Choice That Changes Eternity | Tommy Wright | Gospel Message ၏ စာသားမှတ်တမ်းအပြည့်အစုံ

But the other verse is bringing before us another set of people possibly in this meeting. 00:02:42.221 --> 00:02:45.170 Whosoever will not. Whosoever will. 00:02:46.244 --> 00:02:52.774 Whosoever will not. and you don't need a big education to understand what this verse is saying. 00:02:53.650 --> 00:03:00.364 It's basically telling us that salvation is your responsibility. 00:03:00.968 --> 00:03:04.439 God has moved in grace. Our first hymn was telling us that. 00:03:05.351 --> 00:03:09.732 The Lord Jesus came into the world to save sinners. That meant he had to go 00:03:09.732 --> 00:03:13.298 to Calvary. It meant that he had to be crucified. 00:03:13.860 --> 00:03:20.414 And Peter sums it up in his epistle. he said he bore our sins in his own body on the tree, 00:03:21.084 --> 00:03:26.382 it'll not be imposed on you but God wants your salvation for we read in the 00:03:26.382 --> 00:03:32.602 old testament God said as I live saith the Lord I have no pleasure in the death 00:03:32.602 --> 00:03:35.602 of the wicked but that the wicked turn, 00:03:36.411 --> 00:03:40.016 and that's your responsibility you You don't sit in a meeting, 00:03:40.902 --> 00:03:43.372 hoping salvation will fall upon you. 00:03:44.109 --> 00:03:48.159 You go to an open door and to get through it you walk through, isn't it right? 00:03:49.071 --> 00:03:53.827 The Lord Jesus said, I am the door. No one's pushed to it, no one's carried 00:03:53.827 --> 00:04:00.180 to it, but you can go through it tonight by accepting the message, and whosoever will not. 00:04:00.807 --> 00:04:05.157 Maybe that describes you, maybe without even thinking about it too much tonight, 00:04:05.157 --> 00:04:09.584 but really, if you're not saved, that describes you. 00:04:10.390 --> 00:04:17.347 You've heard the gospel many times. We have spoken to people in Brazil who have never heard the gospel. 00:04:18.017 --> 00:04:22.268 To know what it was you talk to them about being saved and, 00:04:22.929 --> 00:04:27.266 they look at you in amazement they think being saved is you were ill in hospital 00:04:27.585 --> 00:04:32.307 and you survived the doctors helped you and you were saved they don't know they 00:04:32.307 --> 00:04:34.033 have to learn from the beginning, 00:04:34.717 --> 00:04:41.822 but that doesn't describe you but what we've already said describes you you have refused literally, 00:04:42.591 --> 00:04:48.869 you have refused to believe the message If we were to ask you, which we'll not be doing. 00:04:50.547 --> 00:04:51.657 Would you like to be saved? 00:04:51.657 --> 00:04:56.636 You would say in your heart, yes, you want to be saved But in your own time, 00:04:57.118 --> 00:04:58.488 that's when you're making a mistake, 00:04:59.419 --> 00:05:05.288 The Bible says, now is the accepted time Behold, now is the day of salvation, 00:05:06.052 --> 00:05:11.197 Now these verses in this chapter were spoken As a result. 00:05:12.305 --> 00:05:17.759 Of a man called Nicodemus There's

little known about this man in the Bible. 00:05:17.956 --> 00:05:21.468 In fact, it's only in this gospel that you read about him. 00:05:22.318 --> 00:05:28.709 We don't know about his family. We don't know anything about his upbringing, but we know this. 00:05:29.408 --> 00:05:30.935 He was a devout. 00:05:31.953 --> 00:05:38.847 Religious, individual. He took his religion seriously. It was the Jewish religion, 00:05:39.189 --> 00:05:45.883 the religion that God gave to Israel away back in the Mount Sinai with thunderings and lightnings. 00:05:46.185 --> 00:05:53.303 And actually, if you read those chapters, God actually read the law that he 00:05:53.303 --> 00:05:55.258 had given to Moses to give to the people. 