SSMCSUNGAI WAY-SUBANGMETHODISTC H U R C H

ROBIN LIEW | 14 FEB 2016

“Gospel and Salvation - The Story of Zacchaeus”

The GOSPEL and SALVATION

The Story of Zacchaeus

Luke 19:1-10

1 Jesus entered Jericho <located 8 kmeast of Jordan River and 24 km northeast of Jerusalem. The end of Jesus ministry. The final trip to Jerusalem.> and was passing through.2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus <Pure, Righteous>; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy.

3 He wanted < to seek by inquiring; to investigate to reach a binding (terminal) resolution; to search, "getting to the bottom of a matter."> to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd.4 So he ran aheadand climbed asycamore-fig treeto see him, sinceJesus was comingthat way.

5 When Jesus reached the spot <place>, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must <what must necessary happen, inevitable > stay at your house today.”

6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”

8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord <supreme in authority and controls> ! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” <Restitution - Lev 6:5; Num 5:7- full restitution and add one fifth of the value to it >

9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation <soteria – to be rescued, to be brought to safety , deliver , to be saved > has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham < Jew ?, just shall live by faith Rom 4: 16 ; those who believed are the children of Abraham Gal 3:7).

10 For the Son of Man came to seek <same as v.3 > and to save the lost.”

IT IS THE SOVEREIGN WORK OF GOD

• Jesus sought out Zacchaeus v.5

• God prepared Zacchaeus v.3 he wanted to see who Jesus was

• v.10 For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost.

• We were DEAD in sin but made ALIVE with Christ

• Eph 2:4 But because of his great love for us, God,who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christeven when we were dead < Nekros - a corpse> intransgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

• Col 2: 13When you were dead in your sins and inthe uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alivewith Christ. He forgave us all our sins,

• Total DEPRAVITY of MAN (Wesleyan Theology) – Original Sin

– John 6:37 All those the Father gives me will come to me

– John 6: 65 He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.”

IT IS A MYSTERY

• GOD’s SALVATION COMING TO ZACCHAEUS ?!?!

• Matt 19:16-29 The Rich and The Kingdom of God

• v. 26 With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.

• v. 30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

• John 3: 1-10

– v. 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

IT MUST BE EVIDENT

• How do we know SALVATION has come to Zacchaeus ? Luke 19:8 and Luke 3:8

• CENTRAL Message : REPENTANCE (John the Baptist, Jesus, the Apostles ref Acts 2:38, 3:19, 26:20)

• JESUS was explicit : Luke 13: 3,5 I tell you unless you repent , you too will all perish.

• REPENTANCE is a CHANGE of MIND and HEART. Both leads to a TURNING AWAY from sin and TURNING TO God.

• REPENTANCE has NO MEANING if we keep doing the same things we are sorry for.

• SALVATION is submitting to the LORDSHIP of Jesus (Luke 19:8 Look Lord…..)

• The story of Zacchaeus

– REDEMPTION, RESTORATION and

TRANSFORMATION

– PERSONAL (here and now) and with impact in SPHERE OF OUR INFLUENCE

Proclamation evangelism/salvation/eternal, heavenly focus, evangelistic

Addresses only the "Soul“

“Rapture" escape mentality

Sacred vs. Secular – dualism

Focuses on Transaction (egSinner’s Prayer)

"Win the next soul"

What is the “Gospel of Salvation ” ?

• Gospel of the Kingdom

Soul and body Impacts all aspects of society

Material, social, earthly, “secular”

Influence through servant, godly leadership, active faith

Focuses on taking dominion

The Gospel of the Kingdom

• Is inaugurated by the death and resurrection of the LORD Jesus Christ

• About His Rule and Reign over all things –manifest his intent, purpose, desires

• About His Subjects

• About His Law and Governance

It is about REDEMPTION, RESTORATION and TRANSFORMATION