"I say to you, it will be more tolerable in that day for Sodom than for that city. Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had been performed in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades!
"The one who listens to you listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me. And he who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me."
Good Morning my beloved,
We welcome you to worship today in the name of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I am grateful for each and every one of you, thank you for joining us today. If you're not certain about whether or not you want to embrace Jesus Christ, I pray there will be something in our message today that will point you toward Christ. It's one of the few decisions I've made in my life that I don't regret, so I can confidently assure you, you won't either. In fact, surrendering my life to Christ is the best decision I've ever made, hands down, that's when everything really begun to change.
We welcome you to worship today in the name of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I am grateful for each and every one of you, thank you for joining us today. If you're not certain about whether or not you want to embrace Jesus Christ, I pray there will be something in our message today that will point you toward Christ. It's one of the few decisions I've made in my life that I don't regret, so I can confidently assure you, you won't either. In fact, surrendering my life to Christ is the best decision I've ever made, hands down, that's when everything really begun to change.
In Matthew 5:6, in His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." Righteousness is not a familiar word in modern Christianity, because it is not emphasized enough today. Righteousness means "to be right with God." Righteousness begins with salvation, when you become aware of your sin and grieve when you fall short of God's holy standard and continues in sanctification and will culminate when you are in the presence of our Lord fully glorified. When you hunger and thirst after righteousness, it is impossible to be satisfied by self-righteousness, you can only be satisfied by God's righteousness. When you hunger and thirst after righteousness, you don't need to be reminded to feed on God's Word, anymore than hungry people need to be reminded to eat, it's instinctive. I believe that we ought to put righteousness back in the Christian vocabulary, start talking about the fact that we are commanded to increase in righteousness, a process that involves being transformed by the renewing of the mind, living a life that signifies a profound change to embrace a lifestyle that reflect standards set forth by God, and conforms to the image of Christ. Hungering and thirsting after righteousness is a perspective that tends to be a contentious topic among Christians rather than the normal approach to our relationship with Christ. In Luke 16:15, Jesus said to the Pharisees, "And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts, for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God." This verse highlights the stark contrast between worldly standards where fame and fortune are highly prized with God's standards, where humility, compassion, and integrity are cherished. There are a significant number of individuals within the church today, from the pews to the pulpit, who need to be reminded "that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God."
I believe Scripture teaches that as one grows in their relationship with God, their sin decreases, and their righteousness increases because they are putting to death their old sinful nature and allowing Christ to guide and transform them into His likeness. Growing in righteousness goes beyond the milk to the meat. If you're a true follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, understand that it will be long, narrow road, that becomes narrower and narrower the further you go, designed to "squeeze" out the sin in our lives, a reality that has been too often neglected in the church today. By upholding the truth, you will inevitably condemn those who are purveyors of error. It is amazing to me that many churches today even dare to call themselves the Church of Jesus Christ. The corruption is no less evident than godless society that we live in. I’ve recently heard some of the most bizarre kind of teaching coming from men who supposedly represent Christ, teaching that can only elicit wicked responses out of the hearts of corrupt men and women. Faithfulness to God and His Word is ridiculed, and mocked, labeled as divisive, it's been replaced by a self-pleasure first "whatever makes me feel good" philosophy that tickles the ears. It is perversion of the Truth. In a world of godless, pleasure seeking, unvirtuous men, surround yourself with those who will contribute to your spiritual growth and development, pushes you toward greater intimacy in your relationship with Christ.
A righteous person seeks to be in the presence of those who will help them grow spiritually. Proverbs 18:24, "A man of too many friends comes to ruin, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." When it comes to friendships, it's crucial to prioritize quality over quantity, investing in relationships that shape and influence who you are, characterized by mutual trust, cultivating such meaningful bonds enrich our lives, providing emotional support, contributing significantly to our well-being and personal growth. We live in a society where genuine relationships have been replaced with those that merely offer social interactions that serve as temporary distractions or networking platforms. Superficial relationships that are less than holy can only go so far, and typically head in a detrimental direction. We could easily spend countless hours just illustrating that point, but it’s unnecessary, when it’s all around you, these shallow connections permeates our everyday lives. Frankly, I don’t even want to inundate my mind just to cover all the negativity that's going on around us. The importance of forging the right relationships cannot be overstated enough, illustrating the impact of choosing wisely whom and what we commit to in our lives.
