Series Introduction:
We are counting down to Easter. It’s the highest day in the church year. However, there is only one way to arrive at the empty tomb of Easter Sunday. We need to travel to Jesus’ cross.
As we look at the cross and the blessings Jesus made possible by his death, I hope we come to two life giving conclusions about the gospel.
As pastor and author, Tim Keller points out, “Here's the gospel: you're more sinful than you ever dared believe; you're more loved than you ever dared hope.”
Citation: Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian and author of The Reason for God, in the sermon Treasure Versus Money, PreachingToday.com
God reveals how deadly our sins are and how deeply he loves us on the cross. All that Jesus did for us is often called by one name – the atonement. There are several explanations of how the atonement works because “there is an essential mystery about the atonement, so that men cannot know completely how it works.”
Citation: Leon Morris in Basic Christian Doctrines, edited by Carl F. H. Henry, Baker Book House, 1962
Jesus’ death on the cross paid the ransom that sets us free from slavery to sin and Satan. His crucifixion conquered the forces of evil and sets us free from the list of charges against us. On the Cross, as Jesus bled and died, he received the punishment our sins deserved.
Introduction:
When Jesus died for us he made it possible for us to become God’s children.
Thesis:
One of the early church leaders declared, “He became what we are that we might become what he is.”
Citation: Athanasius
Charles Wesley was a brother of John Wesley, the founder of our branch of the Christian family tree. He wrote a song that turns this blessing of the atonement into a victorious prayer.
O For a Heart to Praise My God
O for a heart to praise my God,
A heart from sin set free,
A heart that always feels Thy blood
So freely shed for me.
A heart resigned, submissive, meek,
My great Redeemer's throne,
Where only Christ is heard to speak,
Where Jesus reigns alone.
A heart in every thought renewed
And full of love divine,
Perfect and right and pure and good,
A copy, Lord, of Thine.
Citation: Charles Wesley
Key Question:
O for a heart that’s a copy of our Lord Jesus’ heart. Is it really possible? How can God fill my heart with his divine love?
Text:
Paul talks about the restoration Jesus makes possible in Romans 5:12-21. Many theologians and pastors consider these verses some of the most difficult to interpret in the whole New Testament. I think if we can keep the main point in focus we will do well.
Just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned — for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come.
But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.
Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
I. Paul begins by pointing to Adam as the source of sin and death in the whole human race. (5:12-14)
A. He makes two observable facts about humans the base of his comparison and contrast of Adam and Jesus.
B. All humans sin – because our first father sinned.
C. All humans die – because of sin.
D. Remember, sin is essentially choosing God’s absence from our lives.
When we sin, we are judged because in that moment of choosing sin we are actually electing the absence of God in our lives at that point. You see, [sin and salvation are] always relational. Sin separates us from God – that’s the point – sin is our embrace of the absence of God in our lives.
Citation: Dr. Timothy Tennent at the MOVE! Conference, September 14th, 2010, at Estes Chapel, in Wilmore, Kentucky, Published on Asbury Theological Seminary (http://www.asburyseminary.edu)
II. Next, Paul points to Jesus as a greater source of grace as well as God’s gift. (5:15-17)
A. Adam’s sin cursed all humans to death.
B. God’s grace and his gift of life through Jesus are far more powerful.
C. God’s grace and his gift are the exact opposite of the death Adam’s sin brought down on us.
D. God’s grace makes us right with him – reestablishes our relationship with him – even though we’ve committed many sins.
E. Victory over sin and death is available to all people through Jesus.
III. Then, Paul emphasizes that Jesus provides life to the whole human race. (5:18-19)
A. Through Adam sin and death entered the world. Through Jesus that all was reversed and righteousness and life entered the world.
B. Just as all humans, in all places at all times, sin and die, so all humans, in all places at all times, can be restored to a right relationship with God and to eternal life.
IV. Finally, Paul reminds us that God’s grace can overcome even the greatest sins. (5:20-21)
A. Imagine for a moment that you’ve built an enormous sand castle on the beach at low tide. This sand castle is so big you used a backhoe to pile up the sand. Can you or anyone else tell you how many grains of sand are in your castle? No. What will happen to this huge sand castle when the tide comes in? The waves of the ocean will sweep it away. There will be no trace of you giant sand castle.
B. No matter how enormous and immeasurable the pile of human sin may become, the waves of God’s grace are bigger. Grace will wash away any pile of sin. We cannot – individually or collectively accumulate so much sin that God’s grace cannot remove it and restore us.
REPENTANCE POINT: What change in your thinking is needed?
Sometimes you may feel like your sin has dragged you down to the “point of no return” – that there’s no hope of ever enjoying life again – but God’s grace provides more than enough life and blessings for you and for all people. There is hope and restoration because of Jesus’ death on the cross.
In other words, “The Son of God became the Son of Man so that the sons and daughters of man might become the children of God.”
FIRST STEPS: What are the first steps you can take in response to this new way of thinking?
1. Welcome and receive Jesus instead of turning away from him.
Text: John 1:1-14 (application)
He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn — not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.
2. Determine to grow in your relationship with Jesus.
Text: 2 Peter 1:3-11 (application)
By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.
In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.
The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.
So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away.
RESPONSE GOAL / INVITATION:
Will you pray with me now?
• Welcome and receive Jesus instead of turning away from him.
• Determine to grow in your relationship with Jesus.
