What's Next!

[0:00] And take your Bible through to Mark chapter 16 again this morning. Mark chapter 16 as we continue moving through the book of Mark here.

[0:30] What was going to come because we don't oftentimes consider at that moment of the resurrection, that morning, things changed. Things were transformed into something completely different from what they were before.

[0:49] There was something that took place because our sins had been paid for on the cross, but we also understand that when he rose again, it was a victorious overcoming of death and the penalty of it.

[1:04] And we see here that it was going to be 40 days that Jesus would spend with his disciples. 40 days he would take and to teach and to equip them for what was to come because the instructions on what to do because he resurrected needed to be put into place to make sure they understood what was happening.

[1:27] And because everything was now fulfilled that was needed for our redemption, for my redemption and your redemption was complete. When Jesus rose from the dead, it completed everything that was required for your redemption and mine.

[1:45] It's a wonderful thing. And so the question would be is what's next? And because three years previous, Jesus had gathered these men.

[1:56] He had communicated God's truth to them. He had challenged them. He'd encourage his disciples. I mean, you especially see with Peter and James and John and going through this plan of redemption.

[2:10] And now all these things changed. Redemption didn't change, but it had been paid for. You know, payment makes a difference.

[2:22] You know, think about in your life. How rejoicing is it when you pay for something? You know, especially if it's a big purchase, you know, it's like, or something you have to do in our example, you know, make installments on and you're constantly every month after month after month after month, and then it's paid off.

[2:42] There's a rejoicing to know that payment's complete. In the Old Testament, sins were rolled forward at the offerings. But in Christ, one time for all.

[2:58] Complete. Paid in full. What an amazing thing. And so we see here as the disciples are preparing.

[3:08] If you found in your Bible, Mark chapter 16 this morning, let's stand together for the honor of the reading of God's Word here today. And we'll pick up again here in verse 14. Read down through verse 18.

[3:19] And we see this. And afterwards he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and abraded them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

[3:31] And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned.

[3:43] And these signs shall follow them that believe. In my name shall they cast out devils, they shall speak with new tongues, they shall take up servants, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them.

[3:55] And they shall lay hand on the sick, and they shall recover. Heavenly Fathers, we just take a few moments here this morning to look into your Word. Lord, we pray that we would be challenged and encouraged, but Lord, we pray that your Spirit would speak to our hearts today.

[4:14] Lord, above all, you would be heard, that your truth would be put forth. Lord, we pray that you, and you know each one today, Lord, we pray that you just would meet those needs in a mighty way, whether it's for salvation or encouragement, or just strength for the day in which we walk.

[4:30] And Lord, we pray that you would be mighty in all that you do. And Lord, we just give you all the praise and glory and honor. In Jesus' name, amen. May we be seated. You know, as we look here, as we come to Mark chapter 16, Mark has been a book of action, but here at the end, it summarizes very quickly 40 days of time in a few verses.

[4:52] And oftentimes we need to understand what this is just a summary statement about what's happening. And Mark summarizes 40 days of interactions and instructions in just a few words.

[5:07] You know, take a look back in our text. Look down at the, went to verse 20 a second. If you look on down, this kind of just tells you how everything moved. And it says, and they went forth and preached everywhere.

[5:20] You know, in other words, we see here that the culmination of this time that Jesus was here teaching and training, and then they waited till Pentecost and the Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost, empowering the church to move forward, empowering them to accomplish what God had instructed them to do.

[5:40] And so when we understand that each of the gospels and even the book of Acts gives us insight into these final instructions given to the disciples. You know, I want you to understand, they had to be, understand what was happening because it's easy to forget when you read through how quickly some of this is summarized what Jesus was teaching them.

[6:02] He was giving them, you might say, the first three years was their undergrad and they shoved their doctorate class into 40 days. They stuffed all this additional into 40 days of Jesus instructing them and it's hard to, it's sometimes easy to forget that's what's taking place because Jesus told his disciples this was going to happen.

[6:26] You know, before he went to the cross, you find over in John 16, as Jesus is preparing to go to the cross, he looks at his disciples and he says, I have yet many things to say unto you, but she cannot bear them now.

[6:42] You know, I want you to understand that you cannot bear them now. Why? Because they didn't fully understand what the resurrection was. They didn't understand why Jesus was going to the cross. You know, they had a picture in their mind, but there's a difference and we all think and agree with this.

