Eternal Certainties in an Uncertain World

Eternal Certainties in an Uncertain World

Luke 13:1-35

-Today, we find Jesus interacting with and teaching curious individuals, religious crowds, and seemingly random people He encountered in the public square.

-His message is one that focuses on the one thing that is certain and that’s the hope He came to provide for one’s eternal well-being.

-We may never get answers to most of those questions we wonder about, but God has most certainly given us the answer to the most important issue we face—life.

-In Luke 13, Jesus gives at least 6 truths about our eternal life that are definitely worth our consideration today in this most uncertain world:

I. The Need for Repentance is (Luke 13:1-5)

-Whether death comes by murder, accident, or by natural causes at the end of a long life, the inherent need for all who die is the same:  to repent of one’s sin while turning to God from sin.

-Reconciliation is universally offered to all who will repent of their sins by turning to Jesus for His forgiveness.

-We may not have the answers to all of the COVID-19 questions, but we do know that forgiveness from God through repentance of sin is available to all who will personally accept it.

II. God is , but Judgment is a Reality (Luke 13:6-9)

-Just like for a fig tree that does not do what it’s supposed to do (produce figs) and will be cut down for its uselessness, so those claiming to be “of God” but have not truly repented of their sin by turning to Jesus alone have no hope of eternal life!

–Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

-Those who have not called on Jesus for forgiveness and are still alive are living in a period of pure mercy and God longingly awaits their decision to turn to Him once and for all.

-The : judgement is coming and every person will be evaluated on what they did in regard to accepting Jesus as their only sufficient satisfaction for the sin debt they carried.

–2 Peter 3:9 The LORD…is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

III. Religious Tradition Can Have a Effect (Luke 13:10-17)

-Religion gets us nowhere, but Jesus gives us rest for all of eternity!

-We could never conquer what “religion” demands, and that’s why Jesus died…to get it done for us!

*Don’t let doing for God get in the way of what HE has already done! 

*We don’t need religion in 2021…we need a right relationship with God through Jesus!

IV. The Gospel is Powerfully (Luke 13:18-21)

-Just like the mustard seed and the seemingly insignificant little leaven, the Gospel of Jesus Christ seems small and insignificant to many, but should not be underestimated.

-Like the mustard seed, the Gospel transforms into a something eternally huge in the life of a of the Gospel.

-Like just a little leaven in a lump of dough, the Gospel is thoroughly transformative in it’s power!

-The Kingdom of God is nothing to scoff at, brush off, or underestimate.  It’s a free offer of God for eternal right standing with God that is available to all who will accept it!

V. Everyone Who Enters the Kingdom Enters Way (Luke 13:22-30)

John 14:6, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

-Old children’s song: “One Way God Said. One way God said to get to Heaven, Jesus is the only way. One way to reach those pearly mansions, Jesus is the only way. No other way, no other way, No other way to go. One way God said to get to Heaven, Jesus is the only way.”

-Vaccines can be a good thing and social distancing can be beneficial…stimulus checks might be helpful and a return to normalcy will obviously be welcomed, but what this world needs today is encouragement to open it’s eyes to the One Way God gave us to be rightly related to Him—faith in Jesus Christ !

VI. Jesus Persisted on His Journey So That You Can Be to God (Luke 13:31-35)

-There was nothing anyone could have done to stop Him!

-If you are not a case study of redemption yet, you can be today because Jesus persisted on that road toward the cross.

-What incredible certainly you and I can have in such an uncertain world:

How do you need to to the Lord today?

1. Need to accept Christ?

2. Need to respond to Christ as a follower of His?

–today in your own heart because of this incredible certain hope you have in Christ

-Taking the offer of this eternity-stabilizing hope to someone you know who hasn’t received Christ as their own Savior