Salvation Is Here. . .And Now (Luke 4:16-21)
Gary McManus, 12/31/2017Part of the God's New Year series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
December 31, 2017 The Seventh Day of Christmas
Luke 4:16-21 (See Isaiah 61:1-3)
Salvation is here. . .and now!
(Spoiler alert:
Salvation is not a past event.)
Jesus (and the synagogue that day)
had no Bible, no book, only scrolls
without chapters and verses marked.
Luke tells us. . .
“and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah
was handed to him. Unrolling it, Jesus
found the place where it is written: . . .
Shall we take a literal interpretation only?
The blind receive their sight (Luke 7:22).
Jesus also suggests that blindness is not
just a problem with the eyes.
[Mark 8:18. All of John 9]
So, even Jesus interprets literally
AND figuratively!
So. . .”free the prisoners”?
Anarchy? Probably not what Jesus
means.
People are prisoners of almost everything. . .
lifestyle, thought patterns, addictions,
their own past (both genetic and developmental.
Will Jesus release those “bound” to Satan?
(See Matthew 23:15, John 8:34, Galtians 5:1,
all of Romans 6)
Set the oppressed free?
(See Luke 11:46, compare 1 John 5:3,
Matthew 11:30, Jeremiah 30:8, Nahum 1:13)
Jesus has come to help people
WHO HAVE PROBLEMS.
So, if you don’t have problems,
Jesus has not come for you, right?
(Matthew 9:12, See also Mark 2:17,
Luke 5:31)
JESUS IS SAYING. . .
the DOCTOR IS NOW IN!
Are we supposed to get well
BEFORE we see the doctor?
Some believe that.
Some church people believe that.
Jesus suggested that if we wait to get
ready to go to God, the door might be
closed when we get there.
(Luke 13:24-25).
Salvation is here and NOW.
Happy New Year! Amen.
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