Sermon Outline

Investing in Eternity

Charles F. Stanley

Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:1-8; 1 John 2:1-2

I. Introduction: Financial markets rise and fall, but investing in a person’s soul guarantees a good return. One day, everyone will stand before the Lord for judgment. Those who received Christ in this life will live with Him eternally. People who rejected the Lord will forever be separated from Him. As we lead others into a close relationship with Jesus Christ, we make an eternal investment in their lives.

II. We should share the gospel because God desires that we do.

A. The Father wants all men to be saved (1 Tim. 2:4).

• The message the world needs to hear is that God desires to rescue all people from sin and make them new creations in Christ. Notice that God wants everyone to be saved. No one is excluded (1 John 2:2; John 3:16; 2 Peter 3:9).
• Believers from each tribe, tongue, and nation will be represented in heaven (Rev. 5:9). You and I have a responsibility to share the good news with all people.

B. The Father also "wants all men . . . to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:4 NIV).

• After we become God’s children, He wants us to continually learn biblical truths and grow closer to Him. For one thing, spiritual growth makes us more effective at sharing the gospel with others.
• For example, one of our church deacons had been involved in organized crime before he became a Christian. After he received Jesus into His life, this man passionately applied himself to learning the Word and became an effective prison evangelist.

III. The gospel is God’s provision for sinful mankind.

• People often rationalize their mistakes and wrongdoing by deciding that they are not as sinful as others—or that their good deeds outweigh the bad. But according to the Bible, all of us have rebelled against our Creator (Rom. 3:23) and can be saved only through faith in Christ (Eph. 2:8-9).
• Because of God’s holy nature, He cannot commune with humanity in its sinful state. The only way we enter into a saving relationship with the Father and find eternal life is through Christ, the mediator between God and man (1 Tim. 2:5-6). Our Savior’s death made it possible for anyone to become a child of God (1 Peter 3:18).
• God’s intent was not only to rescue us from the guilt of sin but also to free us from its penalty, power, and––when we get to heaven––its very presence.

IV. God has commissioned us to share the gospel with the world.

• Believers are to be like salt and light wherever we go (Matt. 5:13-16). Light drives away the darkness, and salt changes the flavor of food. At work, at home, and at play, our presence should make a difference.
• Seek to reach out to neighbors, coworkers, and relatives who don’t know Jesus. If you aren’t allowed to talk about your faith at work, you can still live in such a way that other people wonder why you have peace in the midst of life’s difficulties.
• Ask God for opportunities to share your testimony. I guarantee He will open doors for you.
• Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would give us power to share the gospel in our city, our nation, and around the world (Acts 1:8-9; Matt. 28:19-20). Even if you and I are not called to serve God abroad, we should participate in the Great Commission by praying, giving financially, and supporting missionaries in other ways (Mark 16:15).

V. Conclusion: The best way to invest in eternity is to share the gospel. Nothing is more fulfilling than seeing a friend or loved one come to a saving knowledge with Jesus Christ. Your blessing will be two-fold: you will experience the joy of playing a role in that person’s salvation, and you will earn heavenly rewards at the same time. The wisest and most enduring investment you can make is the one that affects a person’s eternal destiny with Christ.