EZEKIEL 37:1-14 - A Crucial Question!

TOPIC: Easter; New Life, Resurrection
TITLE: A CRUCIAL QUESTION - Son of man, can these bones live? [Adapted: Proclaim. BSSB, “The Sermon Seedbed” by Kevin Shrum; Jul-Sep 1996, p.21]

The period preceding Easter is a good time to talk about the resurrection of the dead. For some people it is not an easy subject no matter how you explain it. Butterflies or seeds, it makes no difference, it’s just too unnatural!

God often confronts us with difficult questions; not because He likes to see us squirm, or because He doesn’t know the answer, but because He wants to reveal how He see things. Said another way, He wants us to see how we see things.

For since in the wisdom of God the world, through its wisdom, did not come to know God, God was well-pleased, through the foolishness of the message preached, to save those who believe.

1 Corinthians 1:21

TEXT: Ezekiel 37:1-14

The hand of the LORD was upon me, and He brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of the valley; and it was full of bones. And He caused me to pass among them round about, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley; and lo, they were very dry. [1-2]

NO LIFE - DEAD!
This reminds me of what a field strewn with seed looks like, the seed dry and without any observable sign of life.

And He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" And I answered, "O Lord GOD, Thou knowest."

Again He said to me, "Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, 'O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.' Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones, 'Behold, I will cause breath to enter you that you may come to life. And I will put sinews on you, make flesh grow back on you, cover you with skin, and put breath in you that you may come alive; and you will know that I am the LORD.'" [3-6]

GOD ALONE - ABLE!
Thus God tells Ezekiel to prophesy: and the Word of God goes out, and powerfully does what no man alone nor men in concert can do!

And as it was in the Garden when Adam had been formed out of the ground, God put breath in him after that which was lacking for life was given.

So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold, a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to its bone. And I looked, and behold, sinews were on them, and flesh grew, and skin covered them; but there was no breath in them. [7-8]

A kind of slow-motion reverse of the scenes in the horror movies.

Then He said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they come to life."'" So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they came to life, and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army. [9-10]

A TYPE - ISRAEL!
The dry bones are indeed an army; but they are not to imply that the resurrected Israel will arise from its grave a military force. The illustration is of something without life receiving life, miraculously.

Then He said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel; behold, they say, 'Our bones are dried up, and our hope has perished. We are completely cut off.'

"Therefore, prophesy and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, behold, I will open your graves and cause you to come up out of your graves, My people; and I will bring you into the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves and caused you to come up out of your graves, My people. And I will put My Spirit within you, and you will come to life, and I will place you on your own land. Then you will know that I, the LORD, have spoken and done it," declares the LORD.'" [11-14]

THE WAY - PROPHETIC!
Prophesy impacts us in two ways: first, it gives testimony of God’s word and power in past historical events; second, it points the scepter of God at future events which will come to pass as surely as the earlier event did!

The prophet’s purpose in his prophecy is to predict the restoration of Israel in a future dispensation of time!

The purpose of God in the prophecy is to reveal the prophet’s and the nation’s abject hopelessness and the reality that nothing short of the power of God can save them! By this act, God says, ye shall know that I am God. [v.6]

• Can these bones live? God asks the prophet. Yes, but only by the power of God! (Expand this)
• Can the dry bones of an unbeliever live? Yes, but only by the power of God! (Expand this)
• Can the dry bones of backslidden believers live? Yes, but only by the power of God! (Expand this)
• Can the dry bones of dead churches live? Yes, but only by the power of God! (Expand this)
• Can the dry bones of a nation wasted by sin live? Yes, but only by the power of God! (Expand this)

NEW LIFE - RESURRECTION!
Paul wrote of this power when he spoke of Abraham:

A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS HAVE I MADE YOU, in the sight of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.

Romans 4:17

And Isaiah wrote of the powerlessness of man in contrast with the power of God:

We were pregnant, we writhed in labor, we gave birth, as it were, [but] only to wind. We could not accomplish deliverance for the earth nor were inhabitants of the world born. Your dead will live; their corpses will rise. You who lie in the dust, awake and shout for joy, for your dew is as the dew of the dawn, and the earth will give birth to the departed spirits.

