Wayne's World...(25Dec08)

 

In Christ alone

 

I met a lady yesterday who said, she has no problem with the virgin birth of Jesus. She said it was easy to see how God could use a virgin woman to bring the savior to the world. What she said she simply could not have faith for was that God found 3 wise men. heeehee 

 

My goal is that you would know why Jesus is celebrated world wide today.

 

Let's begin with this awesome piece of scripture.

 

Slide 1 and 2

 

Colossians 1:11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, 12giving thanks(Or patience, with joy giving thanks)  to the Father, who has qualified you(Some manuscripts us)  to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16For by(That is, by means of; or in)  him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things were created through him and for him. 17And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18And he is the head of the body, the church.

 

He is the source of all strength and power, according to His glorious might. He is the source of all endurance and patience and joy. Everything about Jesus is dripping with joy, because God is always in a good mood. God is incredibly good, all the time. He is pure light, perfect in every way. Through Christ we not share in that light. All the characteristics of who God is become our very inheritance. As children of the king of light we inherit power, endurance, patience and joy.

 

When we believe in Jesus were catapulted out of the kingdom of darkness, into His kingdom, where he rules, where we stand as beloved sons and daughters.

 

Slide 3

 

12But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. 13who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God

 

How awesome is that we become children literally born of God. If someone should ask God  "who is that", he would say that is my son, my daughter, born of me, my very own.

 

We call this the fathers heart, His every thought toward you is good and loving.

 

Slide 4

 

15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things were created through him and for him. 17And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18And he is the head of the body, the church.

 

Here we see that Jesus was before all things. He created everything, and by Him everything holds together. This also places Jesus as the ultimate power in the universe. There is no power higher than Him. Now as believers we are in Him. This places us above every power principality on the planet. The bible says "as he is so are we in the world", and he said about us His disciples "as the Father sent me, now send I you". We need not fear any evil, no demon, no power, we are free of the fear, and free of any hold of evil. The one who created all things dwells with me.

 

Now the bible uses this strange language to describe what happens to us when we become Christians. Christians are spoken of as being "in Christ". 386 times the bible calls our position as in Christ. Basically it means if you could see the spiritual realm, you would see every Christian as being in Christ. This is how the devil, his demon, the angels and the father see us…as in Christ.

 

This was the work of Christ. This was His goal. This is why he came, this was the fathers Gift to us. That we would get to be "in Christ".

 

Many don't realize the fullness of what Christ accomplished in His life and death.

 

Many don't realize the far reaching effects of the Gods master plan. Many think that when you become a Christian God forgives all your sins. That when you become a Christian you have the advantage of having your sins forgiven.

 

Now it may shock you to hear that all the world sins are already forgiven! Are you saying that every person in the world has their sins forgiven…well let's see what the bible says.

 

Slide 5 scriptures

 

John 1:29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

 

 

 

1 John 2:2 z He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

 

1 John 2:4

 

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.

 

 

 

So the sins of the world have been propitiated….what the hang is that?

 

Propitiation is one of the most magnificent words in the English alphabet…

 

Slide 6 Propitiation

 

From Systematic Theology By Wayne Gradum

 

"Propitiation (Gk. hilasmos) here means "a sacrifice that bears God's wrath to its end and turns it to favor,"

 

This means that when God was offended at the sins of man, when it cut to His very core and stirred His anger and wrath, driven by love, a sacrifice was made by Jesus that satisfied that wrath to its end…and now where there burned wrath, there now burns tender affection and love. Total acceptance, and the removal of every barrier that separated us. Now the way is open for all eternity for those who will come in.

 

It means that I deserved death, and Jesus got it in my place, now I receive forgiveness, and the very favor of God. I'm made right with God. I'm an eternal son, accepted forever.

 

So I love propitiation, it's my favorite word in the world!

 

2 Cor 5:19 in Christ God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them,

 

God himself has reconciled the world to Himself through Christ. Every sin you have ever committed, or will ever is marked as a transgression, and God is not counting them against us.

 

Does this mean that everyone is saved and going to heaven. No!

 

But you will essentially not go to heaven for your sins, but for not believing in Jesus.

 

In order to receive your salvation you must believe in the one the father sent. Jesus.

 

Remember "to those who believed in Him, he gave the right to become the children of God".

 

Slide 7

 

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

 

So there remains condemnation to those who will not believe in Jesus.

 

But if you repent of your not believing in Jesus and, believe in Jesus, you will be saved.

 

And where there is condemnation for those who believe, you never again fall under condemnation as a Christian.

 

Slide 8 Romans 8:1

 

Once we are Christians, there is no longer condemnation or fear of judgment. Not in this life or the life to come…This means that were not to live with any guilt and shame. Any living with guilt or shame as a Christian, means that you've not understood what it means to be a Christian.

 

Slide 9 1 John 4:17

 

1 John 4:17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 18There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

 

There is one more treasure I would like to quickly tell you about.

 

This precious salvation, is jealously guarded by Jesus Himself. You see there was an agreement made between the son and the father. The son promised the father that he would not loose one of all who come to Him. That means that Jesus protects your salvation. He protects you from the world, evil and yourself from destroying your "in Christ". Being "in Christ is irreversible", Jesus is guarding you. The one who we said earlier holds all things together, by Him and in Him.

 

Slide 10 John 10:25-28

 

27My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29My Father, who has given them to me is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.

 

Once we are in Christ, we are part of His flock He is the great Sheppard. Nothing can ever snatch you out of His hand or the Fathers hand. His belong to the one who is greater than all.

 

Friends we have much to celebrate when we think about Christ's birth, and all it bought us.

 

Outside of Christ, there would be no light, the world would be very different.

 

If you believe in Jesus, let your heart rise in love and be proud of Jesus, and all He did.

 

Friend if you have heard this and you have not decided to change your way of thinking, please make today the day you receive your salvation, and decide to become in Christ. All you have to do is repent of not believing in Jesus and say, Jesus I believe in you, forgive me for not believing in you. Thank you for you death in my place. I receive my son ship, I receive your love. Thank you Jesus.

 

Here is a prayer you can pray:

 

Jesus I accept your sacrifice. Thank you for dying in my place for my sins. Thank you that you paid the price for every sin I ever committed. I'm sorry Lord. I choose to believe in your love. Please forgive me for not believing in you. I repent for not believing in you. I chose to believe in you. Thank you for the invitation to become your son/daughter. I come in Lord. Thank you for your love, and for the way you made for me to become "In Christ". Thank you Lord. So be it.

 

In Christ Alone

 

by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend

 

IN CHRIST ALONE my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

 

In Christ alone! - who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied –
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.

 

There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine –
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

 

No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand!

 

Keith Getty & Stuart Townend
Copyright © 2001 Thankyou Music