I believe that as pastors, we have been entrusted with the responsibility to produce a congregation that embodies what God requires—love and devotion toward Him, and encourages a genuine affection and compassion toward those who belong to Him, who hate sin, especially their own and live in obedience to His Word. It is my goal to nurture an atmosphere where sin is not merely avoided but abhorred in the life of a Christian.
Let's pray
Heavenly Father,
Father, as always we thank You for Your life-changing Word. Thank You for Your grace that is greater than all our sin, when we fall short. Lord, I am especially grateful that You saw something redeemable in a wretched sinner like me. If there is anyone among us who is still trusting in their own righteousness, their own strength, Father, I pray that You will graciously deliver them from that delusion. We know that anyone who attempts to force their way into the Kingdom on their own terms on the broad road, will ultimately be turned away. We pray that every unsaved soul would run to Jesus Christ, Who alone can wash away their sin before it's too late. We ask and pray this in Christ's precious name, for His sake and for Your glory.
Amen
Today's Message: A Strong Warning of Judgment to Christ Rejector's
Take out your Bibles and open them with me to the Gospel of Luke chapter 10. Luke chapter 10, verses 12-16. As Christians, we are here to tell the world the Good News, that God will forgive those who repent of their sin and believe in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, Who died in their place and rose from the dead. Let’s look at Luke's account and see how he chronicles the tremendous privilege that the Lord gives to us to proclaim His Gospel. Luke 10:12-16. I pray that you will follow along with me as I read.
"I say to you, it will be more tolerable in that day for Sodom than for that city. Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had been performed in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades!
"The one who listens to you listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me. And he who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me."
If you will recall in verse 11, Jesus instructed the seventy to say to those who reject the Gospel, "'Even the dust of your city which clings to our feet we wipe off against you; yet know this, that the kingdom of God is at hand.'" While a faithful presentation of the Gospel certainly is Good News, the promise of heaven, an accurate presentation of the Gospel must include the reality of the strongest warning of the worst news ever, Hell, a Truth which is being eliminated from most of contemporary evangelism today. I’ve often been told that "You're going about ministry all wrong. If you want to attract people to Christ, you have got to give the people what they want." I've yet to find that verse in my Bible! The church today has become really good at false conversions, making hypocrites. The last thing you ever want to do is produce a false conversion by using some illegitimate presentation of the Gospel in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, divorced from the Truth regarding God’s holy hatred of sin. If someone’s confession of Christ doesn't come from a broken and contrite heart with a sincere desire to be delivered from their sin, and a willingness to let go of the things of this world, all you have a horrendous perversion of God's grace. According to Psalm 51, a contrite heart is one that is broken and humble before God, acknowledging sin and desperately seeking His mercy.
