Keep sharing good news without ads.
Bro. Otis Fisher
All right, let's begin. We're in the tenth chapter of Luke at verse 25. And behold a certain lawyer stood up, they had lawyers in those days also, and he tempted him saying, Master what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
This was a man that was well versed in the Jewish law, a theologian, a scribe, possibly even a rabbi, and he tempted the Lord, tempted this man Jesus, put him to trial. By his question, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
Well he probably had noted that Jesus was calling sinners, but he fancied himself as belonging to another class, a higher class, and hence he says what shall I do? You know it's good to speak of things of God, inquire about them, but we must have the right motive.
That motive is a desire to learn more. Well Jesus answered and he said unto him what is written in the law? How readest thou? Now the man was looking upon Jesus as a Sabbath breaker and despiser of tradition.
The lawyer no doubt expected that Jesus would lay down some new rule for obtaining salvation. Well we can expect no more from the world. They want to know what shall I do? Russell, what can man do to inherit salvation?
Nothing, absolutely nothing. He can't dress a certain way or walk a certain way or belong to a certain group, absolutely nothing. Well he was surprised to be referred to the laws of Moses as his answer.
And he answering said thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind, and thy neighbor as thyself. Now the law starts in the heart.
Your spirit must be right. How else can you know God if your spirits not right? So it would start in the Holy of Holies. Next it moves to the holy place where God meets with man. In this place we exercise all of our strength, all of our might, our brain power.
We use all our body to worship him. Then last of all but not least we're to love the next person God brings in front of us. This love is not a Christian love. Well it is and it isn't. It's a social love.
We're to see that he gets exactly that that he deserves. That may mean prison, it may mean a fruitcake. If the love of God prevailed, let's name some things that would not exist such as idolatries. Can you name something else David that would not exist if the love of God prevailed?
So idolatries, hate, what about jealousy? Adultery, corruption of truth, perjury, suicides, what about war? Well the list can go on and on if the love of God prevailed. 28 and he said unto him thou hast answered right this do and thou shalt live.
Very simple. Now David can this man do that? Bill can anybody do that? He who fulfills the great love law of love is born again. That's the only way. Gene from above. The only way that man can fulfill.
We repent and live, believe and live, obey and live, love and live. These are all co-related. One cannot exist without the other. We cannot love God unless we believe and repent. He that loves me will keep my words.
The lawyer was disappointed. He'd set out to trap Jesus and it backfired on him. But he willing to justify himself said unto Jesus and who is my neighbor? Jesus answered and said a certain man went down from Jericho.
I like it when Jesus doesn't just flat-out answer. He gives him a parable. A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among thieves which stripped him of his raiment and wounded him and they departed leaving him half dead.
Always wondered where that term originated. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. Now he was close enough to see, close enough to see the condition he was in but he went by on the other side as though he didn't exist.
And likewise a Levite when he was at the place came and looked at him on him and passed by on the other side. So the Levite came a little bit closer but still he went by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan of all people a Samaritan as he journeyed came where he was and when he saw him he had compassion on him.
I'm skipping 34. Someone read that. Have you got 34 David? Those of you that can see. So the Samaritan he does everything that he possibly can. Brings him to the inn. Bound up his wounds and on the morrow when he departed he took out two pence and gave them to the host and said unto him take care of him and whatsoever thou spendest more when I come again I will repay thee.
The thief says what is yours is mine. This is socialism and communism. The priest and Levite what I have is mine. Godless capitalism but the good Samaritan. What I have is yours if I can help. Sounds like the Christian way to me.
There's a great deal of talk about getting the gospel out into the world but not much effort being made to see that the people know about Jesus. Isn't it amazing the airways are full of people talking about sending the gospel here and the gospel there and the Bible and but it's the Christ.
It's Jesus Christ. I'm reminded of a story of a young man who wrote his girlfriend and he said I would climb the highest mountain for you. I'd swim the deepest river. I would cross the wildest sea and even go across a burning desert for you.
P .S. if it doesn't rain Wednesday I'll come. That's the average Christian. That's his commitment to Jesus the Christ said. Well we find that true love asks no questions. It fears no harm. It does not delay, makes willing sacrifice, leaves nothing undone.
Then Jesus turned into the man says which now of these thinkest thou was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves. Stranger became the neighbor so we are to be neighbors to all who need help. Joy it's the next one that the providence of God has put in your way.
And he said the man answering he that showed mercy on him then said Jesus unto him go and do thou likewise. I want to stop. Go and do thou likewise. Is there any questions? Bill will you dismiss us today please?