[6:57] You can understand something intellectually, but then, you know, the concept about it, but they didn't understand what it really meant, how it interacted, what the essential nature of it was, how important and critical that it was.

[7:14] And Jesus had to fill them in. It says in verse 13 of John 16, it says, Howbeit when he, the spirit of truth is coming, he will guide you into all truth, for he shall not speak of himself, but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak, and he will show you things to come.

[7:30] I want you to understand the disciples, the apostles here, God gave them insight, but Jesus directed that. He says, Hey guys, I'm going to give you what's needed.

[7:42] You know, these 40 days, not only validated that he was in fact alive, but he also gave them what's next. He gave them what was next.

[7:52] What's the plan? Where do we go from here? Because everything changed. Remember, they were looking for Jesus, to come and establish his kingdom. That's always caught in their mind.

[8:03] Jesus constantly was telling him, No, the purpose I came was to go to the cross and die. That was his purpose. From the very foundation of the world, but they got caught in part of what scripture said instead of the complete picture.

[8:20] You know, and we're going to see here, this morning here, in verse 25 of John 16, he says, These things have I spoken unto you in Proverbs, but the time is cometh when I shall no more speak unto you in Proverbs, but shall show you plainly of the Father.

[8:35] In other words, I think in these 40 days, Jesus took and plainly showed them from the Old Testament all the way up to where they were and gave them directions to move forward. He filled in all the blanks to put things in perspective for them, preparing them for when he was going to be received up to glory.

[8:53] You know, Acts chapter 1 tells us that the disciples were to wait for the empowering of the Holy Spirit before putting them into action. You know, they were to wait there at Jerusalem, those 10 days, until the day of Pentecost.

[9:11] And we're going to see here at the day of Pentecost that the church was empowered to move forward. So what was next? to put the full-scale plan into action.

[9:22] To put those things into action. That plan to make sure the world, that everyone knows who Jesus is and what he has done for them. That's the plan of action. Moving forth with what Jesus said.

[9:35] Declaring that truth of the gospel. And we see here that oftentimes we refer to this as the Great Commission, the charge that Jesus gave before his departure into glory.

[9:47] You know, each of the gospels in the book of Acts presents for us the marching orders for the church today. You know, when we understand it's this small group of believers gathered at Jerusalem and he tells them they were to go with the message of what they had seen and heard.

[10:08] He told them, here's what you need to do and he gives them the plan. Because the plan was about to come to fruition. The plan that had been set in place from the foundation of the world.

[10:19] From the fall in Genesis to Jesus' resurrection had been a plan put in place. God already knew how he was going to redeem us.

[10:31] He had a plan put in place and from Genesis all the way to when he resurrected that Sunday morning, I want you to understand, it went from a plan that was in place to a plan completed.

[10:45] It was fully done. Fully accomplished for us. And God made this plan to save everyone. You know, oftentimes people get the idea that the Old Testament was just to save the Jews.

[10:58] That's not the reality. God's plan was always for the whole world. Look back in the book of Psalms for a moment. Look in Psalms 98. Psalms 98 and verses 2 and 3 here.

[11:11] The scripture tells us, it says this, and the Lord hath made known his salvation, his righteousness hath he openly showed in the sight of who?

[11:23] The heathen. You know, that's not a term we use very much, but it basically means those who didn't know him, those that weren't aware of who he is. You know, the word heathen is that reality of that.

[11:36] And he said, he hath remembered his mercy and his truth towards the house of Israel. And all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

[11:47] You know, God's plan has always been for the whole world to know. It's been his plan from the very beginning. Isaiah chapter 45 tells us this. It says, This was the gospel.

[12:24] This is the gospel of action. Jesus is now instructing his disciples, what's next? What's going to happen? Because it's going to be time for action for them to move forward.

[12:36] Look here at verse 15 in our text as we read earlier. Notice he said unto them, Go ye into where? All the world. You know, each of the gospels in the book of Acts all give the same instruction.

[12:50] It all involves a going. Matthew chapter 28, Go ye therefore. Luke 24, 47 says that repentance and remission of sin should be preached in his name among what?

[13:05] All nations beginning at Jerusalem. How about John 20, verse 21, And Jesus said, Peace be unto you as my Father has sent me. Even so send I you.

