Dakota Community Church
November 22, 2009
Incomparable Christ 5
Adapted from a Sermon by C.H. Spurgeon
From “The First Sermon in the Tabernacle” - Delivered on Monday Afternoon, March 25th, 1861
Acts 5:42
Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.
They never stopped… proclaiming… that Jesus is the Christ.
1. Christ is fully God.
2. Christ is fully man.
3. Christ is the only mediator between God and man.
It is absolutely necessary we should preach him as the only mediator between God and man.
Galatians 3:19-20 (Read vs. 15-29)
19What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was put into effect through angels by a mediator. A mediator, however, does not represent just one party; but God is one.
A mediator! What is a mediator? A mediator is a middleman, a go-between—one who comes in between two parties who otherwise could not commune with each other.
“A mediator, however, does not represent just one party; but God is one.”
(A.) A mediator is not for God alone.
A mediator deals with two persons – with God and man.
(B.) A mediator is not needed when there is agreement.
Colossians 1:19-23
For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
21Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel.
Romans 5:10
For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
“Enemies of God”; that is some strong language.
I think it is important to point out that that language is coming from God.
It is God who decided to “MAKE PEACE” through His blood.
Why does God consider men His enemies?
100% of us are law-breaking sinners.
Illustration:
What should be the fate of law-breaking sinners when they stand convicted before a righteous judge? What if the crime has been committed against you?
How would you feel about a judge who lets the guilty go free?
Should the guilty go free if they were law-abiding most of the time?
“But your honor, I only murdered little old ladies on the second Tuesday of every third month; the other days I was good.”
Should the judge let the criminal off because he was mostly good?
Should the judge let you off?
We will stand before a just judge who does not acquit the guilty and who describes fallen men as His enemies!
A couple of weeks ago I talked about the proper use of law and gospel. Remember the law is the hammer that is to be applied to hard and proud hearts in order to break them and to reveal to them their need of a savior. Then the gospel is to be applied to the broken heart like a healing balm. When I am talking about God judging His enemies that is the hammer of the law; when I am discussing the sole mediator – that is the gospel!
Here is an example of Jesus doing this with the woman caught in adultery and her accusers.
John 8:3-11
3The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" 6They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." 8Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
9At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"
11"No one, sir," she said.
"Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."
When the marriage relationship is unbroken; the husband and wife do not retain divorce lawyers.
When the professional athlete and the team he belongs to cannot agree on a new contract; that is when mediation becomes necessary.
When two ancient nationalities each claim divine right to a strip of land in the Middle East; - that is when a mediator must be brought in.
This is the state of things between God and man.
PowerPoint available (Free of charge) on request dcormie@mts.net
