## Trade - in Time

## Luke 5:27-39

This is the time of year when many folks head for the auto dealerships. They had their big inventory reduction tax sales, and they made offers on cars that, if you believed their advertising, they were nearly willing to give away just to get them off their lots.

I know of a man who has a world-wide ministry, but he drives a 1974 Dodge. He has often said, "I never have to lock it up or worry about it being stolen!" It is great to be able to fix things up, but sometimes there is the need to trade in the old for the new.

In our text this morning Jesus is explaining a similar principle to the Pharisees. Sometimes it is necessary that a change be made. This was the case with the spiritual need of mankind. Jesus came to provide the world with something brand new.

Read: Luke 5:27-39

I. We need to trade in our sin-sick souls for spiritual health.

A. Jesus was the Physician who came for sinners.

1. The Pharisees were offended because Jesus was eating with people who were known to be sinners.

a. sharing a meal in the middle East meant much more than it does today in our culture.

b. to eat bread was to form a covenant, to bind yourselves as friends and allies.

c. that is one reason Jesus instituted the church ordinance of the Lord's Supper; to remind us that as Christians we belong to Him and to each other.

2. The Pharisees always 'repelled' sinners, while Jesus attracted them.

a. of course the Pharisees had no message of hope for lost sinners.

b. but Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost.

c. they were attracted to Him because He had the answer to their life's problems.

3. Jesus saw them as sick and in need of a physician.

a. the Pharisees were quick to judge them as hopeless outcasts of society.

b. they were willing to ignore their needs spiritually.

c. Jesus saw them as desperately sick and in need of a physician.

B. The picture of sin.

1. Jesus uses disease to picture sin in the life of man.

a. there are some similarities.

b. disease will infect the body and left untreated could result in death.

c. Romans 6:23, "The wages of sin is death..."

2. Some sicknesses are obvious while others are very deceptive.

a. when a child has chicken pox it is quite obvious to everyone that observes him.

b. but if a person has cancer or leukemia they may appear to be healthy and normal, but in reality they could be dying.

3. Sin In a persons life can be that way:

a. certain individuals' lives reveal the sin that exists.

b. while others appear to be righteous, but in fact their lives are controlled by sin.

c. it is impossible to look at an individual and declare without a doubt that they are healthy

d. that is also true spiritually.

C. They need a physician.

1. Jesus did not come to call the righteous.

a. the reason is that there are no righteous.

b. Ro. 3:10, "There is none righteous, no not one."

c. there are all kinds of sinners, just as there are all kinds of sick people.

d. the symptoms may be different, but they are all in need of a physician.

e. those who came to the dinner had sinned by being rebellious toward God's Law, but the Pharisees revealed their spiritual sickness by their pride and judgment of the others.

2. Jesus is the Great Physician: He diagnoses sin and provides the perfect cure.

a. by His grace and power, Jesus forgives sins and gives us a new heart.

b. not only that, but lie pays the bill Himself: " ...ye were not redeemed with ... silver and gold ... but with the precious blood of Christ'

3. There are two kinds of people that cannot be helped:

a. those who will not admit they are sick--in need of salvation.

b. those who will not trust Him at His Word--by grace are ye saved through faith ... but without faith it is impossible to please Him.

c. Jesus came that we would trade in our sick and sinful heart and receive a new heart cleansed by His blood.

II. We need to trade in our sorrow for His joy: He is the Bridegroom. v 33- 35

A. The question of Fasting.

1. The Jews were required by the Law to fast on the day of atonement each year.

a. the Pharisees fasted twice a week because they thought it was a sign of spirituality.

b. eventually, the Rabbis had added so many fasts to their calendar that the Jewish religion had become a burden rather than a blessing.

2. Religion, of itself, does not bring joy.

a. there is no joy to be found in following a strict code of rules and regulations.

b. to many, Christianity is something they must try to endure, when they should be enjoying it.

c. the Jews could not understand the feasting and rejoicing that was taking place.

d. they would have preferred solemnity and fasting.

B. The picture of Salvation.

1. Jesus compares salvation to getting married.

a. there was no such thing as a quiet Jewish wedding

b. a wedding was an invitation to rejoice and feast.

c. not to show joy was an insult to the bride and groom along with the wedding party.

2. Marriage is a love relationship.

a. so is our salvation: God so loved the world that He sent His only Son to die for us that we might be saved.

b. but there is more to marriage than love, there must be commitment: that's why we have the vows that say essentially: 'will you take this one to be your lawful wedded partner?'

c. salvation requires some commitment: "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved" -- Ro. 10:9

3. Like marriage, salvation begins with love and leads to joy.

a. the joy of sins forgiven

b. the joy of answered prayer

c. the joy of fellowship

d. the joy of service

e. the joy of bringing forth fruit unto God

4. Salvation is a wonderful and joyful experience with God

a. religion can make a person miserable, but true salvation brings him joy.

b. I Tim. 6:17, "God...giveth us richly all things to enjoy"

c. We need to trade-in our sorrow for the joy of salvation in Christ!

III. We need to trade-in our old lives for a brand new life in Christ.

A. Jesus is the Transformer. v36-39

1. This parable may be hard for us to understand due to the difference of time.

a. today we place liquids in plastic bottles or glass containers.

b. but it was quite common to use goatskin bags to hold liquids back then.

c. today we have cloth that is made so it will not shrink when washed, but it was not so when this parable was given.

2. Jesus taught the relationship of the old and new.

a. new wine poured into old dry skins would result in the skins being broken when the wine would begin to expand from the pressure of the gas

b. if a woman sewed a patch of new cloth on to an old garment ... when the garment was washed, the patch would shrink causing a tear and ruining both the garment and the patch.

3. Matthew and his friends had just received a new life, and they needed to know how to-relate that life to the old truths of the Jewish faith.

a. the old and the new do not function together.

b. 2 Cor. 5:17, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old-things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

B. Jesus' ministry was one of transformation.

1. The Pharisees were conformers, and John the Baptist was a reformer.

2. Jesus came to bring the new, not to patch up the old!

a. transformation comes from the inside out, the result of new life within, not force without.

b. illus: Wilson Shepherd and becoming a Christian

c. religion may patch up a few weak spots in your life, but it cannot give you new life that transforms ... that can only come from Christ.

3. When Christ comes into your life, it is not a temporary thing that will vanish at the next crisis.

a. the patches on the garment was satisfactory until it got dirty and needed to be washed... then it fell apart.

b. the wine was safe in the old skins until the gas began to form and the pressure increased ... then it was torn open.

c. Salvation is not partial, temporary, or mixed... salvation in Christ changes us for eternity.

Jesus taught us that it was necessary to trade-in the old for the new. Why would we be satisfied with the sickness when we could be healthy, with death when we could have life, with sorrow when we could have joy.

Jesus came to transform our lives. Will we come to Him today and receive the new life in Christ that He offers freely to those who will place their faith in Him?

- Are you sick spiritually? Let Jesus meet your need.
- Do you lack joy and happiness in your life? Jesus can bring joy unspeakable and full of glory.
- Has your life been changed/transformed by Him? It Is the only thing that will last throughout eternity.