JESUS IS LORD OF ALL BECAUSE
INTRODUCTION:
Text: 1 Corinthians 1:10-18
Introduction:
1. Over the next few weeks as we begin our spiritual journey together, I want to begin by laying a foundation on which we can build.
2. That foundation for eternal life is couched in acceptance of the fact that Jesus Lord Is Lord of All
3. Really? That’s a bold statement. In fact I suggest it is a life and death statement.
4. I’m not going to take the time to prove that Jesus lives and was crucified and resurrected.
5. Many people believe all of that who are not his disciples.
John 12:42-43 42 Nevertheless even of the rulers many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess it, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: 43 for they loved the glory that is of men more than the glory that is of God.
6. What right does he have to claim to be Lord of all.
Discussion:
I. He is Lord of all because he made it all.
A. Go back with me into the far reaches of time.
B. Beyond the discovery of the Americas. Beyond the rise and fall of the Roman Empire. Back ‘till you see Adam and Eve pure and sinless in the Garden, back to a point when no physical mater or time existed and there you will meet - - - Jesus.
C. In what must be one of the most sublime understatements in off of written history, John explains.
John 1:1-5 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
D. Paul describes it in deeper theological terms.
Colossians 1:15-20 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
E. There is no way for us to completely comprehend the majesty, the beauty, and the power of his existence.
F. He was not created and never came into being.
G. He was there at the creation of the Universe – dwelling in place of such indescribable beauty, and harmony that our words cannot describe it and our imaginations cannot comprehend it.
H. Then God decided to create mankind for eternal fellowship with him – the father son and Holy Spirit.
II. God
A. Scripture describes God when it says God is Love.
1 John 4:16 16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
B. God knew if he created us we would sin.
Titus 1:2 2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began
C. God is also holy which means he is just.
Deuteronomy 32:4 4 “The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.
III. Man
A. He gave us a choice and we chose sin
Romans 3:23 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
B. Justice demands the price be paid.
Romans 6:23 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
IV. The solution is the Lordship of Christ.
A. And yet, because of his great love for us he, of his own free will, left it all behind and come do earth.
B. He chose to enter this world in the body of a newborn baby, enduring the incredible physical trauma of childbirth.
C. He could have chosen to be born anywhere, any time at any place.
D. He could have chosen the splendor of Babylon’s hanging gardens, the opulence Solomon’s palace, excitement of cosmopolitan Corinth or grandeur of mighty Rome, glamorous hills of Modern Hollywood.
E. Instead he chose to be born in a barn wrapped in rags and placed in a feeding trough.
F. In spite of its ignoble setting, it was an event so glorious that a star shinned over the place where he was born and angels appeared to shepherds in the field to announce his entrance into the world.
Luke 2:14 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
G. He chose to grow up – along with his half-sisters and his half-brothers James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon, as the son of a lowly carpenter in the lowly town of Nazareth.
H. At the age of 30 he entered into his public ministry for a time of about 3 years.
I. He was like no other founder of a religion the world had ever seen.
J. He didn’t raise armies of blood thirsty soldiers like Mohamed to create converts by the edge of the sword.
K. He didn’t spend a life of idle contemplation like Buddha, or of philosophical speculation like Plato or Confuses.
L. He didn’t amass a fortune with his teaching like Benny Hinn or Sun Yen Moon and so many have.
M. Instead
N. He healed the hurting, helped the hungry, restored sight the blind and speech to the mute.
O. He proclaimed the most astounding truths ever heard.
P. When his opponents sent soldiers to arrest him they returned empty handed. When their leaders demanded to know why they did not apprehend him these hardened soldiers declared,
John 7:46 46 The officers answered, “No one ever spoke like this man!”
Q. The prophet Isaiah described Jesus’ public ministry centuries before it took place with the words:
Isaiah 61:1-3 (ESV) 1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; 3 to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.
R. To accomplish all of this would require the ultimate sacrifice by the Lord – it would require his crucifixion.
Rock of Ages
2. Not the labors of my hands
can fulfill thy law's commands;
could my zeal no respite know,
could my tears forever flow,
all for sin could not atone;
thou must save, and thou alone.
3. Nothing in my hand I bring,
simply to the cross I cling;
S. Only a sinless savior would do.
T. He lived on the face of this earth for 33 years without sin.
Hebrews 4:15 (ESV) For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
7. In spite of all the good he had done, He was betrayed by one of his own closest friends crucified by what were supposed to be the most pious men on Earth.
V. The Crucifixion Account
A. Before Jesus arrives for the feast the plot is hatched at the palace of Caiaphas the high priest.
B. Garden
C. Disciples sleep
1. Blood
2. Let this cup pass
D. Annas
1. Inquired about disciples and teachings.
2. Ask the people.
3. Officer struck him
E. Caiaphas
1. Illegal Sanhedrin all chief priests elders and scribes.
2. Sought false witnesses
3. Spit, Blindfolded him struck him Prophecy.
F. Pilate
1. They changed the charges from blasphemy to sedition.
G. Herod
1. Soldiers mock him.
H. Pilate
1. No fault.
2. Scourged.
3. Robe crown of thorns struck with wooden rod.
4. Mocked hail king of Jews
5. Robe torn off.
6. Led him away to crucify.
I. Nailed to cross.
J. Father forgive them
K. Gambled for his clothes.
L. Wagged their heads
Matthew 27:39-40 (ESV) 39 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads 40 and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.”
Matthew 27:41-43 (ESV) 41 So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, 42 “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ”
M. Thieves made fun of him.
N. One has a change of heart.
O. From noon to three darkness
Behold the great redeemer die
A broken low to satisfy
He died a sacrifice for sin
That man might live and ever win
P. Woman behold thy son to disciple behold your mother
Q. My God my God.
R. I thirst
S. vinegar
T. It is finished
VI. This story is the CRUX of the Bible.
A. Definition
a vital, basic, decisive, or pivotal point:The crux of the trial was his whereabouts at the time of the murder.