Isaiah 26:18-19

Can you believe that some people believe this happened in a vision in order that God could demonstrate His unbelievable power but that they do not believe that a general resurrection of the dead will take place?

"Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear shall live. For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, be-cause He is the Son of Man.

Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.”

John 5:25-29

But many do marvel: even today the same is true as it was in Paul’s day –

For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 1:18

Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

1 Corinthians 1:25

THE CHALLENGE - YOURS!
The choice is yours. The world is dying and sliding into the abyss one soul at a time ... let me ask you the question again - SON OF MAN, WILL YO' BONES LIVE?

Christianity, Easter,
Expository, Ezekiel, Homiletics,
Outlines, Preaching, Sermons

1 PETER: Full Sermons

The following are links to full sermons, preached at FBC La Verne in Southern California or at San Carlos Community Church (SCCC) in San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico ...

2:24

Link - THE TAPESTRY OF ATONEMENT - What it means to us!

1 Peter, Christianity, Easter, Expository,
Homiletics, Outlines, Preaching

1 Peter 2:24 The Tapestry of Atonement

...and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.

TOPIC: Atonement [Easter, Guilt, Imputation, Justice, Nature (of God), Propitiation, Reconciliation, Redemption, Retribution, Sacrifice, Substitution]

TITLE: THE TAPESTRY OF ATONEMENT - What it means to us!

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What is our condition that it decrees such an atonement?
CONCISE OUTLINE

I. We are dead in our trespasses and sins! [Ephesians 2:1]
II. We are by nature and practice the children of wrath! [v. 3]
III. We are found without hope and without God in the world! [v. 12]
IV. We are strangers and foreigners to the household of God! [v. 19]

SERIES: This is the 3rd in a four-part series paving the way for our Easter Sunday service; two weeks ago we took a hard look at sin "the gravity of depravity" ... its blackness, its pollution ... in "The Pollution Solution."

Last week we gave careful thought to what Christ suffered on the Cross ... in our place ... "Three Hours One Friday," as the Son was separated from the Father.

Last week the agony, this week the ecstasy ... last week the crucifixion, this week the atonement ... last week the work of art, this week the beautiful frame.

TRUTH/CONTEXT: Our text says we were healed. When you accepted the Lord, were you sick? Disabled? Diseased? Injured? Healed of what then? when? Of the debilitating effects of sin!

The sins of man must be atoned for ... God's nature demands it ... perfect justice is required by a perfect God ... holy through and through ... every wrong dealt with! Not even an imperfect yet compassionate human judge would fellowship with criminals who denied their crimes and continued to practice them.

The atonement of sinful man by a merciful God is woven throughout Scripture like a scarlet thread in a brilliant tapestry of the middle ages ... from Genesis to Revelation.

In the Old it's seen in the "bruised heel" of Genesis 3:15; in the offerings of Abel, Noah, Abraham, and Joshua; in the Passover; in the offerings of Leviticus and Numbers. And so on, till we reach the prophetic words of the psalmists and prophets.

In the New it's fulfilled in Christ, "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world," as viewed in the Gospels. Doctrinally it's explained and applied in many of the Epistles. It's proclaimed in the manifestation of the slain Lamb of Revelation.

And finally - acknowledged as the right and experience of the Apostle's confession of faith: "We joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement." [or "reconciliation"; Romans 5:11 ASV]

Peter's words set the stage for the body of this message which comes from the second chapter of Ephesians [1-22].

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What is our condition that it decrees such an atonement?
EXPANDED OUTLINE

I. We are dead in our trespasses and sins! [v.1]

Before Christ we "... were dead in [our] trespasses and sins," the Apostle says.

II. We are by nature and practice the children of wrath! [3]

He adds, "... we too ... lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath."

Notice immorality is not the sole domain of the flesh; the mind is involved as well. Let those with a lust for pornographic materials take note.

III. We are found without hope and without God in the world! [12]

Paul reminds us we "... were at that time separate from Christ ... having no hope and without God in the world."

IV. We are strangers and foreigners to the household of God! [19]

Though not specifically stated, it is implied in the condition which existed before we were " ... no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household."