00:05:55.885 --> 00:06:00.030 God came down, the people fled, and God spoke to them. 00:06:00.705 --> 00:06:05.478 And the law of God was given. So it was religion from God. And here's a man, 00:06:05.890 --> 00:06:10.471 and from his earliest day, he had believed there's a God. 00:06:11.081 --> 00:06:13.902 You couldn't have convinced Nicodemus there's no God. 00:06:14.796 --> 00:06:20.600 He believed in an afterlife. You couldn't have convinced Nicodemus there's no such a thing. 00:06:21.356 --> 00:06:27.416 He was absolutely aware there was an afterlife and what's more Nicodemus wanted, 00:06:28.071 --> 00:06:32.388 he personally wanted to be in the glories of heaven. 00:06:33.083 --> 00:06:36.413 We're not told what age he is but he wasn't a young man. 00:06:37.347 --> 00:06:42.993 Maybe he's an old man about 90, I don't know. But he was facing reality for 00:06:42.993 --> 00:06:50.413 after all his religious studies and we're not criticising religion but he had a good religion but he, 00:06:51.113 --> 00:06:53.460 treated it with zeal and had, 00:06:54.242 --> 00:06:56.373 reached the stage of being a teacher, 00:06:57.214 --> 00:07:01.781 and yet in his heart right down deep in his soul, 00:07:02.606 --> 00:07:07.483 possibly when he'd go to bed at night he would reflect on his day's work he 00:07:07.483 --> 00:07:11.644 had helped people with the scriptures he had explained scriptures, 00:07:12.339 --> 00:07:17.941 spoken to people about God spoken about the law the ten commandments, 00:07:18.811 --> 00:07:24.544 And yet in his heart, there was lacking the thing called peace. 00:07:25.225 --> 00:07:27.017 The absolute assurance. 00:07:27.743 --> 00:07:34.878 Maybe he could feel age creeping on. He wasn't able to do as much as he used to do. 00:07:35.619 --> 00:07:42.293 His mind maybe wasn't able to study the way he had studied. But there was a void, there was a space. 00:07:43.153 --> 00:07:46.970 Maybe that's like you. But I want you to see something else. 00:07:47.756 --> 00:07:51.750 I suppose in one way we're supposing on that but it looks as if that wasn't 00:07:51.750 --> 00:07:56.310 happening but I'll tell you what we can see he, Nicodemus. 00:07:57.475 --> 00:08:01.076 Had decided that this can't go on, 00:08:01.738 -->

00:08:06.430 and I would say to those in this meeting tonight and we're glad to see you this 00:08:06.430 --> 00:08:14.350 situation as far as you are concerned with no assurance of salvation and before you a burning hell and, 00:08:14.830 --> 00:08:16.790 missing out of the glories of heaven, 00:08:17.534 --> 00:08:25.490 before you is the world without end you read about in Ephesians 3 verse 21 it's called eternity, 00:08:26.237 --> 00:08:30.678 the last breath you take and you're in it and you're not coming back, 00:08:31.478 --> 00:08:36.530 and Nicodemus in his own soul had decided enough's enough, 00:08:37.353 --> 00:08:41.016 it's to be a good meeting if you would get into that category tonight, 00:08:41.803 --> 00:08:45.118 enough's enough the world has nothing to offer hope you see that, 00:08:45.830 --> 00:08:50.440 The world's in an awful condition Those of us who were saved It annoys us to 00:08:50.440 --> 00:08:58.197 read what's happening Everything indicates It will soon all be over This world has nothing to offer you. 00:08:59.033 --> 00:09:05.047 But I tell you, God has something to offer you. And you need to be like this man, Nicodemus. 00:09:05.677 --> 00:09:10.961 It says it was at night when others were settling down for a night's rest. 00:09:11.682 --> 00:09:15.790 It shows you that it had been going over in his mind. And it shows you that 00:09:15.790 --> 00:09:20.434 he had decided that this cannot wait until tomorrow. It would be natural. 