For those approaching 70. Heaven or Hell?

"Spiritual Death" by Frank Hunting

I was listening to this sermon while out walking the other day.
I have previously posted it on my "Going Deeper with God" blog some time ago.
I decided I should post it here.
Please note it was recorded in the 1970's in Adelaide at the Church of Christ in Grote Street, long before we had the internet and social media where ideas are propagated and "tweeted" every minute.
Where you have a supermarket of spiritual beliefs and ideas saturating the world.
This takes us back to the Word of God.
Perhaps the Spirit of God can speak to you and to me through this message.

"This sermon by Frank Hunting is a challenge to us all. Particularly if you are not yet born again you may find this something you will dismiss.The Bible teaches that all people are either in the process off perishing or being saved.
At our peril we turn away from God.
My prayer is that if you listen to this and are not yet a Christian,that if the Holy Spirit speaks to you, don't delay.
I sat in Church for 3 years as a believer in God in a vague way but one who could not swallow the "Born Again" stuff.
(Please note when I use the Biblical term of being born again I am not talking about miraculous signs and wonders  and speaking in tongues which some people associate with the term).
After to listening to preaching by Harold Long in that 3 years I ran out of arguments and took the steps to receive Christ as my Saviour.
I used to sit in the very back row of the Church in the corner thinking I was safer there for most of that 3 years.
My wife was already a Christian and I had agreed to attend Church with her.
I was not going to become some sort of "fanatic"
On the night I made my "decision" I was sitting 2 rows from the front.
"Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God" the Bible teaches.
That was 45 years ago.
There have been ups and downs and strong challenges along the way.
We were fortunate that Harold Long's preaching was used by God to convict me of my need.
Frank Hunting arrived at our Church  after I had been a Christian for about a year.
Not long after he arrived I was facing a personal crisis.
His personal counselling set me free from things that had me tied up in knots.
Listen with an open mind to what Frank has to say.
Don't delay taking those  steps to Jesus.
You will not be disappointed."

Click on the arrow to activate the audio podcast.

Christmas Greetings - 2018--

At this time of year the world largely goes into a sickly sweet version of what they think Christmas is and what it means to them.
Here from Oswald Chambers is the true Christmas Message.
All the other stuff can be nice to experience but it won't prepare you or complete you for this life or the next.
I would that every one I know understand this and act on it.

His Birth and Our New Birth

By Oswald Chambers

"Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us." —Matthew 1:23

His Birth in History. “…that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God (Luke 1:35). Jesus Christ was born into this world, not from it. He did not emerge out of history; He came into history from the outside. Jesus Christ is not the best human being the human race can boast of— He is a Being for whom the human race can take no credit at all. He is not man becoming God, but God Incarnate— God coming into human flesh from outside it. His life is the highest and the holiest entering through the most humble of doors. Our Lord’s birth was an advent— the appearance of God in human form.
His Birth in Me. “My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you…” (Galatians 4:19). Just as our Lord came into human history from outside it, He must also come into me from outside. Have I allowed my personal human life to become a “Bethlehem” for the Son of God? I cannot enter the realm of the kingdom of God unless I am born again from above by a birth totally unlike physical birth. “You must be born again” (John 3:7). This is not a command, but a fact based on the authority of God. The evidence of the new birth is that I yield myself so completely to God that “Christ is formed” in me. And once “Christ is formed” in me, His nature immediately begins to work through me.
God Evident in the Flesh. This is what is made so profoundly possible for you and for me through the redemption of man by Jesus Christ.

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The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel

I recommend this and Lee's books.
There is also a dramatically acted version of this true story that is very good.

