OceanSide church of Christ

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WE WILL GO…I WILL GO!

 

Why We Go

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    God has commanded us to go to those who are lost and bring them the gospel (Matt. 28:18).

 

Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

 

B.      This ought to be a high priority on our “to do” list for God.

 

C.     We, however, do not always obey this command with urgency.

 

D.    We sometimes need to be exhorted and encouraged to go. 

1.        We want to do this in this lesson.

2.       The title of our lesson is:  “Why We Go”.

 

I.             WE LOVE THE LOST

 

A.    All human beings are created by God.

All humans are made in the image and likeness of God.

All human beings are in the same predicament we are in.

All human beings are just like I am.

 

B.      Just their being fellow human beings should cause me to love them.

 

C.     God loves them (John 3:16).  So should I.

 

D.    Why we don’t love them as we should?

1.        They don’t love us.

2.       There are so many of them.  How can I love them all?

3.       Many of them are very evil (See Rom. 5:8-10).

4.       We are too caught up in our lives to have time to love them.

 

II.           TO TEACH THE TRUTH WHICH SETS MAN FREE

 

A.    We noted that we understand all humans are in the same predicament we are in. 

1.        Our righteousness is as filthy rags (Isa. 64:6a).

 

But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.

 

2.       All men are lost in sin (Rom. 3:23).

 

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

 

B.      We want to go to these individuals in order to teach them the truth that can set them free.

1.        John 8:32

 

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.

 

2.       Romans 8:2

 

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

C.     Can you think of a more wonderful blessing than to teach a person to be free from sin?

 

III.         WE DESPISE SATAN AND SIN

 

A.    As Christians, we understand just how evil Satan is and how horrible sin is.

1.        They separate us from God (Isa. 59:1-2).

2.       They corrupt the fabric of society with the works of the flesh (Gal. 5:19-21).

3.       They cause the souls of men to stained with iniquity (Isa. 1:16-18).

4.       They bring eternal condemnation on all who follow their ways (Rom. 1:32; 2:5-11).

 

B.      We despise the misery and sorrow Satan and sin have brought upon our world. 

1.        We want to do all in our power to curtail their wickedness.

2.       The way to do this is to turn men from evil by proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ.

a.       Corinthians:  “And such were some of you…” (I Cor. 6:11).

b.      Galatians:  “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again in the yoke of bondage” (Gal. 5:1).

c.       Ephesians:  “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God” (Eph. 2:19).

d.      Thessalonians:  “For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God” (I Thess. 1:9).

 

IV.        WE UNDERSTAND WE ARE DEBTORS

 

A.    Paul said he was a debtor to others (Rom. 1:14).

 

I am a debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians, both to the wise, and to the unwise. 

 

B.      Because he as a debtor, he was ready to preach the gospel (Rom. 1:15).

 

So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.

 

C.     We are debtors to others because of the price Jesus paid for us.

1.        I Peter 1:18-19

 

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

 

2.       As Christians, we have what others do not.  We are indebted to tell them about what we have.

a.       How would you feel if you owed $10,000 to the IRS and I had a way to get you out of debt for free, but would not tell you?

b.      How would you feel if you were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and I had a cure, but would not tell you?

c.       How would you feel if you were sentenced to prison for life, and I had a way to get you out, but refused to do so?

3.       We have a way for individuals to rid themselves of sin and iniquity and free themselves from the sentence of eternal condemnation.  Shouldn’t we be telling others about this?  We are indebted to tell them.

 

V.          WE WANT TO OBEY GOD

 

A.    If for no other reason, we should go to the lost with the gospel because we want to obey God.

 

B.      Obedience pleases the heavenly Father (See Matt. 3:17).

 

And lo a voice from heaven, saying, this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

 

1.        The Father saw His Son’s obedience to His command to be baptized and was pleased that He followed through.

2.       When you and I obey God, and take the gospel to the world, God is just as pleased with us.

 

VI.        WE DO NOT WANT TO BE HELD ACCOUTABLE FOR THE LOST

 

A.    We should go to the lost with the gospel because we do not want to be accountable for the blood of lost souls.

 

B.      Remember, we are indebted to others.  If we do not fulfill our debt, we will be held accountable to God for them.

 

C.     Two verses:

1.        Ezekiel 3:17-19

 

Son of man, I have thee a watchman unto the house of Israel:  therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.  When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.  Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou has delivered thy soul.

 

2.       Acts 20:26-27

 

Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.  For I have not shunned to declare unto you the whole counsel of God.

 

VII.      WE DESIRE TO HAVE JOY IN THE LAST DAY

 

A.    If we get through the gates into Heaven, we will experience untold joy (Matt. 25:21, 23).

 

…enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.

 

B.      The only thing that will make our joy even greater is to watch those we have converted to Christ enter into Heaven with us (I Thess. 2:19-20).

 

For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing?  Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?  For ye are our glory and joy.

 

1.        The question:  What is our hope, joy, and crown of rejoicing?

2.       The answer:  Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?

3.       The answer:  For ye are our glory and joy.

 

C.     How will you feel if while you are in the crowd at the Judgment you hear the words:  “Well done thou good and faithful servant,” spoken to someone you baptized into Christ?

 

D.    What kind of elation will you experience when you see someone in heaven who is there because you taught them the truth?

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    Why do we go to the lost?

1.        We love them.

2.       We want them to be free from sin.

3.       We despise Satan and sin.

4.       We understand we are debtors, and we owe it to others to tell them the saving message.

5.       We want to obey God so He will be well-pleased with us.

6.       We do not want to be accountable for their souls.

7.       We want to experience joy to the fullest when we are in Heaven.

 

B.      Brethren, let’s go!  The fields are white unto the harvest according to Jesus (John 4:35).  

If we will go, we will come again with rejoicing bringing our sheaves with us (Ps. 126:5-6).

 

C.     Brethren, let’s go!