2. a cross.
B. Why do people come to church?
C. Why do they come to Christ?
1 Corinthians 1:18-31 (ESV) 18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. . . . 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God
2 Corinthians 5:13-17 (ESV) 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. 16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Note: some illustrations that might be included as time permits.
D. Illustation – Song:
"When My Love For Christ Grows Weak"
When my love for Christ grows weak
When for deeper faith I seek
Then in thought I go to thee
Garden of Gesthemene
There I walk amid the shade
Where the dwindling twilight fades
See the friendless lonely one
Weeping praying all alone
When my love for men grows weak
When for stronger faith I seek
Hill of Calvary I go
To your scenes of fear and wo
There I turn to life again
Learning all the worth of pain
Learning all the might that lies
In a full self sacrifice
One Solitary Life
Here is a man who was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village, and that a despised one. He worked in a carpenter shop for thirty years, and then for three years he was an itinerant preacher. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never owned a home. He never had a family. He never went to college. He never put his foot inside a really big city. He never traveled, except in his infancy, more than two hundred miles from the place where he was born. He had no credentials but himself.
While still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against him. His friends ran away. One of them betrayed him. He was turned over to his enemies. He went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed upon a cross between two thieves. His executors gambled for the only piece of property he had on earth, his seamless robe. When he was dead, he was taken down from the cross and laid in a borrowed grave through the courtesy of a friend. Nineteen wide centuries have come and gone, and today Jesus is the centerpiece of the human race, and the leader of all human progress.
I am well within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, all the navies that were ever built, all the parliaments that have ever sat, and all the kings that have ever ruled put together have not affected the life of man upon his earth like this one solitary personality.
All time dates from his birth, and it is impossible to understand or interpret the progress of human civilization in any nation or interpret the progress of human civilization in any nation apart from his influence. Slowly through the ages man is coming to realize that the greatest necessity in the world is not water, iron, gold, food and clothing, or even nitrate in the soil; but rather Christ enshrined in human hearts, thoughts and motives.
Francis, James Allan. The Real Jesus and Other Sermons. The Judson Press, 1926, p.121.
E. Illustration from S. M. Lockridge
Do you know my Jesus?
He is my king.
The Bible says my King seven ways.
He's the King of the Jews
He's the King of Israel
He's the King of Righteousness
He's the King of the Ages
He's the King of Heaven
He's the King of Glory
He's the King of kings, and He's the Lord of lords. That's my King.
Well....I wonder, do you know Him?
David said, "The Heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament showed His handiwork."
My King is a sovereign King.
No method of measure can define His limitless love.
No far seeing telescope can bring into visibility the coastline of His shoreless supply.
No barrier can hinder Him from pouring out His blessings.
He's enduringly strong.
He's entirely sincere.
He's eternally steadfast.
He's immortally graceful.
He's imperially powerful.
He's impartially merciful.
Do you know Him?
He's the greatest phenomenon that has ever crossed the horizon of this world.
He's God's Son.
He's the sinner's Savior.
He's the centerpiece of civilization.
He stands in the solitude of Himself.
He's august and unique.
He's unparalleled and unprecedented.
He is the loftiest idea in literature.
He's the highest personality in philosophy.
He's the foundational doctrine of true theology.
He is the cardinal necessity for true religion.
He's the miracle of the ages.
He is the superlative of everything good that you choose to call Him.
He's the only one qualified to be an all sufficient Savior.
I wonder do you know my Jesus today?
He supplies strength for the weak.
He's there for the tempted and the tried.
He sympathizes and He saves.
He strengthens and sustains.
He guards and He guides.
He heals the helpless.
He cleansed the contagious.
He saves the sinners.
He discharges out debt.
He delivers the captives.
He defends the feeble.
He blesses the young.
He understands the unfortunate.
He regards the aged.
He rewards the diligent
....and He beautifies the meek.
I wonder Do you know My Jesus?
My King....He is the King!
He's the key to knowledge.
He's the wellspring of wisdom.
He's the doorway of deliverance.
He's the pathway of peace.
He's the roadway of righteousness.
He's the highway of holiness.
He's the gateway of glory.
Do you know My Jesus?
His office is manifold.
His promise is sure....and His light is matchless.
His goodness is limitless.
His mercy is everlasting.
His love never changes.
His word is enough.
His grace is sufficient.
His reign is righteous.
His yoke is easy, and his burden is light.
I wish I could describe My Jesus to you, but He's indescribable -- for He is God!
He's incomprehensible.
He's invincible.
He's irresistible.
.
You can't out live Him, and you can't live without Him.
The Pharisees couldn't stand Him, but they found out they couldn't stop Him.
Pilate couldn't find any fault in Him.
The witnesses couldn't get their testimonies to agree.
Herod couldn't kill Him.
Death couldn't handle Him,
and the grave couldn't hold Him.
Yes!!!, that's my King,
Do you know My Jesus?
Yes, and Thine is the Kingdom....
and the Power....
and the Glory....
Forever....and ever, and ever, and ever ,and ever, and ever.
And when you get through with all of the forevers,
the duration of his glory will have just begun.
F. When I first these last few words by S. M. Lockridge I was overwhelmed by the rhetorical brilliance of his description of Jesus
G. And yet as masterful as those words are, they do not even touch the hem of his garment.
CONCLUSION:
Galatians 3:27 (ESV) For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
1. Do you know my Jesus? Have you been baptized into him? Are you walking In him?
