Having begun praying and preparing for October 11th’s sermon on evangelism from John 3:16, here are two quotes to share with you.
As we ponder the depths of “the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God”, knowing that His judgments are unsearchable and his ways are inscrutable (Romans 11:33), here is a quote from evangelist D.L. Moody (it is found with various wordings) : “Written on the outside of the gate of heaven are the words, ‘Whosoever will may come.’ and on the other side of the gate, which you can read from the inside, is written: ‘Chosen before the foundation of the world.’”
And being deeply affected by the greatness of the love of God that moved Him to give and send His Son, I am challenged to love lost people as Christ did and does. “Love: ‘The steady directing of the human will toward the eternal well-being of another.’”
“For God so LOVED the world, that He GAVE His only Son, that whoever BELIEVES in Him should not PERISH but HAVE eternal life” John 3:16.
Pastor, thank you for the privilege of hearing John 3:16 preached in context Sunday. Praise be to God that all of us who will to come to Him, come because He has given us the will to do so. How the new life is all from grace alone!
ReplyDeleteDear Pator Carey !
ReplyDeleteI am so aware of the love of God in His Son Jesus Christ toward us and also the lost souls all arround us TODAY ! How great is our GOD that HE does the saving ! We to share the GOSPEL with them and you are so sensitive to God's word ! I am very encouraged by your sermon and look forward to listening to what you share from the Word of God in His beloved Son Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior and Deliverer ! I am praying for you and your very precious wife Rynette and thank our great GOD for you both ! His forever and ever in Christ <>< Anna ><>
Your message on John 3 was uplifting and on target! I read this little devotional by Spurgeon which seemed to echo your point:
ReplyDeleteFrom the garden of Gethsemane--where the bleeding pores of the Savior sweat pardons; from the cross of Calvary--where the bleeding hands of Jesus drop mercy--the cry comes, "Look unto Me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth!" From Calvary's summit, where Jesus cries, "It is finished!" I hear a shout, "Look unto Me, and be saved!"
But there comes a vile cry from our soul, "No, look to yourself! Look to yourself!" Ah, look to yourself--and you will certainly be damned! As long as you look to yourself--there is no hope for you. It is not a consideration of what you are--but a consideration of what Christ is, that can save you. You must look away from yourself, and to Jesus!
Oh! there are many who quite misunderstand the gospel; they think that their good works qualify them to come to Christ; whereas SIN is the only qualification for man to come to Jesus!
I love the quote from Moody! That is a great way to encapsulate the mystery of God's calling and our response.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your faithful and true preaching of the Word, week by week.