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The sermon teaches that Scripture gives all necessary revelation concerning sin, judgment, heaven, hell, and the way of salvation. Extraordinary signs, resurrection appearances, personal tragedy, fearful experiences, and eloquent preaching cannot save a person who remains unwilling to believe. Conversion depends on the Holy Spirit applying the Word and drawing sinners to Christ. The appropriate response is urgent repentance and faith, while believers should pray for the Spirit to bring sinners to salvation.
Theological center: Scripture is sufficient and clear for revealing salvation and eternity, but sinners are effectually converted only through the regenerating and drawing work of the Holy Spirit.
Applications: Come to Christ · Pray for Sinners · Consider Scripture’s Sufficiency · Examine Your Unbelief
Primary texts: Luke 16:31 · 2 Corinthians 5:11
“And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead.” Luke 16:31 MAN is very loath to think ill of himself. The most of mankind are very prone to indulge in apologies for sin. They say, “If we had lived in better times we had been better men. If we had been born into this world under happier auspices we should have been holier. And if we had been placed in more excellent circumstances we should have been more inclined to the right.” The mass of men, when they seek the cause of their sin, seek it anywhere but in the right place. They will not blame their own nature for it. They will not find fault with their own corrupt heart, but they will lay the blame anywhere else. Some of them find fault with their peculiar position. “If,” says one, “I had been born rich, instead of being poor, I should not have been dishonest.” “Or if,” says another, “I had been born in middle life, instead of being rich, I should not have been exposed to such temptations of lust and pride as I am now. But my very condition is so adverse to piety that I am compelled by the place I hold in society to be anything but what I ought to be.” Others turn round and find fault with the whole of society. They say that the whole organism of society is wrong. They tell us that everything in government, everything that concerns the state, everything which melts men into commonwealths is all so bad that they cannot be good while things are what they are. They must have a revolution, they must upset everything—then they think they could be holy. Many, on the other hand, throw the blame on their training. If they had not been so brought up by their parents, if they had not been so exposed in their youth, they would not have been what they are. It is their parent’s fault. The sin lay at their father’s or their mother’s door. Or it is their constitution. Hear them speak for themselves, “If I had such a temper as so and so, what a good man I would be! But with my headstrong disposition it is impossible. It is all very well for you to talk to me, but men have different turns of mind and my turn of mind is such that I could not by any means be a serious character.” And so he throws the blame on his constitution. Others go a deal farther and throw the blame on the ministry. “If,” say they, “at one time the minister had been more earnest in preaching, I should have been a better man. If it had been my privilege to sit under sounder doctrine and hear the Word more faithfully preached, I should have been better.” Or else they lay it a…