Mt 6:19-21
INTRO: Somewhere in the bank with which you do business, in plain view, you will see the letters F.D.I.C.. Those letters mean security to depositors. And when we think of investing or depositing our money, security is something to be strongly considered. And if we know ahead of time that an investment is going to fail, we will avoid that investment. If we know a bank is not an F.D.I.C. member, we probably will not deposit our money there. Our text tells us about two depositories. One has great prospects and security. The other has very limited value.
I. THE FIRST DEPOSITORY?
A. How Jesus describes it - Mt 6:19
1. first, its focus is on the earth
2. second, its future is insecure
B. Some thoughts to consider:
1. Jas 4:3,4 that you may consume it upon ... - here it seems apparent, is todays materialism
2. Ps 39:6 with Eccl 2:18 you cant take it with you
3. Pro v 11:4 there are some critical things money cant buy
4. Prov 23:5 confirmation of Jesus observation!
5. 1 Tim 6:17 uncertain riches
C. What is the object of our life?
1. do we work to make a living? or a life?
2. are our possessions the measure of our worth? is that how we see ourselves?
3. have we become idolatrous? (Col 3:5)
4. 1 Jno 2:15a here is our challenge - 1 Jno 2:17 here is our reality
5. 1 Cor 7:31 yes, we must use the world - the great necessity? do not become engrossed in it and its things
6. in the eager rush for wealth, forgotten is the soul
II. THE SECOND DEPOSITORY?
A. How Jesus describes i - Mt 6:20
1. first, its focus is heaven
2. second, its future is secure - no thieves, no rust, etc.!
B. Col 3:2 Here is the great challenge to us
1. this earth is perishing and our wealth cant go with us
2. 1 Tim 6:7 problem: we must prepare for life beyond - and an earthly depository cannot help us!
C. Rev 14:13 and their works do follow them
1. how do we make our deposits in heaven?
2. this text suggests two things: (1) in the Lord, (2) their works
3. 1 Jno 2:17b that doeth the will of God
4. one is baptized into Christ (Gal 3:27) - one lives according to Gods will and plan (Titus 2:11,12) - one commits to kind, good, caring works (Eph 2:10)
III. TREASURE AND HEART
A. Mt 6:21 A life directing axiom
1. and its an axiom we must honestly confront
2. if we are caught up in the world and its things, that fact will direct our choices along certain lines
3. we can appear to be religious, spiritual folks - but if our heart is engrossed with the world, our appearances will not add to our heavenly account
B. Heb 11:24-26 Do we look beyond the investments, the bank, the house, the cars, the gadgets?
1. there will be some trade offs if we plan to invest in heaven! you might call them sacrifices
2. go to Mt 6:31-33 note the points of life emphasis
3. Mt 19:22 are your possessions separating you from the Lord?
CLOSE: I readily admit the practical difficulty of this subject. The fact that it presents us with difficulties, however, does not mean we should not engage and overcome them. Where is your treasure ... and your heart? Isa 33:6
Cecil A. Hutson
20 October 2002
You Must Hear the Gospel
Romans 10:17
You must hear the gospel and then understand and recognize that you are lost without Jesus Christ no matter who you are and no matter what your background is. The Bible tells us that “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) Before you can be saved, you must understand that you are lost and that the only way to be saved is by obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 1:8) Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6) “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17)
You Must Believe
Hebrews 11:6
You must believe and have faith in God because “without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6) But neither belief alone nor faith alone is sufficient to save. (James 2:19; James 2:24; Matthew 7:21)
You Must Repent
Acts 3:19
You must repent of your sins. (Acts 3:19) But repentance alone is not enough. The so-called “Sinner’s Prayer” that you hear so much about today from denominational preachers does not appear anywhere in the Bible. Indeed, nowhere in the Bible was anyone ever told to pray the “Sinner’s Prayer” to be saved. By contrast, there are numerous examples showing that prayer alone does not save. Saul, for example, prayed following his meeting with Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:11), but Saul was still in his sins when Ananias met him three days later (Acts 22:16). Cornelius prayed to God always, and yet there was something else he needed to do to be saved (Acts 10:2, 6, 33, 48). If prayer alone did not save Saul or Cornelius, prayer alone will not save you. You must obey the gospel. (2 Thess. 1:8)
You Must Confess
Romans 10:9
You must confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. (Romans 10:9-10) Note that you do NOT need to make Jesus “Lord of your life.” Why? Because Jesus is already Lord of your life whether or not you have obeyed his gospel. Indeed, we obey him, not to make him Lord, but because he already is Lord. (Acts 2:36) Also, no one in the Bible was ever told to just “accept Jesus as your personal savior.” We must confess that Jesus is the Son of God, but, as with faith and repentance, confession alone does not save. (Matthew 7:21)
You Must Be Baptized
Acts 2:38
Having believed, repented, and confessed that Jesus is the Son of God, you must be baptized for the remission of your sins. (Acts 2:38) It is at this point (and not before) that your sins are forgiven. (Acts 22:16) It is impossible to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ without teaching the absolute necessity of baptism for salvation. (Acts 8:35-36; Romans 6:3-4; 1 Peter 3:21) Anyone who responds to the question in Acts 2:37 with an answer that contradicts Acts 2:38 is NOT proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ!
You Must Be Faithful Unto Death
Revelation 2:10
Once you are saved, God adds you to his church and writes your name in the Book of Life. (Acts 2:47; Philippians 4:3) To continue in God’s grace, you must continue to serve God faithfully until death. Unless they remain faithful, those who are in God’s grace will fall from grace, and those whose names are in the Book of Life will have their names blotted out of that book. (Revelation 2:10; Revelation 3:5; Galatians 5:4)