There is a dangerous metamorphosis occurring the church today, and although its name may have changed, its satanic nature remains the same. The seducing spirits of Hell know no boundaries, they are detrimental to undiscerning believers! If someone's confession of Christ does not align with the true spirit of repentance and faith, with an interest in turning away from the things of this world that hinder their spiritual growth, it's likely a false conversion resulting from a shallow Gospel presentation. Nahum 1:2-3, says God reserves His wrath for His enemies, darkness shall pursue His enemies, He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. The Bible is so very clear when it comes to warning the enemies of God by reminding them it is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God, such as in Hebrews 10:31. The New Testament is clear, anyone who does not give glory to Jesus Christ is the enemy of God. In 1 Corinthians 16:22, the Apostle Paul pronounces anathema, which is a curse, on anyone who does not love the Lord Jesus Christ. To be an enemy of God is a very frightening reality. James, the brother of our Lord strongly cautions believers, "If you are the friend of the world, then you are an enemy of God." In 1 John 2:6, he gives us a sobering reminder that "The one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked." The last thing that people want to hear today is that "God wants YOU to change!" Scripture begins and ends with a warning, God is not only loving, He is also righteous. Sadly, it has become typical in evangelism today, to declare anyone who "says they believe in God" a Christian, regardless of whether or not what they believe is true. In Luke 13:3, Jesus reiterated the threat of judgment by boldly declaring, "I tell you," He said, "unless you repent you will all perish." Apparently, warning unrepentant sinners who persist in their sinful ways they are storing up wrath for themselves in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, with the severest judgment for those who heard the most and rejected it, is an unacceptable message by today's societal standards, even though the author of Hebrews 10:26-27 strongly warns, "For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries." In other words, you'd be better off jumping out of an airplane at 30,000 feet without a parachute, than hearing the Gospel preached and rejecting it!
Scripture is clear, if you're going to reject Christ, you can expect to be eternally held accountable for that rejection. Perhaps, Jesus, John, James, Paul and myself could all use a class on modern evangelism!
Let's look at verse 12, "I say to you, it will be more tolerable in that day for Sodom than for that city." I believe the profound message of this stark warning is absolutely clear, those who willfully reject Christ the most severe consequences are reserved for those who have had numerous opportunities to embrace the teachings of the Gospel but have deliberately decided to turn their backs on it.
To fully grasp the weight of what Jesus is saying here, its important to consider the historical context of Sodom, a pagan city notorious for its overwhelming wickedness and corruption, the epitome of the grossest kind of sexual immorality, they wanted to sodomize the angels. Anybody who has a genuine knowledge of the Bible knows the city of Sodom was ultimately destroyed by fire and brimstone as a result of its inhabitants' perverse homosexual passion, not the lack of hospitality, as some have claimed. In Genesis 18:20, Yahweh said, "The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave."
Sodom had access to the truth through Lot, a righteous man who lived among them, providing them with a moral compass that surrounded him. They not only rejected the truth, they rejected the One true and Living God. Lot's example serves as a poignant reminder that when you share the Gospel with others, it's crucial to approach evangelism with both compassion and a sense of urgency, to undergird your message with prayer, being acutely aware of what's going on around you, trusting in God to bless the results.
Briefly turn with me to Genesis 19, "Then the two angels came to Sodom in the evening as Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. Lot saw them and rose to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground. And he said, "Now behold, my lords, please turn aside into your servant’s house, and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may rise early and go on your way." They said however, "No, but we shall spend the night in the square." Yet he pressed them strongly, so they turned aside to him and entered his house; and he made a feast for them and baked unleavened bread, and they ate. Before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, surrounded the house, from young to old, all the people from every quarter; and they called to Lot and said to him, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may know them." But Lot went out to them at the doorway and shut the door behind him, and said, "Please, my brothers, do not act wickedly. Now behold, I have two daughters who have not known a man; please let me bring them out to you, and do to them what is good in your eyes; only do nothing to these men, inasmuch as they have come under the shelter of my roof." But they said, "Step aside." Furthermore, they said, "This one came to sojourn, and already he is persistently acting like a judge; now we will treat you more wickedly than them." So they pressed hard against Lot and stepped up to break the door. But the men reached out their hands and brought Lot into the house with them and shut the door. And they struck the men who were at the doorway of the house with blindness, from small to great, so that they wearied themselves trying to find the doorway." Understanding the dangers of the night in Sodom, Lot desperate to protect his visitors, insisted the visitors stay him with earnestness and urgency. However, as darkness began to envelope the city of Sodom, a sinister group of men gathered, from the youngest to the eldest, driven by malicious intent, they called out to Lot, demanding that he surrender his guests to them for the wicked and depraved intentions of their hearts were clear.
