The big questions in life

Notes from a sermon heard on Sunday 10 March 2013 (pm)

Matthew 27 verses 11 – 26

Many of the big questions in life are found in the word of God.  When God speaks it penetrates to our heart and conscience.  You cannot shrug it off.  Adam and Eve created in the Garden of Eden were given everything they could want but then God’s voice was heard “Adam where are you?”  Adam and Eve hid because it was penetrating.  Peter writing in his epistle said “judgment must begin at the house of God and if it first begin at us what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?”(1 Peter 4 verses 17 and 18).  It is a question of logic.  If God has offered his mercy and it has been rejected by the righteous what chance then shall a sinner have?  Another question Pilate asked himself, it came to his conscience as Jesus stood before him – “what shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?”  Pilate was in a quandary.  The most important question that he ever faced and the most important question you will ever face or ask yourself or answer.  It is important that you answer honestly.  Think of it seriously and take it to heart.  If you do the right thing with Christ you will gain everything that is worth having in life and in eternity.  If you do the wrong thing with Christ you forfeit everything that is worthwhile and viable in life and in eternity as well.  The consequences are inseparable and inevitable.  What we do with Jesus determines this life and the next.  Our acceptance of God depends on what we do with Christ.  John 3 verse 16 is a familiar verse but the next verse says “For God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned, but he that believeth not is condemned already because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”  What we do with Christ determines whether we are condemned before God or accepted of God.  Maybe you are depending on acceptance because of the church you attend.  or because of the sacraments – have been baptised and have partaken of communion, worked for that church and paid into that church.  If you are already in the condemned cell does not depend on what we do, who we are or what we belong to but it depends on what do with Christ.  We don’t need to wait until the judgment.  So many people have false idea “I hope he will let me in.”  You cannot know until you stand before God they say.  You can know right now.  We are either trusting Christ or we are not trusting him for salvation.  Not only depends on what we do with Christ but our peace of heart depends on it.  Paul writing to the church of Rome said “therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  We only have peace with God through Christ.  Two young people were riding horses through a forest one day.  They were careless about religious things, students of philosophy, involved in worldly things.  Suddenly they were overtaken by a thunder storm and flashes of lightning.  One of them was struck and he died.  It had such a profound effect on the other one.  All he could think of was his friend and himself, that one day he would go out to meet his God and he could find no peace.  He decided peace must be found and he would turn to religion.  He began to attend his church and did all the church asked of him.  He became very religious but still he had no peace.  Then he thought he would give up his career and studies and join the church.  He became a clergy man but still he had no peace.  Then he thought he would do some penance but still he didn’t find peace.  He went to Rome the capital heart of his religion St Peter’s Cathedral when a verse flashed through his mind “the just shall live by faith.”  It was only by trusting Christ that peace came to his heart.  That man was Martin Luther.  Your joy in life depends on what you do with Christ.  Peter wrote “whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.”(1 Peter 1 verse 8)  God has called you to an inheritance reserved in heaven even though you are in trials.  They were going through trials and they felt every burden on them in spite of that.  You don’t see Christ now but you love him, you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.  The Christian can have joy in life even in difficult time because know it is going to get better.  Does that not cheer your heart?  If you know you could you be happy.  If living with guilty conscience how could you be happy, dread of death and what comes after?  How could you be happy?  Our joy depends on what we do with Jesus Christ.  Our peace depends on what we do with Jesus Christ.  “He that hath the son hath life, he that hath not the son hath not life.”  There are inevitable consequences.  So much depends for this life and also for eternity on what we do with Christ.  Pilate was asking himself this question.  Pilate’s conviction was sure.  He had examined and questioned Jesus.  He concluded “I find no fault in this just man.”  He was a judge.  He had examined all the evidence.  I don’t see any reason of death what evil hath he done?  Pilate in his conscience and heart knew that Jesus was not worthy of death.  His conviction and witness of his conscience.  Convicted of what he ought to do with Christ.  Am I not speaking to someone tonight?  From your childhood or youth or maybe only a few weeks ago you have been presented with the gospel that Jesus loves you, cares about you, come to the cross and died in your place and mine that we might be forgiven.  That calls for a decision in your heart.  You know what you ought to do.  Feel convicted in your mind this is truth, this is right what you hear and read in the word of God has a ring of truth about it.  He had the warning of his wife.  We read in the passage she had a dream about Christ.  She wanted him to have nothing to do with Christ.  God was sending him a warning and the witness of what he ought to do.  His convictions were sure.  In himself he knew but he had a problem.  If he did what was right concerning Christ the crowd were crying for him to be crucified.  Caesar would no longer be his friend.  His courage was lacking.  He didn’t have the courage to do what he ought to do with Christ so he tried to evade the issue.  He washed his hands and said I am innocent of the blood of this just person see ye to it.  He tried to make it look as though it didn’t concern him.  You can pretend you are not interested even though deep in your soul you know what we say is truth.  There was cowardice.  Knew what he ought to do but hadn’t the courage because of the crowd, because he was Caesar’s friend, because of those crying out.  Maybe it is the crowd you hang around with.  If you become a Christian what would they say.  You are afraid to face them even though you know it is right.  I will compromise, scourge him, let him go which would please the Jews  Some people try to do that – meet the people half way.  This man’s courage was lacking.  His conviction was sure.  The consequences were inevitable.  He knew what he ought to do.  His courage was lacking.  His choice was fatal.  He did the wrong thing.  He delivered Jesus to be crucified.  Tonight you are faced with a choice.  One of 3 things – reject Christ.  I want nothing to do with Christianity, the Bible, church, carelessly neglected him.  I know what he is saying is right and some day I will get right with God but not now.  Put it off.  “How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?”  Or tonight you could gladly accept the Saviour, confess you are a sinner and have hurt God, tell him you want to be rid of sin out of your life.  That is repentance and recognise that Jesus did that we might be forgiven.  “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”