APPLICATION/CHALLENGE: You can see man's plight ... what if God had said, "No! I will not send my Son as a propitiation for their sins"?

Or what if the Father said, "Go!" but the Son said, "No! I won't go!"?

Where would we be ... still dead in our trespasses and sins, still separated from the love of God, still outside the household of God!

But praise be to God we ... "are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household."

I didn't seek a substitute, rather God offered one!

[SURROGATES] During the Revolutionary and Civil Wars wealthy and powerful men purchased substitutes to fight in their stead or for their sons.

In this Spiritual War no treasury outside of heaven is rich enough to buy a substitute for judgment. Yet, God didn't buy one, He gave one! While we were yet sinners Christ died in our place.

Were it not for the substitutionary atonement of Christ for my sins, they would continue to be an insurmountable barrier for me in the face of a holy and righteous God ... preventing for all time fellowship with Him ... no matter how hard no matter how long I tried to make things right!

The embarrassing biblical ignorance of our people today requires another question be asked and answered: knowledge of which elements of the doctrine of atonement are essential to the believer?

I. THE REASON (for the Doctrine of Atonement) - Sin!

Your Iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you. [Isaiah 69:2]

A. Sin is not bad luck, disease of mind, evil bias, a mistake, result of heredity or environment. Sin is the willful, rebellious breaking of the divine law.

Where no law is, there is no transgression. [Romans 4:15]

Sin is the transgression of The Law. [1 John 3:4]

B. Nor is sin just an offense against man; it is an offense against God:

Joseph said: "How can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God." [Genesis 39:9]

David said: "Against Thee have I sinned, and done this evil in Thy sight." [Psalm 51:4]

C. We must each humbly face the serious subjects of law, guilt, retribution, before the tender meanings of love, grace, redemption, are realized. So sin, which is a manifestly horrible thing, needs to be done away with ... and so -

2. THE MEANING - Covering!

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. [Psalm 32: 1]

Iniquities prevail against me; as for our transgressions, Thou shalt purge them away. [Psalm 65:3]

A. Atonement is a "shelter by means of representation." [Girdlestone, Robert Baker, Synonyms of the Old Testament; Eerdmans [Grand Rapids], 1948, p.127.]

He who knew no sin was made sin for you and for me!

B. The very holiness of God demanded He turn His face from our dying Savior at the
moment of His sin-bearing.

"My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" [Mark 15:34]

3. THE SOURCE - Christ Jesus (God)!

"Surely He (Jesus) has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted. ... All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord (Jehovah) has laid on Him (Jesus) the iniquity of us all. ... Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him: He has put Him to grief." [Isaiah 53:4, 6, 10]

"Him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain." [Acts 2:23]

"God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself." [2 Corinthians 5:19]

Thus the very God, whose law man has broken, and against whom he has sinned, Himself provides the Atonement.

4. THE FOUNDATION - Love!

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. [John 3:16]

Christ also has loved us, and has given Himself for us ... [He] also loved the Church, and gave Himself for it. [Ephesians 5:2, 25]

Herein Is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation [substitute] for our sins. [1 John 4:10]

God demonstrates His Love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. [Romans 5:8]

5. THE METHOD - Blood!

It is the blood that makes atonement for the soul. [Leviticus 17:11]

Without shedding of blood there is no remission. [Hebrews 9:22]

6. THE RESULT - Forgiveness (Salvation)!

A. The Immediate Result -

1. Healing of sin's disease.

He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. [Isaiah 53:5]

2. Deliverance from sin's power of attraction.

Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world. [Galatians 1: 4]

3. New Life for holiness and service.

Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness. [1 Peter 2:24]

B. Future Result

1. Gain of eternal inheritance.

He is the Mediator ... that they which are called might receive the promise of Eternal Inheritance. [Hebrews 9:15]

2. Glory of the Divine presence.

Unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His Glory with exceeding joy. [Jude 24]

The Atonement is the only means by which God could pardon transgressors of the Divine Law; the INSATIABLE NEED of man met by the INFINITE PROVISION of God.

