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PREPARING THE WAY (4): TWO SIDES TO THE GOSPEL

(Luke 10:9-12)

Intro Six-year-old Ben kept telling his teacher about the baby that was
expected at his house. One day, his mother let him feel the movement of the
unborn child. Ben made no comment, but he stopped talking about it at school.
So one day the teacher asked him for an update on the baby. Ben burst into
tears and replied, I think Mommy ate it. Clarity in communication is
critical, isnt it? And thats especially true when the communication has to do
with our commission to prepare the way for J esus. Gotta get it right.

Jesus commissions 72 disciples in Luke 10:1-16 to precede Him on His final
journey south to Jerusalem. By application, the commission He gave them is
our mission as well in whatever place and career we find ourselves. This is
our major task prepare the way for Jesus. So far weve looked at the
commission summary given by our Lord, the challenge of the commission
(fields of people ready for harvest, but with few workers) and the commands
of the commission (pray and go) and the conditions (we can expect
persecution and thus must travel light). Today the communication.

V. The Communication

When you take the witness stand in court, you are asked, Do you swear to
tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
Right? Thats exactly what Jesus instructs here. Give the whole truth. It
doesnt help you if I tell you, J ust follow Highway 14 west to Ft. Collins,
but fail to tell you that the bridge is out halfway there, right? Half truths kill.
Satan specializes in half-truths. We cant afford to do that.

A. The Good News
1. In Deed

V. 9: Heal the sick in it and say to them, The kingdom of God has come near
to you. Two commands are given. Heal and say. Do and speak! Their main
job was to preach the kingdom of God, but to authenticate the message, and
to indicate Gods compassionate heart. Jesus gave them power to heal. Now
we can and should pray for healing any time we are not empowered in the
comprehensive and instantaneous fashion these men were. The NT is our
main authentication today something these men did not have. The healing
was the gospel in action, and that must be part of our communication as well.

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So does God promise complete healing of our physical body today? Yes just
not necessarily in this life. But God promises a resurrection when we will
receive a body like [Jesus] glorious body (Phil 3:21). Rev 21:4 tells us
death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain
anymore, for the former things have passed away. A glorious future awaits
believers both body and soul. Jesus healing ministry was a preview.

But ubelievers need to see the gospel now. How? The HS who indwells
believer produces something to see. Gal 5:22-23, But the fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
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gentleness, self-
control; against such things there is no law. Thats the gospel in action now,
Beloved. And when we are reaching out to people with compassion, energy,
love and gentleness, we are living the good news with clarity. Christians have
always been at the forefront of building hospitals, creating charities, caring for
the poor and helping those in need not because we are so great, but because
the HS compels us. Such acts demonstrate Gods interest in the whole person.
J esus didnt die to save souls only; He died to save people!

Robert Lewis, whose church in Little Rock has sent literally hundreds of
teams to outreach ministries in LR says, Pastors have given themselves to
ministering only to the pain of their congregation but have failed to mobilize
their congregations to minister to the pain and problems of the city. Either
we learn to do both or reaching our cities for Christ will be nothing more
than a hope and dream. Our community has needs, too. It costs to live out
the gospel, but imagine where God might lead us if we really look for ways to
be a healing influence. Sharing the gospel starts with living the gospel.

2. In Word

But deeds will never be enough. St. Francis of Assisi is often quoted, Preach
without ceasing; use words if necessary. That may sound impressive, but the
truth is the gospel can never be made clear without words. Lee Strobel,
whose Becoming a Contagious Christian evangelism course has trained over a
million people tells of one church that shifted its focus from evangelism to
service. He says, They did a lot of great things for the community, but they
didnt baptize one new convert in four years! If were merely nice folks who
do good deeds for others, then were nothing more than the Kiwanis Club.
So we must seek opportunities to speak for Christ. How we do that will vary
greatly depending on the opportunity, but the basic message is right here.

a. God Offers Pardon
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V. 8, Heal the sick in it and SAY to them, The kingdom of God has come
near to you. Say it. What you are seeing is Gods kingdom in action. Let
people know God offers pardon based on repentance. Jesus paid the penalty
for our sins and now we can be forgiven if we will ask. You say, Where do
you see that in this verse? Good question. Here is simply says, The
kingdom of God is at hand. But remember that both John and Jesus
constantly prefaced that message as in Matt 4:17: From that time Jesus began
to preach, saying, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Repentance
triggers forgiveness. Thats how we receive Christ as noted in vv. 8 and 10.
Jesus warns in v. 13, For if the mighty works done in you had been done in
Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and
ashes. Repentance is how we receive Christ and enter His kingdom.

