Sermon Outlines

By Frederick F. Schwindt, Evangelist

IMMORTAL DECISIONS

1. National decisions:
   1. Abraham Lincoln and the slavery question.
   2. Franklin D. Roosevelt and World War II.
   3. Harry S. Truman and the Atomic Bomb.
2. Personal decisions:
   1. Moses and the throne of Egypt - Heb. 11:24
   2. The rich young ruler - Matt. 19:16-22

1. "I have chosen the way of truth":
   1. There are but two ways to choose from - Matt. 7:13, 14
   2. Both are open to our own free choice - Deut. 30:15; Josh. 24:15
   3. The false way appeals to the natural mind more than the narrow way -- less inconvenience and more company - Matt. 7:13; but it is the way that will lead to destruction -
      1. Cain and Abel - Gen. 4
      2. Esau and Jacob - Gen. 25
      3. Ruth and Orpah - Ruth 1:16-18
      4. Matthew and the young ruler - Matt. 9; 19:16-22
2. To choose God's way necessitates:
   1. Forsaking our own way - Isa. 55:7
   2. Complete self-denial - Matt. 16:24
3. "Thy judgments have I laid before me":
   1. That means that we will keep our eyes upon God's road map, the Bible - Josh. 1:7, 8; Ex. 32:8; 2 Tim. 3:15-17
   2. That, in turn, means that we give up the traditions of men - Jer. 6:16; Ps. 1:1-6; Mark 7:7-13
   3. This constitutes one of the severest tests of discipleship to Christ because the inherited traditions of our fathers seem to be a part of our very life - EXAMPLES -
      1. Saul of Tarsus - Gal. 1:14
      2. Martin Luther and the Reformation.
      3. My own personal experience.
   4. To break loose from all of it is a miracle itself.
4. "I have stuck unto thy testimonies":
   1. That indicates the constant danger of being tempted to forsake the testimonies of the Lord.
   2. We are warned to beware of last day deceptions - Matt. 24:24; 2 Thess. 2:9-11
   3. Many, many stick to spiritual spider webs - Isa. 59:5, 6; Job 8:13, 14
5. "I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart":
   1. This shows that when people refuse to accept light and truth, it is because their prejudice has closed their minds to the truth.
   2. Enlargement of the heart will mean that our concept of truth has been widened; we have an open mind for more light - John 16:12, 13
   3. This involves a change of heart; it is a new experience -- one might call it the new birth - Ezek. 36:26-28. Examples of persons that received enlargement of heart -
      1. Saul of Tarsus - Acts 9:6
      2. The Jailer - Acts 16:31-33
      3. The Samaritan woman - John 4:22-29

1. Salvation is based upon our own personal decision:
   1. Moses had to decide for himself what he must do - Heb. 11:24-28
   2. The thief on the cross had to make his own decision. No living person ever suggested to him to set his hope in the crucified Christ - Luke 23:42-44
   3. Ruth the Moabitess had to make a personal decision. No one encouraged her to go with her mother-in-law.
2. When we decide on the question of salvation:
   1. We make an immortal decision; it is effective in all eternity.
   2. In this no one can or ought to make the decision for us.
   3. How solemn, and yet how rewarding, is the decision to walk on the way of truth!
   4. It will decide our eternal destiny!
   5. Friends, have you made your eternal decision?