“The Wonders of God ~ Salvation”
Part 3 of 5
John 17:5 & Selected
Cross Creek Community Church
Pastor Dave Martin
November 3, 2002
Thursday morning we got up to see the first snowfall of the season. Looking out over the colored foliage and the fresh pure white snow being reflected in our pond was absolutely beautiful. With the sterling blue sky and the suns rays glistening off every tiny all different snowflake, it was a beautiful portrait painted by God Himself. This is a beautiful picture of what happens to a life that is turned over to Jesus Christ. As we are born anew, new creations in Christ!
Most people here today are born again and on your way to heaven. Even though in your life this may be true I want you to pay very close attention to the message this morning. I want you to listen and receive these words as if it were the very first time you ever heard them. You may be here this morning and not sure your sins are forgiven, you may have questions concerning God and who Jesus Christ is. I want everyone to pay careful attention, try not to be distracted in any way – this is a critical message for all of us here this morning as we continue our series on the “Wonders of God”.
Jesus…
1. The Pre-Existent One
John 1:1-2 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning.
John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Jesus Christ the Living Word, is the Eternal One. The Word (Jesus) was God! He was before creation – He did not become or was created – Jesus eternally existed before the beginning of creation.
Jesus said in John 8:58 "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "Before Abraham was born, I am!"
Jesus is the self-existent one, the Son of God. Continuous existence, the forever existent I Am.
* Jesus the One who co-existed with the Father, in the very nature and character of God the Father.
* Yet remaining distinct and individual. Perfect in every aspect, as the Father is perfect.
John 17:5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
Before the world came into existence, Jesus existed in the glorious presence of the Father.
Understand clearly, Jesus is the Pre-Existent One, God in the flesh – A glorious Wonder of God!
2. The Predicted Messiah
Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
* I have read that there are 456 O.T. prophecies concerning Jesus Christ! All fulfilled or yet to be fulfilled.
* Jesus is God wrapped up in human flesh. Jesus Christ fulfilling the offices of Prophet, Priest and King.
* Four descriptive names given in Is. 9:6: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace
Luke 2:11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
* Three titles given in this verse: Savior – “Deliverer”, Christ – “Anointed One”, Lord – “Yahweh; God”.
* The Words for Christ (Gk) and Messiah (Heb) is the same – “Christos” meaning the “Anointed One”.
* Jesus claimed and accepted His title of Messiah various places in scripture (Mt 16:17; Mk 14:61; John 4:26).
* Jesus is the long awaited Messiah predicted in the O.T. came as a baby born in Bethlehem.
* The wondrous virgin birth, the Savior, the Messiah, Yahweh-God, the Anointed One has come!
3. His Sinless Life and Miracles
John 20:30-31 Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
The Gospels contain only a small sample of Jesus’ words and wonders.
* He lived a perfect sinless life to be the perfect sinless sacrifice whom God sent from heaven to earth.
* Jesus 100% God and 100% human lived a perfect life of love, purity, justice, truth, peace, faith, compassion, power, hope, joy, commitment, self-denial, holiness, mercy, righteousness, discipline, behavior, sacrifice, etc.
John 21:25 Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.
* Look today at how the life of Jesus Christ impacted the world, splitting time in half from BC to AD.
Jesus Demonstrated Wonders and Authority over…
1. Common Things (wine, food, coin/fish)
Turning water into wine (Jn 2), instruction the Disciples to catch a fish and find a coin in its mouth to pay their taxes (Mt 17), or the feeding of the 5000 men plus women and children with 2 fish and five loaves of bread (Mt 14).
2. Forces of Nature (walking on water, still the storms, darkness)
Absolute authority over nature by walking on water and even allowing Peter to get out of the boat and do likewise (Mt 14), He demonstrated power of nature in rebuking the wind and waves when He stilled the storm (Mk 4). We’re told in Mt 27 about the sun turning black for three hours as Jesus hung on the cross and the earth quaked – surely this is the Son of God!
3. Spirit World (Angels and demons)
Remember the great heavenly host praising God and announcing the birth of Jesus. (Luke 2) And various times when the angels of heaven ministered to Jesus. We see wondrous authority and power over the unseen world when he cast demons out of various individuals to the wonder and amazement of all those who witnessed it. (Mk 1:39; etc)
4. Physical ailments (heal blind, lame, diseases)
There are recorded in the Gospels 35 separate miracles from healing a lame man (Jn 5), cleansing a man with leprosy (Mt 8). Healing a man’s shriveled hand to restoring sight to the blind. Even restoring the ear of a man who had it cut off by Peter when Jesus was arrested.
