The Explosion Within Series

The Explosion Within

Pastor Dan Little

adfontes.djl@gmail.com

03-11-12

Romans 5:6 When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. 7 Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. 8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9 And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation.

10 For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. 11 So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God. (NLT)

Key Phrases

1. v6… we were utterly helpless.

2. v9 … we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ

3. v10 … saved through the life of his Son.

4. v11 … we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our

Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.

These are Gospel (good news) words. They were given to the Apostle Paul by the Spirit of God and he put them to paper for out benefit around 58 AD.

There are lots of religions that are built around the teachings of a certain person. Why are the words and acts of Jesus characterized as “good news? Here is why!

Every other religion of the world says that you must be good so that God will love you. Only Jesus came saying; "It’s just the other way around. God has always loved you, and if you open yourself up to His love He makes you good."

That is what Paul means in saying that we were personally UTTERLY HELPLESS; “

• 9 “We have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ.

• 10 “our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies.”

• 11 “Our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.”

Jesus gave us these gospel words; John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life

Eternal life given to whoever believes!

This is the utter simplicity of the Gospel as it was preached by the Apostle Peter on the day of Pentecost. Acts 2:21 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

The message is simple; Stop running from God and trust yourself to the love that Jesus poured out on the cross and the power He showed when He walked out of the tomb on the third day.

Stop running FROM and turn TOWARD Him and you will be saved.

How is this turn made? Romans 10:10 tells you how.

With your whole being you believe that Jesus has set everything right between you and God and then you and then you say it, right out loud: "Through Christ God has set everything right between him and me!" (MsgB)

When you make that turn it sets off a spiritual (and very often an emotional explosion) as two worlds meet (more like collide) in you. God’s presence takes up residence in your life. The power of the explosion travels in all directions at once effecting every area of your life.

Jesus called this explosion NEW BIRTH.

John 3:3 “…unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."

Paul said describes the explosion as the collapse of the old way of life and the inrush of a new way of life.

2 Corinthians 5:17 “…if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself …”

The explosion of salvation is instantaneous, but it also lasts a lifetime as the strong and continuing waves of Christ’s love work their way into every corner of your life. It is continually changing you, continually molding your life.

Let me enumerate 10 experiences reported over the centuries by millions of people from every age and ever conceivable culture who have first hand personal knowledge of this explosion.

I have boxed the first three together because they are often used in the same sentence—love, joy and peace as can be seen in Galatians 5:22.

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1. LOVE: You will feel a deep and flowing love in two directions. God’s love floods your senses with amazing grace. His love also overflows in you in a felt love for others.