Nothing to Pay — Robin McKeown

Knowing Christ and the Assurance of Salvation

Some people say you can't know. We've just been listening to that tonight the verse of scripture came to my mind. It's You didn't turn to its 2nd Timothy 1 and 12. The Apostle Paul said I Am not ashamed for I know him Whom I have believed and I'm persuaded that he is able To keep that which I've committed unto him Against that day.

It's knowing the person That you've been hearing about tonight already. I have three readings at this part of the meeting and turn with me. First of all, please to the gospel of Luke and chapter 7. The gospel of Luke and chapter 7.

The Forgiveness of the Sinful Woman

And we'll commence our reading at verse 36. And One of the Pharisees desired him. That's the Lord Jesus that he would eat with him and he went into the Pharisees house and sat down to meet and Behold a woman in the city Which was a sinner when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisees house brought an alabaster box of ointment and stood at his feet behind him weeping and began to wash his feet with tears and did wipe them with the hairs of her head and kissed his feet and Anointed them with the ointment.

And when the Pharisee which had bitten him saw it he speak within himself saying this man if he were a prophet would have known who and what manner of woman this is that touches him for she is a sinner.

And Jesus answering said unto him Simon. I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith master say on there was a certain creditor which had two debtors. The one owed 500 pence and the other 50. And when they had nothing to pay Nothing to pay he frankly forgave them both tell me.

Therefore which of them will love him most they look further down, please. Verse 47 wherefore I say unto thee her sins Which are many are forgiven. For she loved much, but to whom little is forgiven the same love of little and he said unto her thy sin Are forgiven.

And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves Who is this that forgiveth sins also and he said to the woman? Thy faith hath saved thee. Go in peace now the gospel of John please. And chapter 19 the gospel of John and chapter 19 and verse number 30.

Christ's Finished Work on the Cross

When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar he said it is Finished and he bowed his head and give up the ghost. Those beautiful words in the middle of verse 30 the words of the Lord Jesus on the cross before he died it is Finished.

Now lastly please a short reading in Matthew chapter 22 the gospel of Matthew. And chapter 22 and verse number 11 and when the king came in to see the guests He saw there a man Which had not on a wedding garment, and he said unto him friend how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment and He was speechless.

I want you to remember those words, please he was Speechless. Then said the king to the servants bind him hand and foot and take him away and Cast him into utter darkness. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Salvation Requires Nothing to Pay

That's our reading at this part of the meeting. When I'm going to say to you what I'm just about to say you'll think well, we'll get home early tonight. I Want to speak to you about nothing. I Want to speak to you about nothing.

And yet built around this word that I want to speak to you about there really are some volumes of lessons for us to learn. The first thing I want us to notice is from Luke's gospel chapter 7 and We read it in verse number 42.

I want to speak to you tonight about nothing to pay nothing to pay. We read about the words of the Lord Jesus as he hung up on the cross at Calvary. Those match matchless words. It is finished. I Want to speak to you about nothing to do?

Nothing to do and we read together in the gospel of Matthew chapter 22 about a man and the Bible says He was speechless. The man had nothing to say nothing to say. The first of all when we turn to Luke's gospel chapter 7 the Lord Jesus has gone in by invitation to the house of Simon the Pharisee and Simon really was affronted his religion.

Religious dignity was upset deeply when a woman came into that house and the Bible sees that she's a sinner and you know, she stood at the Lord's feet behind him weeping and She began to wash his feet with the hairs of her head.

With her tears and wiped them with the hairs of her head and she had a box of an alabaster box of ointment. Which he then broke and she anointed his feet. You know something about that woman. That woman's sins had all been forgiven.

And I want to say to you tonight I Sometimes think if I had had only one sin and God forgave that one sin. I Would contend that he had forgiven me much. But I had many sins and they're all forgiven tonight, there's not one of them left and Sometimes I get down on my knees at the side of my bed and I think of the one who died on the cross.

That all my sins might be forgiven. And then sometimes my tears will flow and I wonder what he saw me to suffer such deep agony. Here's a woman and everything was forgiven and the Lord said her sins are many.