Theological and biblical considerations were culled from George E. Morgan's "Atonement," in The King's Business, a now defunct monthly periodical of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles (BIOLA); (July 1922) Vol. 13, No. 7, 701-02. Thanks also to Dr. J. Richard Chase; ibid., nd, 11-13, for suggesting the outline to the Ephesians content.

Atonement, Easter, Guilt, Imputation, Justice,
Nature, Outlines, Propitiation, Reconciliation, Redemption,
Retribution, Sacrifice, Sermons, Substitution

Isaiah 53:1-8 Higher Purpose!

Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? For He [cf. 52:13-15] grew up before Him like a tender shoot, And like a root out of parched [i.e., “dry”] ground; He has no stately form or majesty that we should look upon Him, Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him.

He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.

All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.

He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth.

By oppression and judgment He was taken away; and, as for His generation, who considered that He was cut off out of the land of the living for the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due?

TOPIC: Easter; atonement (substitutionary), sacrifice, worship
TITLE: The Message of God to Man!

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What can we say of God’s Suffering Servant?

TRUTH/CONTEXT: This is my continuing Easter prequel for the lack of a better word. I intend to have a bona fide Easter Series but want to build up to it by covering the marvelous touchstones of the season … so much! So much indeed! We must remember Isaiah’s Suffering Servant did this not just as an act of obedience to the Father and an act of love to mankind, but as an act of worship as well.

[SACRIFICE] When the government phased out its surplus commodity food program, a poor man went early to the closest distribution to get into line before the food ran out. A few hours later, he neared the door where the food was handed out. In the corner of his eye he saw a neighbor approach the end of the line. He called out to him. He knew the man. Neither his wife nor he had any work for some time. They had four children.

The man in line knew the food would run out soon, but he insisted his neighbor take his place. The first man went to the end of the line. Within a short time the distribution ended; the one who gave up his place also gave up his food.

In the same way, Jesus Christ drew us to His place, while He stepped into ours … taking upon Himself all the consequences of our failures.

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What can we say of God’s Suffering Servant?
EXPANDED OUTLINE:

I. WE CAN SAY: WHILE HELL FOCUSED ON HIM, HE FOCUSED ON US!

A. He Knew …

1. Sorrow

a) Anguish
b) Affliction

2. Grief

a) Malady
b) Disease
c) Sickness

B. He was treated Like a Leper …

People hid (pulled cloaks over) their faces from Him [i.e., averted]

C. He was disparaged and disrespected

1. Distained
2. Scorned

D. Other …

1. Stricken – violently taken and thrown around
2. Smitten – severely beaten
3. Afflicted

E. Instead He …

1. Bore our griefs

a) Both lifted up and
b) Carried away

2. Carried our sorrows

a) Bent under
b) Burdened by

II. WE CAN SAY: WHILE FORFEITING HIS OWN WELL-BEING, HE LABORED FOR OURS!

A. For Our Transgressions – Pierced!
B. For Our Iniquities – Crushed!

1. Beaten
2. Bruised
3. Incapable of carrying himself; muscles wouldn’t respond

C. For Our Healing – Scourged!

1. The Passion of Christ
2. Black and blue all over
3. Cut and bleeding

APPLICATION/CHALLENGE: He suffered and He died that we might live; while we were yet in our sins, He died for you and for me.

Man was and is prone to do what seems right in his own eyes, to go the way of least resistance.

[LIGHT] No one switches on a flashlight in broad daylight; we turn on the light to dispel darkness. It is the darkness that makes the light necessary. God from eternity knew we would choose the darkness rather than His Light, and therefore He sent His only begotten Son to shine in the darkness … and the darkness will flee.

And so He, the Light of God, shined in the darkness [John 1:4, 5] and he “has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him.”

He was tortured and stomped, mocked, and spat upon, “Yet He did not open His mouth.”

His fate was as certain as a new born lamb on the day He was born … He would be “led to the slaughter,” to be torn apart to cover and feed the flesh. He knew this but He did not bleat!

Man wanted to destroy the Lamb of God for his own purposes but God had a greater purpose for His Lamb.

