Sermon in summary by Birger Claesson: Inside or outside

When John was on the sea-swept island of Patmos, it does not say that he was there to celebrate a holiday or for some recreation, but he had been brought there with the intention that he would succumb to loneliness. He had been brought there because of his faith in Jesus Christ and for his testimony. But he who is saved can never be isolated. People try and have done it many times, but it is never possible to isolate a Christian. They are always in company, and you can deal with them however you want, so the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are always with you and in addition we each have our own angel with us.

On the Lord's day, that is, Sunday, John was allowed to look into the glory and see wonderful things, as well as what would happen in the future, which he was also allowed to write down so that we could have a part of it. (The Book of Revelation) Jesus let John see the final events of this age. He saw the millennium, he looked forward to the eternal Sabbath rest, when the saints who are finally saved would be home forever with God. But before this revelation ends, the Lord says to John: "Blessed are they that wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." Rev. 22:14.

I was preaching at a place some years ago, and in that meeting there were three sailors. Perhaps they were trying to amuse themselves in some way. As we were talking to each other, one of them said to me: — If you knew what kind of man you are talking to, you would get out of here at once. I am so dirty to the very core that neither soap nor lye can cleanse me.

He thought that he had said something very strong. I then answered him: — Perhaps you do not know yourself that you are speaking the perfect truth. Our Father in heaven knew long before you were born that you would grow up in such conditions, that you would become so dirty that neither soap nor lye could clean you. Therefore the Lord inspired a prophet to write down a Bible verse especially for you, and I would like to read it to you, if I may?

The man allowed me to do so and I then read Jer. 2:22: "Even if you wash yourself with lye and take much soap, your iniquity is still unclean before me, says the Lord GOD." Now he stopped laughing. He took his cap and went out with his companions.

A week later I had a meeting at another place. In the afternoon meeting a man came into the lobby and asked the janitor for help in getting a conversation with me, and I went out and met the same man to whom I had previously read the Bible verse. He then asked if I believed there was salvation for him, to which of course I answered in the affirmative. Soon he was on his knees weeping before Jesus, our Savior, crying out for cleansing and deliverance from sin. He experienced there that the spring that once flowed from Golgotha ​​could cleanse from all sin.

In Zechariah 13:1 it says: "At that time there shall be a well opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to wash away their sin and their uncleanness." The prophets looked forward to what we are living in today, the atonement in Jesus Christ. That well is open and there is liberation, there is a means of cleansing from all sin and evil desire. Here the one who is most deeply sunk in sin can come and be freed and saved from all the chains and bonds of sin. Yes, here is a means of deliverance from the bloodiest sins. The Lord says through the prophet Isaiah: "Come, let us reason together, says the Lord. If your sins are as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; if they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool." Isa. 1:18. Here is complete redemption and liberation from sin.

I wished that we could stop for a moment before Calvary, where our Savior, Jesus, hangs nailed and crucified for you and me. He became the great salvation, the salvation for all people. He became the great opportunity for purification and liberation, for reunion with God. He is the way that leads the human race out of darkness and hopelessness into light and joy and fellowship with God forever. He hangs there crowned with thorns, the blood flowing down his body.

One asks: Why this crown of thorns? The answer is: Because he could one day press the crown of life on your and my head. His ears are reached by mocking words, yes, his whole body is literally pierced by the arrows of hatred and mockery. One asks: Why? Because you and I, in the midst of this world of sin and godlessness, could hear the most wonderful words that can ever be spoken: "Your sins are forgiven you."

This is the most wonderful thing a person can experience in this world, where everything is going towards its dissolution and when everything in this time is about to collapse, when this whole world is shaking to its foundations. The night is approaching and we see, according to the prophetic word, that the great difficulties are coming one after another. In the midst of this hopeless world of collapse and misery, we can today hear the voice from above: "Your sins are forgiven you." It is the most wonderful thing a person can hear, as he weeps at the feet of the Master and acknowledges the finished work on Calvary. We are assured of the forgiveness of sins and that his name is written in heaven. There is nothing in the whole world that can bring such certainty and peace to man as the knowledge that we are citizens of the heavenly city with its solid foundations.

