JESUS CAME TO BE THE DEVINE SAVIOR
LUKE 9:49-56
THIS IS THE LAST SUNDAY OF 2015. I THINK SOME OF YOU WOULD AGREE WITH ME THAT THIS YEAR HAS REALLY FLOWN BY. IT SEEMS AS I GET OLDER THAT THE YEARS GO BY QUICKER FOR ME. 2015 HAD A NUMBER OF POSITIVE THINGS HAPPEN IN THE WORLD AND THERE WERE A NUMBER OF NEGATIVE THINGS THAT HAPPENED AS WELL.
AS WE STAND POISED TO DIVE INTO A NEW YEAR, WE COME FACE TO FACE WITH THE UNKNOWN THAT THE FUTURE CAN BRING. CHANGE IS INEVITABLE, BUT WILL IT BE A GOOD CHANGE OR BAD, THAT IS FOR THE YEAR TO PLAY OUT.
NO DOUBT SOME OF YOU, OR SOMEONE YOU MAY KNOW, HAVE MADE THE FAMOUS NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS. WE ALL HAVE THINGS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE FOR THE BETTER AS WE ENTER 2016.
I HAVE SOME GOLS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO ATTAIN IN 2016, AND I BELIEVE THEY ARE REALISTIC. I ALSO APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT WHILE WE CONSIDER THE VARIOUS CHANGES WE PLAN FOR, THE ONE THING THAT NEVER WILL CHANGE IS OUR FAITH. OUR APPROACH IN PRESENTING THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL ALWAYS CHANGES WITH THE TIMES, BUT THE MESSAGE ITSELF HAS BEEN AND ALWAYS WILL BE THE SAME.
LUKE 19:10: FOR THE SON OF MAN CAME TO SEEK AND TO SAVE THE LOST.”
JESUS CAME TO SEEK AND TO SAVE THOSE WHO WER LOST. HE AND ONLY HE HAS THE POWER TO DO SO. HE LIVED A SINLESS LIFE, DUE TO HIS MIRACULOUS CONCEPTION HE WAS CONCEIVED WITHOUT THE SIN NATURE THAT YOU AND I HAVE.
JESUS WAS THE ONLY PERSON WHO COULD FACE THE FULL FURY OF GOD THE FATHER’S RIGHTEOUS ANGER OVER SIN. WHY WAS THAT? THE REASON IS THAT JESUS WAS GOD THE SON.
THIS IS POINTED OUT TO US CLEARLY AT THE TIME OF JESUS’ BIRTH. WHEN THE ANGEL APPEARED TO JOSEPH BEFORE JESUS’ BIRTH, THE ANGEL TOLD JOSEPH:
MATTHEW 1:20-21:
“JOSEPH SON OF DAVID, DO NOT BE AFRAID TO TAKE MARY HOME AS YOUR WIFE, BECAUSE WHAT IS CONCEIVED IN HER IS FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT. 21 SHE WILL GIVE BIRTH TO A SON, AND YOU ARE TO GIVE HIM THE NAME JESUS, T BECAUSE HE WILL SAVE HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR SINS.”
IT IS HERE THAT WE SEE PART OF THE ROLE THAT JOSEPH WOULD PLAY IN JESUS’ BIRTH. IT IS ONE THAT IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED. IT TELLS US THAT MARY WOULD HAVE THE BABY, BUT PART OF JOSEPH’S ROLE IS TO NAME THE CHILD. HE IS TOLD WHAT TO NAME THE BABY, BUT THE RESPONSIBILITY IS HIS TO ACTUALLY DO IT.
THIS BABY WOULD BE NAMED FOR THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH IT CAME INTO THE WORLD. JOSEPH JR. JUST WOULDN’T DO, AND NO OTHER NAME COULD BE CONSIDERED. HE WAS TO BE NAMED JESUS BECAUSE HE WOULD SAVE PEOPLE FROM THEIR SINS.
MOST PEOPLE SEE JESUS AS THE BABY BORN IN A MANGER IN BETHLEHEM. GOD SEES JESUS AS OUR SAVIOR, TH=AKING ON HUMAN FORM, BORN WITH A PURPOSE, A MISSION. THE PLAN HE HAD FORMULATED BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE EARTH HAD TAKEN FORM, AND THERE WAS JOY IN HEAVEN.
LUKE 2:10-11:
BUT THE ANGEL SAID TO THEM, “DO NOT BE AFRAID. I BRING YOU GOOD NEWS THAT WILL CAUSE GREAT JOY FOR ALL THE PEOPLE. 11 TODAY IN THE TOWN OF DAVID A SAVIOR HAS BEEN BORN TO YOU; HE IS THE MESSIAH, THE LORD.
