The Cry Of The Perishing

 Matthew 8:23-25 "And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish."

The Lord had just completed an exhausting week of ministry. He had preached His Sermon on the Mount message, than having come down from the mount, encountered the Roman centurion as He was entering into the city of Capernaum. Having healed the centurion’s servant, He entered into the home of Peter where Peter’s mother-in law was grievously ill. Having healed her the people brought their demonic possessed and sick for healing, which started to overwhelm the home. Because of this press, Christ ordered His disciples to get into one of Peter’s fishing boats and to depart to the other shore of the sea of Galilee. During the late night hours, as Christ was sleeping in the rear of the boat, a storm, which was common to arise on the sea, came up. The tempest being so bad, the waves threatened to swamp their boat and drown all aboard. The disciples being in fear. Awoke the Messiah crying out “Lord, save us; we perish” and He arose, rebuked the storm and behold, there was instantaneous clam. Again we have here a wonderful picture of unsaved man’s plight and God’s solution to it. I have three thoughts  regarding “The cry of the perishing.”

I- First, Man is in a perishing condition.

A- This is evident from the expressed declaration of the Word of
    God.
1- Isa 53:6 "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all."
2- Rom 3:9-23 "What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:Their feet are swift to shed blood:Destruction and misery are in their ways:And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes. Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

II- Secondly, Salvation is of the Lord.

A- Prov 14:12 "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death."

1- The disciples knew that their religion wasn’t the answer for their sins. That it could not appease God’s wrath. That it could not bring forgiveness and cleansing from their sin.They realized that only God can forgive, heal and cleanse then from their sin and its guilt and judgment. As the tempest storm of their sin became very evident, driven to overwhelming conviction, they turned to the right source. No other voice could have effected the instant clam and peace. Christ is the only savior of sinners from the storms of eternal judgment.

a- Luke 5:21-25 "And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts? Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house."
b- Acts 4:12 "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."
Salvation is of the Lord! In its origin. It was contrived by God. His eyes saw, His heart pitied, His arm brought salvation. In its execution. He became the guarantee, He bore the curse, endured the shame, drank the cup, suffered the just for the unjust.In its bestowment. Jesus will save each and all who will come to Him.

III- Last thought, application to Christ is necessary to secure this salvation.
A- Acts 17:30  "And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent."
B- Luke 13:3-5 "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."
C- Rom 10:9-10 "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed." Faith lays hold of the Savior, relies upon Him and draws healing virtue from His shed blood!
D- Rom 3:24-28 "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law."






 

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