5. Death (raise the dead to life)
Jesus demonstrated absolute power and authority over death itself, who but God can raise the dead! He raised a widow’s son back to life (Lu 7) and also Jairus’s daughter lived again (Mt 9). Just before His triumphal entry into Jerusalem in John 11 we see Jesus calling Lazarus back to life from the dead. Believe in Jesus and you will never die spiritually!
John 11:25-26 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"
Acts 2:22 "Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.
* God certified the miracles, wonders and signs Jesus did. Because He is who He said He was.
* Jesus is the pre-existent God. Jesus is the long awaited Messiah. Jesus demonstrated a perfect sinless life.
* God the Father accredited, He certified Christ’s authenticity many times and in many ways.
Knowing all these things – ask yourself the question, WHY?
Why do we have this book called the Bible?
Why was the O.T. filled with prophecies concerning Jesus Christ?
(It is very important to see the “Big Picture”)
What was God’s Eternal purpose in sending His Son?
It all boils down to this one simple, yet sometimes difficult to grasp reality…
To SAVE us from our SINS!
Luke 19:10 “The Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."
* That’s it in a nutshell – The entire Bible is all geared toward this purpose – to tell us this good news!
Luke 2:11 – A Savior has been born to you – To SAVE us from our SINS!
* You may not “feel” lost, yet God says the whole human race is lost in sin needing a Savior.
Remember what John the Baptist said when he first saw the Lord Jesus walking along the River Jordan…
John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
* Jesus came into this world, stepping out of eternity into time to be the Savior of the world.
* Jesus is OUR Passover Lamb. This Lamb belonged to God and was given to be our sacrifice for sin.
* This speaks of His great love and of His great sacrifice. The innocent paying the price for the guilty.
* The shedding of the precious blood of the Lamb, the Lord Jesus upon the cross of Calvary.
1 Peter 1:18-19 “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect”.
PLEASE, CONSIDER CAREFULLY:
It’s a great thing to “KNOW” that Jesus is the pre-existent Eternal Son of God who became human flesh. To “KNOW” that Jesus was the long awaited, predicted Messiah. To “KNOW about His sinless life and miracles. Even to “KNOW” about His mission to earth to die for sin on the cross. BUT, do not allow your “HEAD KNOWLEDGE” of these truths prevent you from experiencing genuine SALVATION of your soul.
4. His Substitutary Death
Philip. 2:6-8 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death -- even death on a cross!
* Jesus never surrendered His attributes of Deity, but He took on the limitations of humanity.
* Jesus Christ was completely God and yet truly man. He humbled Himself in obedience to death on the cross.
2 Cor. 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
* The sinless Savior took upon Himself the sin of the world. (Lamb of God - Jn 1:29)
* Our sin was placed upon Him who “had no sin” why? So we can become righteous before God.
A person may go to heaven without health, without riches, without honors, without learning, without friends; but he can never go there without Christ. John Dyer (1699-1757)
* An entire lifetime could never fathom the depths of these truths.
* God takes our “faith” in Christ and counts or credits it as righteousness, our Justification, God then treats us as being innocent of all sin because of the payment His perfect Son made at Calvary.
* The “Wonders of God!” Unfathomable how the innocent died for the guilty.
If you miss this last point – you miss heaven! R U SAVED?
FOUR STEPS in finding New Life through Christ…
1. ADMIT your sins and ask for forgiveness.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
* The Bible declares the human race stands guilty and lost in sin. You, me, everyone.
All have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory (Rom 3:23).
John Newton said, “I remember two things: that I am a great sinner and that Christ is a great Savior”.
* We cannot save ourselves. Our righteousness is as filthy rags.
* Knowing this, come with a broken heart to the Savior.
* God help me, God take over control of my life, God forgive me!
Psalm 32:5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord"-- and you forgave the guilt of my sin.”
* Admit your sins and ask for forgiveness, you don’t need to carry the weight of your sin.
2. BELIEVE Jesus died for your sin and rose again.
Romans 10:9-10 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
* Struggling with sin? Believe in your hearts and you are justified, confess with your mouth you are saved.