TODAY I WANT TO SHARE THREE THOUGHTS WITH YOU THAT CHRIST CAME TO SAVE US FROM:
1. CHRIST CAME TO SAVE US FROM SIN.
2. CHRIST CAME TO SAVE US FROM SINS
3. CHRIST CAME TO SAVE US FROM OUR GREATEST PROBLEMS.
POINT ONE: CHRIST CAME TO SAVE US FROM SIN.
JOHN 1:29: THE NEXT DAY JOHN SAW JESUS COMING TOWARD HIM AND SAID, “LOOK, THE LAMB OF GOD, WHO TAKES AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD!
CHRIST LIVED HIS LIFE VICTORIOUSLY OVER EVIL SO THAT HE COULD BE OUR SAVIOR FROM SIN. HE LIVED A SINLESS LIFE, AND SO HE COULD PAY OUR SIN DEBT, WHICH WE COULD NOT PAY OURSELVES.
ROMANS 6:23: FOR THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH, BUT THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD.
THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH AND THIS MEANS THAT SOMEONE OR SOMETHING HAD TO DIE IN PAYMENT FOR OUR SIN. WE ALL HAVE A SIN NATURE WITHIN US. IF THAT SIN NATURE IS NOT CHANGED, THEN WE WOULD DIE IN OUR SINS.
ROMANS 3:23: FOR ALL HAVE SINNED AND FALL SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD.
TO DIE IN OUR SIN MEANS LIVING FOR ETERNITY SEPARATED FROM GOD IN A PLACE CALLED HELL. THIS TEACHING IS MADE CLEAR IN SCRIPTURE.
HEBREWS 9:27: JUST AS PEOPLE ARE DESTINED TO DIE ONCE, AND AFTER THAT TO FACE JUDGMENT.
WE SHALL ALL FACE DEATH, UNLESS THE RAPTURE OCCURS, AND WE SHALL ALL BE RESURRECTED WITH SINLESS BODIES, WHICH MEANS THAT WE WILL LIVE FOREVER. IT IS WHAT WE HAVE DONE WITH CHRIST, WHETHER WE HAVE ACCEPTED HIM AS LORD AND SAVIOR THAT WILL DETERMINE WHETHER WE LIVE IN HEAVEN OR HELL.
CHRIST WENT TO THE CROSS TO BE OUR SUBSTITUTE AND ACCEPTED THE ANGER OF GOD OVER OUR SIN, AND SATISFIED HIS ANGER IN ORDER THAT WE MAY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE FOR ETERNITY WITH HIM.
1 PETER 1:18-19:
FOR YOU KNOW THAT IT WAS NOT WITH PERISHABLE THINGS SUCH AS SILVER OR GOLD THAT YOU WERE REDEEMED FROM THE EMPTY WAY OF LIFE HANDED DOWN TO YOU FROM YOUR ANCESTORS, 19 BUT WITH THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST, A LAMB WITHOUT BLEMISH OR DEFECT.
CHRIST WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD THAT WE MIGHT BE SURE OF BEING ACCEPTED BY A HOLY GOD ON THE BASIS OF OUR FAITH IN HIM WHO DIED FOR OUR SINS.
ROMANS 4:23-25:
THE WORDS “IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM” WERE WRITTEN NOT FOR HIM ALONE, BUT ALSO FOR US, TO WHOM GOD WILL CREDIT RIGHTEOUSNESS—FOR US WHO BELIEVE IN HIM WHO RAISED JESUS OUR LORD FROM THE DEAD. 25 HE WAS DELIVERED OVER TO DEATH FOR OUR SINS AND WAS RAISED TO LIFE FOR OUR JUSTIFICATION.
THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST AS THE SON OF GOD WE EXPERIENCE SALVATION FROM THE SIN THAT SEPARATES US FROM GOD. WE ENTER INTO A FAMILY RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THROUGH THE NEW BIRTH. WE CAN SAY THAT WE HAVE BEEN BORN AGAIN AND SAVED FROM THE PENALTY OF SIN THROUGH THE SACRIFICAL ATONING WORK OF JESUS CHRIST.
POINT TWO: CHRIST CAME TO SAVE US FROM SINS:
OUR PASSAGE SHARES AT LEAST FIVE ILLUSTRATIONS OF JESUS’ EFFORTS TO DELIVER HIS DISCIPLES FROM HARMFUL ATTITUDES AND AMBITIONS.
1. TO SAVE US FROM THE SIN OF A NARROW INTOLERANCE OF THOSE WHO DISAGREE WITH US. (LUKE 9:49-50)
2. TO DELIVER US FROM PREJUDICE (LUKE 9:51-56)
3. TO DELIVER US FROM THE DANGER OF SLAVERY TO MATERIAL THINGS (LUKE 9:57-58)
4. TO GIVE A PROPER PRIORITY IN HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS THAT PUTS GOD’S WILL FIRST. (LUKE 9:59-60)
5. JESUS SEEKS TO DELIVER US FROM THE TYRANNY OF LIVING IN THE PAST. (LUKE 9:61-62)
THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT CHRIST WAS TEMPTED IN EVERY WAY AS WE ARE AND YET WAS WITHOUT SIN.
