Aug. 4, 2002am.    Can it really be free?  Isaiah 55:1-6

Communion Sermon

By Ronald E. George Jr. at the Fayetteville Baptist Church

 

   The story has been told of a wealthy man who became a Christian.  He tried to reach his friends for Christ and told them, with tremendous enthusiasm, what had happened to him, how the Lord had changed his whole life and even saved his marriage.  But he found that his words seemed to fall on deaf ears.  His friends were not interested.

   Since this man had great wealth, he developed a plan that would use this wealth to reach his friends.  First he wrote out a check for a million dollars, which everyone knew he would easily be good for.  He then visited his friends in turn and said, "I have always highly regarded you as a friend and have wanted to do something for you.  Would you receive this check as a gift from me?"

   People would look at the check and, when they saw the amount of it, they would hand it back and say, "I can't take that from you."  He tried to give the check to many of his friends, but no one would take it, although it was a valid and sincere offer.  Finally the man realized that people are not willing to receive great gifts without having some part in it.   That may be why some people hesitate to accept God's offer of eternal life as a free gift.  From Bible Illustrator.

            In the Coal Camp where I grew up in Marfrance, WV, Mom would stick her head out the back door and yell when it is was suppertime.  I would run to the house, because I knew if I didn’t come I would miss it and then I would get it.  Running all out I would always be close enough to hear so that I wouldn’t be late.  Then I would get to come in and sit down at a table that was prepared for my family and me.  Mom would always fix what Dad liked and occasionally what we wanted.  We never paid one red cent for all those meals and to be honest I can’t remember specifically the menu on a given time, but I can tell you that each and every one went to help and strengthen my life.  Without that free gift I would have died.  But God gave us our families to care for us when we are born and when we die through our time on this earth.  God wants to be your spiritual parent to care for you and give you life throughout all eternity.  This is salvation. 

 

Salvation in the OT.  Is. 55:1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2 Wherefore do ye spend money for [that which is] not bread? and your labour for [that which] satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye [that which is] good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. 3 Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, [even] the sure mercies of David. 4 Behold, I have given him [for] a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people. 5 Behold, thou shalt call a nation [that] thou knowest not, and nations [that] knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the LORD thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee. 6  Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

 

Salvation in the NT.  Rev. 22:17  The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.John 7:37   In the last day, that great [day] of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

 

Is it too good to be true?  If it sounds to good then it probably is.

Nothing in life is free.  If it is free then it probably isn’t worth very much.

Anything worth having in life is worth working for.  You always get what you pay for.  It can’t be free.  There has to be more to it than that.  With so many questions to be answered how can we know what is salvation? 

 

1.      It is a free gift?  It is salvation.  It is an everlasting relationship with your Creator.  It begins when you ask Him to come into your life and it continues throughout all eternity.  It is a thirst quenching, appetite satisfying experience that completes your empty life.  It is an experience of uniting the creation with the Creator and fulfilling the life of the person with all that God is.  You are born again in His image.                                                                                  

A Christian once served on a parliamentary commission with Professor Thomas H. Huxley. One Sunday they stayed together in a little country inn. "I suppose you are going to church this morning," said Huxley. "I am. I always go to church on the Lord's Day," replied the Christian. Huxley said, "Suppose you sit down and talk with me about religion-simple, experimental religion." Sensing something of heart hunger in the great scientist, the associate replied, "If you mean it, I will." Then he spoke out of a rich, experimental knowledge of the saving and satisfying power of Christ. Huxley listened intently. Grasping the hand of the Christian, he said with deep feeling, "If I could believe what you have said about the cross of Christ and His pardoning love, I would be willing to give my right hand." He really didn't have to make that sacrifice. All he had to give up was the belief that the eye, the ear, the mind, could know all that there is to know and experience. Had he only been willing to swallow the pride of reason and to accept God's free gift, he too could have experienced the power of God unto salvation. From Bible Illustrator.

 

2.      What do you have to do to get God?

a.      Come and buy or take it (If you want it, then come and get it.).  The table is set and dinner is ready.  Come and get it.      

b.     Come and listen and hear.  Listen to the Lord who says, “Come and get it.”  It is ready for you.   Respond with a yes.

c.      Look for the Lord while He may be found. 

d.  Call on His name.  Seek and you will find.  Ask and it will given to you.  Knock and the door will be opened to you.  Open the door and the Lord will come into your life and sit at your table.  Today He invites you to sit at His.  This is the table of the Lord’s supper.  This table represents his sacrifice for your sins so that you may be able to sit with Him throughout all eternity.   There are some who want to come to church and many who want to go to heaven, but only those who choose to walk with the Lord throughout their lives will be with Him forever.  

 

3.      Is there any more to it than that?  Yes, you must believe and receive God as your God.   It means that you give your life to the Lord.  If you don’t give your life to the Lord then He doesn’t have it.  Who has your life?  You have it and it is yours to do with as you will.  When you give it to God then it is His.  Salvation is free, but cost the Lord His life.  Free to you and me doesn’t mean without cost. 

 After hearing the gospel explained, people often say, "you mean there's nothing I can do to deserve it?  That's too easy." It seems natural for people to object to the idea that God's unmerited favor can be given so freely to unworthy sinners.  Many find it difficult to trust a God who offers salvation as a free gift.

   Bible teacher G. Campbell Morgan told of a coal miner who came to him and said, "I would give anything to believe that God would forgive my sins, but I cannot believe that He will forgive them if I just ask Him.  It is too cheap."  Morgan said, "My dear friend, have you been working today?" "Yes, I was down in the mine." "How did you get out of the pit?  Did you pay?" "Of course not.  I just got into the cage and was pulled to the top." "Were you not afraid to entrust yourself to that cage?  Was it not too cheap?" Morgan asked. "Oh no," said the miner, "it was cheap for me, but it cost the company a lot of money to sink the shaft." Suddenly the truth struck him.  What had not cost him anything -- salvation -- had not come cheap to God.  This miner had never thought of the great price God paid to send His Son so He could rescue fallen humanity.  Now he realized that all anyone had to do was to "get into the cage" by faith.  From Bible Illustrator.

 

4.      Does it Matter what I do after that?  YES!  Salvation is not only a one-time event.  It is a new birth.  A new birth gives way to a new life.  You will continue to go with the Lord forever.  The Lord is continuing to invite us to go with Him and urging us to walk alongside Him throughout our lives.  God promises to never leave us or forsake us.  So, when we sin and go away from the Lord then we loose out on the joy that we could have when we walk with the Lord.  The Lord promises that nothing in all creation can ever separate you from Him. (Rom. 8)  So, we have no fear that if we would make a mistake and sin that God would ever turn His back on us.  Since God is all knowing He knows all that you have done and all that you will do.  In view of all of our history He still says I love you enough to die for you. That’s what we call Amazing Grace.  Sin will hurt your relationship with the Lord, and sin will hurt you and those who you love. 

 

The Lord is drawing you along your to life to live with Him and walk with Him.  Will you go with Him?  We serve communion the first Sunday of each month, but God serves you each and every day.  Do you sit at His table more than just once a month or once a week?  Are you still hungry and thirsty?  Have you come to the Lord for the water of life, or are you still trying to satisfy your thirst with the drink and food of the world?  Then you will never be satisfied.   Even as a believer if we don’t come to the Lord daily then we will be missing out on the greatest part of being a Christian.  You can have God as your God every day.