[COVERING] Two Aussies invented an inflatable covering for cars to protect them during hailstorms. The blanket is stored in the trunk until needed; then inflated with a lighter attachment in about 45 seconds. By the time the covering is up its too late! We need a covering to protect us from the strokes that are due us ... the covering provided by Christ does just that.

Mankind (under the influence of sin) took the Lamb away to be cut off from the land (Israel) in order that Satan might deliver “the stroke … due” God’s people “for [their] transgression.” Notice the singular form of the word “transgression” … it’s a collective – meaning rebellion.

What was the greater purpose of God in all of this … other than that He would provide the ram as Abraham told his son God would do? It was this …

• Instead of His Lamb being used by man, He would be used for man.
• Instead of His Lamb being used by man to satisfy the Law, He would be used by God to satisfy the Royal Law.
• Instead of satisfying the flesh (will of man), He would satisfy the Spirit (will of God).
• Instead of a mortal, perishable, and natural purpose, He would be used for an immortal, imperishable, and supernatural purpose.

God gave His only begotten that He might be worshipped in the way He desires and deserves … a living sacrifice, whole and well-pleasing.

His Son gave Himself as a living propitiation to His Father, for our rebellion, that we might be cleansed and prepared for that Great Day of salvation and glory.

What, I pray, what have you given of yourself that you might be so presented on that day?

Atonement, Christianity, Easter, Expository,
Homiletics, Isaiah, Outlines, Preaching,
Sermons, Sufficiency

1 CORINTHIANS 1:17 How to make the Cross meaningless!

TOPIC: Easter (series); Cross, Gospel, Word, Works
TITLE: How has God sent us?

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void.

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What did and did not the Lord send Paul to do?

TRUTH/CONTEXT: Easter is a time to remind ourselves that what matters is Christ … not us. In the passage before us, Paul is speaking to the Corinthians about the Christian focus because he knows he is about to confront them concerning their individual and corporate behavior.

Paul chooses his words carefully in order not to take away from his ministry to them but he wastes no time getting to the Cross (before the first chapter ends).

Consider that Paul says, "Christ did not send me to" (do certain things) ... implying the Lord did send him to do other things. What things?

First let's be clear about what he wasn't to do and then look at what he was to do!

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What did and did not the Lord send Paul to do?
EXPANDED OUTLINE:

I. HE DIDN’T SEND PAUL TO DRAW ATTENTION TO PAUL!

A. He didn't send him to do righteous works ... "Christ did not send me to baptize"
B. He didn't send him to proclaim spiritual truths with clever words/speech ... "not in cleverness of speech"
C. Such things make "void" (i.e., make meaningless) the cross of Christ

II. HE SENT PAUL TO DRAW ATTENTION TO HIS WORDS, AND HIS CROSS!

A. He did send him that Jesus’ works would be full of meaning (ant. "void") …

[WOUNDED] I'm told that during World War I the Prince of Wales (I believe Edward who later abdicated his throne) visited 36 severely wounded men in a London hospital. The Prince shook hands with the men. As preparations were made to leave, the Prince indicated he’d only seen 30 men. "Where are the other six?"

Although he was informed the others were severe cases, he insisted he see the others. The others were soon seen. "But there are only five, where's the last?" asked the Prince. Although the Prince was told that the grotesqueness of the man's appearance would be unbearable, the Prince insisted on seeing him. They took him to the man's bedside.

The Prince stood silent for a long moment, then moved to the man and stooped to kiss him! With emotion breaking in his voice, the Prince of Wales was heard to say, Wounded for me. Wounded for me."

"Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the LORD [i.e., power] been revealed? For He grew up before [the Father] like a tender shoot, And like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty That we should look upon Him, Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him. He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed." [Isaiah 53:1-5].

B. And not made void [without meaning]!
C. That Jesus' words would be heard

1. Though foolishness to some ...
For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, [1 Corinthians 1:18a]
2. It is powerful to others ... but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. [1 Corinthians 1:18b]

APPLICATION/CHALLENGE: We now know that both the cross and the Good News are "the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes" [Romans 1:16].

And we know it is totally unrelated to man's works of righteousness ...

But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been abolished. [Galatians 5:11]

For ...

Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. (i.e., embarrassed) [Galatians 6:12]

So if we want to look good, then we must imitate Paul ...

