God's Great Grace - Part 4

For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard (Matthew 20:1).

There is a single point to The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard - God’s great grace shown toward us. There are, however, several truths that can be gleaned from this parable.

1.    As Charles Spurgeon said, “Salvation is all of God.” God is the Sovereign Lord over all creation and over all of salvation. Salvation is His, not ours. Well did King David say, Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit (Psalm 51:12). Salvation is God’s investment of grace in our lives, not our possession to have or to lose, or to do with as we please.

2.    God sets the standard and terms for salvation. He calls and chooses whom He calls and chooses, when He calls and chooses, and where He calls and chooses. The landowner came to the marketplace and chose those who were wanting to work.

3.    God’s call to salvation is continuous - He continues to call people to faith in Jesus Christ. Some He calls early, others He calls in time, still others He calls late in life. But every generation receives the calling of God to be saved.

4.    God saves all who are willing to be saved. The men in the marketplace were willing to work, so the landowner hired them. The rich young man was not willing to be saved, so the Lord left him. All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out . . . This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day (John 6:37,39).

5.    God is gracious and merciful, even to those who have no resources or hope. He reaches out to those who know they are in need, just as the landowner reached out to the poor workers at the marketplace who were looking for work. Even when they knew no one would hire them, he hired them. When anyone comes to the Lord Jesus Christ knowing he has no other hope of eternal life, the Lord will be gracious and merciful to call that one to the Kingdom.

6.    All who are saved minister in the Kingdom. This is the verifiable truth of salvation. All whom the landowner called to work in the vineyard went to work in the vineyard. There was no call to be a slacker - there is only a call to be a laborer in the harvest. You will know them by their fruits (Matthew 7:16). You will know a Christian by the service he gives to the Lord.

“Lord Jesus, how deep and high are Your truths. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit who gives us understanding as we meditate upon Your Word. Such blessedness is ours through Your wisdom and knowledge imparted to us. Bless Your holy name. Amen.”

Pastor