DO YOU BELIEVE JESUS IS IN YOUR LIFE?

INTRODUCTION

Are you enjoying winter? We’re stuck singing #436 “Whiter than Snow.&edquo; I would prefer to sing #396 “Bring Back the Springtime.” And #551 “Soon and very Soon.”

Today’s Message is about Jesus - “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name.” We are a Bible based, Christ centered church. Stage: Pulpit, 2 Ordinances of Christ Communion and Baptism in the center. Lifted up is the Cross.

ILLUS: Then I heard Josh McDowell last night on Moody Radio at Moody Founders week: “That is not enough...Do we love people? Relationship is the first step to knowing truth. Are we at FBC a...loving fellowship?"

Series in Statement of Faith - Timely Truths that Transform us.

“We believe in THE LORD JESUS CHRIST: who is the second Person of the Triune God, the eternal Word and Only Begotten Son; that without any change in His divine Person, He became man by miracle of the Virgin Birth, thus to continue forever as both true God and true Man, one Person with two natures; that as Man He was tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin; that as the perfect Lamb of God He gave Himself in death upon the cross, bearing there the sin of the world, and suffering its full penalty of divine wrath in our stead; that He arose from the grave in a glorified body; that as our great High Priest He ascended into Heaven, there to appear before the face of God as our Advocate and Intercessor.” John 1:1,14; 3:16; Matthew 1:18-25; Galatians 4:4-5; Philippians 2:6-10; 1 Corinthians 15:3-7; Hebrews 4:14-16: 1 John 2:1-2.

There is so much to say about Jesus Christ, where should I go to focus on this doctrine? Anywhere in Bible! But, today turn to Hebrews, last chapter.

Written to the Hebrews, Jews, probably living in foreign lands outside of Palestine. The author? Anonymous. I think it is Apostle Paul.

Zondervan Reference Bible: “The Theme of Hebrews is the absolute supremacy and sufficiency of Jesus Christ as revealer and mediator of God’s grace.”

Today & next Sunday text is a capsule summary of Hebrews READ 13:20-21

The Doctrine of Christ begins with God, the God of peace. Mankind wants peace. Peace is a longing of Jews - Shalom. Peace to them meant well being, prosperity in all areas of life. We can have peace with God and through God with others through Jesus. Hebrews explains how Jesus became the mediator of the peace of God in us, and through us. Our Text on Christ is two verses. Today just verse 20, next week verse 21. In verse 20, notice 4 roles Christ needs to fulfill in us personally.

1. Jesus Christ is to be Our Savior - He sealed the eternal covenant with God through His blood “through the blood of the eternal covenant”

• First role, is our first need. We need a personal Savior.



• Jesus took care of our greatest need on the cross of Calvary 2000 yrs.



• He paid the price for our sins with His shed blood, in our place. The night before His death, in establishing the Lord’s Table, memorial: “Drink from it, all of you, for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.” (Matt. 26:27-28)



• 1 Peter 1:8,9 “you were redeemed…with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.”



• Jesus is the final sacrifice, once and for all. The One to redeem mankind.



• Jesus defeated disease, death, the devil, and damnation. Jesus saves us from our fatality of our sins, and save us from the fierceness of Satan.



• God didn’t leave us floundering, like a fish out of water, just a matter of time until we die. No, God reached down to rescue us personally in Jesus.



• Jesus went to the cross, and with His blood ratified the new covenant with God, making peace with God, giving us the peace of God. Eternal covenant of peace - it was planned in eternity past, and will continue for eternity future. Hebrews 9:11-16, 22
QUOTE: “What can wash away my sins? nothing but the blood of Jesus, what can make me whole again? nothing but the blood of Jesus.”
Headin’ Home sings a song titled: “He’s a Personal Savior.”



• First, is Jesus Your Savior? For you the doctrine of Christ begins here in a personal relationship though Jesus’ shed blood for you on the cross!

2. Jesus Christ is to be our Life - He rose from the dead

• “brought up from the dead.” Second role inferred in our text is Life...



• God brought Jesus back to life, accepting His sacrifice for sin.



• “He was delivered because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification” Romans 4:25 “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.” 1 Cor. 15:22. John 14:6 “Life”



• Our faith is not found in a dead leader like Mohammad, or Buddha, or Confucius, instead the grave is empty for Jesus. Jesus is alive…
ILLUS: If you read Jeannette’s story of our trip to Jamaica in the Newsletter she wrote about Bob Marley is a music legend. He was a Reggae musician, who died in 1981 of cancer at age 36. Considered a prophet of the Rastafarian religion. We meet “Bob Marley’s son.” They believe Haile Selassie, the former Emperor of Ethiopia 1930- 1974, is God incarnate, King of Kings, Messiah, but he died in 1975. This religion worships dead leaders.



• Our Leader is not dead, BUT ALIVE. We celebrate His life in us...



• Romans 6:5-13 Death no longer has mastery, life trumps death. Jesus is all about Life. Because He is Savior and Life... Is Jesus in your life?

3. Jesus Christ is to be our Shepherd - He is Great Shepherd of the Sheep

• “the great Shepherd of the sheep” care giver, provider of the sheep.



• As children of God through Jesus, we have Jesus’ tender care in us.



• This is a blessed title given by the Prophet Isaiah 40:11 “Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, in His arms He will gather the lambs, and carry them in His bosom...”



• Psalms 100:3 “We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.”



• Scriptures show that Jesus is the Good Shepherd - gives His life for the sheep (Psalm 22; John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd, the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep”)



• Jesus is the Great Shepherd cares for our needs (Psalm 23. v. 1 “The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want,” our text in Hebrews);



• And Jesus is the Chief Shepherd rules and reigns for eternity (Psalm 24; 1 Peter 5:4 “And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.”)



