May 29, 2022
Sunday Sermon
NOW IS THE TIME TO GET RIGHT WITH GOD
((The message demands a decision)
2 Corinthians 6:1-2
Introduction: “When it’s the right fit, it’s the right fit.” You know it. That was the quote in the newspaper headlines summarizing what Green Bay Packer’s ex-coach Mike Holmgren had to say about his new coaching job - 1999 in Seattle. Many had wondered whether or not he would leave the Packers and move on to a job with more responsibility. But if you would ask him, “Why now? Why not a year from now, or even never? He would probably say, “Now is the time.”
Now is the time to get right with God!
Each one of us reconcile by Christ is to be involved in reconciling the world to God. But not all those in the church do! According to our text, they have received the grace of God in vain. God expects those who have received grace to be involved in the ministry of reconciliation. How tragic it is when churches and CHRISTIANS RECEIVE God’s grace in vain.
The Corinthians were babes in Christ, immature saints, because they failed to grow in knowledge and grace. They had the greatest Pastor (Paul) available, and yet they failed to benefit from Paul’s ministry! How tragic it is, if the Corinthians’ hardness of heart made such grace of no practical and transforming value to them at all.
NOW IS THE TIME TO GET RIGHT WITH GOD! THE MESSAGE DEMANDS A DECISION!
I. GOD HAS HEARD YOU HE SAYS v. 2
“At just the right time I heard you” (NLT). 1 John 5:14 & 15, Now this is the confident that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that he hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.” Now is the time to get right with God because He hears you. A songwriter called Isaac Watts in 1719 wrote a song that says, “I love the Lord, He heard my cry and pitied every groan. Because God has inclined His ear to me, therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live! God has heard you – it demands a decision to get right with God!
II. GOD HAS HELPED YOU HE SAYS v. 2
“On the day of salvation, I helped you” (NLT). Psalm 54:4, “But God is my helper. The Lord is the one who keeps me alive” (NLT). Paul wants us to remember that now is the Time because He helps you! God never said it is going to be easy! Serving the Lord is never easy! God sent Isaiah to remind us (43:1-3) Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you; When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
Now is the time to get right with God, because He has helped you! Hasn’t God helped you? It demands a decision to get right with God!
III. GOD HAS HASTENED YOU HE SAYS v. 2
“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” Most of the Corinthians were saved, but was listening to false teaching, and were deceived. In verse 1, “I plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.” Paul emphasized his point by quoting Isaiah 49:8. He was passionately concerned that the Corinthians adhere to the truth because it was God time to save, and they were messengers for helping to spread the Gospel. There is a time period when God listens to sinners and responds to those who are repentant. Now is the time to tell sinners about reconciliation - to get right with God, because there will be an end to that time.
God wants saved people to witness to the unsaved right now. Now is the day of salvation. This means To-day, while it is called to-day. Tomorrow is not ours: we know not what will be on the morrow, nor where we shall be; and we should remember that present season of grace is short and uncertain and cannot be recalled when they are past. Isaiah said (55:6) “Seek the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near.
Now is the time because He hastens you!
NOW IS THE TIME TO GET RIGHT WITH GOD!
Responsive Reading: 2 Corinthians 6:1-13
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