Rev. David Holwick ZC Romans series #13
First Baptist Church (very well-received)
Ledgewood, New Jersey
September 25, 2005
Romans 10:5-15
AIN'T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH
I. Who wants to go to heaven?
A. Salvation is as popular as ever.
The largest gathering in the world happens every 3 years in
India.
It is called the Kumbh Mela festival and involves 20 to 40
MILLION people over a 42-day period.
In 2001, the dawn of the new millennium, it drew 60 million.
The crowds were even visible from outer space.
The faithful walk or crawl great distances in hopes of gaining
redemption.
One holy man recently rolled his body 1,500 miles on rough
roads, believing the festering sores on his body would earn
him salvation.
Thousands come stark naked.
Hundreds have kept one arm lifted up for years until the arm
gets shriveled with dry gangrene.
Others have stood on one leg for years, hanging on to a
suspended sling while sleeping.
Those who make the pilgrimage to Kumbh Mela have one sole
purpose: to bathe in the river to purify themselves and
break the cycle of reincarnation.
#28806-07
B. Even in the West, heaven is highly valued.
USA Today conducted a survey a couple of years ago and asked
Americans in the top 1% income bracket how much they would
be willing to spend on three intangible items:
Great intellect
True love
A place in heaven.
The super wealthy would be willing to spend an average of
$407,000 for great intellect,
$487,000 for true love, and
$640,000 for a place in heaven!
#29933
1) The value we place on heaven often reveals our attitude
on how we will get there. In effect, we can pay our
way in.
2) For many people, if not most, you get to heaven by being
loving and good.
According to a recent poll, 88% of Catholics and a majority
of Presbyterians and Methodists who actively try to
share their faith, believe this:
"if people are generally good,
or do enough good things for others during their lives,
they will earn a place in heaven."
#29965
3) This sounds moral and decent, but is it true?
a) The Bible calls this "works righteousness." cf. 10:5
1> It is often attributed to the Old Testament.
2> "Obey all these laws, and you can go to heaven."
A> Deuteronomy 30 farewell sermon by Moses...
3> But even back then they knew this was impossible.
b) The opposite is "faith righteousness." 10:6
1> It does not require storming heaven or conquering
hell (or rolling your body to a river).
2> Salvation is as close as a word from your mouth.
II. True Confessions.
A. Confession is more than a listing of sins.
1) The original meaning is to acknowledge your relationship
with someone.
a) Early Christians, especially those who were martyred,
were called Confessors.
2) Confession is something that others can hear.
a) Testimonies at baptism.
b) Testimonies in church.
c) Sharing your story out in the world.
B. "Jesus is Lord."
1) In the Roman Empire, only Caesar was Lord.
a) He was the supreme king.
b) Christians are saying Jesus alone is our king.
2) Our confession has content.
a) It is not just "this is my story."
b) We are telling what JESUS has done for us.
C. What the Lordship of Jesus means.
1) Some note that it is Jesus' status more than our
response that is the focus here.
a) Jesus is Lord - whether you are fully committed to him
or not.
2) Others stress the full commitment Jesus requires of us.
a) Salvation is much more than a few words.
1> Our confession of Jesus means we are laying
everything before him.
2> Jesus himself says in Luke 6:46 - "Why do you call
me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?"
b) But for many Evangelicals, a few words is all that is
needed.
London Smith, age 20, was recently baptized in a
Southern Baptist church.
For his testimony he said this:
"I was raised in church and made a decision at age 12,
but it was just routine. I wasn't saved.
I had been into a lot of bad stuff that I'm not proud
of -- drugs, drinking, getting mad over small things.
When a friend invited me to come to this church, I
instantly felt the power.
My life has turned around 180 degrees the other way.
It's amazing."
#29953
Sometimes you have to wonder if the Baptist emphasis on
"making a decision" is any different from the way
Catholics view baptism.
Someone can never set foot in a church, their life can be
a shambles, but a Catholic will say, "At least they
are baptized."
Is it much different when a Baptist says, "At least they
made a decision"?
We must beware of understanding faith as something that
was expressed once and no further fruit is needed.
#19649
3) Our mouth must be tied to our heart.
a) We are called to believe in Jesus.
b) Not just to believe in the resurrection of Jesus,
but in the divine power that event reveals.
III. Our faith is universal.
A. Anyone can call on him to be saved.
1) "ALL" must call on him to be saved.
2) It is not just a religion for "us".
B. There are no ethnic differences.
1) Hurricane Katrina showed the divisions we still have in
American society.
a) There was a vast difference in the experiences of
black and white, rich and poor.
2) But the storm also showed how many of the citizens were
Christian.
a) Numerous Christian testimonies have been shared on TV,
by all ethnic groups and classes.
b) Churches have been among the first buildings to
re-open.
3) Jesus wants to be Lord of everybody.
IV. Our faith is a chain of events.
A. It does not happen out of thin air.
1) To call on Jesus, we must believe...
a) To believe we must hear...
b) To hear, someone must preach...
c) To preach, someone must be sent.
2) God uses people to spread the faith.
a) Good news is brought by beautiful feet. 10:15
B. Be part of the chain!
1) I would like to see a missionary sent from this church.
2) I would like to see witnesses from this church.
3) There should be at least one other person in heaven
because you shared Christ with them.
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Partners, published by Partners International, August 1992, p. 7.
National & International Religion Report, August 23, 1993.
http://www.sermonillustrations.com/a-z/w/works_righteousness.htm
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SOURCES FOR ILLUSTRATIONS USED IN THIS SERMON:
#19649 "Are One-Time Decisions Enough?" by Bryan Cribb, Baptist Press,
http://www.baptistpress.org/, August 6, 2001.
#29933 "What's It Worth To You?" by Dr. Bruce Emmert in sermon
"A Believing Heart," Kerux sermon #15824.
#28806 "Hindus -- Like Everyone Else -- Search For God," by Erich Bridges,
Baptist Press, http://www.baptistpress.org/, December 8, 2004.
#28807 "Millions Seek Cleansing At Hinduism's Biggest Festival," by
Erich Bridges, Baptist Press, http://www.baptistpress.org/,
December 8, 2004. [Other details on the festival were found
at www.time.com's international section]
#29953 "Baptisms Flow From Soul-Winning," by Mark Kelly, Baptist Press,
http://www.baptistpress.org/, September 23, 2005.
#29965 "You Just Have To Be Good Enough," from National & International
Religion Report, August 23, 1993, at Rev. Brett Blair's
http://www.sermonillustrations.com.
These and 25,000 others are part of a database that can be downloaded,
absolutely free, at http://www.holwick.com/database.html
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