LET US LOOK AT THE CHARACTER OF A PERSON WHO IS A TRUE BORN AGAIN BELIEVER
LUKE 6:23-26  June 14, 2015 http://cwhisna.blogspot.com/ https://riversofjoybaptist.wordpress.com/

Charles e Whisnant, Pastor-Exposition Teacher who could be defined theologically as Baptist-Reformed-Calvinist, Dispensational, Credobaptist (Believer's baptism) Doctrine of Grace, Lordship Salvation, Salvation by Grace (Soteriological) Called, Convicted, Converted


"THE SERMON ON THE PLAIN"

The auditors of this sermon: 6:17 
This sermon is addressed,
The prelude to this sermon  6:17-19
The content of this sermon:  6:20-49 

The character of those who will be admitted to the Kingdom (6:22-23)

They are poor (poor in spirit {have a low esteem of themselves apart from God} and oftentimes poor in material things). But they are blessed, for theirs is the Kingdom of God

They are hungry (hungry for spiritual things) . But they are blessed that they will be filled.

They are sorrowful (full of weeping). But they are  blessed in that they will laugh later. i.e. spiritual joy.

They are hated, rejected and reproached. But they are blessed and they are to rejoice in their sufferings for Jesus' sake: (1) because great is their reward in heaven and (2) because they are in company with the perscuted prophets.

B. The four descriptions of the righteous in vv 20-22 should not be seen as separate groups; but as elements of one portrait describing those for whom God has compassion.  

1. The poor. Psalms 25:9; 34:2; Isaiah 42:1-18 61:1.  Those people who understand that they must depend on God, because life is beyond their control
2. The hunger is a result of religious persecution and harsh treatment by people in power who take advantage of others.  These people may be deficient in material goods, but they have turned to God for care, and He will care for them and satisfy them.  Isaiah 32:6-7, 58:6-7; 9-10, Ezekiel 18:7, 16
3. The sad as a result of the strain of life, but there will come a time when they will laugh.  Weeping as a picture of those who suffer unjustly.  Psalms 126:5-6; 137:1; Isaiah 450:1-2.  Those who weep have paid the price of painful rejection for lining up with God
4. These people suffer, hatred, insult, rejection, and exclusion from the Jewish community.   The community gives them an "evil name," because they have come to the Son of Man, that is, Jesus.
5. The are well spoken of - They believe, talk, act, and look, like the world, therefore the world accepts them and speaks well of them. But woe awaits them later

C.    FOUR WOES MATCH AND CONTRAST THE FOUR BLESSINGS:  This speaks of Jesus' displeasure with people who are uncaring about those around them and who refuse to be sensitive to God.  These woes are description of one kind of person. 

vs.24 But woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full. i.e. those who are "rich" and often take advantage of the poor. (James 2:1-7, 5:1-6) Wealth can create a sense of independence that results in distance from God and callousness towards others (First Timothy 6:6-18) The "comfort" is their wealth, which they cannot take with them.

vs. 25 Woe to you who are well-fed now, for you shall be hungry. On the day of Judgment, (Isaiah 5:22; 6:13; Amos 8:11.  Those who ignore God and place their hope solely on the good life here have little comfort for the future. 

Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.  Will someday mourn and weep. (Isaiah 65:14) they are too enthralled with the pursuit of life to care about anything else
vs. 26 Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets in the same way. Reveals the spiritual depravity of those people.  They are spoken well of by others.

THE BIBLE WAY OF SALVATION: This is the message of the Sermon
Salvation from sin, escape from judgment and hell, eternal joy, heavenly glory doesn’t come to people who are fascinated with Jesus Christ. 

The preaching of Jesus, He preached the same way that John the forerunner of Jesus in the wilderness.  Jesus preached the same way that the prophets of the Old Testament, i.e. the true prophets.  He preached repentance.  Why? He was preaching to those who were and are sinners.

Definition of Sin - What are God's rules? It  definition of sin is breaking God's rules


Jesus speaks on Hell and Destruction in Forty Six versus in the Bible.

A definition of sin is doing what is wrong or not doing what is right according to God's rules (1 John 3:4). If God says "Do not lie" and you lie, then you have sinned. If God says "Do not steal" and you steal, then you have sinned. According to God, sin separates you from Him (Isaiah 59:2).

And this is what Jesus was teaching in this sermon in Luke 6.  That is the message.  Every body is a sinner and they are head for divine judgment and eternal condemnation.  That is Jesus message.

THIS PLACE CALLED HELL IS THE PLACE WHERE SINNERS GO

Hell is the place of torment for the lost (unsaved). Because everyone has sinned no one deserves to live with the Holy and righteous Heavenly Father (Romans 3:10; 3:23). But God is a loving Father and He offers salvation from death to all, and for those that reject the offer, God’s justice will be executed and the wage of sin will be paid in Hell.

In Jesus day, the message of "repentance" was not  well received. They believed they were good enough.

You talk to the average person today, and they will say "You know I figure that I'm a good and just man.  I am a good person generally. If there is a Heaven I would say my chances are as good as anyone I know."