Summary: This is a basic Gospel message in a series leading up to Easter, through The Triumphal Entry and Passion. *HANDOUT INCLUDED*

Why Jesus Life and Death Was Necessary

What’s the big deal with Easter? Did Jesus really have to die?

Little boy who was explaining Easter and said, “And if Jesus sees his shadow when he comes out, we have six more weeks of winter.”

1. Problem: We naturally were headed for hell.

“You used to live just like the rest of the world, full of sin, obeying Satan... All of us used to live that way, following the passions and desires of our evil nature. We were born with an evil nature, and we were under God’s anger just like everyone else.” Ephesians 2:2-3

That phrase, “we were by nature children of wrath”. . . means that we were naturally living under the anger of God.

I’m not judging or condeming you, because I was no better. I was the same way!

Solution: Someone to take the anger of God on himself.

“In this act we see what real love is: it is not our love for God, but his love for us when he sent his Son to satisfy God’s anger against our sins.” (1 John 4:10)

2. Problem: We naturally ruin our lives.

I don’t have a text for this verse. . . I don’t have to prove this one by the Bible! Just look around you!

Divorce. . .

In the last 2 months, I’ve watched a family break up, hurting both husband and wife, because they were both too stubborn and proud. The 2 year old son is the one who gets hurt the worst!

Drug and alcohol addictions. . .

I’ve watched people dragged down by the little white power on the paper, or the smoke from the weed in their hand.

Anger. . .

Just a few weeks ago, I was called to a house where the husband had tried to strangle the wife. He couldn’t control his anger.

Gambling away the money that you need. . .

I’ve been to the Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, NJ. Donald Trump’s huge casino, and walked inside. They wouldn’t let me go into the actual gambling floor, because I was too young, but I could see the senior citizens, and other people I knew couldn’t afford it feeding the slots their hard-earned money.

Kids crying at home because they’re hungry. . .

I’ve gone to McDonald’s to get food for four little kids whose Mom had fooled around and whose dad wasn’t around. The only reason they were hungry is because of their Mom’s decisions – decisions not to wait until marriage, decisions not to get a job, etc.

Trashed relationships. . .

I’ve been in the home of a rich man, who was worth millions, and whose wife just left him recently. It’s not just poor people who naturally ruin their lives. . . everyone does.

Greed. . .

From the people who work 70 hours a week to the people who try to hit it big in the lottery, they’re all wasting their lives over something that they can’t take with them.

Carelessness with money. . .

I tried to help someone with financial counseling one time. They were making a very small amount per week. They were going to sell some items at a pawn shop to pay a bill. The next time we met, they had bought a cell phone that used up every bit of the money from the sale of the items, plus a week’s pay.

Jail time. . .

A couple years ago. . . John, a daddy of 5 kids who had just gotten out of drug rehab. We were thrilled, because he was in church Sunday AM. Three hours later, we got the call from his wife. John had told his son, “Jake, I think your mom is calling you.” Then he jumped in his work van, sold his painting equipment, and disappeared on a drug binge. Today, he’s doing time in jail.

Have you ever stood back and said, “What are they THINKING? Don’t they know they’re going to RUIN their lives?”

It’s not just out there. . .look in your own heart. Do you feel the potential there? Look at your life. . . is it what God intended when he created you, or is it something that you’ve messed up?

Solution: Someone to show us how to live.

"For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.” John 13:15

3. Problem: We naturally can’t do right.

“I don’t understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do the very thing I hate. When I want to do good, I don’t. And when I try not to do wrong, I do it anyway.” Romans 7:15, 19

There was a song a few years ago recorded by Tim McGraw that said:

Don’t know why I act the way I do,

Like I ain’t got a single thing to lose.

Sometimes, I’m my own worst enemy,

I guess that’s just the cowboy in me.

The heart of stone I sometimes get,

The things I’ve done for foolish pride,

The me that’s never satsified,

The face that’s in the mirror when I don’t like what I see.

I guess that’s just the cowboy in me.

Do you hear the conflict in this song? Do you hear the cry for help? Man, WHY do I act like this? Why did I say that? Why did I treat that person that way? Why did I insist on having it my own way? Why didn’t I speak gently? Why did I booze it up this weekend when I knew it would hurt those that I love the most? Why did I do those drugs?

Well, it’s not the cowboy in me or you! I can tell you what it is. You want to know why it’s hard to do the things that you know are right? The Bible says this:

“But I can’t help myself, because it is sin inside me that makes me do these evil things.” Romans 7:17

Malcom Muggeridge (author, etc), once was walking down a beach in India when he was on assignment. He saw a native woman swim out to a rock out in the water, and decided that this would be the day he would betray his wife and commit adultery. He jumped into the water and swam out to the rock. As he surfaced, and looked at the woman up close, he saw (to his horror) that she was a leper. He said later that his immediate thought was “What a disgusting woman!” But his conscience immediately said to him, “What a disgusting heart!”