00:09:21.077 --> 00:09:25.160 I don't read as I told you anything about his family. But it would be natural 00:09:25.160 --> 00:09:28.119 for his wife to say, Nicodemus, you can't. 00:09:28.380 --> 00:09:34.237 You can't go out a night like that wait, it's tomorrow take a few hours sleep 00:09:34.416 --> 00:09:40.420 and you'll be up tomorrow you can go to see this man Jesus of Nazareth but Nicodemus 00:09:40.420 --> 00:09:42.370 had decided that it's now. 00:09:43.370 --> 00:09:48.500 For this subject was so serious and it is serious, 00:09:49.028 --> 00:09:55.338 Nicodemus was travelling towards eternity so like you and he had no assurance, 00:09:55.814 --> 00:10:00.585 of salvation and the lady just outside ported down a number of years ago, 00:10:01.491 --> 00:10:07.728 serious heart condition and she told us at her doorstep with tears in her eyes she said. 00:10:09.090 --> 00:10:14.323 I could die at any minute and I have no hope for eternity, 00:10:15.008 --> 00:10:20.277 and God she could see him but that's what it's all about dear soul it's eternity, 00:10:20.871 --> 00:10:26.874 it's not being a member of Bolly Clare Gospel Hall we would love to see you in that condition, 00:10:27.512 --> 00:10:32.481 it's not a change of religion you're needing it's Christ, 00:10:33.201 --> 00:10:37.676 and Christ alone because eternity must be faced, 00:10:38.681 --> 00:10:42.855 You have heard and maybe read of men denying many things in the Bible. 00:10:43.690 --> 00:10:48.352 But I tell you

what you've never heard. You've never heard any of these atheists, 00:10:48.805 --> 00:10:53.370 or these philosophers telling you that there's no such a thing as death. 00:10:54.395 --> 00:10:59.480 I tell you, we're living with death day by day. We're marching with death. 00:11:00.025 --> 00:11:04.884 There's but a step between me and death, said one in Old Testament scriptures. 00:11:05.560 --> 00:11:10.107 It's just the breath that you're breathing that's keeping you out of eternity 00:11:10.368 --> 00:11:16.130 and Nicodemus had decided as I said already enough's enough I hope you reach 00:11:16.130 --> 00:11:19.528 that in this meeting close your eyes to the world, 00:11:20.411 --> 00:11:26.218 shut out the voice of the enemy face up to the fact that you as an individual, 00:11:26.893 --> 00:11:33.610 must face eternity and I tell you what was wrong with Nicodemus with no assurance, 00:11:34.487 --> 00:11:39.500 and believing in God and knowing the glories that are provided and what's going 00:11:39.500 --> 00:11:45.778 to be the future in the glories of heaven, he was thinking, am I going to miss it? 00:11:46.812 --> 00:11:51.030 Terrible thing to miss it. Indeed, it would be better if you'd never been born. 00:11:51.568 --> 00:11:55.307 To live and die and wake in hell, not only doomed, but damned. 00:11:56.149 --> 00:12:02.958 But this particular night, he decided, I'm facing it. It took some courage, we have to admit that. 00:12:03.763 --> 00:12:08.041 His old colleagues and friends were opposed to the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:12:08.759 --> 00:12:12.300 We're not going to that subject, but it's serious the way Israel, 00:12:13.154 --> 00:12:18.384 and they did say at his trial and crucifixion, We have no king but Caesar. 00:12:19.022 --> 00:12:24.920 And Nicodemus was surrounded by those who were opposed to the Lord Jesus, the Son of God. 00:12:25.332 --> 00:12:30.289 But he decided he was going to face the situation. 00:12:31.077 --> 00:12:34.709 Going to take the bull by the horns, is that what we say? That is, 00:12:34.709 --> 00:12:40.336 he was going to face up to the situation because it was concerning himself. 