SALVATION- I BELIEVE IN JESUS
April 27, 2003 AM
Sermon Outline
JNO 20:30,31
INTRO: The book of Acts tells us of Jesus that there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12). Clearly, when we think or talk of salvation, we must give weighty consideration to Jesus. For about thirty-three years Jesus lived on this earth. Most of those years were lived in relative obscurity in Galilee. But for three and one half years Jesus was a very prominent figure in Galilee, Samaria and Judea. He taught as one having authority (Mt 7:29). He was known for the mighty works He did among the people (Lk 19:37). Still, there was a swirl of controversy around Him. The issue was simple: Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? (Mt 16:13). And this remains the issue.
I. THE FACTS?
A. Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea - Lk 1:4-7
B. His earthly parents were humble people - Mt 13:55
C. He taught of the kingdom; he healed the sick - Mt 9:35
D. He was rejected by the religious establishment of His day - Jno 7:45-47
E. He spoke of His death & resurrection - Jno 2:19-21
F. He was arrested, tried & crucified - Jno 19:16-18
G. He was raised from the dead - Mt 28:1-6
H. He ascended to heaven - Acts 1:9
II. BUT WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE ABOUT JESUS?
A. That a good man named Jesus did live in the first century?
1. various officials, historians have confirmed a man named Jesus lived then
2. believing that such a man lived is far from believing in Him
B. That Jesus was a prominent Jewish teacher, moralist?
1. many, many people acknowledge His noble, lofty moral, ethical teaching
2. but there have been other moralists, philosophers ... this is not enough
C. That Jesus was a teacher, prophet from God?
1. Mt 21:10,11 - such a belief has certainly been held by others
2. still, there have been the Elijahs, the Isaiahs, the Ezekiels ... they have come and gone - is this what you believe? that He has come, and gone ... thats that?
D. That Jesus teachings have made the world a better place?
1. yes, everywhere His teachings have gone it seems standards of living, morality, value of human life have been raised to new levels
2. and its good to appreciate that without Jesus our world might be a very dismal place - but where is this taking us relative to why He came? (recall that He said He came to seek and to save the lost (Lk 19:10)
III. WHAT DID JESUS SAY?
A. Jno 6:29 - Believe on Him as the One sent from God
1. having some vague belief about and sympathy toward him is not enough
2. yes, that may be the nature of the belief of many
3. but when salvation is the subject, a different belief is necessary
4. Jno 8:24 - this defines the issue very boldly!
B. Jno 14:6 - He is the only way to God
1. is the way to God important to us?
2. what we believe about Jesus will have everything to do with whether or not we safely arrive in Gods presence
3. if He is the only way, we need to begin some serious listening to Him!
C. Mt 20:28 - He came to give His life as a ransom for many
1. what He taught, what He did (miracles) were truly vital things
2. but everything looked toward His substitutionary death ... His life given for ours
3. He has done something for you no one else could/can do ... whether or not you believe this about Him will determine whether or not you receive the benefits of what He did
D. Jno 20:24-27 - ...behold my hands...
1. my guess is that Jesus hands were worn and calloused from His trade
2. but that is not what we should see ... we should see the nail scarred hands
3. Jesus has nothing to fear from the contemporary challenge of skeptics and atheists ... His hands still tell the story of His atoning death
CLOSE: So, what did the apostle John say? Jno 20:30,31 - He said plainly that Jesus Christ is the Son of God in Whom we must believe in order to have life! What do you believe about Jesus?
Cecil A. Hutson
27 April 2003