But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.* [Galatians 6:14-15]

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. [2 Corinthians 5:17]

When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. [Col. 2:13-14]

We have the very bad habit of getting in the way of this Good News … talking about what we think and what we know and how we interpret and understand it and what we're doing or what we've done! All of this is fine but not what Christ sent us to do.

[VICTOR] A Commander-In-Chief may defeat all his enemies on the battlefield yet be unable to defeat his critics at home [Lincoln, Grant, Wilson, FDR, and Dubya].

He may be able to control the men under him and yet be unable to control himself [Jefferson, Kennedy, and Clinton]. He may be a victorious leader in the estimation of men, yet defeated in the estimation of God [numerous recent Christian leaders].

And he may congratulate himself that no one has been able to stand up against him, yet he will go down at last before man's final enemy, death [Stalin, Mao, Ho Chi Min, Castro, etc,].

Thus, all men's victories are partial in this life. Even the victory over sin and evil that the regenerated believer has in Christ is at best incomplete. Only one Man has ever conquered sin and death completely and defeated all His enemies.

And faith in Him is the victory. And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying,

"All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." [Matthew 28:18-20]

Our works and our words are offered within His authority and He has "all authority." Where do we hear Jesus saying, "Go therefore and cleverly trick them into buying what you’re selling nor are we to impress them with fancy footwork. We are to simply "go", "make", "baptize", and "teach" without worry or fear.

And as I reminded you last week, "Jesus said to them again, 'Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, so send I you.'" [John 20:21]

Understand, if we do what Paul says not to do, but rather do what we want to do or what seems right to us in our own eyes, we make the Cross of Christ and the Good News meaningless or void ... the opposite of meaningless is meaningful or full of meaning; that is what Paul is telling the Corinthians and you and I today ... that's what we’re to be doing.

This message is not about you or me ... it’s about Him, the One who was on the Cross but no longer, the One who was in the grave but no longer, the One who was in the clutches of death and hell but could not be kept, the One who was in the flesh but is no longer, and in this world but not of this world. How would you like to leave church today knowing that you have been making and will continue to make the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross and the Good news meaningless? You can.

"Wounded for Me, O glory to God, wounded for me!"

1 Corinthians, Cross, Easter, Expository, Homiletics,
Outlines, Preaching, Sermons

1 Corinthians 1:18, 22-23 - That Foolish Cross; the Power and Wisdom of God!

1 Corinthians 1:18, 22-23

For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. …. For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

TOPIC: Resurrection (Easter) Series – the Salvation of God #1
TITLE: THAT FOOLISH CROSS – The Power and Wisdom of God!

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: How does the bible present salvation?
CONCISE OUTLINE:

I. THE BIBLE PRESENTS SALVATION COMPLETELY
II. THE BIBLE PRESENTS SALVATION HISTORICALLY
III. THE BIBLE PRESENTS SALVATION CONTINUALLY
IV. THE BIBLE PRESENTS SALVATION FINALLY

TRUTH/CONTEXT: So the lost think, “the word of the cross is foolishness” … they (Jews) seek for signs and and the gentiles (Greeks) look for wisdom … “but we preach Christ crucified”; so they’ll not find what they are looking for with us.

To the Jews it is “a stumbling block” (scandalon; a scandal, an offense) to the Gentiles “foolishness” (an absurdity), “but to … the called” … “Christ crucified” is both the sign (power) and the wisdom … the very things they seek.

[CROSS] LA County has been involved in a controversy brought on by the ACLU (Awfully Corrupt Legal Union) concerning the county’s official seal. The seal has several things on it; one is the entrance to the Los Angeles Mission, showing a cross on its rampart. The county recently spent $4,000 of taxpayer money to have personal seals produced for the five supervisors. When threatened with a suit, the cowards backed down and commissioned the production of small plastic pasties to cover the offensive Christian icon; this cost the taxpayer another $1,800. The result? The County Administrative Office has ordered the seals be taken down and put in storage. Why? In spite of the $360/each cover up, the cross continued to shine through. (BIG PAUSE TO SINK IN) Ha, ha … ha!