If you are searching for God and Truth take the time to watch it. Geoff Thompson

What will you say? Renmark West and Renmark Uniting Church Service 8/11/15

It was once again my privilege to lead the service at these two churches this last weekend.
I occasionally do this as a visiting lay person.
Here are the Bible Readings,my message and the order of service.  Geoff Thompson

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Renmark Uniting Church Service 8/11/15

Bible readings:Heb 9:24-28; Ephesians 2:2-6

Heb9:24-28

²⁴ For Christ has entered into heaven itself to appear now before God as our Friend. It was not in the earthly place of worship that he did this, for that was merely a copy of the real temple in heaven. ²⁵ Nor has he offered himself again and again, as the high priest down here on earth offers animal blood in the Holy of Holies each year. ²⁶ If that had been necessary, then he would have had to die again and again, ever since the world began. But no! He came once for all, at the end of the age, to put away the power of sin forever by dying for us.
²⁷ And just as it is destined that men die only once, and after that comes judgment, ²⁸ so also Christ died only once as an offering for the sins of many people; and he will come again, but not to deal again with our sins.
This time he will come bringing salvation to all those who are eagerly and patiently waiting for him.
Ephesians 2

2 Once you were under God’s curse, doomed forever for your sins. ² You went along with the crowd and were just like all the others, full of sin, obeying Satan, the mighty prince of the power of the air, who is at work right now in the hearts of those who are against the Lord. ³ All of us used to be just as they are, our lives expressing the evil within us, doing every wicked thing that our passions or our evil thoughts might lead us into. We started out bad, being born with evil natures, and were under God’s anger just like everyone else.

⁴ But God is so rich in mercy; he loved us so much ⁵ that even though we were spiritually dead and doomed by our sins, he gave us back our lives again^[a] when he raised Christ from the dead—only by his undeserved favor have we ever been saved— ⁶ and lifted us up from the grave into glory along with Christ, where we sit with him in the heavenly realms—all because of what Christ Jesus did.

Sermon:   “What will you say?”

²⁷ And just as it is destined that men die only once, and after that comes judgment, ²⁸ so also Christ died only once as an offering for the sins of many people; and he will come again, but not to deal again with our sins.
This time he will come bringing salvation to all those who are eagerly and patiently waiting for him.

Today we are going to consider the judgement that awaits us all.

What will we say to the hypothetical question when we die. "Why should I let you into my heaven?

I am going to lead into that with a true story that could qualify as a children’s talk but after all we are God’s children.

Luke 12:6Amplified Bible (AMP)

⁶ Are not five sparrows sold for two ^[a]copper coins? Yet not one of them has [ever] been forgotten in the presence of God.
In some countries sparrows and songbirds are still sold for food.

Matthew 10:29-31J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS)

^29-31 “Two sparrows sell for a farthing, don’t they? Yet not a single sparrow falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge. The very hairs of your head are all numbered. Never be afraid, then—you are far more valuable than sparrows.

God cares even if a sparrow falls to the ground.

How much more will He care about us.

You might find that hard to believe that God cares about the sparrows.

Not only does He care about sparrows but about blackbirds and very other creature in His creation.

A couple of weeks ago I was driving down our street and I caught a flash of black on the side of my car and then heard a thump.

A blackbird had flown into the side of my car.

I drove another 50 yards to our place and looked back.

I could see this black shape on the road.

I thought the poor thing is probably dead.

It was a hot day and my first impulse was “Oh well bad luck I’ll just leave him there.”

But this verse about God and the sparrows came into my head.

I thought I better go back and check on him.

He was lying flat on his back on the road and seemed to be twitching a bit.

I thought yes he’s dead.

I decided to pick him up by the tail and dispose of him humanely.

He immediately flipped over onto his front but was unable to support himself on is legs.

Remembering the rich legacy of Dud Foweraker and Lesley who have cared for and rescued many birds I picked him up gently and took him back to our place.

I think I assured him that God cared and he might get better.

That was all in my thinking anyway.

I got him home, put him in a box with a bowl of water and talked reassuringly to him.

His eyes were open, he was breathing heavily and his beak was open and not moving.

I put a little water in his beak to no response.

Over the next couple of hours I checked on him.

He had managed to stand up a bit and had his eyes closed but as soon as he was aware of my presence his eyes opened wide and he looked at me.

I had to go out so Lesley had come home and I put her in charge.

She took him down the backyard where we have lots of birds and she turned her back at one stage and on looking back he had flown off.

This sounds like a children’s talk I know but we are all God’s children.

God showed that He does care at that level.