One person put on their survey that I passed out a couple weeks ago this answer to the question: What would you ask Pastor Darrell if you could ask him any question? “How can I stop doing the things that are keeping me from being a real Christian?”

Solution: Someone to give us the power to change.

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.”John 1:12

The answer is this: You’ve got to ask God to change your heart. Sin in your heart has got to be removed. It will never do to live with that in your heart! You can’t just kind of co-exist. You might be “doing better” right now – and I’m glad you are. But it will get you again if you don’t ask God to forgive and change you!

I can preach “helpful” sermons with “how-to” steps, and I do that a lot to help you know what practical solutions the Bible has. . . but if you don’t take the ultimate solution, being TRULY CHANGED on the inside, I can’t help you in the long run!

GOOD NEWS!!!!!!!

Ken Davis’ story about the boy who was handicapped, and shouted “good news! Jesus love me!”

THIS IS WHY JESUS CAME!!! He came to save us from sin and from ourselves.

He loves you, and he doesn’t want you to live like that!

How Can I Take Advantage of Jesus’ death for me?

1. Believe that He died for me.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

2. Admit that I’m a sinner.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

3. Ask for forgiveness.

“You are God, Ready to pardon, Gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, Abundant in kindness...” Nehemiah 9:17

4. Change my mind about my sin.

"Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out...” Acts 3:19

5. Yield my life and receive Him as my own Savior.

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” John 1:12

To receive Jesus is to invite him and make him CEO of your life. He’s now the boss. . . He doesn’t just want to be resident, he wants to be PRESIDENT!

I am talking to three groups of people today:

1. Some of you have done this, and are living it as best you can today.

I’m proud of you! God is pleased with you.

2. Some of you have never done these 5 steps.

You know you need to, but you haven’t done it yet.

3. Some of you have done them, but you’ve been tripped up in the past few months.

You feel your need today of a patch up, a start over between you and God.

Pick which group you are in, and write a 1, 2, or 3 in the corner of your paper. You don’t have to show anyone else. I just want you to evaluate yourself.

If you’re part of group 2 or 3, I want to invite you to come to the front of the church, and by coming forward, you’re saying, “I know I need God’s forgivness, and I want to take those 5 steps – I want to be truly changed.”

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HANDOUT

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Why Jesus Life and Death Was Necessary

We’re in the time of year where we remember Jesus death and resurrection from the dead. Why did Jesus do it? Why was it necessary?

1. Problem: We naturally were headed for __________.

“You used to live just like the rest of the world, full of sin, obeying Satan... All of us used to live that way, following the passions and desires of our evil nature. We were born with an evil nature, and we were under God’s anger just like everyone else.” (Ephesians 2:2-3)

That phrase, “we were by nature children of wrath”. . . means that we were naturally living under the anger of God.

I’m not judging or condeming you, because I was no better. I was the same way!

Solution: Someone to take the anger of God on ____________.

“In this act we see what real love is: it is not our love for God, but his love for us when he sent his Son to satisfy God’s anger against our sins.” (1 John 4:10)

2. Problem: We naturally __________ our lives.

I don’t have a text for this verse. . . I don’t have to prove this one by the Bible! Just look around you:

Divorce. . . Drug and alcohol addictions. . .

Anger. . . Gambling. . .

Trashed relationships. . . Greed. . .

Carelessness with money. . . Jail time. . . and more!

Have you ever stood back and said, “What are they THINKING? Answer: They’re thinking of _____________________. It’s the natural human thing to do.

Solution: Someone to show us ________ to __________.

"For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.” (John 13:15)

3. Problem: We naturally can’t do ___________.

“I don’t understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do the very thing I hate. When I want to do good, I don’t. And when I try not to do wrong, I do it anyway.” Romans 7:15, 19

“But I can’t help myself, because it is sin inside me that makes me do these evil things.” (Romans 7:17)

Solution: Someone to give us the power to _____________.

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” (John 1:12)

How Can I Take Advantage of Jesus’ death for me?

1. Believe that He died for __________.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

2. Admit that I’m a ______________.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

3. Change my ___________ about my sin.

"Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out...” (Acts 3:19)

4. Ask for ________________.

“You are God, Ready to pardon, Gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, Abundant in kindness...” (Nehemiah 9:17)

5. Yield my life and ____________ Him as my own Savior.

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” (John 1:12)

To receive Jesus is to invite him and make him _______ of your life. He’s now the boss. . . He doesn’t just want to be resident, he wants to be ____________________!