. This week. Between three and four hundred children. In their church.
[31:07] Hearing about. The Christmas message. Of Jesus. Coming into the world. How many of them. Will receive. What we said. We don't. We plant seeds. We wait to see. What the Lord does for them.
[31:18] But what we cannot do. Ever. Is water down. The message. It's a serious message. And the Lord's given the church. A serious message.
[31:29] And said. Go and make disciples. Of all nations. Baptise them. Be successful. Baptise them. Teach them. But never. Teach them anything. And say anything.
[31:40] That will make them. Stick up their hand. And come to the front. And say. I want part of this. When they don't even know. What the gospel. Is. We cannot. Belute. The message. Just to make it.
[31:51] More. Enticing. But keep on. Preaching. Keep on. Teaching. Keep on evangelising. Keep on. Spreading. The new news. Keep on doing.
[32:01] Your clubs. And you're praying. And you're pleading. And you're preaching. And you're interceding. Keep on welcoming. And focus. And focus. We're not. As you see. Hope. Genuinely.
[32:12] Come to faith. In Jesus. And he has promised. That he will bring people. In the fullness. Of his own time. And the power. Of his own spirit. But don't.
[32:22] Get into the trap. Of taking. Every talk to Harry. That says. I want to be a Christian. When they don't. And they don't even know. What that means. Jesus will continue. To call.
[32:34] And to receive. And to convert. The Holy Spirit. Will continue to bless. And save. Repentant sinners. Who are willing to. Deny themselves. Take up the cross.
[32:46] And follow Jesus. Because he says. That's what you have to do. This is a rich young man. Who is not willing. To take up. The cross. With all its implications. For his life. Jesus.
[32:57] Let him walk away. And that challenges you and me. Where am I. With the gospel. Do I want the gospel. Do I want to go to heaven. When I die. Yes of course I do. Do I want you to end your life.
[33:08] Yes of course I do. Will you come. The way of self-demand. And taking up the cross. That's what I'm talking about. And a person can't say yes.
[33:20] At that point. They're walking away. It's not just that they're letting them walk away. They're walking away. And saying. I don't want the gospel. If that's the gospel. I don't want to.
[33:32] It's too extensive. Can you not do me a deal? Is it? No. But it's no deal possible. The price cannot be brought down. That's. The price.
[33:43] Jesus tells people. Continually. You have to. Count. The cross. Back in chapter. Nine. Back in chapter nine.
[33:56] Jesus has got other people. As at the very end of chapter nine. He's got people coming up to me. They're saying things like that. Lord I'll follow you. Whenever you go. That sounds good.
[34:08] But Jesus says. Again. It's a wee bit of a. Thanks. But no thanks. He says. I've cleaned up a bed. To call my home. I've got no way to sleep tonight. The foxes do. The birds are the air.
[34:18] Do. I've got no way to come home. Are you willing to do that? We don't know if the. Person who asked the question. Will do us do that or not? Another one. Jesus says. Follow me. He said.
[34:29] Lord first let me go and bury my father. Jesus said. No. Don't do anything else first. You put the kingdom of God first. Other things. We'll take care of themselves. Same with the next thing.
[34:40] Another one comes. Saying. I will follow you Lord. Let me first say farewell. Farewell to those of my home. Jesus said. No. You've got to do this first. No one puts their hand to the plough. Looking back.
[34:52] And is fit for the kingdom of God. Jesus wants people. Saved. He wants them to count the cross. And he wants them to come the right way. And as a church.
[35:04] That's what you're calling on to do. Is to follow them in the master's footsteps. We want folk to come. We'll long for folk to come. We pray if they're folk to come. But they have to come the right way. And they have to come.
[35:15] The way of Jesus. Peter would say to. To Jesus. It's at the end of the same passage. Lord we've left their homes. And followed you.
[35:26] We've given up everything. To follow you. And Jesus said. That's right. That's what you have to do. Truly I say to you. There's no one who has left house. Or wife. Or brothers. Or parents.
[35:37] Or children. For the sake of the kingdom of God. Who will not receive many times more. In this time. And age to come. To eternal life. He said. Peter. People like you.
[35:48] You have counted the cross. You've been willing to follow me. There may be hardships. In the short run. There may be difficult things. I'm not saying this. But I promise you.
[35:58] You'll never be the loser. As Jesus promised to his people. As he's promised to you. And me still. Follow me. You'll never be the loser. Whatever seems.
[36:09] Not. So beneficial. In the short term. You'll never be the loser. In the long term. And. Maybe you're a rich young man here today. Maybe you're a rich young woman.
[36:20] Maybe you're a rich old man. Or a rich old woman. Maybe you're a pure young man. Whatever. Maybe you're a young dumb and broke. Whatever it is. Jesus says.
[36:30] Come. Follow me. Follow me on my terms. According to the way of the gospel. According to the way of the Bible. I promise you. Salvation.
[36:41] And eternal life. If you come that way. But not any. Cut price. Watered down. Compromised. Half hearted. There is no salvation.
[36:52] Come to Jesus. Come to him. He pleads. He holds out his hands. He says. Come. But it's not for you and me to say.
[37:06] Yeah. But on the earth. There are no ifs. In the kingdom of God. Come to the earth. And. He'll let you know. Come away. Come to Jesus.
[37:16] He'll put it all right. Seek first the kingdom of God. His righteousness. And all these things will be added to you. All other things fall into place behind it. Where we say.
[37:28] Lord. Come in your way. Or come that way. That's the only way. That we can come. May God enable us all. To come.
[37:38] Through the cross of Jesus. The way the Bible tells us. The way Jesus tells us. And to know. His promise. And we turn our life to all. And come.
[37:49] Through him. That's free. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.