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THE 'PASSIONS' OF JESUS

November 12, 2006 AM

Sermon Outline

JNO 12:44-50

INTRO: Often, when you hear the word "passion" in relationship to Jesus, the word is referring to His death. However, the word "passion" also refers to depth of emotion, affection, devotion and such. It is in this way, this morning, that I am using the word. As I read and study the life and work of Jesus Christ, I cannot help but see plain indications of His passion for so many things. Jesus was not lukewarm or half hearted about anything. As I note some of these things about which He was so passionate, I cannot help but wonder about our own "passions". And should not His be ours?

I. HE WAS PASSIONATE ABOUT HIS FATHER

A. This "passion" began very early - Lk 2:48,49

1. I know we have unanswered questions about these early years

2. but Jesus, at the age when Jewish boys launched in manhood, is engrossed in matters of the temple ... and His Father's business

3. still,  Lk 2:51 - He certainly did not dishonor Joseph (Mk 6:3)

B. Mt 21:12,13 - Here is a display of His passion for His Father

1. the temple, His Father's "house", had become less than a place of prayer

2. Jno 2:13-17 - "...the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up"

3. Jno 16:28 - what a "homecoming" He was anticipating!

II. HE WAS PASSIONATE ABOUT THE WORD

A. He certainly had a passion for the law of Moses - Mt 5:17-19

1. yes, there would be those who would accuse Him of "law breaking"

2. but he knew exactly what the law meant ... and how to keep it

3. Lk 10:25,26 - "what is written in the law?" - would often refer to the law

B. But He had a message from the Father - Jno 12:47-50

1. there was coming (at that time) a new covenant - new commandments

2. He came to deliver that message - His message would bring Him into conflict with Jews and Gentiles ... but it held "life everlasting" within it

3. Jno 6:63 - these words He entrusted to others to proclaim - Mt 28:19,20

III. HE WAS PASSIONATE ABOUT HIS MINISTRY

A. Jno 4:30-34 - More important than food was the work entrusted to Him

1. there were sick to be healed; demons to be expelled; people to be taught

2. Jesus did not keep "office hours" - had so little time for refreshment

3. throngs of people were always surrounding Him - needing

B. Jno 9:4 - He recognized that He had so little time to do His Father's work

1. passion may be heightened by our knowledge that "time is running out"

2. there was no time to waste - there was work to be done - only He could do it

3. Jno 4:35 - in His passion He could "see" what others might overlook!

IV. HE WAS PASSIONATE ABOUT HIS KINGDOM

A. Mt 16:18,19 - Here are determination and guarantee

1. not "I may" or "I hope" - "I will build"

2. not even death and the grave could stop His kingdom's coming

3. His ministry is punctuated by frequent "kingdom" references

B. Jno 18:33-37 - Was unafraid to speak of His kingdom in a Roman court

1. He died on a Roman cross to give birth to His kingdom

2. that, my friends, is passion - to give life by dying

3. a question: are you a citizen in His kingdom?

V. HE WAS PASSIONATE ABOUT HIS MISSION

A. Lk 19:10 - Here, in simple terms, is His "mission statement"

1. in doing so the religious establishment was alienated - plotted against him

2. in doing so He was sentenced to death by crucifixion - and died there

3. in doing so He felt the pain of alienation from His Father!

4. all of this is proof of how passionate He was about His mission

B. But His mission had to be accomplished

1. Heb 10:1-4 - there was no perfection possible with animal sacrifices

2. complete atonement was waiting for the perfect offering

3. so, Heb 10:7-10 - Jesus was passionate about doing His Father's will - He came for that purpose - and it was accomplished in His atoning death

4. Lk 9:51 - He would not be swayed from His mission!

CLOSE: And, dear friends, He was passionate about you and me. Jno 12:32,33 - His desire is that all should come to Him in faith, penitence and baptism. He would not have His death be in vain for a single person. But He does not choose for us. He has passionately provided the means of our salvation. But we must choose to accept His wonderful offer. How will you choose today?

Cecil A. Hutson

12 November 2006

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)