I AM THRILLED ABOUT ...
September 10, 2000 AM
Sermon Outline
GODS DESIRE TO REDEEM US TO HIMSELF
Ezek 18:31,32 and 2 Pet 3:9
INTRO: When God had completed His creating, scripture notes that He saw everything that He had made, and, behold, it was very good (Gen 1:31). It was truly perfection. But Gen 3 begins a new and tragic situation ... sin defaces Gods perfect creation. By Gen 6 sin has become so pervasive that the wickedness of man was great in the earth. At Gen 6:7 we hear Gods great disappointment! But the great story of redemption is that Gods desire is to redeem us to Himself.
I. WE SEE SOMETHING OF GODS DESIRE ...
A. In Gen 6:7,8
1. He could have taken Noah and 7 as He did Enoch
2. and ended the human story! but He didnt
B. In Gen 18:23ff
1. at v. 32 He would spare the city for ten righteous
2. unfortunately, ten could not be found
C. In Ezek 18:31,32
1. Israel had certainly been rebellious ... not deserving of His grace, mercy
2. but He pleads for their repentance and notes thatHetakes no pleasure in punishing!
D. In 2 Pet 3:9
1. wonderful fact - God had not changed with time
2. He is still pleading! He desperately wants people to be redeemed to Him
II. WE SEE GODS PROVISION
A. 1 Pet 1:17-21
1. are there some things I do not understand about Gods providing the lamb before foundation of the world? Yes
2. but He did ... because He cares, He desires
B. Note Gen 22:7,8 God will provide ...
1. Rev 5:5,6
2. Jno 3:16 God provided marvelously
C. The lamb was the necessary offering
1. Heb 9:24-26 by the sacrifice of himself
2. if anything else could have sufficed, I know God would have done it! but Heb 10:4,10 - only this sacrifice satisfied the demands of Gods holiness
III. WE SEE GODS GRACE
A. Rom 5:8 Once again, I am without understanding!
1. vv. 6 and 7 note the facts which make this so incredible
2. who would choose to die for the ugly, the ungodly?
B. Gods grace is so beyond our human nature
1. 2 Pet 3:18 the just for the unjust
2. we just dont do things that way ... to give so grandly to the undeserving is not typical of humanity ... but is the way of Gods wonderful grace
IV. WE SEE GODS PUBLICATION
A. Gods desire to redeem is good news
1. Lk 2:10
2. this news is too good to be kept secret!
B. so, Mk 16:15 take the message to the world
1. God did everything possible to provide for a published message (Acts 8:4)
2. the message has been preserved in written, understandable form ... transmitted, unchanging, to each generation
V. WE SEE GODS ULTIMATE AIM
A. Jno 14:1-3 ...there ye may be also
1. at home with the Father
2. what a thrilling prospect - to be among those surrounding the throne praising God
B. yes, the prospect has its stipulations
1. we noted 2 Pet 3:9 and repentance
2. we note, too, Rom 6:3,4 and baptism into Jesus death - or, Acts 22:16 and cleansing of sin which occurs in baptism
CLOSE: Rev 22:17 - the invitation! There is no more exciting invitation than this. Will you accept it?
Cecil A. Hutson
10 September 2000