Do you know something? She had nothing to pay nothing to pay. That's just one reason we don't take up a collection in the gospel tent. There's a man and I'm wondering will I meet him in heaven. I'll only give you his first name.

A Communist Confronted with the Gospel

He was very prominent in trade union circles. Both in in Ireland in the north of Ireland and even on a mainland basis. His first name was Tom. I Remember going to his door in Belfast. And I wrapped the door.

I got no response. So I went to put a gospel track through the door and there's a dog on the other side making a lot of noise. And the dog decided to receive the track. So I pulled it back and the dog pulled it back and say the letter but I pulled it back and the dog pulled it Back at last.

I had to let it go. I turned to walk away and I heard On the window of the house. I looked around. I thought the man was waving at me in a way back and on I went. And then the window knocked again and it was evident.

He was calling me back. So I'm back and the key was in the door. I could hear him shouting open the door and I called him as the dog safe or maybe I should have asked him. I see. He says come on in. So we had the dog beside him.

Well that man Was in his last weeks on earth. And here's what he asked me said. Are you born again Christian? I said, yes, I am. He says I don't believe a word of it. I Said why did you call me back? That puzzled him a bit.

He said I'm a communist a night-and-night communist and I don't believe any of that. He says my name's Tom. I said well, my name's Robin. Then when he gave me a surname, I said I think I should know you.

I know of you at any rate. He says you probably do. He told him about his role. I said Tom You're a very ill man. I said that's quite evident to me. Says I haven't long to live Tom. What will your communism do for you as you go out into eternity?

The man was shaken. Then we had a good exchange and he said to me I want to give you something. I said, what's that Tom? I Want to give you money. Said I can't take it. I said what do you want to give me money for?

I want to give you money for the work you're doing, but I said Tom you don't believe in it. That doesn't make sense. But he was persistent he wanted to give me money. I said Tom I won't take your money.

Because when Christ died on the cross He provided a salvation and you have nothing to pay you're sitting in the gospel tent tonight and you need to be saved and you'll die in your sins and go down to hell if You're not saved in spite of the fact you have nothing to pay.

The Forgiven Account and the Paid Debt

It's all paid. You know a few years ago up in the north of Scotland prior to the inception of the National Health Service. There's a very benevolent doctor who worked very hard and worked very long hours.

And he had patients many of whom really were not able to pay his bills. The doctor died and there are many many outstanding deaths of course the lawyers came on the scene and relatives were there and they discovered his record books and in these record books of his treatments of patients and the charge in.

Many of these pages in fact on virtually every page there was there would have been a number of accounts and the doctor had written one word across the account. Forgiven and signed his name. But the relatives would have none of it.

They were in for the estate you see and the lawyers got on the ball and they took it through the courts and eventually it went to a very high court in the land and the judge ruled. Where the doctor has written the word forgiven and put in his name to it.

There's nothing to pay. My friend I want to tell you tonight all the prices paid. Jesus paid it all. All to him I owe. Same it left a crimson stain. He washed it white as snow. Put your hand back in your pocket keep your money where it is.

Because the Lord Jesus Christ Shed his precious blood that you might be seeing you know the Bible so clear about this. The Apostle Peter said for as much as you were you know, you know, you've been hearing a bit knowing.

You know, you were not redeemed with corruptible things like silver and gold. But with the precious blood of Christ. Away with your money. There's nothing to pay all the prices paid. What might be some?

Paid all my debt. When charged with guilt I stood and has my soul a freedom set to Jesus precious blood. You know what? We're going to do tonight. God willing. We're going to sing a hymn and closing about the blood of Christ.

Redemption Through the Precious Blood of Christ

You know, I've been to Australia on a couple of lengthy visits and New Zealand. And I was told going out there in one occasion. There are people out there don't believe in the blood of Christ. Sometimes people can be greatly misrepresented.

They were professing Christians. And I was speaking to one of these men who supposedly did not believe in the precious blood of Christ. And I was in this house one day for a meal. I'm not gonna even give you his first name.

