Jesus Is The Way - Our Rock

Jesus is the Way – Our Rock

March 28, 2021

What is it that you fully, 100% trust in? Do you trust yourself? Do you trust the economy? Do you trust your family and friends? Do you trust gravity will always work? Do you trust that when you flip the switch, the lights will come on. That when we pull the lever, the toilet will flush. That Google maps is always correct. And do we really that Chicago will win the world series?

For the past weeks we’ve been looking at our relationship with God. We’ve seen how we were created by God, in His image. But how sin broke that relationship and the only way to bring reconciliation was for God to send His Son, Jesus for us, because on our own we cannot do enough good to find salvation.

Jesus paid the price for us. He was the sacrifice for us so that we could have a relationship with God; and ultimately this enables us to experience the power of His love, grace and mercy.

So, today, I want to look at what do we do with this great news that we’re saved through Christ. How do we receive and apply the good news in our lives? The price that Jesus paid not only saves us, but can transform our lives when we trust in Jesus alone.

You might be wondering why these chairs are up here. Glad you asked! You see, I can sit in this chair and I trust that it will not collapse. I trust that I can even stand on the chair and I will not fall. Now, I trust that this stool will support me when I sit, and I trust that the stool will support me if I stand on it, BUT I don’t trust myself . . . so I won’t stand on it.

By sitting or standing on this chair, I’m putting the full weight of my trust in this chair. You’re doing the same right now, with the chairs and pews you are sitting in. You see, when you really trust in something like these chairs or pews, you don’t even think about it, do you? You simply trusted they would. You didn’t arrive here this morning wondering if they would hold you up. That was never a thought or consideration. You knew, you trusted you could put full weight on them and you wouldn’t risk falling.

Now - - I want you to think about your faith in Jesus. Is the full weight of your faith being placed in Jesus? Do you really . . . really trust Him with your life?

Remember from last week, God needed to find a solution to our sin issue. He couldn’t just let it go and He couldn’t directly punish us, because we would be forever separated from God.

So, God needed to do something. That was that word – propitiation. The appeasement, the payment, the sacrifice that Jesus made on our behalf, when He went to the cross - - - that gets fully transferred to us when we put the full weight of our belief, trust and faith in Christ alone.

This then allows us, when we believe in Jesus - - to have a relationship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. That’s the free gift of grace God offers us.

This is the truth that we have in Jesus. Everyone who trusts in Him alone has eternal life. That’s EVERYONE! Not just the good ones, because, remember no one is good, we’re all sinners, yet, God offers us eternal victory in Christ.

In Romans 10, Paul tells us - - -

9 if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in Him will not be put to shame.”

12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing His riches on all who call on Him.

13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Not long ago, I was talking to someone who has struggled for many years with lots of different things, physically, emotionally and spiritually. They were telling me they really didn’t believe they had salvation in Jesus. They didn’t believe they were a good person. And they thought they were being punished for their sinfulness.

My response was to ask a simple question, and I’m not making light of this person’s situation. I asked, “Even with all that’s going on in your life, do you believe in Jesus? Is He your Lord and Savior? Even if in your opinion, you have not lived up to God’s expectations, do you believe in Jesus? Do you believe in your heart and in your head?