MODERN DAY
PARABLES 1THE MAN WHO
WASN'T SUREAnother in a series of stories
depicting Biblical truths.
THE PARABLE Once upon a time a certain man in a certain town wanted to buy a certain thing. The problem was this
thing cost much more than what the man had with which to pay. He wanted it so much that he decided
to obtain a second job and work and save up as much as he could until he could buy it.And so the man under took his quest and began a rigorous life of working and saving. After two weeks
of this, one of his friends asked him, "Will you be able to buy this thing you want?" "I hope so," replied
the man, "but I can't know for sure. It depends on how hard I work at it."And so the weeks turned into months, the months into years. During all this time the man kept up his
rigorous pace of working and saving and his friends kept asking, "Will you be able to buy this certain
thing?" And always the response was the same. "I hope so, but I don't know for sure, it depends on me
and my ability to work and earn." "But when will you know for sure?" Sadly the man would reply, "I'll
know for sure when I've saved enough and can actually buy it. I'll just have to wait and see what happens
in the end."And so it went on and on with the poor man never really knowing for sure if he would ever obtain his
goal. It all depended on him. He would just have to keep on doing the best he could.After several years everyone in town knew the man and his efforts, including the richest man in town. The
rich man knew all about money and realized the man would never reach his goal. This thing the man
wanted simply cost too much and was constantly going up in price. The rich man felt compassion for him.
"I know what I'll do!" he said. "I will buy this thing myself and offer it to him as a gift." And so he did,
but when he offered it the man refused to accept it, for you see, he was a proud man. He wanted to earn
this thing himself."But why spend the rest of your life wondering," reasoned the rich man, "hoping that perhaps you will
obtain this thing, but never really knowing for sure."And so after several days of reasoning with the man, he finally convinced him how hopeless it was to do
it on his own. The man accepted the rich man's gift. And from that point on whenever he was asked,
"Will you obtain this thing you want?" the man would smile and reply "Yes, now I know for sure I will
because it does not depend on me, but rather someone else has bought it for me and I have accepted it as
a gift. Now I can know for sure and finally have peace about it."
PARABLE EXPLAINED THIS PARABLE DEPICTS BIBLE ASSURANCE CAST OF CHARACTERS:
The Man . . . . . . . . . Us
The Thing . . . . . . . . . Heaven
The Rich Man . . . . . . Jesus Christ
The Man's Labor . . . . Our Good WorksThis story illustrates how most people assume that they must earn their way to Heaven. Since everything
else in this world worth something must be earned, we assume it's the same with Heaven. The problem is
that it costs too much. Our lives would have to be perfectly sinless. (Galatians 3:10-11; James 2:10-11;
Romans 3:19-20; Galatians 2:16, 20)
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"(10)For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. (11)But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith." (Galatians 3:10-11)
"(10)For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. (11)For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law." (James 2:10-11)
"(19)Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. (20)Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin." (Romans 3:19-20)
"(16)Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. (20)I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:16,20)The Bible defines sin as not doing God's will. Since no one can do God's will every second of every day,
no one is sinless. We all fall short of God's standard. (Romans 3:23; I John 3:4) Yet we still try to
"make up" for our sins through our good works. The man in the parable tried to obtain what he wanted
through his labor, but since he would never know if he would obtain it until he had all his money saved,
he was in a constant state of uncertainty. (Romans 8:1-3)
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"Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." (I John 3:4)
"(1)There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (2)For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (3)For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:" (Romans 8:1-3).This is not what God intended when it comes to salvation. God wants us to know for sure that we will go
to Heaven. So Jesus Christ purchased our entrance for us and now offers it as a gift. By accepting this
gift we no longer have to wait and see.No more wondering, no more uncertainty. (I John 5:10-14)
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"(10)He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. (11)And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. (12)He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. (13)These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. (14)And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:" (I John 5:10-14).
HOW TO GET TO HEAVEN FIRST THE BAD NEWS:
1. We must realize that we are lost, sinners that are spiritually dead.
* "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." Luke 19:10
* "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" Romans 3:23.
* "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:3
* "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." John 3:62. As spiritually dead, lost sinners, God's judgment and wrath are upon us.
* "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:" Hebrews 9:27.
* "For which things' sake [sin] the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience
[sinners]:" Colossians 3:6.3. Our good works can't stop this judgment and wrath. God demands death as payment
for sin.
* "Not of works..." Ephesians 2:8,9.
* "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:" Romans 3:10.
* "the soul that sinneth, it shall die." Ezekiel 18:4
* "For the wages of sin is death;" Romans 6:23.NOW FOR THE GOOD NEWS!!
4. God is willing to accept someone else's death in our place. That someone is Jesus Christ.
* "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave
himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." I Timothy 2:5-6
* "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for
us." Romans 5:85. Jesus has bought salvation for us and now God can offer it as a gift by grace.
* "Ye are bought with a price;" I Corinthians 7:23.
* "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not
of works, lest any man should boast." Ephesians 2:8,9How does someone accept this gift? Through repentance and faith. REPENTANCE: means to change your mind and adapt an attitude of not rebelling against God.
FAITH: means to simply take God at His Word, i.e., believe the verses you have just read.
* "Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward
our Lord Jesus Christ." Acts 20:21
* "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:136. Upon being saved and born again spiritually, we become converted to a new creature in
Christ.
* "And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall
not enter into the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:3
* "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold,
all things are become new." II Corinthians 5:17
FARGO BAPTIST
CHURCH3303 23rd Avenue SouthWest
Fargo, North Dakota 58103Speaking the truth in love
Ephesians 4:15aaa.232.5500 Schedule of Services Sunday School . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:30 a.m.
Sunday Morning Worship . . . . . 10:30 a.m.
Sunday Evening Service . . . . . . . 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday Bible Study . . . . . . . 7:00 p.m.
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