:: VIDEO: “Love Wins - Trailer”
:: Rob Bell & the Search for Truth -- [s.1]
Earlier this week, Rob Bell - pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church in MI - released a book called “Love Wins: A Book about Heaven, Hell and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived.” -- [s.2]
● This book - and the concepts presented within - has stirred up incredible controversy between Evangelical pastors and church movements
● Some call it “inaccurate and misleading,” others a “fresh new perspective”
● Some are calling Rob Bell a heretic. Others hold him as a visionary
● Bell is accused of being a universalist - i.e., someone who believes that all people will eventually find their way to heaven.
● At the heart of the debate is the doctrine of Hell - an eternal place of separation and suffering awaiting those who reject Jesus.
● Classic Christianity teaches that it is within this lifetime that Jesus calls us and that it is within this lifetime that we must respond to that call: accepting/rejecting
● Bell seems to offer another view: that the God of Love will ultimately “melt hearts”, that Hell is not closed, that Heaven is always open, that at somehow Love will triumph.
That would be a beautiful picture - a heaven that always stands waiting, a hell that is never closed, a God who is always calling. – [s.3]
● That our response to Jesus in this life doesn’t determine our eternal destiny
● But that would present us with a problem:
● If heaven is open, if hell doesn’t close, if the decision doesn’t matter...
● Then isn’t Jesus’ coming – and our response to him - irrelevant?
● In an interview with Martin Bashir of MSNBC, Bell was asked this very question
● He replied that the decision to accept Jesus is “extraordinarly important” and “terribly relevant.”
● But why? If, ultimately, my rejection of Jesus could be changed by God’s love?
● If, eternally, my decision in the “now” is not final in the “after”
● And why would Jesus come if that which was to be saved... didn’t need to be?
Rob Bell has said before that he is simply seeking the truth and the “questions behind the questions.”
● And I believe him. I don’t think he’s a universalist. I don’t think he’s saying there is no hell. I don’t believe he sees Jesus as less than God, Savior, Lord and King.
● But to me the discussion of heaven and hell raises three important questions:
● How can a sinner live in fellowship with a holy God?
● What happens in the space between sinners and saints?
● And why does it matter in this life?
QUESTION: How can a sinner live in fellowship with a holy God? – [s.4]
The answer to the fundamental question of how to restore fellowship with God is the core subject of both Testaments, and the answer in each, though different in method, has the same essential core: blood sacrifice.
:: Sacrifice: The Model of O.T. Redemption - – [s.5]
The writer of Hebrews evidently was very familiar with the Law of Moses and with the functions of the Temple -- including the ritual sacrifices and their purpose. The writer recalls Exodus 24:8 when Moses is sealing the covenant - the Law - with the people.
[Hebrews 9:19-22] - – [s.6]
“For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, saying, "This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you."And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels used in worship. Indeed, under the Law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.”
1. Five Sacrifices - – [s.7-11]
Leviticus 1-6 establish five types of sacrifices that God’s people would need to make in order to have relationship with Him.
● Guilt Offering -- ram’s blood // atoned for specific sins // mandatory
● Sin Offering -- ram’s blood // atoned for the sinful person // mandatory
● Peace/Fellowship Offering -- blood // celebration of gratitude // peace with God
● Grain Offering -- no blood // offering given from God’s provision // stewardship
● Burnt Offering -- blood // worshiper offered in dedication to the Lord
The last three sacrifices were voluntary sacrifices
● They were given by an individual, often marking times of significance and celebration - they were personal responses to God
● They were also the ones considered most pleasing to God
The first two sacrifices - Guilt & Sin - were offered once a year for the whole person and as needed for specific, personal sins.
● Leviticus says that their aroma did not please God - why not?
● Not because of anger and wrath -- but because they were not complete
● They would have to be offered again and again, each time sin was committed
The one principal difference between the Old and New Testaments lies in the object of sacrifice:
● In the O.T. perfect animals took the penalty of sin for humanity
● In the N.T. that penalty is taken by Jesus
● Nelson shared on why we need a Savior and a Resurrected Christ
● PODCAST PROMO: If you’ve missed a week, catch up at newsongs.org
:: The Space Between: Jesus Paid it All – [s.12]
Jesus gave himself as the perfect fulfillment for these sacrificial requirements, so that once and for all, humanity would be forgiven and relationship with God restored.
The writer of Hebrews explained Christ’s sacrifice in this way:
[Hebrews 10:1-22] – [s.13-17]
The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship. If they could have provided perfect cleansing, the sacrifices would have stopped, for the worshipers would have been purified once for all time, and their feelings of guilt would have disappeared.
But instead, those sacrifices actually reminded them of their sins year after year. For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. That is why, when Christ came into the world, he said to God, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings. But you have given me a body to offer. You were not pleased with burnt offerings or other offerings for sin. Then I said, ‘Look, I have come to do your will, O God - as is written about me in the Scriptures.’”
First, Christ said, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them” (though they are required by the law of Moses). Then he said, “Look, I have come to do your will.” He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect. For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.
Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins. But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy. And the Holy Spirit also testifies that this is so. For he says, “This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that day, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” Then he says, “I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.” And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices.
And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.
QUESTION: What happens in the space between sinners and saints? – [s.18]
Without Jesus, the struggle of sin and the struggle of holiness are the same struggle - because without his sacrifice, we can only struggle with our sin.
● And it’s a losing battle because humanity – left on its own – can never overcome sin and its eventual consequence of death, both physical and spiritual.
● But Jesus - as the perfect sacrifice - forgives us of our sin and restores us to God
● So we no longer are slaves to sin, no longer struggling with sin
● For those who believe, they are forgiven of sin, redeemed and made holy
● And our focus now is living out the holiness of God in us through Jesus
● And that begins in this life
QUESTION: So does that mean I can be sinless in this life? – [s.19]
● The answer is “no” - we will never attain a sinless life.
● But that does not mean we continue to live in sin
● Because that would mean we would continue in death, in evil, in brokenness
● I often have people say to me, “I’m trying to follow Jesus, but I’m still really struggling with sin in my life.” So what about that?
● Is your struggle really with sin? Or is it something else?
:: Sinner to Saint: Sanctification – [s.20]
In between the struggle with sin and the struggle with holiness is the sacrifice of Jesus Christ - and because of that sacrifice, we are made holy and are being made holy.
1. Be and being made
The biblical concept of sanctification is a process of bringing the whole of life into line with the will of God. Its basic meaning is to set life apart in consecration of one's total self to God.
● To sanctify anything is to declare that it belongs to God
● In the Old Testament, this was done for places and things
● Through Jesus, this is done in persons - in you and me
2. God’s work in us, not ours within ourselves
● Sanctification is God's imparted work within us
● Which means it’s not something we are striving to create on our own
● I think that many who “struggle with sin” are really trying to create their own holiness -- instead of yielding to God and letting Him work in them
3. Transformation of life and character begins with our consecration to God.
● Some continue to struggle - with sin and with holiness - because they are ready to follow Jesus but have not given themselves completely to Him
● They are like those who say, “I want to... but”
● And they are unable to follow because they are unwilling to surrender
● Yet there remains an unrelenting demand for change within us – here and now
[1 CORINTHIANS 6:11] – [s.21]
[After describing sinfulness and sinners] “And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”
QUESTION: Why does it matter in this life, don’t I just need to get to the next? – [s.22]
[2 Timothy 2:15] – [s.23]
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
[Ephesians 4:1] – [s.24]
"I urge you, then—I who am a prisoner because I serve the Lord: live a life that measures up to the standard God set when he called you"
Though we no longer are bound to an Old Testament covenant relationship with God, just as the mandatory sacrifices were fulfilled in Christ’s work on the Cross, the voluntary sacrifices are fulfilled through His ongoing work within us.
● Fellowship Offering -- worship, praise and thanksgiving
● Grain Offering -- giving out of God’s provision and blessing
● Burnt Offering -- dedication of life to God
The Burnt Offering pleased God the most – and I think he continues to be pleased when we give ourselves wholly to Him in this life.
• Because when we do that, His love is made known to the world through us
• When we do that, we bring light into darkness
• When we do that, we bring flavor to life
• When we live for Him – now - we remind everyone that there is hope, that the world as we see it now is not what was intended, that this image will not remain
• When we live Jesus – which is what we mean when we say “holy” – we become part of the redemptive story that God is telling
• We become part of the Gospel
:: The Gospel of Love & Grace – [s.25]
● At the heart of the Gospel is Love -- our God is, after all, a God of Love
● And Peter reminds us that “love covers a multitude of sins.” [1 Pet. 4:8]
● And we experience and live in this perfect love when we surrender to the Father who loves us, to Jesus who saves us, to the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
● Our struggle with sin leads us to the Cross of Jesus and to his love
● Our journey of holiness leads us to the life of Jesus and to Grace
● Grace is experienced in humility. In surrender.
● And it is the grace of God - through the regenerative work of the Holy Spirit - that now forms the basis upon which we can relate to God.
Holy living is possible through a moment-by-moment yielding to the Holy Spirit.
● Moment-by-moment
● Not a “forever-cure-all” then, but a progressive “as it comes, in the moment”
● Made possible by the Holy Spirit in you
● Intended to let Jesus be visible to everyone who sees you.
[Galations 5:16-18, 22-25] – [s.26]
So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[c] you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.... the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
Holiness of life is not how much we have of the Holy Spirit, but how much the Holy Spirit has of us.
● Surrender. Such a key word for us.
● For those who are struggling in sin -- freedom is found in surrender to Jesus.
● For those struggling with holiness -- life is found in surrender to the Holy Spirit.
● BLOG PROMO: “Journey of Lent”
:: Love Wins – [s.27]
● The love of God is unending and overwhelming
● It can melt hearts, change minds... love can win all
● Jesus would call us this morning to accept and then live in his love and in his life
● So come to Jesus -- come to grace -- come to surrender
● Come sinner, come saint -- and surrender to God who loves you
:: Communion
