Lucas 16:16

DISCOURSE: 1548
PRESSING INTO THE KINGDOM

Lucas 16:16. The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.

WHEREVER the Gospel is preached with fidelity and earnestness, the places of worship are, for the most part, well attended. And this is often made a ground of joyful congratulation. But if, instead of comparing the attendance of persons at such places of worship with that which is seen at other Churches, we were to compare it with what took place at the first introduction of Christianity, we should see in it nothing but an occasion of shame and sorrow. Under the law and the prophets, that is, during the Mosaic dispensation, there was but little of preaching: but when John, the forerunner of our Lord, came, he preached much and often; and so powerful were his ministrations, that persons of all ranks and orders pressed into that kingdom, which he sought and laboured to establish. Let us then, for our humiliation, consider,

I. The effects of John’s preaching—

“He preached the kingdom of God”—
[By “the kingdom of God” I understand, the kingdom of the Messiah, or the reign of Christ in the world and in the heart. He declared that Christ was come: and he pointed him out to the people as “that very Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world.” He called men to repentance, and to an acknowledgment of the Saviour, by being baptized in his name; and announced that as the sure and only way of obtaining the remission of their sins [Note: Lucas 3:3.] — — —]

Immediately, such was the impression on all descriptions of persons, that “every one pressed into it”—
[Most surprising was the effect of his ministrations. Persons flocked from every quarter, to be baptized of him. Pharisees and Sadducees, distant as they were from each other in their principles, equally felt the power of his word, and came to be baptized of him. Nay, all Jerusalem, and all Judζa, and all the region round about Jordan, were so wrought upon, that they actually submitted to his baptism, making public confession of their sins [Note: Mateus 3:5.]. They sought instruction also from him, every one (soldiers, publicans, and the people generally) being willing and desirous to approve his sincerity before God, by abandoning all the evils to which he had been particularly prone, and by practising those duties which would most adorn his holy profession [Note: Lucas 3:10.]. Many of them, it is to be feared, went back afterwards: but such, at the time, was the power of the Gospel as ministered by him.]

Let us compare with this,

II.

The effect of Gospel ordinances in our day—

We preach the kingdom of God, even as he did—
[Our blessed Lord commanded, that “repentance and remission of sins should be preached among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem [Note: Lucas 24:47.]:” and the Apostles obeyed this injunction, preaching this doctrine to the Jews first [Note: Atos 5:31.], and afterwards to the Gentiles [Note: Atos 20:21.]. The same injunction, also, do we obey. You yourselves will bear us witness, that the great subject of all our ministrations is, “repentance towards God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.” Yea, like St. Paul, “we have determined to know nothing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified [Note: 1 Coríntios 2:2.]. We proclaim the Lord Jesus to be “King in Zion:” we call upon you to submit yourselves to him: we declare that “his blood was shed for the sins of the whole world [Note: 1 João 2:2.];” and that “all who believe in him shall be justified from all things, from which they could not be justified by the law of Moses [Note: Atos 13:38.].” In this respect we have even the advantage of John the Baptist: for he could only proclaim what the Lord Jesus should do; whereas we declare to you what he has done — — —]

And what is the effect of our ministrations?

[Do we see every one pressing into this kingdom? I had almost asked, Where we do see any one pressing into it as he ought? Alas! the word which we preach, “comes,” to the generality, “in word only, and not in power:” with many it is regarded only as “a cunningly-devised fable:” with many who approve of it, it has no practical effect: they are pleased with it only “as with the melody of one who plays well upon an instrument [Note: Ezequiel 33:31.]:” and, of those who feel somewhat of its power, how few press into the kingdom with that earnestness which becomes them! Look and see around; are there any “flocking unto the Lord, as doves to their windows [Note: Isaías 60:8.]?” Where do we find people “pressing,” as it were, through all the obstacles which the world, the flesh, and the devil, can lay in their way, and “counting all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus their Lord [Note: Filipenses 3:8.]?” Let the state of our auditors in general be viewed, and there is reason to weep over them with floods of tears. And let even the more approved amongst us be brought to the test of Scripture experience, and of by far the greater number we must “stand in doubt, whether Christ be indeed as yet truly formed in them [Note: Gálatas 4:19.].”]

Address—
1.

Those who are but little influenced by what they hear—

[Ah! how many of you are of this description! And are you content that it shall be always thus? Will you still hold fast the delusion that you shall win the race without running, and gain the victory without fighting? If success be not the portion of those who so demean themselves in relation to earthly things, how can you imagine it will in reference to heavenly things? Will it be no matter of regret to you in a dying hour, that you have been so supine and careless? or, if Satan be permitted to blind you then, will it be no grief to you when you shall open your eyes in the eternal world? O awake from your stupor: and “to-day, whilst it is called today, harden not your hearts, lest God should swear, in his wrath, that you shall never enter into his rest [Note: Hebreus 3:7.].”]

2. Those who feel some desire to enter into the kingdom—

[I thank God, if there be in any of you a good desire. But did you never hear what our blessed Lord has said, that “many shall seek to enter into the kingdom, and not be able [Note: Lucas 13:24.].” How comes this? They seek, with good desires; but they do not strive with the full bent and determination of their hearts. But this is necessary, indispensably necessary, to the attainment of God’s heavenly kingdom. The pursuit of it must be regarded by you as “the one thing needful [Note: Lucas 10:42.].” It must be entered upon with the same spirit as David manifested, when he said, “One thing have I desired of the Lord, which I will seek: after [Note: Salmos 27:4.].” You must engage in it “with all your might [Note: Eclesiastes 9:10.]:” and, instead of ever looking upon your attainments with complacency, or feeling yourselves at liberty to relax your ardour, you must, with Paul, “forget what is behind, and reach forward to that which is before, and press towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus [Note: Filipenses 3:13.].” There must be “no looking back, after you have once put your hand to the plough [Note: Lucas 9:62.];” “no weariness in well-doing [Note: Gálatas 6:9.]:” you must “endure unto the end, if ever you would be saved [Note: Mateus 10:22.]:” and, like the manslayer, never rest a moment, till you enter the gates of the heavenly city [Note: Números 35:11.]