THE PURPOSE OF JESUS’ MINISTRY
1. JESUS CAME TO SAVE SINNERS. NOT JUST TO BE AN EXAMPLE, OR TEACH.
Matthew 18:11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
A. HE CAME TO BRING SALVATION TO THOSE WHO WOULD RECEIVE IT.
John 12:47 And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
B. HE CAME TO SEEK THOSE WHO WERE TRULY GONE ASTRAY.
Luke 15:4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
Luke 15:7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
HOW DOES GOD SEEK THEM ?
— BY HIS SPIRIT DRAWING THEM.
John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
–BY THE PREACHING OF THE WORD.
Romans 10:15-17 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
AT THE SAME TIME, GOD IS NOT AN AMBULANCE CHASER. HE DOES NOT CONTINUE TO SEEK A PERSON WHO DOES NOT WANT HIS HELP. HE MAKES HIMSELF KNOWN UNTO THEM, AND THEN THEY MUST COME THE REST OF THE WAY TO HIM.
James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
THERE IS A LIMIT TO THE AMOUNT OF SEEKING THE LORD WILL DO.
Isaiah 49:8 Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages; Genesis 6:3 And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.
C. HE CAME TO GIVE THE GREATEST OPPORTUNITY TO HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE.
Matthew 10:6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
2. HE CAME TO GIVE POWER TO THE WEAK.
A. HE CAME NOT TO SEND PEACE, BUT A SWORD.
Matthew 10:34-36 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.
—WHAT WOULD BE THE PROTECTION FOR HIS PEOPLE ? HE EMPOWERS HIS PEOPLE WITH THE WORD OF GOD. IT IS STRONGER THAN ALL THE POWERS OF THE DEVIL.
Ephesians 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Luke 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
—HE PROVIDED A POWERFUL SWORD THAT CAN STOP THE ENEMY DOWN HERE, AND BRING DOWN ANSWERS FROM ABOVE.
Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
—HE CAME TO GIVE POWER BY HIS SPIRIT.
1 John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
3. TO PROVE WHO IS FOR REAL.
A. THOSE WHO LOVE GOD CARE ABOUT THE WAY THEY LIVE. THOSE WHO DON’T LOVE GOD LIVE ANY WAY THEY CAN GET BY WITH.
Exodus 20:20 And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.
B. SOME ARE SERIOUS ABOUT THE LORD, AND FOLLOW HIM, WHILE OTHERS JUST TALK ABOUT IT.
Matthew 4:19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
Matthew 8:22 But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.
4. TO PREPARE THE WORLD FOR HIS RETURN AS CREATOR AND RULER OVER ALL.
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Luke 4:43 And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.
A. HE HAS ALWAYS WARNED PEOPLE THAT HE WILL COME TO JUDGE THE WORLD.
Psalm 98:8-9 Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity.
John 12:48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
B. HE WILL COME UNEXPECTEDLY THIS TIME.
PEOPLE WILL BE TOO BUSY INVOLVED IN OTHER THINGS, AND WILL HAVE LEFT THE LORD OUT OF THEIR LIVES.
—THEY WILL THINK OF THEMSELVES AS CHRISTIANS, BUT HAVE THROWN OUT GOD IN ALL THEY DO.
Luke 12:40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.
—THEY HAVE BECOME WICKED.
Psalms 10:4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.
—SO WHAT IS ON THEIR THOUGHTS ?
Genesis 6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
”The Purpose Of Jesus Ministry”
A Bible Study with Dr. Ed J. MacWilliams
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