THE BASIS FOR SACRIFICE
Romans 5:6-8
INTRODUCTION: Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation’s service.
There are many stories as to its actual beginnings, with over two dozen cities and towns laying claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day. There is also evidence that organized women’s groups in the South were decorating graves before the end of the Civil War: a hymn published in 1867, "Kneel Where Our Loves are Sleeping" by Nella L. Sweet carried the dedication "To The Ladies of the South who are Decorating the Graves of the Confederate Dead"
While Waterloo N.Y. was officially declared the birthplace of Memorial Day by President Lyndon Johnson in May 1966, it’s difficult to prove conclusively the origins of the day. It is more likely that it had many separate beginnings; each of those towns and every planned or spontaneous gathering of people to honor the war dead in the 1860’s tapped into the general human need to honor our dead, each contributed honorably to the growing movement that culminated in Gen Logan giving his official proclamation in 1868.
It is not important who was the very first, what is important is that Memorial Day was established. Memorial Day is not about division. It is about reconciliation; it is about coming together to honor those who gave their all.
Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.
The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states.
The South refused to acknowledge the day, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War I (when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war). It is now celebrated in almost every State on the last Monday in May.
In 1915, inspired by the poem "In Flanders Fields," Moina Michael replied with her own poem:
We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.
She then conceived of an idea to wear red poppies on Memorial day in honor of those who died serving the nation during war. She was the first to wear one, and sold poppies to her friends and co-workers with the money going to benefit servicemen in need.
TRANSITION: Memorial Day remembers the sacrifices of those who have served our country. Those who have sacrificed everything for the freedoms you and I have today.
In order to accomplish this, to pay the ultimate price, to sacrifice, – there needs to be a basis for sacrifice. Several distinctives need to be evident:
1. There needs to be a genuine need.
2. There needs to be a dire consequence if we remain passive.
3. There needs to be a positive outcome or benefit.
4. There needs to be fundamental support.
5. There needs to be a desire to help.
I JESUS HAD A BASIS FOR HIS SACRIFICE
A There was a genuine need
1 God’s Creation was in trouble
Genesis 3:11 And he said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?"
Genesis 3:19 By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return."
2 Man had sinned
3 Death had entered into the world
Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned--
B There was a dire consequence
1 Separation from God now
Genesis 3:23 So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken.
Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
2 Daily slavery to our sin nature
Romans 8:5-8 Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace;
7 the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.
8 Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.
3 Eternal consequences
a Judgment from God
b Eternity in hell
Revelation 20:15 If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
C There was a positive result
1 Man can be free from sin
2 Man can be justified before God
3 Man can spend eternity in heaven
2 Corinthians 5:21
21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Galatians 4:4-5 But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law,
5 to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.
Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
John 14:2-3 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
D There was foundational support
1 God was willing that none should perish
2 God was patient to wait
2 Peter 3:8-9 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
E There was a desire to help
1 Desire seen in His coming
2 Desire seen in his timing
3 Desire seen in His conditions
Galatians 4:4 But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law,
Romans 5:6-8 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
II Do We Have A Basis For Sacrifice?
A Is There A Need?
1 Men need the gospel
2 Women need the gospel
3 Children need the gospel
THERE IS A NEED BECAUSE GOD SAID THERE IS A NEED
John 4:35 Do you not say, ’Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.
Matthew 28:19-20 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
B Is There A Dire Consequence?
1 Man is under judgment already
2 Man is dead in his sins
3 Man is separated from God
4 Man is in danger of hell
John 3:16-18 (NIV)
16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Luke 16:22-23 "The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.
C Is There A Positive Result?
1 Man can be saved
2 Death can be conquered
3 Heaven can be assured
John 6:47 I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life.
1 Corinthians 15:55 "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"
John 14:2-3 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
D Is There Foundational Support
1 God’s Promise of His presence
2 God’s promise of His spirit
3 God’s promise of His power
Matthew 28:20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
John 14:16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever--
John 14:26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
John 15:26 "When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.
John 14:12I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
E Is There A Desire To Help?
1 Sadly, there is not
2 There is a desire to talk about the lost.
a We need this
b See how they are
c Isn’t that sad
3 There is a desire to complain about the church.
a If the church did this
b If the deacons did that
c If only the pastor would
d What about those teachers, huh
4 There is a desire to rationalize responsibility
a Our responsibility to our time
b Our responsibility to our talents
c Our responsibility to our treasure
d Our responsibility to our God!
5 There is a desire to squirrel away eternity
a Never tell my neighbors
b Never tell my family
c Content with my little piece of heaven
6 There is a desire to see it done, but not do it
a Look to others to do it for us
b Support missionaries to do it for us
c Hope the pastor will do it for us.
YET, IF WE DO NOT HAVE A COMPLETE ATTITUDE OF SACRIFICE:
THOSE THAT DO WILL NOT WANT TO STAY HERE
THOSE THAT DON’T WILL NEVER GET IT AND FALL BY THE WAYSIDE
SEED WITH NO SOIL WILL NEVER PROSPER
7 No desire to sacrifice means no basis for sacrifice
a Sacrifice is all or nothing
b Sacrifice is 100% -- anything less is in reality nothing
So this Memorial Day I am asking for your sacrifice before God!
I am asking you to get serious with God about having a burning desire to invite your neighbors to church, to talk to your friends about Jesus, to share the gospel by every means available.
This Memorial Day have a Desire for the Gospel.
Until we have a desire for the gospel, we will never sacrifice for the gospel.