He had prompted me to act on His word.

(we probably should have sung “Morning has broken,blackbird has spoken” this morning)

How much more does He care about you and me?

Now the Bible does not teach about what happens when birds and animals die and whether they go to Heaven.

I like to think they do.

The Bible does say that the whole of creation is groaning in travail.

“Romans 8:

22For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.”

Creation itself is awaiting the return of our Saviour and redemption.

So what has this story got to do with the Judgement of God.

The Bible doesn’t teach that animals and birds etc have to repent and acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Saviour. They are caught up in our sin.

The Bible does tell us that we have to respond to the claims of Jesus on our lives.

There are clear instructions for us.

What do we want to happen to us when we pass from this world?

Do we fear the Judgement?

Have we come to the place in our spiritual life where if we were to die tonight, we would know for certain that we would go to heaven?

 Suppose that we were to die tonight and stand before God and He were to say to us, “Why should I let you into my heaven,” what would we tell Him?

Our Bible reading today,Hebrews 9:27,28, says that after death comes the Judgement.

The truth is that we need to have these questions well and truly settled before we die.

When we die our destiny has already be settled.

One way or another.

You might remember back to one of my earlier messages where we talked about Nicodemus and Jesus told him he needed to be born again.

It is too late to be born again after we die.

We need to enter into eternal life before then.

If we are Christians we already have entered Heaven.

Not physically , but certainly positionally.

As Christians we are seated with Him already in Heavenly realms or places.

Ephesians 2Living Bible (TLB)

⁴ But God is so rich in mercy; he loved us so much ⁵ that even though we were spiritually dead and doomed by our sins, he gave us back our lives again^[a] when he raised Christ from the dead—only by his undeserved favor have we ever been saved— ⁶ and lifted us up from the grave into glory along with Christ, where we sit with him in the heavenly realms—all because of what Christ Jesus did.
and lifted us up from the grave into glory along with Christ, where we sit with him in the heavenly realms—all because of what Christ Jesus did.
Put more simply we can, as we walk in the light of what Jesus has done for us, we can begin to enjoy the benefits of Heaven now.

In John 3 we read this

This is from the encounter Jesus had with Nicodemus

¹⁶ For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son^[c] so that anyone who believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it.
¹⁸ “There is no eternal doom awaiting those who trust him to save them. But those who don’t trust him have already been tried and condemned for not believing in the only Son of God.

We should be fully aware of the following

1.     There is a judgement after death to be applied to all mankind as sinners.

2.     God has provided in Jesus a way for us to avoid Judgement and Condemnation

3.     We need to respond to the way He has provided. The way of the Cross of Christ.

4.     We need to sort this out before we die.

We might want to think God will just pardon everybody regardless.

The Bible does not teach that.

It is not a good idea!

We might decide that I’ll take my chances when I die and just do pretty much what I like while I’m alive..

Now you may not be aware but the Bible actually talks about two Judgements.

The Judgement Bar(Seat) of God  2 Corinthians 5:10

The great white throne. Rev 20:11-15

The Judgement seat or bar of Christ is for Christians

The Great white throne is for those who have rejected Him.

If we are Christians we are going to know only the Judgement Bar of Christ.

It may be a little embarrassing and challenging to us but I am going to read out a poem that I have read out here before.

     WHEN I STAND AT THE JUDGEMENT SEAT

When I stand at the judgement seat of Christ

And he shows me His plan for me;

The plan of my life as it might have been

Had he had His way and I see

How I blocked Him here and I checked Him there

And I would not yield my will,

Shall I see grief in my Savior’s eyes;

Grief though He loves me still’

Oh, He’d have me rich, and I stand there poor,

Stripped of all but His grace,

While my memory runs like a hunted thing

Down the paths I can’t retrace,

Then my desolate heart will well-nigh break

With tears that I cannot shed.

I’ll cover my face with my empty hands

And bow my uncrowned head.

No, Lord of the years that are left to me

I yield them to Thy hand.

Take me, make me , mold me

To the pattern Thou hast planned.

Here is what Oswald Chambers says  about it.