I Said to him brother. I have a question for you. What does the precious blood of Christ mean to you? Oh, I love this answer. He says Robin. Without the precious blood of Christ, I have nothing. I have nothing.

My friend put your paltry money away. You can be saved tonight with nothing to pay. All the price is paid. Well, you may say but it could I not do something? It's a very interesting book the Bible. I sometimes say and I don't think.

I've said it maybe in these meetings. But I certainly see it quite often back in Ireland. You don't I believe it with the Bible. Well, I believe it's the Word of God. I Believe it's the best psychology book.

I've ever had in my hand. You know why it does a complete analysis of you and me. Absolutely, and you know something about the human heart. That they want to do something to get the head. They don't so much think of staying out of hell.

Is it you don't like to think there's a hell at all? But they're right to think that if I could do something to get to heaven. You see the rich young ruler came running and he got down before the Lord Jesus and he says good master.

What good thing shall I do that? I might inherit eternal life. He wanted to do something. To do something and people will say but I'm doing the best I can my friend. Would you have done the best you can?

It's not good enough. It's not good enough. You know, the Bible says all our Righteousnesses are as filthy rags. Keep your doing out of it. You'll only spoil something. It's already done. Because I want to tell you tonight to get saved you have nothing to do.

The Lord Jesus Christ on that cross. He said it is Finished and that means I have nothing to do. You know the Apostle Paul said for by grace are you saved through faith and that not of yourselves? It is the gift of God.

Listen to his emphatic negative not of works. Could I say that again not of works. Lest any man should post look there's nothing to do. So are you not see it? There's nothing to pay. Well, why you not see again?

There's nothing to do. Why are you not see it? You know, I know traditionally Ireland is a reputation for donkeys and carts. We're not ashamed of that. But you know, there's a master a master blacksmith.

The Finished Work Cannot Be Improved

Quite a number of years ago. And he was really a master at his particular craft. And his particular 40 was making those great spoke wheels wooden wheels with the spokes coming into the center. And then putting a rim of metal around the edge of the wheel.

And if you wanted a good job, you went to this blacksmith, but this blacksmith had a neighbor. Who was seen and the blacksmith, you know, he really did believe in heaven. Oh, he said he believed in heaven and he was doing his best and working his hardest to get to heaven.

So this man his neighbor Larry so off would get a little chat with him when they're having a cup of tea in the in the black the blacksmith shop and He'd always did he try to bring around the gospel and then the blacks will say well, you know, I'm doing the best I can.

And the good believer would say but did you not know when the Lord Jesus died on the cross? He did it all and he finished the work. I but I'm doing. I'm doing my bit. So this believer arrived down with him one day and there's this beautiful beautiful wheel.

You know, I'm one of four brothers and two sisters and my wife sometimes said says to me. She's how come there are the four brothers. I marry the only one that's not handy. Well, I want to tell you something.

I couldn't make one of those wheels at that blacksmith mix. But anyway, he had this Perfection of a job sitting waiting for collection. Beautifully beautifully done and nicely painted so the believer came in one day and he says that's a nice wheel out there.

He says yeah, I'm waiting for the man to come and collect it. So the good believer picked up a chisel and a hammer. He made a bit of noise and he went out to the wheel and he put up the chisel and he drew back the hammer.

And in the blacksmith's job, he said don't touch it. Don't touch it. I'm gonna do my bit. He said no don't touch it. It's finished and the good believer says I've been trying to tell you that for a long time.

When the Lord Jesus Christ said on the cross it is Finished don't you be putting your back to do we spoil it the blacksmith's age of spoil. It's finished. Could you take it in tonight that the work that saves is already done.

Done is the work that saves once and forever done. Finish the righteousness that saves the unrighteous one. Listen to what the Bible says this man after he had offered one Sacrifice for sins forever. Sat down at the right hand of God why.

Because the work was done. There's nothing to do. I want to tell you something if you die without Christ. You'll have nothing to say. What when I say when he shall punish me well, what will you see? You can't see.

