The Wednesday Word - 10MAY23 A.D.

 The Day Zacchaeus Got Saved. Part 4

by preacher D.G. Miles McKee

 

We cannot leave this remarkable story without considering the effect salvation had on Zacchaeus, the worst little man in the city.

6. A Magnificent Marvel
Verse 8, “And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.”
 
This was proof that something had happened to money-hungry Zacchaeus.  He made restitution.  However, making restitution wasn’t what saved him, but it demonstrated that he had been saved and turned around.  Get this clear, he was saved before he made restitution and the making of restitution didn’t add anything to his salvation.
 
First, he promised to give half of all he owned to the poor! Remember, that was the very stumbling block which the rich young ruler tripped over (see Matthew 19:16-30).  He was extremely rich and turned away from Christ at the thought of giving his money away … but Zacchaeus jumped at the chance to give half of his fortune to the poor. He’s been saved. He has a new God now!
 
By the way, he didn’t have to do that. There is nothing in the New Testament that says any Christian must give half their money to the poor when he gets saved. The gospel believer, however, will be a giver … a generous giver… but there’s nothing in the Bible to say that he has to give half his money away.
 
On his restitution, he went far beyond what was legally necessary. Only if robbery was a deliberate and violent act of destruction was fourfold restitution necessary (Exodus 22:1 ). Zacchaeus, however, was determined to do far more than the law demanded. He demonstrated by his deeds that the Lord had saved him.
 
Then he said, “… and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.” He announced he would pay back, 4-to-1 everyone he had cheated (probably on taxes). This is remarkable. 
 
So, did Zacchaeus get saved?
Here is our final point,
7. The Master’s Assurance!
 
Here is the confirmation of Zacchaeus’s salvation: “And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forasmuch as he also is a son of Abraham" … see Galatians 3:6-7 where it is very clear: “Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.” Zacchaeus had faith in Christ and was therefore a son of Abraham.
 
Jesus was fulfilling His ministry when dealing with Zacchaeus.  Here’s how the Master defined His ministry, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10).
Jesus sought for Zacchaeus.
Jesus found Zacchaeus.
Jesus Saved Zacchaeus.
When the Lord said, salvation is come to this house He was saying, “Zacchaeus, you are a saved man now! You have eternal life."
 
Wouldn’t you like to have Jesus say that to you?   Well, He does. He says it in the WORD.  “Oh no!” says someone, “I want more than the Bible, I want to hear a voice from heaven telling me I’m saved.”  But wait a minute … suppose I heard a voice from Heaven saying, “Miles McKee you’ve got salvation!” Wouldn’t that be great? No, it wouldn’t. That couldn’t be the basis of my security.  Why not?
Because there’s another Miles McKee.  In fact, I’ve known of 3 others.
 
So, to which one of the Miles McKee’s is the voice referring?
 
Do you see the problem?
Yet the problem disappears like smoke up the chimney when I offer the proof that I’ve got it! And my proof is not a voice from the skies, …my proof is written in black and white.
 
Here’s it is.
 
John 10:27-30, “I give unto them (My sheep) eternal life; and they shall never perish."
 
Here’s more good news. “though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow” (Isaiah 1:18).
He is alive.  His blood has secured us, His sacrifice has been accepted and He is alive forevermore (See also Hebrews 7:25; 1 Thessolonians 5:9-11, Isaiah 12:2; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 3:16-18).
 
It is in black and white. It is written down and if the Judge on that Judgment Morning denied my place in heaven (which He won’t) I would merely have to ask for a Bible and in humbleness show God in His own Word where He promised me redemption.
 
And that’s the Gospel Truth!