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The Sin Transplant
Contributed by Rick Pendleton on Jun 27, 2008 (message contributor)
Summary: This sermon is a light-hearted look at salvation using the analogy of a modern day operation.
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The Sin Transplant
Hebrews 4:12-13
Introduction:
I want to talk to you today about a transplant. Our modern American culture is very accustomed to transplants. Eye transplants, liver transplants, heart transplants, bone marrow transplants. Almost any organ can now be transplanted from one human to another. And not just from humans. Scientists have long transplanted pig valves into human hearts. Scientists recently even grew a human ear on the back of a rat, and then transplanted it to a human.
Listen, and allow your mind to picture what I speak of.
This is no organ transplant.
THE OPERATING ROOM
It is not even a typical O.K.. The Operating room is a hill outside of Jerusalem, usually known as Golgotha, and associated with death.
The operating table is two bare wooden beam nailed or grooved together.
THE SURGEON
The surgeon is the greatest physician in the world. In fact, he is even called, "The Great Physician."
THE PATIENT
You will recognize the patient. He is YOU! He is mankind, us, you and me.
THE DIAGNOSIS
The condition of the patient is critical, in fact he is suffering from a disease for which the mortality rate is 100%. Worse than aids!!!!!
A biopsy has been taken and the results are back.
THE SCALPEL
The scalpel used for the biopsy is the greatest one in the world. It is not electronic. It is not. It is old, eternally old.
"It is living and active and sharper than any two edged sword, and piercing as far as both joints and marrow and able to judge the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no thing hidden from his sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of him..." Heb. 4:12-13
No scalpel known to man can see into the motives and thoughts of a man.
No internal camera can see the real condition of a man’s soul.
God’s scalpel is sharper, more precise, and more powerful than any other scalpel or machine known to modern science.
Nothing is hidden from His eyes, His knowledge.
The Biopsy
A malignant tumor was found
The tumor has metastasized, or spread throughout the entire body. Not one organ or part of the body is unaffected.
"For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."
It affects all of the major organs.
THE PROGNOSIS
The prognosis is DEATH. 100% death
"For the wages of sin is death." Romans 6:23
THE TREATMENT RECOMMENDED
The only hope is a transplant. The old organ, the heart, is diseased beyond cure. It is beyond surgical repair.
The only hope is a good, healthy, un-diseased organ from a matching donor.
THE PROBLEM
A search was conducted and NOT ONE suitable donor was found for two reasons.
1. ALL WERE DISEASED! For all have sinned, there is none that is righteous, NO NOT ONE
2. Only useful organ was NOT A MATCH.
The only organ found that was not diseased was God’s heart. It was 100% righteous, pure, and good.
But God was no match because he is spirit and we are flesh.
THE PLAN
Recently the world was outraged at the news that a couple had decided to have a baby. Why were people angry? These were the parents of a girl dying of a disease for which she needed a transplant, Leukemia. And there was no donor match.
So they decided to have their own child that would, hopefully, be a suitable match. She was. And the transplant saved the life of the sister.
Was that immoral? Was that selfish? Was that the wrong reason to have a child
Before you answer, consider this. THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT GOD DID!
God had a child dying of a disease (sin) for which the only cure was a transplant. God could find no matching donors, no useful organs, (for all had sinned)
What did God do? HE GAVE BIRTH TO A CHILD FOR THE EXPRESS PURPOSE OF BEING A DONOR FOR THE DYING CHILD.
Why was Jesus born in the stable? TO DIE!
God for-ordained it. "forordained before the foundation of the world. 1 Peter 1:20
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his son, made of a woman, made under the law. To redeem them that are under the law.. Gal 4:4-5
Why did he come? TO GIVE HIS LIFE A RANSOM (donor) FOR MANY. Mk 10:45
Why did God cause him to be born in the flesh?
We see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels (flesh) for the suffering of death. Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest I things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. Heb 2:9, 17