We are embarking on a series of messages on the Christ, the Cross, and the Crucifixion – the subject is salvation. Perhaps the place to begin is “in the beginning”!

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: How does the bible present salvation?
EXPANDED OUTLINE:

I. THE BIBLE PRESENTS SALVATION COMPLETELY

A. In the fullest sense salvation is presented eschatologically
B. And is Messiah centered

1. His person
2. His works

C. And always as the only hope for all mankind
D. The cross continues to shine through

II. THE BIBLE PRESENTS SALVATION HISTORICALLY

A. At the fall – expelled from Eden to save sinful mankind from "the tree of life"
B. At Able'a murder – Cain expelled to save the sons of God from Cain’s influence
C. At the flood – only eight saved to show the serious nature of depravity
D. At the court of Pharaoh – Joseph (type of Christ) delivered from bondage
E. At first Passover – Hebrews saved from bondage & through waters of separation
F. At the Tent of Meeting – God delivered the people daily
G. At the Day of Atonement – God delivered figuratively
H. At the Judge’s bar – God delivered time and time again
I. At the throne of man – useless deliverance revealed by human monarchs
J. At the object of salvation – pointing toward the New Covenant
K. At the Word of God – Hebrews 1:1, 2

God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.

L. The cross continues to shine through!

III. THE BIBLE PRESENTS SALVATION CONTINUALLY

A. In the present – we are being redeemed

1. Zechariah’s prophecy – concerning his son John
2. John’s message – “repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand” - Jesus took this message up at John’s death

B. Three tenses of the verb used –

1. Past evidence – 2 Timothy 1:8, 9

Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity.

2. Present reality – 1 Corinthians 1:18

The word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

3. Future hope – Romans 13:11

Do this, knowing the time, which it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed.

C. The cross continues to shine through

IV. THE BIBLE PRESENTS SALVATION FINALLY

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

1 Peter 1:3-5

The cross continues to shine through

APPLICATION/CHALLENGE: Commenting on Gen 49:18 ("For Your salvation I wait, O LORD.”), the Jewish Targums say …

My soul waiteth, not for the salvation of Gideon the son of Joash, for that is but temporal; not for the salvation of Samson, for that is transitory: but for the salvation of the Messiah the son of David, the salvation which Thou hast promised in Thy Word to accomplish for Thy people the children of Israel: for this Thy salvation my soul waiteth; for Thy salvation 0 Lord, is an everlasting salvation.

[cited by Cremer, Biblio-Theological Lexicon of New Testament Greek, p. 533.]

A New Testament commentator writes …

These three phases of salvation were seen as "aspects of one great" deliverance. There is no divorce or contradiction between the historical and the eschatological, because the former, by becoming active in the present (and no mere past-and-gone event) is the matrix and type of the latter; the eschatological salvation, even now active in the present, is the final realization beyond history of that which the historical redemption foreshadowed and promised. Past, present and future constitute, not three deliverances but one deliverance. [E. M. B. Green, The Meaning of Salvation, p.34]

[HOPE] An old Indian chief constantly spoke of salvation in Jesus and what He meant to him. "Why do you talk so much about Jesus?" asked a friend.

The old chief did not reply, but instead gathered some bits of grass and made a grass circle on the ground. In the circle he placed a caterpillar. He took an ember from the fire and lit the grass. They watched as the fire caught around the circle, the aterpillar crawled around rapidly, seeking an escape. As the fire advanced, the caterpillar raised up as high as it could. If the creature could speak, it would have said, "My help can only come from above."

The chief’s friend said, “I don’t understand.” The old chief stooped down, he extended his finger to the caterpillar, which crawled up his finger. "That," said the chief glowing "was what Jesus did for me! I was lost in sin, hopeless. I was trapped, no escape. Then Jesus stooped down in love and mercy and drew me out of the fiery pit of sin and shame. How can I help but love Him and talk of His wondrous love for me?"

Has He not reached out of eternity into your life of sin and hopelessness and drawn you out of the fiery hell that waited for you? Well then …?

