How True Love is Expressed
Intro:
1. ILL: Cromwell’s soldier saved by his fiancee holding to the clapper of the bell.
2. ILL: Prairie woman saving her baby in prairie fire by placing it in a hole & laying on it.
3. These are noble examples of sacrifice because of love - but nobody loves like God did!
Romans 5:6-8
4. ILL: Abraham offering Isaac. (Gen 22:1-13)
b. But - God would not require anyone to do anything He would not be willing to do!
c. God sacrificed His Only Son on the cross for you!
I. The Cross Didn’t Make Sense
A. It went against logic.
1. It’s not logical to sacrifice your only son to help your enemy.
2. v8 - That’s exactly what God did for you!
a. Col 1:21 - Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.
b. v10 - For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
B. It went against natural human desire.
1. The Lord was resolved to go to the cross - but only if it were the only alternative.
2. Matt 26:39-42 - Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” . . . He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”
C. It went against the Law of Moses.
1. It was against the law to have a trial & then pronounce a verdict at night.
2. It was against the law to be accused by the judge (the high priest) - not the witnesses.
3. It was against the law to have only a portion of the court assembled for the trial.
D. It went against spiritual relationships.
1. Deut 21:23 says that hanging on a tree was a curse.
2. Taking the sin of the world on His shoulders alienated the Son from His Heavenly Father! Evidences:
a. At noon (the 6th hour) complete darkness & an earthquake took place.
b. At 3:00 p.m., about the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” - which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” - Matt 27:46.
II. But It Accomplished God’s Purposes
A. Satan considers you cheap - lowering your self esteem.
1. Blood & guts - action movies - in the theaters & on TV cheapen life.
2. Pornography & sex oriented movie scenes cheapen self esteem.
3. ILL: The old black slave sold for the price of a chicken.
B. God considers you of great worth.
1. Worthy enough to redeem you with His Son’s life.
a. Redeem (aγοράζω) = to buy something, used of buying slaves at the slave market.
b. I Cor 6:19-20 - Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
c. Eph 1:7 - In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace
d. I Pet 1:18-19 - For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
2. Worthy enough to reconcile you back to Himself.
a. II Cor 5:19 - God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
b. Reconcile (καταλλάσσω) = to exchange for something of equal value.
c. Our Lord Jesus suffered & died on the cross so you could be purchased back to God!
ILL: Little Boat, Little Boat, You’re Mine Twice! God created you - and then He bought you. You belong to Him. You’re His twice! You are God’s cherished possession!
http://biblelifemessages.org/