Pardon is instantaneous when we turn from our sin. There is no delay. There is
no penance; nothing to earn; nothing to do except receive the pardon that God
offers. Beloved thats good news. The Bible says in Rom 8:1, There is
therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Every sin
past, present and future is instantly forgiven. The guilt is gone. The penalty is
paid. The heart is cleansed when we invite Him in. Jesus promises in I John
1:9, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to
cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If that sounds too good to be true, just
remember, thats what Jesus bought on the cross. There is no forgiveness
without the cross, but because He died and rose again, pardon is available to
all who turn to Him. I n Christ, you can be like you never sinned!

Maria Fedorovna was empress of Russia, wife of Czar Alex III, and known for
her philanthropy. She once saved a prisoner from exile in Siberia by
intercepting a warrant signed by her husband. The note read, Pardon
impossible, to be sent to Siberia. Maria moved one little comma: Pardon,
impossible to be sent to Siberia. Dear friends, that is exactly what the cross
of Christ does for all who believe. I t changes a life sentence into full pardon.

b. God Offers Peace

V. 5, Whatever house you enter, first say, Peace be to this house! A
common Jewish greeting was Shalom the Hebrew word for peace. It meant
not just peace, but wholeness. By greeting someone with Shalom, you were
wishing the best for him. But it was largely a formality like saying, Good
day or Have a nice day. But these disciples werent just being friendly.
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They were doing far more than just wishing peace on that home; they were
bringing peace with them!

True peace is such a priceless thing, isnt it? And yet it is as elusive as the
wind. Thomas Merton tells us why: We cannot be at peace with others
because we are not at peace with ourselves, and we cannot be at peace with
ourselves because we are not at peace with God. No truer statement was
ever made. But these disciples were carrying the solution! Their message
anticipates what Paul writes later in Rom 5:1, Therefore, since we have been
justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
How do we get peace with God? By being justified by faith. What was the
disciples message? Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand. What happens
when people repent? They are justified by faith and find peace with God. The
Pharisees urged, Do more, and maybe . The gospel urged, Quit doing,
and receive forgiveness. There is nothing in the world like knowing that your
sins are forgiven. I dont mean hoping or wishing or thinking if I do enough. I
mean knowing. Peace to this house.

David Smith was one of the finest pit crew chiefs in NASCAR racing. In the
1960s he had plunged headlong into the hippie scene with its trademark
consumption of alcohol and drugs. His father, a new Xn, began to witness to
him, but David said, When I get old like you then Ill get religion. His
dad said, What if you were to die tonight at one of your crazy parties, or
wreck your car? Where will you be? David replied, Pushing up daisies, I
guess. His dad said, Son youve got a soul thats not going to be pushing
up daisies. Its going to be either in heaven or hell for eternity. David blew
him off. But it wasnt too many months down the road that David realized that
tho he was doing more dope and drinking more than ever, the fun was gone.
He got out a Bible his mom had given him and began to read some verses she
had marked. He read through the night and called home the next morning to
find that his mom had been having a sleepless night as well and spent much of
it praying for him. David decided it was time. He confessed his sin, invited
Jesus in and says, I knew at that moment all the guilt was gone, the burden
lifted off my shoulders. In its place a joy and warmness and a complete
peace came into my life. Right then. Thats the peace that Jesus was offering
thru His disciples; its the peace that He is still offering. Do you have it; peace
with God, peace with self, peace with others? Or have you returned the offer,
unopened, unused, unwanted? He offers; but you have to accept.

c. God Offers Paradise

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Have you noticed that Gods offer just gets better and better. V. 9: Heal the
sick in it and say to them, The kingdom of God has come near to you. The
kingdom! Thats what every Israelite was looking for. But theyd been misled
about how to become part of it. Consequently most of them missed it even
though they could have reached out and touched it in the person of the King
Himself Jesus Christ. Is that sad, or what?

