CHRIST + NOTHING = EVERYTHING 1
We don t need opinions, we need truth. We don t need religion, we need Christ. Horatius Bonar, 19 th Century 2
Romans 11:33-36 33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! 34 For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? 35 Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid? 36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
Introduction All about the cross Within the context of all Scripture Jesus and Nicodemus John 3:16-17 3
John 3:16-17 (ESV) 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. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Introduction All about the cross Within the context of all Scripture Jesus and Nicodemus John 3:16-17 Apostle Paul Romans 5:6-8 3
Romans 5:6-8 (ESV) 6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Introduction All about the cross Within the context of all Scripture Jesus and Nicodemus John 3:16-17 Apostle Paul Romans 5:6-8 Apostle John 1 John 4:1-10 3
1 John 4:1-10 (ESV) 1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. 4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5 They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them.
6 We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error. 7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Introduction All about the cross Within the context of all Scripture Jesus and Nicodemus John 3:16-17 Apostle Paul Romans 5:6-8 Apostle John 1 John 4:1-10 Jesus and the Father John 17:1-3 3
John 17:1-3 (ESV) 1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
Our Substitute and Sacrifice The saving power of faith resides thus not in itself, but in the Almighty Savior on whom it rests. B. B. Warfield, 20 th Century Christ is the Head of all believers who are His body and without Him the body is dead. Ulrich Zwingli, 16 th Century 4
Our Substitute and Sacrifice They are returning to a form of the old bankrupt 19 th century Christological approach of Protestant liberalism and calling it new when it is worship of a God without wrath who brought men without sin into a kingdom without judgement through the ministrations of a Christ without a cross. Carl Braaten, 20 th Century 5
Anselm of Canterbury A biblical thinker Primary teacher was 5 th Century theologian Augustine Substitutionary atonement Satisfaction of the atonement 6
Sin and God s Satisfaction A holy God with righteous requirements Ephesians 2:1; Romans 5;12; Psalm 51:5; Romans 1:21 7
Ephesians 2:1 (ESV) 1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins Romans 5:12 (ESV) 12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned Psalm 51:5 (ESV) 5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Our Substitute and Sacrifice Sin is nothing else than not to render to God His due He who does not render to God this honor which is due to Him, robs God of what is His own, and dishonors God; and this is what it is to sin Everyone who sins is bound to pay back the honor of which he has robbed God; 8
Our Substitute and Sacrifice and this is the satisfaction which every sinner is bound to pay to God Nothing is less tolerable in the order of things than that a creature should rob his Creator of the honor due to Him and not repay Him that of which he robs Him This the debt which men owe to God. -- Anselm 9
Romans 1:21 (ESV) 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
Sin and God s Satisfaction A holy God with righteous requirements Ephesians 2:1; Romans 5:12; Psalm 51:5; Romans 1:21 Sufficiency of faith in Jesus alone Hebrews 1:3; John6:44; Romans 9:14-16 10
Hebrews 1:3 (ESV) 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, John 6:44 (ESV) 44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.
Romans 9:14-16 (ESV) 14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! 15 For he says to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion. 16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.
Historical Disbelief and Dishonor Adam and Eve Israel s leaders Idolatry is anything or anyone that begins to capture our hearts, minds, and affections more than God. Brad Bigney, Gospel Treason 11
Historical Disbelief and Dishonor The rich, young man Paul and Peter Martin Luther Earl Connors Lunch with a theologian 12
Gospel Drift Values defined by a secular culture Miracles dismissed Deity of Christ denied Man-centered message and ministry 13
Conclusion God is holy Isaiah 6 God s righteous requirements Leviticus 11:45; Galatians 3:10-11 All of mankind is in a fallen, miserable, depraved condition Jeremiah 17:9-10; Romans 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-3 14
Conclusion cont. Because of God s love for sinners, He sent the second person of the Godhead to become a man John 13:16; Romans 5:18-19 This divine act of substitution and sacrifice completely satisfied divine justice on the cross Psalm 22:1; 1 John 4:9-10 God raised Christ from the dead Romans 4:22-35 15
Application Have I trusted in Christ alone for salvation from the wrath of a holy God and for an eternity with Him? Do I add anything to the Gospel? Do I dishonor God via my thoughts, words, or deeds? Pray Psalm 139:23-24 on a daily basis. 16