[13:16] You. It's a charge to go. Acts 1, 8 tells us, And ye shall be what? Witnesses unto me. Both in Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

[13:30] You know, this dynamic of going. Go ye into all the world. This is an active dynamic. Because literally, this word group here in the Greek suggests something.

[13:45] It says, As you go. It's not just a charge to go, but it's as you go. In other words, it's not a one-time event. You know, it's not like going to the fair or going to a ball game.

[13:59] It's as you go. It's a lifetime dynamic. It involves more than just a moment or an event. It is a as you go.

[14:11] In other words, he says it's a constant. It's a continual. It's something that has been going since he has established the going. He said for them to go. As you go, moving through this life, we are to be in the business of telling the good news of Jesus Christ to others.

[14:29] You know, that's what we're here for. If you're saved, that is one of your purpose. People say, What's my purpose? Well, one of your purpose is to let other people know what God's done for you. You have a purpose. God has a purpose for you.

[14:43] You know, we live in a generation that seems to say, Well, what's my purpose? God says, Hey, I've got a purpose for you because I loved you because if you call upon my name, you've been redeemed, you've been changed, you've been transformed.

[14:56] And he says, Now I'm sending you with a purpose for this life. You have a purpose. There's a plan that God has given. It's a plan of action.

[15:06] The plan is clear and the message is clear. You know, look at the proclamation that he says. Look at verse 15 again. And he says this, And preach the gospel to every creature.

[15:20] To preach the gospel to every creature. I want you to see here this proclamation is to preach the good news, the gospel of Jesus Christ, the gospel of the Son of God that came and paid the penalty of your sin.

[15:34] The one who atoned for our sin, my sin and your sin on the cross. What he did on the cross, atoned, took the payment that we were to make and paid it in our stead.

[15:49] He took it upon himself. He took our sin upon himself and his blood having been shed for our behalf.

[16:00] Then the Bible says he was buried and he arose in victory. The promise had been fulfilled and now it's time to declare to every nation and every person.

[16:13] To go forth, to do, because this passage here, I want you to see something first is the responsibility of the saints. There's a responsibility to all those that believe.

[16:24] The good news of Jesus Christ has a responsibility attached to it. If you're saved, you become responsible for what you have. We're to be good stewards of what God has given to us.

[16:39] You know, oftentimes we think of that as just resources or means that we have. I want you to understand it's also your very salvation. You know, the most valuable thing you have in life is the fact that you can be saved.

[16:51] Because everything in this life you possess, guess what? You're going to leave it here. People try to attempt to take it with them, but you know what? If you put it in a tomb, it's going to be there. You can dig it back up. You know, go over to Egypt and look what they did with all the tombs of the kings.

[17:05] Everybody plundered and pillaged all the things they were bringing with them. But you know what? Eternal salvation is something that's just that. It's eternal. It goes past this life.

[17:19] It goes beyond what is here. And we're here and understand the task is to share. The word preach means to declare or publish the truth about Jesus.

[17:30] The gospel is a testimony to communicate to others. It's God's method. You know, think about what the apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 1. He says this.

[17:42] He says, And after that in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom knew not God. It pleased God by the foolishness of what? preaching to save them that believe.

[17:54] You know, what a powerful dynamic because, you know, oftentimes people look at the foolishness of preaching. You know, the reason they look at it foolish is because they don't understand who God is and how God works.

[18:09] When we understand what's taking place because, think of it over in Romans chapter 10. Look at verse 17. Because why is preaching important? Because your testimony, sharing something with somebody is important.

[18:22] But you know what? God's word is more important. Because what you say is just saying, hey, when I understood what God said, what God has accomplished for me, I want you to know too because your confidence doesn't need to be in my testimony.

[18:40] Your confidence needs to be in the scripture. It tells us, so faith cometh by what? Hearing, and hearing by what? The word of God. You know, our testimony, you can't share your salvation testimony without sharing the word of God.

[18:56] Because if it's not involving the word of God and what God says and God's promises, you got the wrong salvation. Because salvation comes from the truth of what God is.

[19:08] That's the foundation. You know, you might hear something that moves you, but I want you to understand the foundation is not what somebody says, it's what God has said.

[19:20] To trust what God has said. Because I want you to see here, every believer, every saint is to share what they have with others. You know, consider that it's our responsibility to carry out this great commission that God's given to us.