In Isaiah 3:9, Isaiah says, "The expression of their faces answers against them,
And they declare their sin like Sodom; They do not even conceal it. Woe to their soul! For they have dealt out evil on themselves.
This is not an isolated message of hate from Jesus, rather a recurring message of love He often repeated throughout His ministry, urging people to consider the consequences of their choices, lest they face a judgment far more severe than they can imagine. Follow along as I read Luke chapter 12, verses 43 through 48, "Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes. Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But if that slave says in his heart, ‘My master will be a long time in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and assign him a place with the unbelievers. And that slave who knew his master’s will and did not get ready or act in accord with his will, will receive many beatings, but the one who did not know it, and committed deeds worthy of a beating, will receive but a few. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required, and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more." This isn't just about rejecting the message or the messenger; it's about rejecting Christ Himself, and ultimately, rejecting God. Then, notice in the middle of the verse He says "in that day."
Verse 13, "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had been performed in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes." "Woe to you," would have been a very familiar phrase that would have resonated deeply with the Jewish people of Jesus's day, as it echoed the pronouncements of divine judgment on cities beginning with the same phrase delivered by the ancient prophets. By the way, a woe is is not a casual expression of disappointment, it's a curse, a solemn declaration of impending doom and divine judgment. Although Jesus directed these strong words to the cities of Chorazin and Bethsaida, strategically located around the Sea of Galilee, it is important to recognize that He was addressing the people who reside in those cities who were uniquely blessed to have witnessed firsthand the miraculous power of Jesus as a testament to His divine nature and identity, and heard the compelling parables to cause them to repent; but they responded in indifference, remaining hardened and unrepentant, as if they had seen nothing, not merely the physical structures and streets. Jesus is highlighting the gravity of rejecting the Truth when it is presented so clearly, by contrasting their response with that of Tyre and Sidon, having had the same exposure to His divine power, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes – a powerful illustration of humility, contrition, indicating their rejection was not one of ignorance, but of willful blindness.
Are we really so different from those whom Jesus is warning? How often do we hear the Gospel message convict us, yet harden our hearts, refusing to repent, rather than surrendering to His will, instead of embracing change, we resist transformation and stubbornly cling to our own sinful ways? I believe this should encourage us all to examine our own hearts and attitudes toward sin. Superficial salvation manifests in many forms: indifference, procrastination, or acceptance without genuine transformation. Remember the rich young ruler who came to Jesus asking what he must do to inherit eternal life in Matthew 19:16-22? He appeared to be sincere, however, when Jesus presented him with a challenge that tested his genuineness, the young man found himself unable to let go of his worldly treasures.
Verse 14, "But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the judgment than for you." Jesus is talking about The Day of Judgment. We know from Jesus' parable of Lazarus and the rich man, that everyone who dies without believing the Truth, will go out of the presence of God forever into a place of punishment and torment, while awaiting for their final sentencing at the Great White Throne, where they will be cast forever into the final hell which is described as a lake of fire. We must be very careful not distance ourselves from this passage, thinking this warning only applies to Chorazin and Bethsaida, as so often happens in countless churches today. We live in a time of unprecedented access to the Gospel, we have Bibles in our homes, our churches as well as online access. We many have not witnessed Jesus perform miracles with our own eyes, but we do have access to the complete revelation of God in the Bible, which are vividly portrayed throughout the pages of Scripture and in the personal testimonies of believers throughout history. Jesus is saying the greater the revelation, the greater the responsibility.
I believe that we all must ask ourselves: How are we responding to the revelation and grace that we have received? Are we like Chorazin and Bethsaida, indifferent to the Truth of God that it no longer penetrates our hardened hearts? Familiarity can breed contempt. Have we allowed ourselves to be so saturated with God's Word that we've become immune to its transformative power? How many of you have personally experienced God's grace in your lives, or through the lives of others firsthand, yet to this very day, remain unchanged? Do not be deceived, the danger of exposure without application is real, to be exposed to the Truth, raises your level of guilt, and therefore punishment if you choose to reject it! To reject Jesus Christ is to reject the only path to salvation and eternal life! Scripture is clear: there will be a day of judgment, those who have rejected Christ will face the consequences of their decision.
