Sermon notes from 28 March 2017
Acts 13 verses 26, 38 and 39, Romans 5 verse 12, 6 verse 23, Hebrews 11 verses 24 - 27
"To you is the word of this salvation sent"
The gospel is sent to you in particular, not the person beside you or behind you or in front of you. There is nothing you could do to ever merit God`s salvation yet he wants to give it to you. 1 Corinthians 15 verses 3 - 8 "Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, he was buried and he rose again the third day according to the scriptures. And then he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve. After that he was seen of above 500 brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time."
Hebrews 11 - the pleasures of sin
Romans 6 - the penalty of sin
Acts 13 - the pardon of sin
The portal of sin. We are all familiar with how Adam and Eve listened to Satan, when Satan said to Eve "did God say". Adam and Eve began to question the word of God, they began to question the authority of God. Satan then said "ye shall not die". There never was a shadow cast over the human race as this one did. One of the turning points for all humanity for us to understand all that is going on in this world. Sin brings heartache, trial and trouble as well as much sorrow. It all started in the Garden of Eden. How could we ever explain it. When we hear the news of the deaths of thousands in our world, taking out into eternity because of a great disaster is it fair that God should condemn every man because of what Adam did in the Garden? Adam did it willingly. He partook of the fruit. Through him sin entered into the world. It is not only fair but it was wise and gracious for God to condemn the world through that one man. If God had tested us we would have come up with the same results. Even if God examined my life under the 10 commandments I would be as guilty as the next man. The very thoughts we have could condemn us already. The results of sin brought death, destruction, disobedience. If all are dead in Adam God is able to save through one man. All who live in Christ Jesus are become the children of God. Sin entered and sin has escalated. Down through the centuries of time the heart of man is deceitful and desperately wicked, no-one knows how far men and women would go in offending God. (Jeremiah 17 verse 9)
The pleasures of sin are only short lived, only for a short season. This desire to always have pleasure and leisure. We can watch the great advertisements and see all the great pubs and clubs, all the great entertainment places. You will find happiness even there but they are only for a season. They are only a sham. They might look good but the end is not good. Casinos are opening all around us. Gambling can be done in your own front room when no-one can see you. Men are getting into desperate debt because of a few moments of pleasure. Things that were despised a few years ago have become common practice. There is however no real satisfaction. We have "tried the broken cisterns Lord they mocked me as I wailed." Pleasures are soon gone. Many work 5 or 6 days in a week living for the weekend just to get out, just to say on Monday morning they enjoyed it. Hebrews 11 verse 25 "choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enoy the pleasures of sin for a season." Think of all the pleasures availabe to Moses. He was a prince, high up in a society that had all kinds of morality. Moses chose to follow Christ. It is amazing that even in the Old Testament Christ has always been present. Moses somehow could see Christ and he was far better. He made a clear choice - "when he was come to years". An understanding that it was better to follow Christ. "I`d rather have Jesus that silver or gold." "Moses choose". It is important to note that trusting Christ was a personal decision and a powerful decision. To be like the Psalmist "the Lord is my shepherd I shall not want". I shall never want anything that I need for eternity. Christ has paid it all, given it to me. It was a powerful choice. Moses had nailed his colours to the mast. He was not afraid of what the Egyptians thought. You cannot choose both. We must be like Christ or nothing else. A perfect choice.
The penalty of sin. Whenever we look down through the scriptures, Mark 7 verse 21 gives us a catalogue of sins already within the heart of man. "Out of the heart of men proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile the man." The heart of the problem is sin and the problem of the heart is sin. It will take you further than you ever want to go. Sin will cost you more than you ever wanted to pay. The alcoholic never started out to be an alcoholic. The drug addict never started out to be a drug addict. Sin will take you further than you ever intended to go. The catalogue of sin, the course of sin, is on a collison course with the death and judgment of God. You might be getting pleasure out of sin but there is a penalty for those who reject Christ. The penalty of sin is forever and ever. In Revelation 20 we read of the second death - "whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." You would be lost and lost forever. To be separated from God for all eternity. What a tragedy. To lose ones wealth is much, to lose ones health is more but to lose ones soul is such a loss that nothing can restore. If you die in your sin you will also earn wages - to be lost from God, to be separated from God for all eternity.
The pardon of sin. There is forgiveness for sin and it is found in the person of Christ. Maybe you have enjoyed the pleasures of sin, maybe have started to think of the penalty, wonder how you could ever have your sins forgiven. The Lord died on Calvary`s cross. You have to realise he died for your sins, he took your place, he took the burden upon himself. "He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities." (Isaiah 53 verse 5) The pardon of sin is free, there is nothing you need to pay for it has been paid and paid in full by the person of Christ. It is essential if you are ever going to enjoy the sunshine of heaven that you must be saved. Acts 4 verse 12 "neither is there salvation in any other for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity and in whose spirit there is no guile." (Psalm 32 verses 1 and 2) In verse 24 of Romans 3 we read "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." There is nothing to do, nothing to pay, simply trust in Christ. Redemption is a release effected by the payment of a ransom. Our ransom has been paid in full by the Lord. His name is written in the Lamb`s book of Life. He has been justified, born anew - "old things have passed away behold all things have become new." The fire of God`s death could only be quenced when the demands of his justice were satisfied. "He shall see of the travail of his soul and shall be satisfied." (Isaiah 53 verse 11) God was satisfied with what Jesus accomplished at Calvary. All who believe are justified. "Come now and let us reason together, saith the Lord though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow though they be red like crimson they shall be as wool." (Isaiah 1 verse 18) God could not pass the sinner by. His sins demanded that he must die. Mercy is dispensed. The sinner who believes is free. The soul that sins shall die. Sin had to be punished and punished eternally. Death was the sentence. Christ declared the penalty was paid and paid in full when Christ took my place. Jesus died that we might be forgiven, that we might go at last to heaven, saved by his precious blood. Has there ever been a moment when you got down on your knees and thanked the Lord for dying for you? He took my punishment that I deserved because of his great love. He endured the cross, despised the shame and today he is seated at the right hand of God. As far as the east is from the west so far hs he removed your sins from you. (Psalms 103 verse 12) God has cast our sin into the sea of his forgetfulness. Acts 13 verse 38 "through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins. And by him all that believe are justified from all things from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses." John 5 verse 24 "he that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation but is passed from death unto life." The responsibility falls on your shoulders. What are you going to do with the gospel message? Are you going to receive him or reject him? Choose Christ like Moses did then your name will be written in heaven. Your sins will be forgiven - will you believe
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