 We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ . . . —2 Corinthians 5:10

Oswald Chambers  

Paul says that we must all, preachers and other people alike, "appear before the judgment seat of Christ." But if you will learn here and now to live under the scrutiny of Christ’s pure light, your final judgment will bring you only delight in seeing the work God has done in you. Live constantly reminding yourself of the judgment seat of Christ, and walk in the knowledge of the holiness He has given you.

"If we walk in the light as He is in the light. . ." ( 1 John 1:7 ). For many of us, walking in the light means walking according to the standard we have set up for another person. The deadliest attitude of the Pharisees that we exhibit today is not hypocrisy but that which comes from unconsciously living a lie

Jesus  cares about every detail of our  lives just like He cared about that little blackbird.                  
 He knows every detail of our lives.
Nothing is hidden from Him but He still reaches out to us with His love.
So what will we say when that day comes and we stand before God.
Will we arrive at the judgement seat having already qualified by what Jesus has done for us?
 and we have responded to Him?
We should not get too smug about our salvation and the fact that our names arein the Lamb’s book of life.
Just a few words from another favourite devotional book of mine.
“Jesus says: “For from within,
  out of the heart….”
It is all there,
All the evil this world has ever known
In the hearts of men(and women).
And,we are men.
If you are not doing the evil of other men,
You will be wise to recognise the reason.
You are being saved
By the GRACE OF GOD!
Probably, at the judgement, we won’t be able to speak and we will fall to our knees and He will say
“well done my good and faithful servant”
 
My prayer is that will be true for all of us.

What will we say?

The truth is we will probably not be saying anything. 

ORDER OF SERVICE 081115 RENMARK

Call to Worship:  Geoff Thompson (Psalm 148 from Living Bible)

Hymn:  Oh Lord my God when I in awesome wonder.  

Prayer of confession praise and thanksgiving

Hymn:  Amazing Grace  ahb 56

Bible Readings:  Heb9:24-28

                            Ephesians 2:2-6

Hymn: I give my heart to thee AHB  471

Offering:

Sermon: Geoff Thompson:  What will you say?

Hymn : At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow. AHB 170

Benediction:

“May our Lord,God of peace-----“

If you are not sure of how we can be saved or what we must do, then read the post immediately before this one on the big question.
You might like also to visit my other blog. Life Changing Christian Sermons.

http://geoffthompsonstapelibrary.blogspot.com.au/2014/03/have-you-been-born-again.html

The Big Question by Geoff Thompson

On the weekend just gone I had the privilege of sharing the Gospel in the Renmark West Uniting Church and the Renmark Town Uniting Church.
I woke up to a cool foggy morning and arrived at the Renmark West Church before anyone else.
I looked in the paddock across the road and there in the fog I saw kangaroos grazing.
I could not resist grabbing my camera and getting some shots.
How wonderful is God' creation.

Below is the transcript of my message.Also I have now uploaded the audio to youtube so here is the link below.It may differ slightly to what is written below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTWmEuV9W40

“THE BIG QUESTION”

Nicodemus and the Rich Young Ruler meet Jesus

Today I want to talk about the most important question anyone can ever ask and the only record in the Bible of two people who asked Jesus this question.

(The question is answered in many other parts of the NT when you examine the subject)

The question is “what must I do to be saved?” or “what must I do to have eternal life? Or “how do I enter the kingdom of Heaven?”

The answer Jesus gives is different to both these people.

Why is that?

If we asked that question of Jesus today what would he say to us?

So I want to talk about this under the following headings:

1.  Why we today need to ask that question.

2.  Did Nicodemus ask Jesus this and how did Nicodemus  respond?

3.  Why did the rich young ruler ask this and how did he respond to Jesus.

4.  Is there a definitive answer, a specific answer to this for us?

5.  What was the outcome for Nicodemus and the rich young ruler?

6.  How should we respond and what is our likely outcome?

1.Now of course today a lot of people don’t bother to ask that question, what must I do to be saved,not in public anyway.

Many think if there is any such thing as Heaven or life after death, that somehow that will just automatically happen when we die.

However in our society and all societies, there is a belief in the afterlife.

