1s John 4:9-10
Have you heard someone say," Don't take it personally? They may say "don't take it personally, but you talk to much"
They may say " don't take it personally, but I don't believe you, or they may say " don't take it personally, but I don't love you anymore.
But I want to tell you some things we should take very personally,
We should take Christ dying on the cross, in our place , very seriously. With Easter coming very soon, we should focus on what Jesus did for us.
Scripture tells us that He was scourged, and beater, spat upon, mocked, forced to wear a crown of thorns, and in Isiah 53, the Bible tells us that He was despised and rejected, and the lord laid all our sins on Him. He was oppressed and afflicted, and led to slaughter like a lamb, yet did not open His mouth.
Let's make it personal, because He did this all because of our sins. We can't blame the Roman soldiers. Jesus died for our sins.
This reminds me of the story of the little boy and his mother who sat in church one Sunday morning, listening to a sermon on Jesus' death on the cross. As the preacher described the horrible beating, and suffering of Jesus, the little boy began to sob, and finally cried out loud, to the point that his mother said " son, don't take it personally. Don't take it seriously.
I take it personally every time I sing, For when He was on the cross, I was on His mind.
I take it personally when I sing " I heard an old time story how a savoir came from glory, How He gave His life on Calvary to save a wretch like me.
I take it personally, when I sing "amazing grace how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.
I take it personally, when I sing " Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, there is just something about that name.
True Christianity takes the Lord very seriously.
I had someone tell me once, "It is okay to go to church every now and then, but don't go overboard on this Christianity thing.
If we would truly realize just what Christ did for us at Calvary, no one could stop our praise for Him.
God took Jesus' death on the cross personally. When we read John 3:16, we should make it persona.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Let's place our own names in this scripture.. For God so loved ROGER, that He gave His son Jesus Christ, that when Roger believes in Him, will have everlasting life.
Romans 8:32, tells us ... He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
The apostle Paul, took Jesus' death on the cross personally.
Philippians 3:7-10 7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
Paul was talking about things that had happened to him in the past, that he could boast about. He was a Jew from the tribe of Benjamin, He had studied under one of the greatest Philosophers of his time, and yet he counted all of this as dung, compared to knowing the Lord Jesus Christ.
One of Jesus' disciples, Thomas, took Jesus' death on the cross personally.
Shortly after Jesus resurrection, Jesus was seen by many people. His disciples were meeting behind locked doors, out of fear, and Jesus came and stood among them, and said, "peace be with you" . He then showed them His hands, and where the spear had pierced His side.
They were all overjoyed to see Him.
Then in John 20:24-28 the Bible tells us 24 Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin,[a] was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”
26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”
Thomas took this very personally, when he called Jesus, his Lord and his God.
Is Jesus your Lord, and your God today?
Are you taking His death on the cross personally?
We should all take it personally. Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost. He came to take our place on the cross. The one who knew no sin, became sin in our place.
I take His death on the cross very personally, because He died for me.
1st Timothy 1:15-16, tells us The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life
Some more reasons to take Jesus' death personally Romans 5:6-9 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
The child of God, That plan had to deal with man's sin. Sin demanded a penalty.
ILLUS: Suppose that you got mad with someone and went and stuck a knife into the tires of their car. Afterward you began to think about what you had done and you began to understand the truth that you had done something wrong. Two wrongs to not make a right. You went to the person greatly embarrassed and told them you had something to confess. You then explained that it was you who had cut their tires. You told them with deep emotion and sincere guilt that you were sorry and you begged them to forgive you for doing this bad thing against them. Supposed they were kind and gracious and said they would forgive you. That would be truly wonderful for you wouldn't it? . . . .But there is something else to consider! Who would pay for the tires. Suppose you had not even a penny to your name....how could or would you pay? The answer is that you could not pay.....yet suppose the person you harmed would say I forgive and I will pay the price.
Folks that is what God did. We have not way to pay any of the debt we owe God....not even a penny. Yet, the debt must be paid, and so Christ Jesus, God's only begotten Son, God incarnate in flesh....went to the Cross and there He paid for our sins. He paid the debt we could not pay and thus His forgiveness is verified in His sacrifice and payment. is born into the family of God, by the Grace of God, through faith, and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
.Our relationship begins when we admit that we have sinned against God.
1. James 2:10 "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." How much does God say we are guilt of? That's right all of it.
2. God is saying I will accept you as my son, as my child if you will accept me as your Savior. If you will admit that you have sinned against me, which you surely have done, and ask for forgiveness I will forgive you. You can't pay the debt you owe me or could ever make it right, but I will pay the debt...free and totally.
ILLUS: One of the marks of false religion and false churches is that they make God impersonal.---------- Some make Him to be a wrathful,--- ugly and selfish being, ready at a moment to smash you like a bug if you do wrong. -----------They make God unapproachable, they take away His mercy, compassion and love.--- They have no concept of the God of Grace and Mercy. ----------Their false god is one that they must by doing some ritual or moral act appease to keep from being destroyed.
Yet, the God of the Bible, is a righteous and just God, and His wrath will fall on all you reject His mercy, but He active seeks to save men from their sin. God seek us! He, Himself sacrificed Himself for our sins that we might become holy and pure even as He is pure.
D. Jesus said that "Except you repent, you shall all likewise perish."
1. It does not matter if you know His name, and know everything about His book, and go around telling everyone you know about Him, and go around talking like you talk to Him, it doesn't establish a relationship until you admit your sin and honestly repent begging God to forgive you.
2. You must accept the sacrifice that God made for you. You cannot offer anything to God to atone for your sin. It is rebellion and false pride to think that you can be good enough or offer any act or work to save you.
To do so is the grossest of sins....that is to have not regard or appreciation for the Lord's suffering. To reject His sacrifice is worst that spitting in his face.
The Relationship Begins with the New Birth.
A. 2 Cor. 5:17-18a "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ. . ."
B. Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:3, " Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
1. The new birth begins the relationship with God. It makes all things new.
2. We receive the new nature of God, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
C. Eph 2:19 says "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God."
1. Eph 3:15 explains, "Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named." ."
D. Let me ask you a question? Does the Bible teach that those that by faith received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, repent of their sins and turn to Him, have a personal relationship with God?
The answer is a resounding YES. Thank God the answer is Yes...we are the sons and daughters of God who saved us.
Conclusion:
Note what God says about this relationship and what it means.
1. Eph 3:6 "That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel"
2. Tit 3:7 "That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life."
3. James 2:5 "Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?"
4. 1 Peter 1:1-5 states, "Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."
As Easter nears, let us take the death of Jesus on the cross very personally