My friend, you need not stand outside in the night. God's warning goes out through the prophetic word and the events of the times. If you heed it and seek salvation, you need not fear and be seized by remorse and anguish or terror for what is to come. There is a way out of darkness and into the light. You have wonderful opportunities, if you bow down, give yourself unconditionally and acknowledge the work of Jesus on Calvary. Then the power of the Holy Spirit can seize you and you will be born again to a living hope. Then you can sing: "To heaven I go, where sin never reaches, a glorious land, there reigns eternal spring."

There are people who want to start a discussion, and they want to discuss the miracle of salvation. People often ask this question: "Is it really possible that a blood that flowed so many years ago in a place called Golgotha ​​can free from sin?" Faced with this, people shake their heads and think in their wisdom that it cannot be possible that a person in their inner world can experience liberation from the torment of conscience. It is possible! We should not discuss, but instead go directly to the word of God. Not through discussion, but by giving oneself completely to the powers of heaven and believing in the word of God, and if one is an honest seeker, one can be saved and experience that he who asks receives, he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it shall be opened.

We read further about John being given a glimpse into glory. There he saw the Lamb. He also saw people dressed in white robes, and he saw them holding palm branches in their hands, and he heard them cry out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb.” He also saw angels standing around the throne and around the elders. And the four living creatures fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God.

Then he heard one of the elders say to John, “These who are dressed in white robes, who are they, and where did they come from?”

The hour was filled with solemnity for John, and he did not dare to answer himself, but he turned to the elder and said, “You know.” Then the elder said, “These are those who came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”

In this place the Word of God tells us expressly that the blood that was shed on the cross of Calvary can cleanse men from all sin and give them the right to enter into glory when the night of the great tribulation breaks upon mankind. They have made themselves ready and made their garments white in the blood of the Lamb. Here, my friend, is your great opportunity to make yourself ready.

Some say that one should not frighten people, but beloved friend, the purpose is not to frighten people but that people should come to their senses and be saved. I have not heard anyone complain about S.J. for placing warning signs at railroad crossings for approaching trains. Nor have I heard that people have become afraid of the warning signs, but every wise and understanding person is grateful for them and observes them attentively. It happens now and then that one does not heed the warning signs in time and the result is premature death or irreparable damage to life. So it is with those who do not spiritually take warning from the message and the events of the times. They rush blindly away, shrug their shoulders and just say: "You are trying to scare us." The end is that they end up in eternal darkness and there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.

You will never be able to say that it is God who has cast you into eternal perdition, it is your own fault. You will never be able to say in eternity: "God did not warn me, God did not stop me." You will remember what has been said, it will stand before you as a warning from God and an opportunity from God for your salvation.

Now the warning cry goes out, but at the same time you also hear the message of salvation. Everyone who presses forward and washes their robes in the blood of the Lamb will also gain access to the world of glory. "Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. And it has been granted to her to be arrayed in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints."

My friend, these cries of warning, which go forth in time through prophecy and revelation, are for you to consider that now is the time, when it is truly time to prepare for the marriage of the Lamb. For, my friend, when the broom of the great tribulation sweeps over the earth, then we have gathered for the marriage in the land of heaven. Will you continue to answer no to the calling voice and reject him who gave his life in bloody death on Calvary?

Perhaps you say: "Not now, it does not suit me this time." You have answered so many times before. You have another opportunity, blessed are you if you let yourself be warned and step into the ark of salvation Jesus Christ.

Perhaps you will say no now also and say: Another time. This opportunity goes to the past and will never come again. If you neglect this, which may be your last, you will never be saved. You did not want to, you refused, the last opportunity came and the last opportunity passed, and you go away forever in darkness. What is your fault? You must then admit that it is you who have placed yourself outside in the eternal night.

Jesus stands with his pierced hand, knocks on the door of your heart and says: Let me enter your inner world and cleanse you from all sin. Then you will experience a glorious salvation. Did you understand your case, did you seize your opportunity now. Our task is to appeal to you on behalf of Christ: "Be reconciled to God."

God has revealed to us in his great mercy that this time of grace is soon to end. God has given man a free will to choose. You can choose heaven or eternal night. Will you be in heaven or stand outside and be lost forever? Now the spring that gushed up on Calvary when Jesus' heart broke in death is flowing. If you open your heart to him, you will be born again to a living hope and will have the right to eat from the tree of life and enter the city through its gates.

When the trumpet sounds and the voice of the archangel is heard and those who have fallen asleep in faith are raised, you will be changed into the likeness of Jesus and caught up with them to meet him in the air to be with him forever, because you were wise and let your soul be rescued in time 1 Thess. 4:13-18.