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This morning I get to do something I love doing – preaching the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. It’s the gospel that changed my life. I’m not sorry if what I’ll say makes you think of Jesus Christ every time you see a pumpkin. In fact, I hope that’s the case.
At this time of year, people harvest pumpkins from the dirt for the purpose of cleaning them off, gutting them, carving the image they want on them, and putting light in them for all to see. The LORD Jesus Christ finds dirty people, full of sin within and without. Most love their sin and have little care for what Almighty God thinks about their lives. There are a few who seek the righteousness of God, immortality and having a fear of God. These souls submit to themselves to the leadership of the Lord Jesus Christ. They are cut by the sharp word of God. They are cleaned up inside and out. They’re given a new image – Christ’s image – carved out by the words of God. And light is put inside of them for all to see the image contrasting the darkness.
You think eternal life is convincing God you’re good
- I’m a good person. Like the pumpkin in the dirt saying, I’m not dirty.
- But you’ve told lies?
- You’ve used the Lord’s name in vain or cursed with God’s name.
- You’ve been angry with someone because they were better than you.
- You’ve looked at pictures and thought things you’d never want to be known.
- You’ve spread accusations about people and gossip.
- Romans 2:3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
- Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all thy soul, with all thy mind.
- You say, but I’ve never killed anyone, but I’ve never done this or that.
- The dirt you have on you and in you may not be the same dirt someone else has on them, but it is still dirt all the same.
- But I’m a good person. Imagine a man brought up on the charge of murder. His guilt is unquestionable. He doesn’t even dispute the fact that he committed murder. But his defense is unimaginable. He says, Judge, I committed this murder, but I’m such a good person. For the other 364 days that year I was a great employee, faithful to my wife and children, went to church regularly, gave to charity often, and for the other 364 days I didn’t commit murder.
- I prayed to receive Jesus, I come to church, I know some Bible verses about eternal security
- 1 John 5:13
- 1 John 2:3-5 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. The soul that keeps God’s word has a right to the confidence that Jesus Christ dwells in them. How do you keep the commandment? The LORD told sinners to keep the commandments almost 130 times in the Bible. And He recognized that the people keeping the commandments were sinners.
- 1 John 2:28-29 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. 29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him. The soul that does righteousness has a right to the confidence that Jesus Christ dwells in them.
- 1 John 3:14-17 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. 15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. 16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? The soul that loves the brethren, believers, has a right to the confidence that Jesus Christ dwells in them.
- 1 John 3:24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us. The soul that has the witness of the Spirit of God in them has a right to the confidence that Jesus Christ dwells in them.
- 1 John 4:2-3 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. The soul that publicly acknowledges Jesus Christ has a right to the confidence that Jesus Christ dwells in them.
Judgment
- Hebrews 9:27. And there you will stand as guilty as God already told you that you were.
- Revelation 21:8 – fiery judgment of God on sin
- People say, “I’ll wait and see what God says about my life.” But there is nothing to wait for.
If you were to die right now what would happen to you? What would the LORD do with you? Many people have died unexpectedly in the last few months.
Jesus Christ Pays for Sin
- 2 Corinthians 5:21 made him to be sin for you
- 1 Peter 3:18 the just for the unjust
- Acts 4:12 neither is there salvation in any other
- Hebrews 10:10-13 one sacrifice for all
- John 1:28 the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world
Gospel in the pumpkin
- Chosen for the purpose of putting light in it
- Cut into like the word of God
- Clean the inside out
- Carve out the appearance desired
- Put the light inside
- Display Christ for all to see
Call on the Lord
- Romans 10:13
- 1 John 5:13
- Acts 16:30-31
Invitation to bow heads, close eyes. If you know you’re a sinner, you know right now you need a savior. I’m going to say a prayer and you can repeat after me. The prayer is not going to save you, but it may be something to help you call on the name of the LORD. IF you pray this prayer with me, come see me immediately after this service.
