"The Work of Christ"
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Good Morning, I am so glad that you are here with us today because today we get to finish what we started last week in our message about knowing Jesus. Last week we began this 2 part message on knowing Jesus, and started with the person of Christ. He was fully God as well as fully man. Today, I want us to now address the actual work of Christ. It is my purpose for you all to know about the work of Christ. For some this may be the first time you have heard this good news, and for others you know about the work of Christ, and so it is my prayer that as you hear this message today you would take seriously the importance of following Him wholeheartedly. I don’t want you to just be a fan of Jesus I want you to be a sold out follower of Christ.
During the time of the Reformation of the church many churches set out to write confessions and creeds for their churches. There were many things that were written into theses confessions of faith about doctrine, the sacraments, creation and sin, but the central theme was always the person and saving works of Christ. So, I want to help you know today what Jesus has done. When it comes right down to it Christ has always been the central figure in all of human history. Now there are some people who believe that Jesus was just a great person or prophet or even the fact that He was a martyr who lived his life for a good cause. But, a martyr cannot take away my sin or your sin by the sacrifice of himself. In fact, this is exactly what makes Jesus distinct from the rest of the historical figures in history. Jesus is the Savior of the world, because he was more than just a martyr.
One of the things that we as Christians know to be true of Christ is that God’s Word tells us exactly what He has done. Turn with me to 1 Peter chapter 2.
24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
Christ’s dying on the cross is the crowing act of His love of His earthly ministry, and it is the focal point of all of Scripture. He died for our sin, so that we might die too our sin and live for Him. Because of Christ’s death and resurrection we have been healed. So, before we just jump right into the actual work of Christ on the cross, it is important for us to see and understand what we have been healed from. It is important to understand the bad new first. We have to begin by understanding the sinful and hopeless situation of all mankind.
4 Questions that we consider when we think about the Work of Christ.
1. Why Do We Need A Savior?
1. Why Do We Need A Savior?
This is a question that we must begin with as we think about the work of Jesus, and exactly why did He come to earth. If you will please turn with me to Romans chapter 3.
10 as it is written:
“None is righteous, no, not one;
11 no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good,
not even one.”
This is a tough passage for many of us because it shows us what we often don’t like to admit about ourselves. We are a sinful people. We live in a sinful and fallen world. Paul shows us here that we are guilty of several things.
-First of all, there is no one who is completely righteous or perfect. Matthew chapter 5 tells us that God’s standard is perfection. All of our works and actions are just filthy rags as Isaiah 64:6 tells us. Now clearly everything changes for a believer once the Lord saves us from our sin. Because of our sin nature there is no one who is perfect or has it all together in every matter, but Christ wants us to walk in progression as He sanctifies us and grows us. As believers we should be able to look at our lives and see that we are growing in our love for Christ and others.
-The second thing we see is that there is none who understands. We as humans are darkened in our understanding, and even alienated from the life of God because of ignorance. This is why we so desperately need the Lord’s help.
-Next, there is no one who seeks God. We all see what we want to see and chase after these fleshly things. We are by nature a selfish people.
-Paul says also that we have all turned aside. We have turned aside, and we go our own way, apart from God.
-We also have become worthless or useless. This does not mean what it sounds like. This means that we are spiritually dead as Ephesians 2:1 states. A dead person can’t do anything. So, again this is why we are so dependent on a Savior to save us from our sin.
-And finally, there is no one who does good, not even one of us.
What Romans chapter 3 helps us to see is the fact that we were born totally depraved. We were born into this world with a sin nature. Now this does not mean that we are without any good qualities toward pleasing others or helping others. Of course, this can happen daily. But what it does point out is that every part of mankind is tainted by sin such as our motives, desires and actions. So, because of our sin and the fact that we are slaves too sin we are separated from a holy and righteous God.
34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.
So, the main issue here or man’s biggest problem is our sin. In fact, there would be no need for the cross and death of Jesus if it were not for our sin. Let me give you a helpful definition of sin. Sin is anything contrary to God in thought, in word, or in deed. Sin means that we miss the mark and fall short. We fall short in these 3 areas.
-First of all Matthew 5:28 talks about our thought life. It speaks to us guys if we even look or have a lustful thought about a woman than we have committed adultery. This is speaking directly about our thoughts. If you have hateful or angry thoughts about someone it is as if we have hurt someone or murdered them.
-But also are words or speech. Sin is any obscene talk, cursings, slanderous words, or angry or hateful things that come out of our mouths. Even gossip can be included here when we gossip with our words that can be hurtful and damaging.
-And finally sin can be the actions or deeds that we do that go against God. We act out against God and what His Word tells us. Ultimately we are rebellious in nature and often go against God’s good plan for our lives.
So, we must begin with the bad news first in order to get to the good news. You may be here and say well what is the good news? Everyone ready to hear some good news? Turn with me to Romans chapter 5.
6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
Jesus died for the ungodly. He died for sinners. He died but why?