We have had an observable evidence for this in recent events where sporting heroes have died.

I won’t mention some of their names but you will probably guess of some notable sportspeople who have died over the last few years and very recently.

Many of their friends and team mates look to the sky, often in reflection, when they have made a 100 or kicked a goal ,acknowledging the one who has left us as if he or she is looking down upon them.

They might be. We don’t know the answer to that.

Many from other cultures and religions of course have beliefs about life after death and how to obtain it.

In Australia we have a rich Christian heritage but there would be seem to be very few believing Christians in this country over all, let alone those who are active in their faith.

So for today's message I am not going to argue whether there is an afterlife or not, or a place such as Heaven, but assume there is and talk about what the Bible says about it.

I mean by that  how we qualify for eternal life, not what it is like when we arrive.

In reality we begin eternal life before we die physically.

If we don't we are in trouble.

If there is such a place, and we don’t want to just cease to exist and go 6 feet under when we die, it is the most important question we can ask.

“What must I do to be saved?”

2. So why did Nicodemus ask the question and who was he?

Well Nicodemus did not ask the question outright but Jesus knew what he was thinking and answered the unspoken question.

The skill of a really good counselor is to hear what someone is not saying.

Jesus is the ultimate counselor.

Here is the passage in John Chapter 3 of Nicodemus meeting Jesus.

"3 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. ² He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”

³ Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.^[a]”
⁴ “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
⁵ Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. ⁶ Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit^[b] gives birth to spirit. ⁷ You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You^[c] must be born again.’ 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.”^[d]
9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.
¹⁰ “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? ¹¹ Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. ¹² I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? ¹³ No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.^{[e] 14} Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,^{[f] 15} that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”^[g]
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. ¹⁸ Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. ¹⁹ This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. ²⁰ Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. ²¹ But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God."

Well Nicodemus did not ask the question outright but Jesus knew what he was thinking and answered the unspoken question.

The skill of a really good counsellor is to hear what someone is not saying.

Jesus is the ultimate counsellor.

His counsel should always be sought.

Nicodemus was a man of great standing in the Jewish Community.

He was obviously aware of Jesus and what He was doing in the community.

It was not easy for him to come and see Jesus and that is probably why he came by night.

He was a member of the Pharisees who were very much against Jesus, and a member of the Sanhedrin, the governing council that did vote to have him executed.

He was obviously impressed by Jesus and drawn to Him.

He knew Jesus was from God by the miracles He had performed.

Jesus honed in on what Nicodemus was thinking about.

 The Kingdom of God and life after death.

He went straight to the main  issue, the need to be born again before Nicodemus got started. .

He told him of the necessity to be “Born of water and the Spirit”

And of course Jesus uttered the well known words from John 3:16.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

The whole of Chapter 3 is very pivotal concerning the Gospel message.

Nicodemus at the time did not grasp what Jesus was saying and did not understand how he could be born again.

There was a good reason for that.

Jesus had not yet gone to the cross and no one who was following Him could anticipate that or realize the implications.

The Gospel at this time was still hidden from them.

Nicodemus obviously responded favourably to what Jesus had told him because he later defended Jesus before his peers(John 7:50,51) and he came to the cross and brought Myrrh and Aloes to tend to Jesus body after the crucifixion.(John19:39-42)

Now,

3.What did the rich young ruler ask Jesus and how did he respond to the answer Jesus gave him?

Here is the Bible reading again.

Luke 18:18–23

^18 uAnd a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to ^vinherit eternal life?” ¹⁹ And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. ²⁰ You know the commandments: ^w‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’ ” ²¹ And he said, ^x“All these I have kept from my youth.” ²² When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. ^ySell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have ^ztreasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” ^23 aBut when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich.

The rich young ruler recognised Jesus also as a great teacher and probably from God.

He would have, like Nicodemus, known of the miracles.

He knew he lacked something, hence his question.

In both the case of Nicodemus and the young ruler I believe they were both under the conviction of the Holy Spirit and that is why they were attracted to Jesus,

Both seemingly had everything people hope for, a prominent position and role in life, and wealth as well.