HEBREWS 4:15: FOR WE DO NOT HAVE A HIGH PRIEST WHO IS UNABLE TO EMPATHIZE WITH OUR WEAKNESSES, BUT WE HAVE ONE WHO HAS BEEN TEMPTED IN EVERY WAY, JUST AS WE ARE—YET HE DID NOT SIN.
BECAUSE JESUS WAS TEMPTED IN EVERY WAY, IT HAS A STRONG MESSAGE FOR CHRISTIANS TODAY. WHEN WE ACCEPT CHRIST INTO OUR LIVES, WE HAVE CHRIST IN US, AND HIS POWER IS AT WORK IN US. WE CAN DO SPIRITUAL THINGS NOW THAT IN THE PAST WE COULD NOT DO, WHEN WE WERE UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE SPIRIT OF THIS WORLD.
WHEN CHRIST CAME INTO OUR LIVES WE BECAME NEW CREATIONS AND THEREFORE GAINED A NEW RESPONSIBILITY.
1 CORINTHIANS 10:13: NO TEMPTATION HAS OVERTAKEN YOU EXCEPT WHAT IS COMMON TO MANKIND. AND GOD IS FAITHFUL; HE WILL NOT LET YOU BE TEMPTED BEYOND WHAT YOU CAN BEAR. BUT WHEN YOU ARE TEMPTED, HE WILL ALSO PROVIDE A WAY OUT SO THAT YOU CAN ENDURE IT.
OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO CHOOSE VICTORY THROUGH CHRIST OVER THE TEMPTATION OF THE WORLD. WE CAN DO THIS ONLY THROUGH THE POWER OF CHRIST THAT IS AT WORK IN US.
1. JESUS SAVES US FROM ERRONEOUS AND INCORRECT ATTITUDES TOWARDS OTHERS. (MATTHEW 5:43-48)
2. HE HELPS US REJECT FALSE IDEAS ABOUT GOD AND TO RESPOND TO HIM IN LOVE, TRUST, AND OBEDIENCE.
3. JESUS ENCOURAGES SELF-ASSESSMENT (MATTHEW 6:25,27,33)
4. CHRIST DELIVERS US FROM UNWISE ATTITUDES ABOUT MATERIAL THINGS (MATTHEW 6:19-21)
POINT THREE: CHRIST CAME TO SAVE US FROM OUR GREATEST PROBLEMS:
THE GREATEST PROBLEM WE FACE IN THIS WORLD TODAY IS PRIDE. ALL SIN HAS SOME FORM OF PRIDE AS ITS SEED.
JESUS OVERCAME THE PROBLEM OF SELFISHNESS AND PRIDE BY PRACTICING THE GOLDEN RULE.
MATTHEW 7:12: SO IN EVERYTHING, DO TO OTHERS WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO TO YOU, FOR THIS SUMS UP THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS.
JESUS OVERCAME THE ANXIETY AND FEARS OF WHAT WE FACE IN LIFE BY ENCOURAGING US TO TRUST IN HIM.
JOHN 6:18-20:
A STRONG WIND WAS BLOWING AND THE WATERS GREW ROUGH. 19 WHEN THEY HAD ROWED ABOUT THREE OR FOUR MILES, THEY SAW JESUS APPROACHING THE BOAT, WALKING ON THE WATER; AND THEY WERE FRIGHTENED. 20 BUT HE SAID TO THEM, “IT IS I; DON’T BE AFRAID.”
HE TAKES AWAY OUR FEAR OF DEATH BY ASSURING US HE HAS CONQUERED THIS LAST ENEMY.
REVELATION 1:17-18:
WHEN I SAW HIM, I FELL AT HIS FEET AS THOUGH DEAD. THEN HE PLACED HIS RIGHT HAND ON ME AND SAID: “DO NOT BE AFRAID. I AM THE FIRST AND THE LAST. 18 I AM THE LIVING ONE; I WAS DEAD, AND NOW LOOK, I AM ALIVE FOR EVER AND EVER! AND I HOLD THE KEYS OF DEATH AND HADES.
CONCLUSION:
IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A FEW NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS BY ALL MEANS GO AHEAD, AS LONG AS THEY DO YOU NO HARM.
I’M GRATEFUL THAT IN THE MIDST OF ALL THE RESOLUTIONS OF THIS WORLD, THAT WE CTAND ON THE SOLID ROCK OF OUR FAITH IN CHRIST AS SAVIOR AND LORD.
IN A WORLD OF CONSTANT CHANGE AND STRESS OUR FAITH CAN BE PLACED IN THE PLAN OF GOD WHICH HASN’T CHANGED FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS IN THE PAST, AND WILL NOT CHANGE IN THE FUTURE.