Christianity, Cross, Easter, Expository, Outlines,
Preaching, Resurrection, Salvation, Sermons

TOPICAL (A-Z) - Seed Archive

Culture

About 15 years ago, I wrote a quick note to myself in the form of a sermon seed for use sometime in the future. I don't recall what prompted it but it was out of my prophetic voice, I'm sure! At the time I wrote it, 9/11 and all of its baggage was still future.

TOPIC: Cultural decay; Sin, Worldviews

TITLE: A DYSFUNCTIONAL KINGDOM - Three Deadly Diseases

A kingdom without a king is just a land filled with people in search of a leader.

[VET] An acronym with many ties ... here it stands for Voyeurism, Exhibitionism, and Terrorism

TEXT: 1 John 2:15-16

Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.

TRUTH: Three contemporary social diseases which find their roots in "self" are having a horrible impact on Western Civilization.

I. VOYEURISM - "the lust of the eyes"

1. A person who derives sexual gratification from observing the naked bodies or sexual acts of others, especially from a secret vantage point
2. An obsessive observer of sordid or sensational subjects

The modern addiction to the visual is symtomatic; TV, porn, entertainment, etc.

II. EXHIBITIONISM - "the lust of the flesh"

1. Extravagant and conspicuous behavior intended to attract attention to yourself
2. The perverse act of exposing and attracting attention to your own genitals

Britany Spears, Paris Hilton, rock musicians, politicians, even the mega-church and emergent movements are part of it.

III. TERRORISM - "the boastful pride of life"

1. The use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, esp. for political purposes
2. The state of fear and submission produced by terrorism or terrorization
3. A method of governing or of resisting a government
   

Here our need to dominate rather than serve others is seen.

Easter

TITLE: FROM THE WOMB TO THE TOMB - An Empty Message!
TEXT: Various

FOUNDATION INQUIRY: Various

I. An Empty World! [John 3:16,17] ... a world without light!
II. An Empty Womb! [Luke 2:6,7] ... a Savior born!
III. An Empty Manger! [Mark 1:14,15] ... a child now a man!
IV. An Empty Colt! [Zechariah 9:9; John 12:14,15] ... a triumphal entry!
V. An Empty Cross! [John 19:31-38] ... a ransom paid! *
VI. An Empty Tomb! [John 20:1-10] ... a forerunner leaves!
VII. An Empty Church! [2 Thes. 2:1-3a; see also 1 Thes. 4:13-17 and also Rev.4-22] ... a raptured body!

[*CROSS] One significant difference between the Roman church and the protesting church is Jesus on the Cross! While there is nothing inherently wrong with the use of the Christ on the Cross as a symbol of one's faith (it's no worse than Jesus in the manger at Christmas time), yet it smacks of an incomplete view of the works of Jesus and diminishes His Second Coming!

Fear

TITLE: Redemption - How It Dispels Fear!*

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: From what fears are the redeemed freed?

I. We are Freed from the Fear of God - since He is reconciled! [Romans 5:10]
II. We are Freed from the Fear of Law - since it is satisfied! [Romans 3:21,22]
III. We are Freed from the Fear of Judgment - since it is past! [John 5:24]
IV. We are Freed from the Fear of Death - since it is vanquished! [1 Cor. 15:55-57]
V. We are Freed from the Fear of Hell - since it is conquered! [Hebrews 2:3]

[* From a message by Keith L Brooks; The King's Business (January 1922) p.40]


Wordless Book, The

[Editor's note: for those who aren't familiar with this book - it is a very old witnessing tool, used to share the gospel for well over two hundred years; each page is a different color, each color represents a different element of the Good News, some use more colors, some less, some use different colors, and some use different biblical text; it can be preached as one message with four or more points or a series, one message for each point.]

TITLE: The Whole Gospel and Nothing But the Gospel, So Help Me God!

[Editor's note: paraphrase of the vow made when a witness is sworn in by an American court]

I. Black: Sin [Romans 3:23]
II. Red: Blood of Christ/Cleansing [1 John 1:7b]
III. White: New Life [Ps. 51:7b]
III. Baptism [Acts 2:41]
IV. Green: Growth in Christ [2 Pet. 3:13]
V. Gold: Heaven [John 14:2]

Homiletics, Preaching, Sermons