Two Men Living; Two Men Dying; Two Men Dead

The Sunday morning message, on our annual Friend Day with 270 in attendance, was brought by senior pastor Dr. Larry Crawford: "Two Men Living ... Two Men Dying ... Two Men Dead."

We stood for opening prayer and the opening Bible reading of God's word taken from Luke 18:9-14.

9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for everyone that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

"We are so glad that you are here today on our annual Friend Day! Now we all like to have fun, and we think that of all the places in this world where you ought to be able to go and smile, laugh, and relax ... it ought to be down at the local church house. Of all the places you ought to be able to go and feel at home and welcomed ... is down at The House of the Lord. This morning, we have had a lot of singing, and had a few 'commercials'... but I only have a limited time left and I need your undivided attention for the next several minutes ... as this might be the most important 20 to 30 minutes of your life."

"Three sets of men. First, we will examine the Two Men Living. The Bible in verse 9, says that Jesus chose the story of these two living men because of the crowd he was preaching to that day. There are other sermons I could have preached today, but the Lord wouldn't let me. This is the one he wanted preached today. Why? Because he knows the crowd I am preaching to!"

"A Pharisee and a Publican. The only two types of people Jesus had to deal with back then. First there is the Pharisee group: You can't convince God of OTHERS' sins -- He knows better. And you'll never convince God of your goodness -- He knows better. Then there is the Publican group: all you can do is agree and come clean with God!"

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death: but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 3:19 ... That every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

"Too many times, people have the opinion that they won't ever go to a church, or go again, because: 'there are too many holier-than-thou, religious people down there.' So let me set the matter straight right from the start. There is no place for that kind of Baptist down here at FBCP! There are but two kinds of people in here today ... just like in Jesus' day ... Pharisees and sinners! And you are either one or the other! And being one will keep you from ever being the other. It's all a matter of coming clean about your dirtiness!"

Luke 23:39 - 43:39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.

"Second, Two Men Dying. The setting is, of course, the Crucifixion of Jesus. If you read verses 32-38 first, then stop and listen to what the other New Testament writers had to say, you'll find an interesting turn of events."

Matthew 27:44: The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.

Mark 15:32: Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him.

"And as there are no mistakes in this Bible, these two dying men, had to come clean about their own dirtiness ... and cling to Jesus' deeds - and not their own. Or else. Either Jesus pays for your sins, or you do." (See Luke 23:39-43 above.)

"In saying Lord remember me, the thief was repenting of his sin and accepting Jesus on His WORD, and that is called faith. Jesus didn't say, well OK, get baptized, and then we will talk. Or, here take my communion and then you will be saved. Or, here join my church. Or most foolish of all, hope your good deeds outweigh your bad at the end of your life. Salvation is not based on what you have done, or will do ... ever; but upon what Jesus has already done for you!"

"Third, Two Men Dead. "

Luke 16:19 - 31:19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. 27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: 28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

"Folks, I want you to grasp one main point about these two dead men this morning. (Like the two men living, and the two men dying) somewhere, sometime, they should have come to grips with their own dirtiness, and cast off their deeds (showed their repentance and faith) and made a decision before their death, because once you have left this world and passed into eternity your destination to one of two places is a done deal!"

"Yesterday and today ... tragedy in Paris with over 300 injured, with close to 100 critically injured ... as they talked on the news of the 129 who died so unexpectedly. But death is to everyone unexpected. There are scores and scores of people I know of who planned on making a midnight conversion, live my life as I please for most of it, but then died at 11:59. Please don't be one of them! Today is the day of Salvation."

All Bible verses quoted above are from the King James Version of the Holy Scriptures.

FREE Thanksgiving Dinner for the community, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015, in the Family Life Center, from noon to 5 p.m. Don't spend Thanksgiving alone.

If you have no church home of your own, we would love for you to join us (off the northeast corner of Pineville square, just behind U.S. Bank) in ours. No friendlier, down home church can be found anywhere in the four-state area.