What is the kingdom of God? At its core it is the rule of God wherever and
whenever it is accepted. Thus it begins in the heart. It arrives in our heart
when we receive Him; but it extends ultimately to a universe-wide kingdom
that lasts forever. The Jews were looking for that political kingdom without
realizing it starts within. What they wanted was within reach. In seeing the
miracles, they were seeing kingdom power at work. In the disciples, they were
seeing kingdom residents. In the person of J esus, they could touch the King.
Thats how near the kingdom was! Yet most of them missed it because they
would not submit to the entrance requirement turning from sin to Christ.

But for those who did, they received pardon; they received peace and they
received paradise. What did Jesus tell the believing thief on the cross? Truly,
I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise (Lu 23:43). The instant
that reprobate gave his heart to Jesus he was eligible for paradise and he was
there before the sunset. Is that a great salvation or what? And thats our hope,
Beloved. God offers paradise and its real. Its the real deal.

Tim Keller tells of having thyroid cancer and facing an operation. The
prognosis was good still, it was cancer surgery. He took comfort from a
passage from Tolkiens Lord of the Rings. Near the end of the 3
rd
book, evil
and darkness are overwhelming and appear about to win everything. Tolkien
writes, Sam [one of the heroes] saw a white star twinkle for a while. The
beauty of it smote his heart, as he looked up out of the forsaken land, and
hope returned to him. For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced
him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there
was light and high beauty forever beyond its reach. Putting away all fear, he
cast himself into a deep, untroubled sleep. Kellers comment is so
insightful: It's really true. Because of Jesus death evil is a passing thing
a shadow. There is light and high beauty forever beyond its reach because
evil fell into the heart of J esus. The only darkness that could have destroyed
us forever fell into his heart. I t didn't matter what happened in my surgery
it was going to be all right. And it is going to be all right. God offers
paradise, Beloved, and He will deliver. Thats the good news the gospel.

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B. The Bad News

The other side of the gospel the bad news. Its simple. In order to get what
God offers, you have to accept it. Seems so simple. Why does most of the
world blow it off? I dont know, but look at v.
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And if a son of peace is there,
your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you. Jesus is
saying, You guy are peace carriers. I f people will accept Me and repent,
they will have peace with God, peace within and peace with others. But if
they reject you, the peace will return to you. Why? V. 16, The one who
hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who
rejects me rejects him who sent me. To reject the gospel of peace is to reject
the one bringing it, to reject the Jesus who paid for it, and to reject the Father
who arranged for it. There is no peace without the Prince of Peace.

To reject Jesus is deadly. V. 10 ff: But whenever you enter a town and they
do not receive you, go into its streets and say,
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Even the dust of your town
that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that
the kingdom of God has come near.
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I tell you, it will be more bearable on
that day for Sodom than for that town. Wiping the dust off was a means of
saying, As you have rejected me, so I now reject you. But know this the
kingdom of God was so close you could reach out and touch it and you
turned it down. The worst part of hell will be the realization that Jesus offer
was so close you could touch it; and you turned it down. All eternity to regret.

Thats how close it is this morning. It is one heartfelt prayer away one
decision to turn from sin to Christ thats how close it is. I t is at hand; but is
it yours? A guy went to the doctor and said, Give it to me straight, Doc. I
can take it. The doc said, Okay. Let me put it to you this way, if I were you,
I wouldnt buy any green bananas. Thats pretty straight, isnt it? But we
all make the mistake of assuming that applies to someone else not to us. We
got plenty of time. But here is wisdom. A pastor was teaching a lesson on
preparing for death and repentance. A student asked, Pastor, when should a
man repent? The pastor replied, Repent a day before your death. The
student was confused, How can a man know the day of his death? The
pastor answered, He cant. He doesnt. He wont. So do it now. Dont wait.
Eternity attaches to the decisions we make right now. Lets pray.