Verse 15, "And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades!" This is not a message of hate, but a loving warning, a call to repentance, designed to awaken those in Capernaum from their spiritual slumber who believed themselves to be safe before it is too late. Because they were
privileged to have witnessed more than anyone else since Jesus had made it His home base. Jesus is pointing out being in a position of privilege does not guarantee salvation. Repentance is not merely feeling sorry for our sins while willfully continuing to commit them; it is a conscious decision to turn away from our sins and to follow Christ wholeheartedly. Judgment is not solely limited to the severity or degree of one's sin; it is more intricately linked to the degree of one's rejection and willingness to acknowledge one's mistakes and embrace change.
The real question is; who is a Christian and who is not? A Christian is more than just someone who claims to believe in Jesus, there may be someone acting like a Christian, going through the motions, who genuinely isn’t one, and then on the other hand, there may be somebody who is one may, for a time, be demonstrating a behavior that would make one question the authenticity of that claim. I believe it's important to carefully examine ourselves to see if there are areas in our lives where we are resisting Christ's Lordship. The Gospel is not just a warning; it is an invitation, an invitation to repent of your sins, to turn away from your old life, and to believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. As those who have personally experienced the forgiveness of sins, how much more should we be compelled to to share the good news of Jesus Christ with those around us? However, our testimony is far more convincing when we live our lives in a way that exemplify His mercy, compassion, and love.
That brings us to verse 16, "The one who listens to you listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me. And he who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me."
Jesus is emphasizing the importance of the listener’s response. To not just hear, but listen well, with humility, acknowledge mistakes, and truly accept the message and, consequently, Christ Himself. When people listen to the message of the Gospel, delivered by those sent by Christ, they are, in effect, listening to Christ Himself. This verse highlights the importance of those who listen and genuinely recognize their mistakes with humility, and who actively strive to better their actions and improve their conduct, are regarded much more favorably than those who willfully choose to remain stubbornly dismissive and unreasonably resistant to change. To reject the message and the messenger is not simply a dismissal of one's human opinion but a refusal of divine Truth and for transformation, as well as the opportunity for spiritual and personal growth.
The Bible is abundantly clear about the consequences of rejecting Christ. John 3:18 very clearly states, "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." This is not an condemnation arbitrarily or capricious judgment imposed by God, but rather a natural consequence of choosing to remain separated from Him. In Romans 6:23, Paul states, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." This warning is not restricted to merely a single verse designed to instill fear, but a reoccurring theme to prompt genuine repentance.
In Revelation 2:19-22, our Lord says to the church in Thyatira, "I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your last deeds are greater than at first. But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and deceives My slaves so that they commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. And I gave her time to repent, and she does not wish to repent of her sexual immorality. Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds."
We who preach the Gospel also bear a profound responsibility, to faithfully and accurately preach and teach the whole Truth of the Gospel with the love, and in the power and authority given by God, even when it challenges our comfort zones. The author of Hebrews 13:17, kindly reminds us that each of us will ultimately be held accountable before God for how we fulfill this calling, handle His message and the souls entrusted to their care, regardless of personal benefit or recognition. Spreading the Gospel is not just a privilege, it's a duty and an obligation to keep watch, warning the flock with whom we've been entrusted of spiritual danger and guiding them toward salvation through the example of a Christlike life. Failure to do so is a very serious dereliction of duty. Let us strive to demonstrate Christlike character, integrity, and compassion, making our witness credible and attractive to others by living a life that accurately reflects the message we share. I leave you with these words from the Apostle Paul found in 2 Corinthians 5:20-21, "So then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as God is pleading through us. We beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."
May it be so..
And now may the Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
Now and forever, in Jesus' name
Amen
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