I couldn't afford it because there's nothing to pay. You can't say I was too busy in my job. I couldn't do enough good work and Engage in charitable exercise. I just haven't know because there's nothing to do there.

What will you say? You'll have nothing to say in Matthew 22 we have a man and some of those Easter and that Eastern culture monarchs and princes and wealthy people Often had wardrobes of many maybe as many as two thousand garments.

The Wedding Garment and the Speechless Sinner

And when a wedding took place they issued all the guests with a garment in other words that was provided. There's a man who must have refused the provision. King said bind them hand and foot. Take them away.

Cast them into utter darkness. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. The man was speechless. He had nothing to say. Do you know why. Because there was a provision made and he wouldn't take it.

And I want to tell you tonight. God has provided a great salvation and If you miss this great salvation hell Will be your doom. How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation. You'll be left with nothing to say.

William Blaine has put it like this he who disregards this news and Doth his day of grace of you shall find the worm that never dies as in the burning lake he sighs. His cry forevermore will be. There was provision made for me.

I Might have been in heaven above but I despise God's wondrous love. Are you going to walk out of the gospel tent tonight without Christ? Without salvation. And all the while there's nothing to pay. And there's nothing to do.

Judgment, the Book of Life, and the Final Warning

He's done it all. You'll be left with nothing to say. You know in Revelation chapter 20 We have the great white throne. Judgment is identified in the chart here. I think it's one of the most solemn scenes in all the Bible.

When the man who died on the cross will sit on the judgment throne. You know there was an old Bailey judge in one occasion and before him in the dock was a man Charged and convicted of a capital offense.

The days when the judge donned the black cap before handing down The capital punishment sentence. He asked the man in the dock of you anything to say. He said yes, I have. Yes, well, let's hear it. Said to the judge.

Do you not know me? God said no, I don't know you. Do you not remember me my lord? No, I don't remember you. You mean you don't remember me. No, I don't know you. Do you not remember the night? It was in one of the London bridges.

He said I stood in the parapet of that bridge. And I was about to jump to my death. You intervene the judge said that night I was willing to be your savior. Today I have to be your judge. My friend sitting in the platfields gospel tent tonight.

He's willing to be your savior. Willing to be your savior now he died to save you he paid the price of redemption. He did the work of salvation. There's nothing to pay and nothing to do and if you refuse them, you'll have nothing to say.

In Revelation chapter 20 when those books are opened a record a detailed record of your sins when those books are open I'll tell you you'll have nothing to say. When the book of life is open. And as a hem writers, there's an Ulster man who wrote it in the lambs book of life on that day sinner.

Your name will be sought for in vain. To the dread lake of fire cast away sinner forever. You'll linger in pain unless unless in this day of his grace sinner you trust in the Christ who has died. Why would you why would you not trust him now?

The Invitation to Receive God's Salvation

Oh Trust him now before it's too late trust him now. Because if you don't the day will come. When you'll have nothing to say. May God bless his word. Shall we pray our father? We come to thee the close of this meeting and we ask thee to take thy word all that has been of thyself tonight in The preaching of the gospel and use it mightily for thy glory.

Oh our God. We just long that maybe even an attempt like this tonight. Maybe even unknown to us there is someone seeking salvation. And if they could only take it in that there's nothing to pay. I'm nothing to do and that this Salvation is found in the person of the Lord.

Jesus Christ. Well, is it any wonder he said? Come on to me All ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest father. Bless thy word save souls tonight. We pray we ask it in the Lord. Jesus Christ worthy name.

Amen. Now we're going to sing that hymn that I refer to it's number 182 182. I'm going to read a little bit of it because I've been enjoying it in my soul. Verse 1 precious precious blood of Jesus shared on Calvary.

Shared for rebels and for sinners. Could you say tonight? I can say it shed for me. Notice that first two lines of verse 2 precious blood that hath redeemed this all. The price is paid and then the last verse 4 so we're going to sing 1 2 and 4 verses 1 2 and 4 Of 1 82 and after the introduction we shall stand to sing.