[19:36] You know, how are you doing as an individual when it comes to sharing your faith? The command was, go ye. It's a command for each and every child of God to be active in the business of sharing.

[19:50] It's an active dynamic. It's not a passive, but an active, it's an intentional. You know, I want you to see here, every believer is to tell the story, though, with your life.

[20:05] Because you know what? As people, somebody can say something, but every one of us is judging, are they backing up what they say?

[20:15] We cannot separate our choices and our actions from what we say. You know, often, well, do what I say, not what I do. You know what? What you do backs up what you say.

[20:28] And that gets tough sometimes, because you know why? Because we're inconsistent. We fail. We have the same struggles. All of us have the same problems.

[20:38] We come short of what God expects. We fall short of those things. Even after salvation, we're not consistent as we should be, but I want you to understand that our life, the way we live, ought to be in such a way that lost people see the difference in our life and say, what is God doing there?

[20:59] Our life ought to be a living testimony. You cannot testify about God's great salvation and then go out and sin. When people see that inconsistency, you know what it does to your testimony?

[21:12] They say it has no merit. Why? Because the actions didn't back up what was said. We need to be a consistency in that. Consider what Jesus told us.

[21:24] Look over to Matthew chapter 5 for a moment. Matthew chapter 5 in verse 16. Jesus, when He's speaking to them, He says this, so let your light shine before men that they may see what your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

[21:40] You know, what you do is important. Now, I want you to understand what you do involves everything about your life. You being here this morning says something about you.

[21:52] You making a decision on a Sunday morning to get up, get dressed, on a rainy morning, and come to church. It says something. It says something about a decision that you made.

[22:06] Because look over in Philippians chapter 1. Philippians chapter 1 in verse 27. Paul's encouraging church at Philippi and he says this. He tells them very clearly, only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ.

[22:23] Now, this word conversation, I want to remind you of something important. When the Bible talks about your conversation, it's not just talking about the words that come out of your mouth.

[22:33] He's talking about how we communicate in everything that we do. Most of your communication is done with body language. Think about how many cues do we pick up from people by their body language?

[22:46] Somebody can say something and their body language can say something totally different. You know, think about I'm happy to be here this morning.

[22:57] You can say the right thing but your body language, what you do, communicates. Our conversation is those choices that we make.

[23:08] What is being heard, not just in word, but in what you do. That includes where you don't go, what you choose not to do.

[23:19] Because I want you to understand your conversation develops who you are. It says, let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel that whether I come and see you or else be avid, I may hear of your affairs that ye stand fast in one spirit with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.

[23:39] What's he tell me? He says, your conversation, not just your words, but I'm going to hear about what you do or what you're doing that makes a difference.

[23:49] He says, it's going to be important to know what are you doing? How is that fitting together? We see a responsibility of the saint is to share the truth of God's word.

[24:03] It's a responsibility also of a sinner. You know, I want you to understand the gospel carries a responsibility to the saint, but it also has a responsibility to the sinner. When the gospel is preached, there becomes a responsibility attached to it.

[24:18] Because when the truth of the gospel is preached, somebody has a responsibility, what am I going to do with it? Everybody makes a decision in regard to the gospel. Anytime they hear it, they're making a decision about what it is, how it impacts me.

[24:33] You know, because sinners have a responsibility to the gospel. Their responsibility, I think, is threefold. One is to answer. Notice here, in our text, look at verse 16, it says, he that believeth, he that believeth, when a sinner hears the gospel message, that person is individually responsible for what they do with it.

[24:57] The Bible says they are to believe it. Now, I want you to understand, the word believe encompasses a lot of things because it goes beyond intellect. You know, there's a lot of intellectual people.

[25:07] You know, I've been around a lot of intellectual people, but you know what, there's a difference between intellect and application. It may be both. You need to understand and then apply a response to the gospel.

[25:20] If something has to be done, it's not just information that you store and can recall. You know, it's not just making a note to say I can reference back to it. It's understanding that responsibility to believe because salvation occurs when a lost sinner, here's the good news of salvation, is convicted of sin and believes the message is that Jesus died for their sin and rose again in victory.

[25:47] When a sinner believes that message and turns to Christ by faith, it is, they are instantly, they're converted, they're changed.

