We Live; We Die—Without JESUS Our Destiny Is Fixed—But GOD!
The penalty has been paid!
Our redemption comes only through our faith in Jesus!
- If there were any other way . . .
- If there had been any other plan . . .
- If there had not been a sacrifice necessary . . .
JESUS CHRIST WOULD NOT HAVE DIED UPON THE CROSS!!!
“But He was pierced for our offenses,
(Isaiah 53: 5 NASB)
He was crushed for our
wrongdoings;
The punishment for our well-being
was laid upon Him,
And by His wounds we are healed.”
What do we know about the word “sacrifice”? Last night, I read this statement that was once spoken at a late night youth prayer meeting: “The only thing most of us know about sacrifice is how to spell the word.”
“All of us, like sheep, have gone astray,
(Isaiah 53: 6 NASB)
Each of us has turned to
his own way;
But the LORD has caused the
wrongdoing of us all
To fall on Him.”
We Live.
We Die.
We Spend Eternity Separated.
BUT GOD SENT HIS SON!
- WITHOUT JESUS, OUR DESTINY IS FIXED!
- WITHOUT JESUS, WE SPEND ETERNITY SEPARATED FROM THE PRESENCE OF GOD!
BUT GOD DID WHAT WE COULD NOT DO FOR OURSELVES!
SO GOD SENT HIS SON!
- SO JESUS DID FOR EACH OF US—WHAT WE COULD NOT DO!
What do we know about “sacrifice”?
What do we truly understand?
What can we place our finger upon and declare: “Right there! Yes, See It—Right There (as we point toward the cross of Calvary)—Right There On the Cross, Jesus Died; Jesus Sacrificed His Life, so we could gain ours.
In the Bible, we read of visions God sent to certain individuals, and in reading Genesis, we see the vision God gave to Abram. Let pause to read together Abram’s vision, one that has everlasting ramifications.
“After these things
(Genesis 15: 1-6 NASB)
[after Abram met with the king of Sodom in the Valley of Shaveh &
after God gave Abram the victory of the battle]
the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying,
“Do not fear, Abram,
I am a shield to you;
Your reward shall be very great.”
But Abram said, “Lord GOD, what will You give me, since I am childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”
Abram also said, “Since You have given me no son, one who has been born in my house is my heir.”
Then behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying,
“This man will not be your heir; but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.”
And He took him outside and said,
“Now look toward the heavens and count the stars, if you are able to count them.”
And He said to him,
“So shall your descendants be.”
Then he believed in the LORD;
[Then Abram believed in the LORD.]
and He credited it to him as righteousness.”
[Then GOD saw Abram’s faith.]
Our redemption comes only through our faith in Jesus!
- If there were any other way . . .
- If there had been any other plan . . .
- If there had not been a sacrifice necessary . . .
JESUS CHRIST WOULD NOT HAVE DIED UPON THE CROSS!!!
- What do we know about the word “sacrifice”?
- Do we truly comprehend—just exactly what JESUS Did for Us!!!
- Can we ever be worthy of such a sacrifice as what JESUS Did for US!!!
What We Are:
SINNERS CONDEMNED TO ETERNAL SEPARATION FROM THE PRESENCE OF GOD!
What We Deserve For Our Sins:
HELL! UTTER DARKNESS! ETERNAL DAMNATION! TOTALLY & FOREVER SEPARATED!
But GOD!!! . . .
“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
(Romans 5: 1-2 NASB)
through whom we also have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we celebrate in hope of the glory of God.”
As we finished our discussion about Esther, we found ourselves discussing the ULTIMATE SACRIFICE of JESUS CHRIST UPON THE CROSS!
What does God require of us?
OUR LIVES!
OUR OBEDIENCE!
OUR FAITHFULNESS!
As a child of God, every single time we choose to sin, we are cheapening what JESUS Did Upon the Cross!
- May we BE THE CHURCH!
- May we LIVE RADICALLY DIFFERENT!
- May we WALK THE WALK!
- May we EAGERLY SHARE OUR STORY of just WHAT JESUS DID for us!
- You Are Either ALL IN—or—You’re Not!
For once we were dead in our sins, But GOD!
There is a Psalm of praise that reminds us of WHAT GOD DID FOR US—
“I will proclaim Your name
(Psalm 22: 22-24 NASB)
to my brothers;
In the midst of the assembly
I will praise You.
You who fear the LORD, praise Him;
All you descendants of
Jacob, glorify Him.
And stand in awe of Him, all
you descendants of Israel.
For He has not despised
nor scorned the suffering
of the afflicted;
Nor has He hidden His face
from him;
But when he cried to Him
for help, He heard.”
For once We were Dead in our Sins—But GOD!
Our Task is So Amazingly Simple & Yet, So Important!
- May We: Stand & Testify & Tell Our Story!
- May We: Follow GOD, Faithfully Obeying GOD’S Commands!
- May We: Love the World of People Surrounding us—In Jesus’ Name!
- May We: SURRENDER Our Will—For GOD’S!
- May We: Forever Lift Our Voices in Praise!
- May We: Glorify & Honor—JESUS CHRIST, our REDEEMER, SAVIOR, & LORD!