(The following is a sermon that was preached at the campgrounds at the Aaron's 499 @ Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday May 4th 2014. It is geared toward NASCAR fans but could be adapted to fit many situations. It is a simple description of the salvation process.)
The Greatest Victory Of All Time
Romans 10:13 whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
It is such and honor to be asked to speak to you. I have been very excited about this great opportunity to preach here today.
If I could do what I wanted to do with my life, I would be a NASCAR Chaplain! That way I could still serve the Lord and go the Race every week! I love this sport and I love being around the fans of this sport. And it is great to be here with you. In just a little while the National anthem will be sung, the jets will fly over and someone will say those words “Drivers start your engines”
And at that point the 43 greatest drivers in the world are going to begin a 500 mile battle to win the Aaron’s 499. EACH MAN OUT THERE WANTS THAT VICTORY! If I asked you what was the greatest NASCAR victory of all time you would all probably have a different answer. There are several that always come to mind:
1979 Daytona 500 - Richard Petty talking the win while Cale Yarbrough & Bobby & Donnie Allison were fighting in the infield.
1998 Daytona 500 - After 20 years Dale Earnhardt finally won the 500.
2003 Darlington - Kurt Busch & Ricky Craven crossing the finish line at the same time and Busch winning by 2 one thousandths of a second.
1994 Indianapolis - Jeff Gordon winning the inaugural Brickyard 500.
2000 Talladega - On October 15th 2000 Dale Earnhardt went from 18th to first in 4 laps to win his final race.
Outside of NASCAR…in life there is one victory that is greater than any other. And that is the victory that Christ secured over death Hell & the grave.
Because of man’s sinfulness we were separated from God. We could not get to God so as a result He came to us. - John 3:16 tells us that “God loved us so much that He sent His only Son to save us”.
Let me give you a brief overview of His life:
Jesus was born of a virgin
Lived a sinless life
Performed many miracles
Gave sight to the blind
Made the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak
One night He stilled the raging storm with the words “peace be still”
He fed 5,000 men with a little boy’s lunch
He Fulfilled the prophecies
He was rejected by many - “He come unto His own and His own received Him not” - John 1:11 - But some did receive Him - “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” - John 1:12
As a result of the rejection that He faced He was arrested.
He was falsely tried and convicted.
Then He was scourged and crucified.
He faced the horrific death of a Roman crucifixion.
They stripped Him
They and put a scarlet robe on him.
They jammed a “Crown of thorns” on His head
They put a reed in His hand and then bowed before Him and cried “Hail, King of the Jews”
They spat on Him
They plucked His beard
Then they forced Him to carry His cross to the execution site.
Once at Calvary they nailed Him to the cross.
After several agonizing hours on the Cross Jesus died.
But three days later HE VICTORIOUSLY WALKED OUT OF THAT TOMB and He lives forever more!
That my friend is the “Greatest Victory of All Time” His purpose for coming to this earth was to provide victory for you and me.
He said Himself - Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
There will be one man who will stand in Victory Lane today. But after the “Big One” there may be some who leave Talladega today with a DNF. And that is the last thing these 43 men want.
Friend, if you have never been saved you are facing an eternity in a lake of fire. Hell is real and it is eternal! But because of what Jesus accomplished at Calvary… YOU CAN EXPERIENCE THE GREATEST VICTORY OF ALL TIME for yourself!
Romans 10:13 whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
I. The Potential For Salvation – “whosoever”
A. The Opportunity
“Whosoever” means ALL - There are no exceptions! 2 Peter 3:9 ¶The Lord is…. “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
“Whosoever” means ANY! - No one is excluded....“Whosoever” means anybody! ...“Whosoever” means YOU!
A man was reading his Bible when a man passing by stopped and said, “That book isn’t for you.”
“Indeed it is.” ...“How do you know?” ...“My name is in it!” “Where?” ...“Why right here,” and he began to read loudly John 3:16 until he came to the word “whosoever,” and then slowly spelled it out, and then he concluded his remarks by “There it is IT IS FOR ME!!!”
B. The Obstacle - If you refuse to “call upon the name of the Lord” you cannot receive salvation!
I wish I could make this deeper but it is common sense!
We are told in Ephesians 2:8 that salvation is “a gift of God” it is free to all but can’t be received unless you accept it!
Rick Hendrick owns the race team that is here at the track today, but he also owns car dealerships all across the country. In fact he has one just over in Birmingham. If he came to you today and offered you a free car you would not turn him away and say …”no thanks, I don’t really want one”
Jesus is offering deliverance of sins and eternal life but many refuse to accept this gift! Friend, “Whosoever” means you and you can be saved today! ….We have seen “the who”, now let’s see the how. Notice:
II. The Process Of Salvation - “shall call upon the name of the Lord”
Salvation comes by simply crying out to God in humble repentance and faith.Many people believe that they must work to earn their salvation!. Many people believe that they must work to keep their salvation.
Your works will not do it! Look the preceding verses to prove this fact - Romans 10:9 … if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 for the scripture saith, whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Here is the process of salvation: - Admit that you are a sinner, Understand that you are condemned before God to die, Believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for you, Believe that He rose from the grave, Trust Him! Call out to Him! Repent of your sins, Surrender your life to Him!
Jesus says that if you do this …YOU WILL BE SAVED!!! The potential for salvation is clear, we have seen the process, now let us examine:
III. The Person Of Salvation – “the Lord”
The Bible tells us in - Acts 4:12 neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Jesus makes it clear that He is the only way to Heaven - John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
The Person Of Our Salvation is “The Lord & Savior Jesus Christ!” Only through Jesus can mankind receive the forgiveness of sins....By Christ all that believe in Him, are justified from all things!
IV. The Promise Of Salvation – “shall be saved”
This verse doesn’t say might be, can be, or hope to be saved. It says SHALL BE SAVED!
1) We have eternal salvation because of the blood that secures it
2) We have security because of the Book that assures it.
Are you trying to work your way to heaven? Consider what D.L Moody Said:The thief on the cross had nails through both hands, so that he could not work a nail through each foot, so that he could not run errands for the Lord; he could not lift a hand or a foot toward his salvation, and yet Christ offered him the gift of God; and he took it. Christ gave him a passport, and took him into Paradise.
Before I close I want you to grasp just a few things:
1. Every human is a sinner - Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
2. God's penalty for sin is death - Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death…
3. In His great love, God has made provision for the salvation of sinners - Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
4. Each person must put his trust in God's Son, Jesus Christ - Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
That my friend is the process of salvation. That is how you can gain “the greatest victory of all time”
• Can I tell you that Jesus knows who you are and you are special to Him?
In 1993 I was at an event with several race car drivers. Morgan Shepherd. Darrell Waltrip, Kyle & Richard Petty, Ernie Irvin and many others were there. When it came time for everyone to leave there were security guards that came to escort the drivers to their vehicles. I was sitting with Ted Musgrave. It was early in his career and his first year driving for Jack Roush. When the escort came to him he said “that’s fine, I don’t need an escort… nobody really knows who I am”
Today, you may feel insignificant and you feel like you don’t matter. Friend, this world may not know your name but Jesus does and He may be calling you to salvation today! If that is the case, I hope you will answer that call and receive “The Greatest Victory Of All Time.