[25:58] The Bible says you're transformed. There's many words that are used in the scripture to describe what takes place. It's something very important. Look over to 2 Corinthians chapter 5.

[26:10] 2 Corinthians 5.17 says this, Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is what? A new creature. Old things are passed away. Behold, all things are become new.

[26:23] You know, I don't know if anybody would argue that new is different from old. You know? I mean, you think about it. New is distinct from old. When you're saved, what you become in Christ is different from what you were before.

[26:38] You've been changed. You've been transformed. He says we're a new creature. Old things are passed away if you're in Christ. Christ changes everything.

[26:51] But salvation is accomplished by faith in the heart of a lost sinner. He looks to Jesus by faith because faith involves trust.

[27:04] Trust involves saying, I know that it's true. I know that it's true. That's what trust is as you build upon the reality.

[27:14] I know it's true. Therefore, I can put my faith in it to accomplish that which it's promised to do. When we understand that moment that you call upon the Lord by faith, you're instantly transformed by His saving grace and power in your life.

[27:37] Now, I want you to understand today that salvation never comes from a person's good works. I want you to understand faith is detached from works.

[27:49] You often say, well, I'm not good enough to get saved. That's the whole point. If salvation was built upon what you do, the Bible tells us that we're in trouble.

[28:02] Because the Bible says the best you do still falls short. It says it's as filthy rags. You see all sorts of descriptions that say, hey, you missed the mark. No matter how good you think you are, you're not good enough.

[28:16] You're not smart enough. You don't have enough information. You can be able to recite the Bible from Genesis 1 all the way to the end of Revelation, but if you don't apply the principle of the reality of faith in Christ, it serves no purpose.

[28:35] It moves beyond just knowing but making application. It's not done by our good works, our good deeds, or even a good lifestyle.

[28:46] You know, oftentimes people think they can earn favor with God. I want you to understand your favor of God comes through Jesus Christ. He is our righteousness. He is the one.

[28:58] And when we understand that, that's what happens. You know, Ephesians 2 reminds us it's by grace through faith that we're saved. It's not because of what we do, because there's nothing we can do that makes a difference.

[29:11] Only Christ, what He has done, in faith in what He has done, makes a difference. You know, a lot of religions today are built upon doing something to get saved.

[29:23] Doing something to stay saved. Neither one is in your power. God says He is the one that saves and He says if you call upon me, believe, trusting in what Christ has done, because I want you to understand salvation is not just repeating words.

[29:42] It's not a magical incantation. We'll repeat these words, one, two, three, repeat after me and now you're saved. Because you can say the right words, but if there's not belief in the heart attached to those words, they mean nothing.

[29:58] I want you to understand, you can say all the right things, but if God sees your heart, are you truly trusting Him? Or are you relying upon words that were said?

[30:10] I want you to understand, I believe that what is in here, if you believe God, you ought to be something you can say about it. But it happens in the heart.

[30:22] The soul, the center of who somebody is. Because I want you to understand when you're changed, something happens. There's an expectation to the sinner to not only believe, but then to obey.

[30:35] Look at what it says, it says, believe it and is baptized. Now I want you to understand, this verse I think has been misunderstood and misapplied because sometimes people take this and say, well see it says to be baptized.

[30:46] I want you to understand when you look at the context and you look at Scripture as an overview, we understand that's not what he's talking about. He's talking about obedience because if you're saved, you're going to want to obey Christ.

[31:00] If I truly believe Him, I'm going to say, Lord, I believe what you've done for me. Now what do you want me to do? I'm yours. What direction? What do you want me to do?

[31:10] What do you want me to accomplish? You know the first thing of every believer ought to be obedience in baptism? To say, I want to be obedient to the Lord. I want you to understand you don't add baptism to faith.

[31:23] So many people feel that baptism is that essential component. Matter of fact, it gets promoted so much today in popular Christian quote unquote media and spokespeople.

[31:34] You know, you get saved to wash your sins away. You know what? The water never washes any sin away. The Bible tells us the only thing that takes care of sin is the shed blood of Jesus Christ.

[31:45] But baptism displays obedience. We're to baptize because of the transformation that's already happened at salvation, desiring to be obedient to our Savior.

[31:58] You know, I want you to understand the Bible makes it clear that baptism isn't needed. You can look through the whole New Testament and you'll find out baptism isn't required to be saved. Think about the thief on the cross.