* Salvation is not a complicated process; even a child can do it. Adults like to do things, “my way”.
Adults are good at complicating things. We come up with elaborate ideas and schemes to earn salvation.
Deceived by the enemy we believe we can somehow earn heaven by saying certain prayers over and over. Or by attending church. Or by becoming a member of a church. Or by thinking God grades on a scale of one to ten with degrees of good or bad. Or by giving money will buy a ticket to heaven. Or by being baptized either as a child or an adult will somehow wash away my sin nature. Or by doing good deeds or works or trying to live a moral lifestyle. Or even attempting to be pious and religious. Don’t try to add to salvation.
* None of these “things” can save you. If they could, why then would Jesus come to earth?
* You must admit your sin and believe Jesus shed his blood and died to take away your sins.
3. ACCEPT God’s gift of salvation by faith.
Ephes. 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast.
* If someone gave you a gift, do you say, how much do I owe you? NO, you accept it.
* Salvation through Jesus Christ is free, BUT you need to accept it by exercising your faith alone.
G. Campbell Morgan was once approached by a soldier who said he would give anything to believe that God would forgive sins, "but I cannot believe He will forgive me if I just turn to Him. It is too cheap." Dr. Morgan said to him: "You were working in the mine today. How did you get out of the pit?"
He answered, "The way I usually do; I got into the cage and was pulled to the top." "How much did you pay to come out of the pit?" "I didn’t pay anything." "Weren’t you afraid to trust yourself to that cage? Was it not too cheap?" The man replied, "Oh, no! It was cheap for me, but it cost the company a lot of money to sink that shaft." The man saw the light, that it was the infinite price paid by the Son of God for our salvation, which comes to us by faith and not by anything that we can do. --James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988) pp. 257-258.
* Notice carefully we are saved from our sin by God’s grace (unmerited favor) through faith in Christ.
4. INVITE Jesus into your life as LORD and SAVIOR.
John 1:12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--
* Salvation is of God. What do I have to do? Invite Jesus into your life.
* You invite Him into your life not only as Savior from Sin but also as Lord of your Life in every area.
God created us free-moral agents, not robots. We are able to accept or reject the message of salvation.
* Would you invite Jesus into your heart this morning? Experience the GREATEST Wonder of God!
* There are some here with honest questions concerning what you have heard this morning.
* You are not sure if you were to die that you would make it to heaven. Carrying the burden of sin.
* You may have been struggling for years over this question – accept Christ Jesus today.
2 Cor. 6:2b “…Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
* You have been attending church yet experiencing private struggles in certain areas of your life.
* You may be carrying a heavy load of sin and guilt for years – give it to Jesus.
* This message demands a decision. Do not hear with deaf ears and hearts. Trust Christ today!
* Jesus begs and pleads with you to give your heart to Him before its too late.
Rev. 3:20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.
* Jesus stands outside the church seeking entrance, He also seeks entrance into your heart.
* I truly believe the Holy Spirit is knocking on your heart right now – YOU KNOW when GOD SPEAKS!
A twelve-year-old boy became a Christian during a revival. The next week at school his friends questioned him about the experience. "Did you see a vision?" asked one friend. "Did you hear God speak?" asked another. The youngster answered no to all these questions. "Well, how did you know you were saved?" they asked. The boy searched for an answer and finally he said, "It’s like when you catch a fish, you can’t see the fish or hear the fish; you just feel him tugging on your line. I just felt God tugging on my heart."
--James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988) p. 188.
Bow for Prayer
* God may never knock on your heart again, if He’s speaking, you need to respond today.
* Would you come to Christ? Invite Him into your life? Would you say…
* I desire to invite Jesus into my heart today, would you from your heart, pray this simple prayer?
Dear Lord Jesus…
I know that I am sinful and I need your forgiveness. I believe that you died to pay the penalty for my sin. I want to turn from my sin nature and follow you instead. I invite you to come into my heart and life and be my LORD and SAVIOR.
* If the Lord has been speaking to you this morning and you prayed this prayer from your heart, you are saved.
Experience NEW LIFE in Christ!
Romans 10:13 "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
Everyone Jesus called in the Bible He called publicly. There is no such thing as a “secret” Christian.
If you have prayed this prayer this morning and have truly called upon the Lord as your personal Savior.
Would you lift your hand in testimony for what Christ has done for you? Praise the Lord!
Prayer