00:12:40.568 --> 00:12:44.119 And after all, when we could just settle down from the preaching here for a 00:12:44.119 --> 00:12:48.500 wee minute and looked down over our audience. Each one of us. 00:12:49.515 --> 00:12:53.636 Each one responsible for their own soul. 00:12:54.362 --> 00:12:59.097 I was typing out some cards last night for my dear sister who wants to send 00:12:59.097 --> 00:13:00.346 them out with calendars. 00:13:01.048 --> 00:13:03.063 The verse still stands in my mind. 00:13:03.997 --> 00:13:15.593 What shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? 00:13:16.249 --> 00:13:22.577 Tremendous loss to live and die and wake and end not only doomed but Nicodemus 00:13:22.577 --> 00:13:25.314 decided this has to be settled, 00:13:26.135 --> 00:13:30.477 and he came to the Lord Jesus

now you know the chapter and the time's almost 00:13:30.477 --> 00:13:34.406 gone so we're not going to go into all these details and all these verses, 00:13:35.312 --> 00:13:42.700 but in the verse that we read the Lord Jesus talking to a man who was interested 00:13:42.926 --> 00:13:47.482 in reality who wanted the assurance, 00:13:48.057 --> 00:13:52.246 wanted to be sure, the way of salvation is put before him, 00:13:52.864 --> 00:13:55.447 whosoever believeth in him. 00:13:56.257 --> 00:14:01.150 That was run against his colleagues. They weren't wanting to believe in the Lord Jesus. 00:14:01.985 --> 00:14:06.977 But the Lord is saying, there's no other way. Your religion hasn't given you 00:14:06.977 --> 00:14:08.715 assurance and never will. 00:14:09.415 --> 00:14:12.097 He's saying, if you want to be absolutely sure that. 00:14:13.219 --> 00:14:17.955 Whosoever believeth in him, you know, it links me as I have been doing this 00:14:18.274 --> 00:14:19.783 these past number of weeks. 00:14:20.446 --> 00:14:28.009 Matthew 21 is a parable told by a householder who had rejected the owner of 00:14:28.009 --> 00:14:33.869 the vineyard, had treated his servants spitefully, and he said. 00:14:34.767 --> 00:14:38.559 I will send my son, they will reverence my son. 00:14:38.579 --> 00:14:41.953 And here's the very touchstone of salvation. 00:14:42.674 --> 00:14:44.473 It's receiving Christ. 00:14:45.239 --> 00:14:52.906 Godemus had accepted the religion of his fathers, had been a good student, had believed them. 00:14:53.684 --> 00:14:57.989 But now he's being told that salvation is believing in Christ. 00:14:57.989 --> 00:15:03.199 Whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 00:15:03.199 --> 00:15:06.109 That's the message of salvation. You say, but that's too simple, 00:15:06.109 --> 00:15:07.218 but there's no other way. 00:15:07.954 --> 00:15:11.954 Aren't we glad that salvation isn't by silver and gold? 00:15:12.620 --> 00:15:19.581 Aren't you glad that salvation is not by your efforts? When would you ever know that you'd done enough? 00:15:20.234 --> 00:15:24.355 But thank God the message of the gospel is that Christ has done it all. 00:15:25.098 --> 00:15:32.381 It is finished, so that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish, 00:15:33.032 --> 00:15:36.027 but have everlasting life. 00:15:36.416 --> 00:15:43.459 The alternative is in the last verse that whosoever will not believe won't take it, 00:15:44.220 --> 00:15:53.430 he that believeth not we're told in the last verse shall not see life that's it full stop no argument. 00:15:54.221 --> 00:16:00.319 No way around it whosoever believeth not shall not see life that indicates that 00:16:00.319 --> 00:16:06.259 if you accept Christ you get life shall not see life But the wrath of God. 00:16:07.576 --> 00:16:08.579 Abideth on him, 00:16:09.700 --> 00:16:10.937 so that the message, 00:16:11.977 --> 00:16:17.787 that was delivered here is either receiving life or