2. Why did Jesus have to die?
2. Why did Jesus have to die?
The second question and more importantly not only why do we need a Savior, but why did Jesus have to die for our sin? Couldn’t Jesus save the world without suffering and dying??? Couldn’t there have been another way? The simple answer is no. God declared that death is required to take care of sin. God declared that there had to be blood that was shed and a perfect atonement for our sin. We see this constantly throughout the Old Testament, where God required the killing of Passover lambs as a sin offering. We also see God’s verdict of sin in Romans 6:23.
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
And we also see that in order for us to be truly forgiven there has to be a sacrifice. What kind of sacrifice??? Hebrews tells us this.
22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.
God shows us here that the requirement for our sins to be taken care of was that Christ came and shed His blood. Here we see a definite atonement for sin. Jesus had to be both God and sinless man. Moreover, in the greatest act of humility this world has ever seen, Christ came and set aside His glory and took upon himself the form of a bond-servant. He did this for you and I.
And as Christ came to serve us, He ultimately gave up His life so that you and I may have eternal life. He did this through the cross.
-In Luke 22 we see the agony Christ went through before the cross.
-In Matthew 26 and 27 we see Christ’s unjust trial.
-In Matthew 27 we see His scourging.
-And finally, in Matthew 27 we see the most cruel way anyone could ever die, we see Christ nailed to a cross.
But even more profound than the death of Christ is the fact that God the Father abandoned His Son as Christ bore our sin on our behalf. During the time that Christ suffered and bled on the cross this is the only time that Christ calls God the Father, as “My God” and not as Father. So, as the Father forsakes or abandoned the Son it shows us that Christ had become sin and took on our sin. In all of this we see the judgment of God upon Christ at the cross. This demonstrates God’s great love for His children and shows us that Christ is the only means which we may be forgiven of our sin. This leads us to the third question we need to consider.
3. What does the Sacrifice of Jesus Accomplish for Believers?
3. What does the Sacrifice of Jesus Accomplish for Believers?
One of the ways each week that we as a church worship God is that we come together and take the Lord’s Supper. We remember the Lord’s death until He comes again. At the very heart of the Lord’s table is a doctrine, and that doctrine is the very core of the Christian gospel. Here is how Jesus said it.
24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
Jesus’s body was broken for you, as He was nailed to the cross. He also shed His blood four us on the cross as well. Jesus has accomplished something remarkable and life changing in the fact that He died for us. That is my point here, that His death was for us. Christ suffered for us and because of His suffering, death, and resurrection we can be forgiven of sin. Christ’s suffering and sacrifice was the only way to take away sin for all time.
12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.
It was Christ’s own blood that has secured us and redeemed us. We also see in Galatians what exactly Christ has provided.
4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
As you think about the provision of Christ today I want you to really understand what Christ has done for us. In fact, Jesus is the answer to all of our problems concerning salvation. This is exactly why Peter could proclaim the good news of Jesus in Acts chapter 4.
12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Let us consider our problems and the solution in Christ.
-First, we as humans stand guilty before God and there is none righteous no not one. The only solution is what Paul shows us in Romans 5.
19 For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
-Second, as we have already addressed, there is no one who seeks God. We all seek after the things that we want. The only solution is Jesus.
10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
-Third we are born in sin. In fact, we are slaves too sin. The only solution is Jesus. Paul again helps us to see this in Romans 8.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
-Finally, we all face death and the judgment of God. This is the consequence of our sin. The only solution is Jesus. In fact this is what Christ tells us about Himself in John chapter 5.
24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
May we truly be thankful that Christ has provided a solution to our biggest problem. May we find time to praise God for the gift of His Son Jesus who has the power to forgive us and to set us free from sin. What a gift Jesus is church!!!
4. What was the Motive For Christ’s Work?
4. What was the Motive For Christ’s Work?
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
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.
Jesus humbly came to this world and gave Himself to the point of death in order to save men and women. What this demonstrates for us today is God’s great love and mercy. One of the great attributes of God that is demonstrated in His salvation of men is that He is a God of mercy. He shows us mercy in that He does not give us what we deserve and instead shows us mercy and hope through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. God’s mercy is so great and wonderful because it shows us today that Christ died for the unworthy. How amazing is this church? May we be thankful for the mercy of God.
Church, as important as the death of Jesus on the cross for our salvation was, the process did not end there. Without Christ’s resurrection, His life, sinlessness, and sacrifice would all be meaningless. A few verses that are so important for us to keep in mind today as we bring all of this to a close are.
4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,
12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.
Christ’s perfect life, His death, and His resurrection have provided a way for you today to walk in joy and peace. What can you do about this message today?
-Acknowledge the fact that you are a sinner.
-Turn from your sin and call upon the Name of Jesus to save you.
-Ask the Lord to forgive you and believe that His blood was shed for you.
-Acknowledge that He is the Ruler and Savior of your life.
-Thank Him for His love and mercy.
If you are already a believer pray for those who don’t know Christ yet. If you have walked away from God today, return to Him and begin to follow Him.
(Pray and Lead into Communion)