[32:08] He was never baptized yet he was assured of his salvation. He said, today you'll be with me in paradise. The Gentiles who believed at Caesarea in Acts 10 were baptized.

[32:21] Now catch this. If you read that passage, they were baptized after they believed. They were fully saved before they got baptized. You know, if baptism was essential for salvation, I think Jesus would have done some baptizing.

[32:37] You know, the Bible tells us in John 4, Jesus never baptized anybody. If it was essential for salvation, wouldn't you think Jesus would have done it? Say, hey, here's the example. You need to be baptized for salvation.

[32:50] Baptism is not for salvation, it's because of. because baptism identifies us with the death, burial, and resurrection of what happened in Christ at salvation.

[33:02] The Bible makes it clear, you know, we see here that even the Apostle Paul told the church at Corinth that he was glad he only had baptized a few, you know. If baptism was essential, Paul would have said, look at all that I baptized.

[33:19] Never once do you see him promoting, hey, how many people did I baptize? He says, how many people believed? The emphasis is towards that and we see here that nearly 150 passages in the New Testament teach us that salvation is through faith alone.

[33:37] Romans 6 gives us an illustration of baptism. It's that dynamic that is an emblem of dying to the old life and by faith living for Christ.

[33:47] It's a picture that's the reason you're fully put under. You're buried in the likeness of his death and raised to walk in newness of life. It's a testimony of what's already happened. I want you to understand this morning that Jesus makes it clear that being baptized is not part of salvation but it's obedience to God.

[34:10] Matthew chapter 28 reiterates that same thing. You're to teach, instruct them about God to have them understand before they're baptized. You know, oftentimes people say get baptized and then you get saved.

[34:25] I mean, that's backwards. It's like you can't identify with something that you don't already belong. It's essential to know that those that are saved by grace though, I believe, will have a desire to follow the Lord in believer's baptism.

[34:42] If you're saved, you ought to have a desire to say, Jesus said I should get baptized to identify with Him, I ought to do it. It's important to understand the picture because you ought to have a desire for a clear public witness of their faith.

[35:01] You know, baptism of a new believer is one of the first opportunities they have to tell people, hey, God has saved me because of what He did for me. It identifies us with Christ.

[35:12] It identifies us with what Christ taught. It identifies us to say, yes, I want to follow Jesus. I want to do what He wants me to do. You know, the bottom line is this, Jesus is telling His disciples, His men there that day that salvation results in obedience.

[35:29] We're not saved by works, but we are saved to work. Look over to Ephesians chapter 2. Ephesians chapter 2 in verse 10 says, for we are His what?

[35:42] Workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto what? unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. I want you to understand, your works doesn't save you, your works don't keep you saved, but if you're saved, there ought to be evidence by what you do.

[36:04] There ought to be some evidence attached to it, and that's obedience, because baptism is an outward work that speaks of an inward salvation. it's a public testimony of the salvation that occurred by faith when a lost sinner believes on Jesus Christ for their Savior.

[36:23] They ought to desire to be obedient to the Lord. How do you say you trust Christ and then say the first thing He tells you you ought to do, not to do? Now I want you to understand, we can't judge where somebody stands with God on the outside, but you know, when somebody doesn't want to be obedient to Christ after salvation for the basic things, it does put up a flag, and you begin to question what did they believe?

[36:44] Did they truly believe Christ or not? Did they want to follow what Christ said? Is their life changed? It's that dynamic of that, and we see here this reality that we must respond to the gospel, but look at the last part here, it says, he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned.

[37:07] I want you to understand, every sinner has something they have to accept. They have to respond to the gospel, and I believe no matter what, when you share the gospel with somebody, there's a decision made.

[37:23] Every time the gospel is preached, there's a decision made. There's one of two decisions. Yes, no, because you either accept it by faith or you reject it.

[37:34] There's no will almost. Salvation is you either have or you don't. Right. There's no in between. You either are saved or you're not saved.

[37:46] Everybody has a decision to make of what are they going to do. What are they going to do with this? He that believeth not shall be damned. The lost sinner has an opportunity to believe the gospel and be saved, but he also has the right to reject the gospel and to remain lost in his sin.

[38:04] The sinner must understand that if he or she rejects Jesus Christ and the gospel of grace, they're going to have to face the consequences of their decision. The Bible makes it clear that if you refuse Christ, you're continuing to be bound for a place called hell.