But they both knew their was something lacking.

They both new they were mortal.

They both believed Jesus had the answer.

The rich young ruler became despondent as he did not want to give up his position and wealth and went away.

He had declared that he had been very diligent in keeping all the commandments but Jesus had said this was not enough.

He told how it was almost impossible for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

Jesus knew also what was in this young man’s heart and that wealth and money was a major priority in his life. 

We do not know what happened to him after this encounter with Jesus.

It is important though as this encounteer is in 3 of the Gospels.

So what would Jesus say to us?

In todays world?

To find this out we go to another well known chapter and passage in the NT.

Jesus speaks to us here through the Apostle Peter.

 This is Peter speaking on the day of Pentecost

Acts 2:32-41

"32 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact.

33 Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.

34 For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, " 'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand

35 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet." '

36 "Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."

37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"

38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call."

40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation."

41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day."

The people present,Jews, had just witnessed the amazing events of the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the 12 apostles and were perplexed.

(Note a careful reading of the scripture shows that the Pentecost happenings with tongues of fire,rushing wind and speaking in tongues were only manifested on the 12 apostles not the 120 as commonly taught.)

Peter gave his stirring sermon on what it was all about and they were cut to the heart, particularly when they realised they had had a part in Jesus crucifixion.

They said to Peter and the rest of the Apostles

“ brethren, what shall we do?”

Peter said “ repent and be baptised every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and remission or forgiveness for your sins."

Now I believe that the rich young ruler may well have been present at the crucifixion and the day of Pentecost.

He  likely would have still been alive as Jesus only was active in His earthly ministry for about 3 years.

The Holy Spirit was more than likely still calling the young ruler, as He does all of us, as God is not willing that any of us should perish.

In fact the Bible tells us that God is delaying Jesus coming again so that all have opportunity to hear the Gospel before it is too late.

So the rich young ruler may have been one of those added to the Church on that day.

But he needed to be prepared to make Jesus Lord and Saviour and let go of the importance his wealth and standing had in his life.

When Jesus spoke to him earlier, as we have heard,Jesus was not able to give the answer that Peter gave as it was still a time when the Old Covenant was still in place.

The age of Grace had not started.

Salvation before the crucifixion and resurrection of our Lord depended on keeping the Law.

It was the age of the Law, The Old Testament Commandments. 

This New Covenant of Grace started on the day of Pentecost following on from the death and resurrection of our Lord.

It is highly likely also that Nicodemus witnessed the happenings of the day of Pentecost and responded to Peter's stirring address.

So what is our response, what is your response.

As a young person I was attending an Anglican Sunday School and was "Christened" in that Church as a baby.
At about 13 I was not interested in the Church and opted out of being "Confirmed"

Looking back it has been an interesting journey for me where I can quite clearly see God was reaching out to me through things and people that happened in my life.

Lesley had become a Christian before me and when we married I was not a Christian.

I had promised her however that I believed in doing things together and I would attend Church with her.
It was there that I was exposed to the word of God and responded to the Gospel message as given by Peter.

I believed Jesus was my Saviour,I repented of my sin and I was baptised as a repentant believer  by full immersion.

Whenever I have doubts about my faith I re-read the scriptures and note what my response is and has been .

That dispels any fears I have, even though at times my feelings may seem otherwise.

Most people here probably responded to Jesus long ago but I never assume that when I give these messages,that everyone here fully understands the Gospel or has responded to it the way the Bible spells out or is even a Christian.

So if the Holy Spirit is speaking to you, like He was to Nicodemus and the rich young ruler, what will you decide today.

The Bible says these things are written that we might know we have eternal life.

1 john 5:13

"I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life. "

Maybe talk to your Minister or someone else.

I am happy for people to ring me or email if you ever want to discuss any of these messages.

Of course we all have family members who we wish could just respond to Jesus.

Be assured He has not given up on them.

The Bible does tell us that God is delaying the coming of our Lord Jesus to this earth again as he wants as many as possible to be given the opportunity of repentance and salvation.

We will close now with a word of prayer and then we will sing our concluding Hymn and then sing the vesper as found in your hymn books.