receiving damnation. 00:16:18.588 --> 00:16:23.946 It's either when you close your eyes and leave this world stepping into glory, 00:16:24.848 --> 00:16:29.579 or closing your eyes and stepping into damnation, and it's never going to end. 00:16:30.201 --> 00:16:31.896 Eternal life will never end. 00:16:32.552 --> 00:16:40.730 As I quoted the words from Ephesians 3 already, Paul says, and he speaks about world without end. 00:16:41.419 --> 00:16:45.489 That's what you're going to and are you going to be in the glories of heaven 00:16:45.761 --> 00:16:52.506 the things that was a big subject what God has planned for this world the world's going to be cleansed, 00:16:53.301 --> 00:16:58.377 sin removed completely and it's going to be what God intended to be in Genesis 00:16:58.377 --> 00:17:02.612 chapter 1 just a perfect paradise upon earth, 00:17:03.553 --> 00:17:09.187 this devil tried to corrupt it has succeeded to some degree but the death of 00:17:09.187 --> 00:17:14.477 Christ has opened the door back the way back that whosoever believeth in him. 00:17:15.571 --> 00:17:20.355 Should not perish but have everlasting life and whosoever that believeth not, 00:17:21.044 --> 00:17:26.697 so is either believe or believe not that choice rests with you tonight in this 00:17:26.697 --> 00:17:31.604 meeting and I would urge you no matter what age group you're in young or old, 00:17:32.244 --> 00:17:37.077 if you're not saved your eternity's dreadful to think about it but no matter 00:17:37.077 --> 00:17:41.962 what group you're in tonight the Bible says let it in, 00:17:42.598 --> 00:17:47.637 that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, 00:17:48.611 --> 00:17:51.837 I'm sure I've told you this before I'm going to tell you it again the night 00:17:51.837 --> 00:17:57.567 I got saved it was to John 19 I just finished the work that Christ had done 00:17:57.567 --> 00:18:00.601 at the cross and when I got home, 00:18:01.437 --> 00:18:03.783 I got another verse of confirmation and. 00:18:04.758 --> 00:18:11.178 It was John 3.16, for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten 00:18:11.178 --> 00:18:14.398 son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish. 00:18:15.316 --> 00:18:20.970 You say, but there's another few words, that's right, but that's where I stopped that night. 00:18:21.655 --> 00:18:26.851 And just as a young lad, just almost fifteen, two months short of it, 00:18:27.472 --> 00:18:29.344 I remember to this moment. 00:18:30.315 --> 00:18:37.158 I'm glad my mind's still clear remember distinctly thinking I'm never going 00:18:37.158 --> 00:18:42.155 to be in hell oh I must ask you before we close where are you going to be, 00:18:42.750 --> 00:18:45.351 in God's eternity two options, 00:18:46.002 --> 00:18:47.338 whosoever believeth, 00:18:48.061 --> 00:18:51.719 and whosoever believeth not now shall we pray, 00:18:52.584 --> 00:18:57.658 our Father and our God we come to thee we thank thee for these beautiful words 00:18:57.658 --> 00:18:59.706 that are found in thy word, 00:19:00.287 --> 00:19:05.698 and we thank thee for the truth in the word of salvation that salvation is in 00:19:05.698 --> 00:19:11.908 the person of Christ who died on Calvary, yes, who rose again and is now seated 00:19:11.908 --> 00:19:14.074 at thine own right hand and accepting, 00:19:15.015 --> 00:19:21.348 the work that he did when he put away sin, when he died for our sins and accepting 00:19:21.348 --> 00:19:23.473 it and making your own, you'll have salvation, 00:19:24.326 --> 00:19:29.768 but how sad for those who won't believe it damnation and that for the world 00:19:29.768 --> 00:19:32.728 without end take pity upon us all tonight and bless, 00:19:33.672 --> 00:19:38.418 and those that are not saved that they might trust Christ even for the meeting 00:19:38.418 --> 00:19:43.648 ends we ask in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ Amen.