[38:21] You're already on the road to hell. The question is are you going to get off or not? A no puts somebody staying on the path that they're on. A yes says I have a new life in Christ.

[38:33] I have a Savior who changed everything that transformed my life. If a person rejects that salvation that is offered by God through Jesus Christ, there's no other hope of salvation available to them.

[38:49] You know, oftentimes people think, well, I'll deal with this later. You know what? Later is too late. There's not going to be some other way. I mean, it's amazing how many people I've talked to over the years. When you talk to them about the things of God, the first thing they go to is, look at all the good things I do.

[39:04] It's in our nature to say, look at how good I am, and God says, there's a problem. All the good you think you're doing means nothing. It doesn't save you.

[39:17] There's no redemption. You know, you consider that around the world you'll find that people abuse themselves to pay for their sin. I mean, you look at places like South America or the Philippines, and you have people walk up and down the street and beat themselves, with lashes, you know, to try to gain favor with God, crawl on their knees up and down stairs and all sorts of things all over the world to say, this will make God happy.

[39:45] But they don't realize they make God sad. Say, preacher, what do you mean? You know what? It makes you sad when you offer something so valuable and free to somebody and they ignore it.

[39:59] The Bible says God's not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. You know, sometimes they try to paint God that he rejoices at the death of a sinner. The Bible makes it clear that God does not rejoice by having to condemn somebody.

[40:12] But the Bible does say there's rejoicing when somebody gets saved. They've been rescued. They've been redeemed. Only way to get to God is through Jesus Christ.

[40:23] Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life, and no man cometh unto the Father but by me. Acts 4.12 tells us there's no other name given under heaven whereby we must be saved.

[40:37] To reject him is to reject forgiveness, is to reject hope, is to reject salvation, is to reject God, is to reject Christ, is to reject the Holy Spirit, is to reject holiness and embracing sin, is to reject life and to embrace death, is to reject heaven and to embrace hell.

[40:56] If you reject Jesus Christ and refuse to believe the gospel, you will go to hell, there's no one to blame but yourself. Look over to John chapter 8 for a moment.

[41:07] John chapter 8 and verse 24. I said therefore unto you, this is Jesus speaking, it says, that ye shall die in your sins, for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

[41:22] We are already a lost sinner who needs a Savior. You're born that way. You know, David talked a lot about foolish things, the way people are born, the reality is the only thing you're born is a sinner.

[41:33] A sinner separated from God. And we find here as the Lord prepared to return to heaven, his mind was with his men and he wanted them to be prepared for a day when they would have a responsibility to declare this message not just to a certain group but to the whole world.

[41:51] And so he gave them the great commission and he sent them out to tell the world about him. Jesus' last words before he departed that we have, he was concerned that everybody would know.

[42:05] If you read Acts chapter 1, it records Jesus' last words in his ascension into heaven. His last words to the disciples was a charge to, you're going to be a witness to me. You're going to be a living testimony about what's taking place.

[42:19] About how your life was changed, how your life was transformed. I want you to understand our Lord's final thoughts were on you and me. Before he went into heaven, his final thoughts were for all those who were going to believe.

[42:31] That they would hear the message and be able to respond. This is what was next. But the question is what's next? It's a question for even us this morning. Because the question is, are you impacted by the gospel or not?

[42:44] Have you responded to the truth of what God says or have you not? Have you responded with a yes, he is the Savior, I am a sinner, he is the one that paid for me, or no, I think I am good enough, I can get myself in.

[43:00] That's ultimately the only two choices that people have. It's either I can do it on my own or I know I can't and it's only through Jesus Christ. What's next?

[43:11] What have you done with the gospel? Because today you stand on one side of the gospel or another. You either stand with yes, he is my Savior or no, he is not.

[43:24] There is no in between. You know, today if God's spoken to you, what are you going to do with it? As heads are bowed and eyes are closed this morning, as we take a few moments, what about you today?

[43:38] In your life, has there been a moment when you truly not just repeated words but said, Lord, I know you died for my sin, that you were looking at me, a sinner on the way to hell, and made a way for me to be saved?

[43:52] If you've never made a decision towards Christ today, don't leave here making a decision against it. What are you going to do with the truth today? What are you going to do with the truth today?