Luke 6:27
"But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you," Luke 6:27. Starting in Luke 6:20 through Luke 6:26, Jesus Christ has made a clear contrast between those who are saved and those who are not. The Lord saves those who are spiritually bankrupt. He saves those who are hungering and thirsting after righteousness. He saves those who are weeping over their sinfulness. When the Lord saves someone that person becomes a new creation in Christ Jesus. They begin to love the things that God loves. They hate their own sins and are in the sanctification process. They live a life of repentance. This life style is in sharp contrast with those who think they are saved, but are not. These who have deceived themselves trust in their own works of righteousness. They view themselves as either obtained salvation or are obtaining salvation through good works, good intentions, good feelings, good emotions, and the praises of others. These trade one addiction for another. These turn over a new leaf. These are trying to save themselves, but this is a biblical impossibility. "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost," Titus 3:5. Those whom the Lord saves and those who are not saved are hearing the same preaching and teaching from Jesus Christ. Why can one hear and respond, and the other cannot hear or respond?
With this in mind turn to John 1:4, "In him was life; and the life was the light of men." The word "life" is in the sense of existence, life, in an absolute sense and without end. Christ's life, existence, was the light of men. Christ lived the perfect life. Christ lived life without sin. He never sinned in thought, word, or deed. He was sinless. His life was the light of men. Light meaning moral and spiritual light and knowledge which enlightens the mind, soul or conscience; including the idea of moral goodness, purity, and holiness, and of consequent reward and happiness. It is used especially of Jesus as the great Teacher and Saviour of the world who brought life and immortality to light in His gospel
Christ lived this life amongst darkness, verse 5, "And the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not." His life shined forth as light. He is the light of the world in that He alone lived without sin. Christ did this in a fallen world. "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin," Hebrews 4:15.
We must really stress this point in that Christ's life was light. Shineth is figuratively, of spiritual light and truth. Darkness is spoken of persons in moral darkness; the lost, spiritually dead. Comprehended is figuratively: to seize with the mind, to comprehend, to perceive. Christ was a light and truth walking in this dark world, and man in his lost state could not wrap their minds around this fact, and still cannot today. We must ask ourselves why?
Turn to John 3:19-21. These verses are very simple, but we will still do a few word studies. Darkness is spoken figuratively of moral darkness, the absence of spiritual light and truth, including the idea of sinfulness and consequent calamity. This is just the opposite of light with the opposite end. Notice in John 3:19 how mankind is attached to this darkness. We love it.
Loved is to love, i.e. to delight in. Mankind is born loving darkness and delighting in sin. Not only do we love it, we are under sins dominion. We can't get away from it and we do not want to get away from it. The end result is death. Romans 6:23. What is death? Death in Romans 6:23 is physical death as aggravated by eternal condemnation, judgment, and punishment. This is implying both physical death and exclusion from the presence and favour of God in consequence of sin and disobedience. Eternal death is opposite of eternal life.
This appears to be so simple, yet multitudes are dying and going to hell. Why? Why aren't people coming to Jesus Christ? I am speaking about those who have heard the Gospel message. We are speaking about those who have grown up under the preached and taught Word, and have heard messages on heaven, hell, sin, forgiveness, and being pointed to Jesus Christ. Why aren't multitudes being saved every day, all day? Look back at John 3:19 and John 1:5. Again, why is mankind like this? Why do some see, hear, and believe, but the majority do not see, hear, or believe? As we prayerfully go through this series of sermons we will prayerfully see why and understand.
Let's begin by looking at human inability. Inability implies want of, or lacking; lacking sufficient power or strength. This implies that we are dependent upon someone else who has the power or strength; the ability. A better way to term this would be, "Total Human Inability". The common term is Total Depravity. This means we have no power or strength, or desire, to be saved, nor can we save ourselves. We are in a bad place. We cannot see our need for the Saviour, and even if we could we have not the strength go to Him. All mankind is like this; therefore, no one who is a sinner can deliver a sinner. We cannot help each other get saved. This means we cannot pray someone in; we cannot lead them in; and we surely can't push them in; we must point them to Christ. Life is only found in Christ.
It has never been our job to save someone. It is our responsibility to accurately proclaim the gospel. "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek," Romans 1:16. "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness: but unto us which are saved it is the power of God," I Corinthians 1:18. All roads do not lead to heaven. The Father has given us One Way to Him, and that is through His eternal Son Jesus Christ. "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me," John 14:6. Jesus Christ is not tolerant of any other way of salvation.
We cannot make someone hear the truth, but we can and should passionately and compassionately proclaim the gospel to all. Our prayer is that God would save the lost. He is able. Please send questions and comments to richardsonbaptistchurch@gmail.com. Soli Deo Gloria.
