By All Means Save Some

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1 Corinthians 9:20-22

And to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law…

I. WHY IS THIS PASSION FOR SAVING OTHERS IMPLANTED IN THE BREASTS OF THE SAVED? For God's glory.

(1) It is greatly to the glory of God that He should use humble instruments for the accomplishment of His grand purposes. When Quintin Matsys had executed a wonderful well-cover in iron, it was the more notable because he had little more than his hammer.

(2) It brings glory to God also that He should take us sinful men and make us partakers of His compassionate and loving nature. That an angel should cleave the air to perform his message is simple enough, but that a Saul, an enemy of Christ, should live and die for the winning of souls to Jesus, is a memorable illustration of the grace of God.

(3) In this way the Lord gets great glory over the Arch-enemy, for He can say to Satan, "I have defeated thee, not by the sword of Michael, but by the words and prayers of My humble servants." Then is the enemy smitten in the house of his former friends. Satan desired to sift Peter as wheat, but Peter sifted him in return on the day of Pentecost.

2. For the church's good. The passion for winning souls —

(1) Expends the Church's energy in a healthy manner. There is a certain quantity of steam generated in the community, and if we do not let it off in the right way, it will blow up and do infinite mischief. Talents unused are sure to rust, and this kind of rust is a deadly poison to peace, an acrid irritant which eats into the heart of the Church.

(2) Draws forth the strength of the Church, awakens her latent energies, and arouses her noblest faculties. Many a commonplace man has been rendered great by being thoroughly absorbed by a noble pursuit, and what can be nobler than turning men to Christ?

(3) Knits us together. I have been blest of God to the salvation of my hearer, but that hearer was first brought here by a friend, and so we become sharers in the joy. And, moreover, when new converts are brought into the Church, the fact that they are brought in by instrumentality tends to make their fusion with the Church an easy matter.

3. For the good of the individual possessing it.

(1) It makes us Godlike.

(2) It provides a vent for love to God as well as to men. Loving God makes us sorrow that all men do not love Him too.

(3) It revives our first love. When I see an inquirer penitent for sin, I recollect the birthday of my own soul.

(4) It strengthens faith. If you begin to doubt the gospel's power, go to work among the poor and ignorant.

(5) It draws forth all the faculties of a man. One strong passion will frequently bring the whole man into play, like a skilful minstrel whose hand brings music from every chord. If we love others, we shall become wise to attract them, and discover in ourselves talents which else had been hidden in the ground.

(6) It gives the highest joys beneath the stars.

II. HOW DOES THIS PASSION EXERCISE ITSELF? Differently in different persons, and at different periods.

1. By tender anxiety. The moment a man is saved he begins to be anxious about his relatives, and that anxiety leads him at once to pray for them.

2. In the intense joy exhibited when news reaches us of their conversion.

3. In private efforts, sacrifices, prayers, and agonies for the spread of the gospel. A word may often bless those whom a sermon fails to reach, and a personal letter may do far more than a printed book.

4. In the more public agencies of the Church.

5. In adapting ourselves to the condition and capacity of others for their good. Paul became a Jew to the Jews. He did not preach against Judaism, but showed them Jesus as the fulfiller of its types. When he met with a heathen he did not revile the gods, but taught him the true God. He did not carry about with him one sermon for all places, but adapted his speech to his audience. If you have to talk to children, be children, and do not expect them to be men. If you have to comfort the aged, enter into their infirmities, and do not speak to them as if they were still in the full vigour of life. Are you called to labour among the educated? Then choose out excellent words. Do you work among the illiterate? Speak their mother tongue. Are you cast among people with strange prejudices? Do not unnecessarily jar with them, but take them as you find them. All men are not to be reached in the same way, or by the same means.

III. WHY IS NOT THIS PASSION MORE LARGELY DEVELOPED AMONG CHRISTIANS? Is it not that we have but very little grace? That is the fountain of all the mischief. But to come to particulars.

1. One-sided views of gospel doctrines. "God will save His own." Yes, but His own do not talk in that fashion; they do not say, "Am I my brother's keeper?" Since idleness wants an excuse, men dare to abuse this sacred truth to stultify their consciences.

2. Worldliness. Men are too fond of gain to care for saving souls.

3. Want of faith. Men do not believe that God will bless their efforts, and therefore they make none.

4. Want of sympathy with God.

IV. HOW CAN THIS PASSION BE MORE FULLY AROUSED?

1. By our obtaining a higher life. I do not believe in a man's trying to pump himself up beyond his level. The man must be up, and then all that comes out of the man will have risen. If love to God glows in your soul, it must show itself in your concern for others.

2. By full cognisance of men's misery and degradation. How differently one feels after seeing with one's own eyes the poverty, filth, and vice of this city. Your fellow-countrymen are living in neglect of your Saviour, and in jeopardy of their immortal souls; if you did but realise this it would quicken you by all means to save some.

3. By a sense of our own solemn obligations. If we are what we profess to be, we are redeemed by the heart's blood of the Son of God; do we not owe something to Christ for this?

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