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THE UNIQUENESS OF JESUS

July 9, 2000 AM

Sermon Outline

Acts 2:29-36

INTRO: When the memorable sermon was preached on the day of Pentecost following Jesus resurrection, some astounding things were said about Jesus. Reference was made to Ps 16:10 with the observation that David obviously did not speak of himself. Davids tomb still contained Davids bones! So, David spoke prophetically of another whose flesh would not see corruption in the tomb. At v.31 we are told that David was speaking of the resurrection of Jesus Christ! And we have seen Him, was the incredible announcement. In all of history Jesus is absolutely unique ...

I. IN HIS INCARNATION

A. He was God among us!

1. note Mt 1:23 - His very name said it

2. no doubt Mt 1:20 was a piece of information which Joseph had no way of understanding ... such a thing had never happened before

3. much later a gospel writer noted Jno 3:16 ... the only begotten Son

4. Jno 1:1-3,14 God made flesh!

B. Jno 14:9 To see the Father

1. historically, the mighty acts of God had been seen

2. but other than vague, faint events, the Father had not been seen (yes, we also have vivid word pictures)

3. and dwelt among us ... and we beheld His glory

4. in all other religions the gods have been distant, aloof, separated .. only in the historical relationship of Jehovah God with humanity has deity actually dwelt among men ... so we could see (unique)

II. IN HIS ATONEMENT

A. Sin separated humanity from God

1. darkness and light could not coexist

2. sin drove man out of the garden ... and sin has been separating people from God ever since (Isa 59:1,2)

3. but God takes no pleasure in this (Ezek 18:30-32)

4. how could He justify lawless people? how could he provide a satisfaction for His holiness which would permit renewed fellowship ... and heaven?

B. 1 Pet 2;22-24 and 3:18a Substitution!

1. Heb 10:4 animal sacrifices couldnt - then, what about some other good man? Heb 8:27 even the best of human beings have sinned

2. the only answer was Gods offering His own Son

3. Heb 9:28 and 10:12 - the perfect offering which was sufficient for all time ... no other offering would do

4. no other religious system known to man has such an offering as this ... this is the true God; the true atonement; the true faith ... unique

III. IN HIS RESURRECTION

A. Buddha is dead; Mohammed is dead; Joseph Smith is dead

1. none has claimed for them, He is risen

2. the point of Acts 2:29 applies - dead and buried

B. But listen to this:

1. Mt 12:38-40 ... Mt 16:21 ... Mt 28:6 ... Acts 2:32

2. not only did He claim it would happen, but it did happen exactly as He had said

3. many are the dead scholars, theologians, philosophers; founders of religions ... and they are all dead

4. only Jesus confirmed all He taught, all He claimed by the power of His resurrection ... unique!

C. How can one afford not to listen, to follow?

1. we are reminded of this in Acts 4:10-12

2. faith in the dead? or faith in the living?

3. not much of a decision to make ... but many have not, will not make it

CLOSE: In his exaltation ... Acts 2:33,36. It is Jesus to Whom the Father has given all authority. It is Jesus before Whom we must stand in the great judgment. Can we afford not to acknowledge and accept Him as Savior?

Cecil A. Hutson

09 July 2000

God's Plan of Salvation

You must hear the gospel and then understand and recognize that you are lost without Jesus Christ no matter who you are and no matter what your background is. The Bible tells us that "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) Before you can be saved, you must understand that you are lost and that the only way to be saved is by obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 1:8) Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6) "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17)

You must believe and have faith in God because "without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Hebrews 11:6) But neither belief alone nor faith alone is sufficient to save. (James 2:19; James 2:24; Matthew 7:21)

You must repent of your sins. (Acts 3:19) But repentance alone is not enough. The so-called "Sinner's Prayer" that you hear so much about today from denominational preachers does not appear anywhere in the Bible. Indeed, nowhere in the Bible was anyone ever told to pray the "Sinner's Prayer" to be saved. By contrast, there are numerous examples showing that prayer alone does not save. Saul, for example, prayed following his meeting with Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:11), but Saul was still in his sins when Ananias met him three days later (Acts 22:16). Cornelius prayed to God always, and yet there was something else he needed to do to be saved (Acts 10:2, 6, 33, 48). If prayer alone did not save Saul or Cornelius, prayer alone will not save you. You must obey the gospel. (2 Thess. 1:8)

You must confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. (Romans 10:9-10) Note that you do NOT need to make Jesus "Lord of your life." Why? Because Jesus is already Lord of your life whether or not you have obeyed his gospel. Indeed, we obey him, not to make him Lord, but because he already is Lord. (Acts 2:36) Also, no one in the Bible was ever told to just "accept Jesus as your personal savior." We must confess that Jesus is the Son of God, but, as with faith and repentance, confession alone does not save. (Matthew 7:21)

Having believed, repented, and confessed that Jesus is the Son of God, you must be baptized for the remission of your sins. (Acts 2:38) It is at this point (and not before) that your sins are forgiven. (Acts 22:16) It is impossible to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ without teaching the absolute necessity of baptism for salvation. (Acts 8:35-36; Romans 6:3-4; 1 Peter 3:21) Anyone who responds to the question in Acts 2:37 with an answer that contradicts Acts 2:38 is NOT proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ!

Once you are saved, God adds you to his church and writes your name in the Book of Life. (Acts 2:47; Philippians 4:3) To continue in God's grace, you must continue to serve God faithfully until death. Unless they remain faithful, those who are in God's grace will fall from grace, and those whose names are in the Book of Life will have their names blotted out of that book. (Revelation 2:10; Revelation 3:5; Galatians 5:4)