A Testimony Of Salvation

Temple Baptist Church - 8-1-2010

Luke 18:35-43

Introduction:

A. Do you remember when, where, and how you got saved. I knew a man once who got mad because Bro. Jimmie Clark preached a message titled “How, When, And Where?”

B. Every child of God should have a testimony of salvation that is clear. That testimony brings about:

1. Assurance to the believer

2. Joy to the saints

3. The way of salvation to the lost.

C. In these verses that I have read, we find all three of these aspects of a testimony. A lost man who came to Christ is such a way as to produce assurance, joy, and testimony to others.
D. I love to hear people talk about how, when, and where they came to Christ. I want to look at this precious brother’s conversion tonight in order to produce these things.

1. The Condition Of The Lost – vs. 35 - 2 Corinthians 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (Spiritually blinded to the fact of two eternities; spiritually blinded to the fact of their spiritual state; spiritually blinded to the holiness and justice of God; spiritually blinded to the fact of impending death; blinded to the fact of the White Throne Judgment Of God; blinded to the reality of a Devil’s Hell.)

2. The Mercy Of The Lord – vs. 35 – The blinded could not come to Him so He came to them. How important it is that sinners realize the love of Calvary and the mercy of the Lord as He comes to them. The blinded can neither see Christ nor the way to Him.

3. The Opportunity Of Salvation – vs. 37 – The Lord passed by at a specific time and in a specific place. He may or may not have ever passed that way again so to presume that one will get more than one chance to be saved is dangerous. Today is the day of salvation, now is the accepted time. He may never call again or we may be dead or unable to respond (Jimmy Smith).

4. The Misery Of The Lost – vs. 38 – He cried out! I do not know how long that he had been in that condition but I do know that he was tired of it and wanted a change of life. He knew his need and he knew who could meet it. Sinners will never be saved until they become miserably lost and see their need to be saved.

5. The Opposition Of The Multitudes – vs. 39 – The world will do all that it can to hinder the salvation of the Lord. Peer pressure, uncertain riches, the pleasures of “sin for a season,” and pride will stop a person from coming to Christ. Often, Satan will throw stumbling blocks in their way. “Big Boy”

6. The Persistency Of The Sinner – vs. 39 – Nothing could stop him from calling upon the Lord.

7. The Love Of The Saviour – vs. 40 – Jesus stood still at the cry of the sinful. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation: that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners! The love of Calvary is accessable to every sinner who wants the wonderful salvation of the Lord Jesus Christ.

8. The Obligation Of The Saints – vs. 40 – The Lord commanded the sinner to be brought to Him. We that are saved should love both the sinner and the Lord enough to bring them to Christ.

9. The Effect Of Salvation – vs. 43 – Immediately the blinded man could see. Immediately he followed Christ. Immediately he praised the Christ. The saints rejoiced in the miracle that had transpired.