Luke 8:4-10
"Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word," John 8:43. Christ has been dialoging with these religious crowds for some time in this chapter. These people are very well versed in the Scriptures. They know much by heart, yet they are not able to hear the words of Jesus. They hear what He is saying, but they do not understand. They are hearing from a fleshly standpoint, but not from a spiritual standpoint. They have ears, but they cannot hear. Their whole life they have been brought up under the Scriptures, but they are lost and are headed to the eternal torments of hell. Why can't they just make a decision for Christ?
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. Look 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? This is the question Jesus answered with the parable in Luke 8:4-10. This is a hard and humbling truth. "And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand," Luke 8:10.
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 to 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.
Let's dig a little deeper by turning to Genesis 1:26-27. When Adam and Eve were created they were not saved, nor were they lost. To be saved is to be delivered from the power of darkness and from the penalty of sin. To be lost is not to be delivered from the power of darkness or from the penalty of sin. Adam and Eve were perfect and they had perfect communion with God. God gave them a command (Genesis 2:15-17). Die is a verb meaning to die, to kill, to put to death, to execute. Dying however, was not intended to be a natural aspect of life being human. It came about through unbelief and rebellion against God. In reading Genesis we see that Eve was deceived, but Adam willfully sinned. This is also in I Timothy 2.
Turn to Romans 5:12. The word "man" is anthropos; a human being. This is where we get the word "anthropology" the doctrine concerning man. This one man brought sin into the world. Sin is offence, sin (-fully); the practice of sinning, habit of sin. This is what we do; this is who we are, sinners. Romans 5:12- "death by sin". Death is "thanatos"; the idea of physical death is prominent here, but it also implies eternal spiritual separation from God. Death, both physical and spiritual, has passed upon all mankind. All have been born as descendants of Adam; born of the seed of man.
The only man who was not born from the seed of man was Jesus Christ; He was begotten from the Father. So here we have mankind, dead in trespasses and sins. We are conceived this way, born this way, live this way, and if Jesus Christ does not save us we die this way and the consequences are eternity in the torments of hell. Our greatest need is deliverance from the power of darkness and from the penalty of sin. This is obvious. So why is it that people are not constantly coming to Christ? We have always been taught that man has the ability to desire and to come to Christ. Let's search the Scriptures and see more evidence of why this is not true. "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins," Ephesians 2:1, (John 8:43). Turn to Romans 3:9-12. Righteous is innocent, holy. Man in his natural state is destitute of holiness. This means he never had any. Good is usefulness, i.e. moral excellence. Remember what we have learned in John 3:19? Men loved darkness rather than light. According to Romans 3:12 there are none who have any moral excellence; yet God requires perfection. Some have and will question this doctrine. Here are some more Scriptures (Psalm 14:1-3, Psalm 53:1-3).
Stop and think for a second about the spiritual condition we are all born into. We are born lost, totally depraved, totally unable to do anything about it of our own power or wisdom. We don't have the power, wisdom, or desire to do anything about it. We love darkness rather than light. We sin and stack judgment upon judgment against ourselves. "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life, and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him," John 3:36. "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God," Psalm 9:17. "God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day," Psalm 7:11. The word "angry" is a verb meaning to be indignant, to be enraged. The root means to literally foam at the mouth, to be enraged. Because God is a righteous judge, He shows indignation against evil every day.
We are unable to receive forgiveness of sins by any work we can do. Whether good works or refraining from sin (Ephesians 2:8-9); therefore, we must look to Jesus Christ. He is our propitiation. "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else" Isaiah 45:22.
Salvation is totally a working of God, independent of us and in spite of us. This should help us see why Christ had to come, and why He had to die. Life is in Jesus Christ. This life was bound up in Jesus Christ, bound up with cords of righteousness. Christ is the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by Him. Christ lived the life we couldn't live, and He died the death we deserve. Christ satisfied the wrath of God by His perfect sacrifice for our sins. Then He arose on the third day victor over death, hell, and the grave. If God has given you ears to hear, listen and respond to Him. Lord willing next week we will look at the explanation of the parable in Luke 8:11-15.
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