• We need a shepherd: “All we like sheep have gone astray” (Isaiah 53).



• Hebrews 4:14-16. We need Someone to help us, tender care of Jesus.
ILLUS: That is why we pray. Relationships, healing, provisions. Trust Jesus Jehovah Jirah “The Lord will provide.” Hymn #462 “Savior, Like A Shepherd Lead Us.”



• We have Someone to care for us, a shepherd to lead us. And He is also...



• Does Jesus shepherd you daily? You say “The Lord is my shepherd...”?

4. Jesus Christ is to be our Lord “Jesus our Lord” NIV “our Lord Jesus”

• “Lord” - Kurios - master, having power and authority. Title of respect,



• The final role in this text: Jesus Christ IS OUR Lord. We can’t make Him Lord, He IS Lord. But is our relationship to Him one of surrender and obedience? If it is not, then our faith is not faith, it is unbelief.
ILLUS: As Lord - He is to have control of how you spend money, use your time, watch TV, relate with others, do your job. Don’t say He is Lord and do your own thing - that is practical atheism.

QUOTE: A.W. Tozer: “The Lord will not save those whom He cannot command. He will not divide His offices. You cannot believe on a half-Christ. We take Him for what He is - the anointed Savior AND Lord.” (MacArthur, Gospel, 29)



• Lk 6:46: “Why do you call Me, ‘lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”



• The author here obediently calls Him Lord, further makes Him personal “our Lord“ For the true believer there is no question - we are in relation to Jesus, under His authority, gladly we obey Him, call Him “our Lord.”



• Galatians 2:20 “it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me”



• Do you live accordingly with daily awareness that Christ lives in you?

CONCLUSION

Do you believe Jesus is in your life? Are you being transformed by Jesus?

Is He in your life as your personal Savior? Is Jesus living His Life in you?

Is He your caring Shepherd? Do you obey Him as Lord?

Next week v. 21 More personal means of transformation by Christ in you...

Christianity is relationships, a loving relationship with God Himself through Jesus, and loving relationships within the body of Christ...

Today an open invitation for anyone to take another step to Jesus. Where ever you are in your spiritual walk, is there something else that needs to mature in your faith? Let Jesus begin a new work again in you today.

#332 “Without Him”

THE FUNDAMENTALS OF OUR FAITH

The Bible is the inspired inerrant infallible word of God, the final authority for faith and practice.

The eternal deity of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, equal with God.

The virgin birth of Jesus Christ, conceived by Holy Spirit and born of virgin Mary.

The sinless life of Jesus Christ, though tempted, He did not sin. He was thus the spotless lamb of God.

The substitionary atoning death of Jesus Christ. He shed His precious innocent blood and died on the cross for the forgiveness of our personal sins. He died in our place to pay for our sins.

The bodily resurrection from the dead of Jesus Christ. On the third day Jesus rose bodily from the grave victorious over sin and death. He is the giver of life, abundant and eternal.

The second coming of Jesus Christ. Beginning with the pre-tribulational, pre-millennial rapture of the church and climaxing with His return on the Mount of Olives.

The gift of salvation is by grace through faith. We the sinners are saved by faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross.

IF GOD BECAME MAN, THEN YOU WOULD EXPECT HIM TO:

• ...Have an unusual entrance into life. Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 2:1-20
• ...Be without sin. 1 Peter 1:19; 2:22
• ...Manifest the supernatural in the form of miracles. John 2:1-11; 11:1-44
• ...Have an acute sense of difference from other men. Mark 7:37; 8:29
• ...Speak the greatest words ever spoken. Luke 4:32; John 7:46
• ...Have a lasting and universal influence. Luke 21:33;
• ...Satisfy the spiritual hunger in man. John 7:37; 10:10; 14:27
• ...Exercise power over death. Matt. 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20-21
Josh McDowell, Evidence that Demands a Verdict, Volume 1
Here’s Life Publishers, pages 111-112.

THE INCOMPARABLE CHRIST

More than nineteen hundred years ago there was a Man born contrary to the laws of life. This Man lived in poverty and was reared in obscurity. He did not travel extensively. Only once did He cross the boundary of the country in which He lived; that was during His exile in childhood.

He possessed neither wealth or influence. His relatives were inconspicuous, and had neither training nor formal education. In infancy He startled a king; in childhood He puzzled doctors; in manhood He ruled the course of nature, walked upon the billows as if pavements, and hushed the sea to sleep. He healed the multitudes without medicine and made no charge for His service.

He never wrote a book, and yet all the libraries of the country could not hold the books that have been written about Him. He never wrote a song, and yet He has furnished the theme for more songs than all the song writers combined.

He never founded a college, but all the schools put together cannot boast of having as many students.

He never marshaled an army, nor drafted a soldier, nor fired a gun; and yet no leader ever had more volunteers who have, under His orders, made more rebels stack arms and surrender without a shot fired.

He never practiced psychiatry, and yet He has healed more broken hearts than all the doctors far and near. Once each week the wheels of commerce cease their turning and multitudes wend their way to worshipping assemblies to pay homage and respect to Him.

The names of past proud statesman of Greece and Rome have come and gone. The names of past scientists, philosophers, and theologians have come and gone; but the name of this Man abounds more and more. Though time has spread nineteen hundred years between the people of this generation and the scene of His crucifixion, yet He still lives. Herod could not destroy Him, and the grave could not hold Him.

He stands forth upon the highest pinnacle of heavenly glory, proclaimed of God, acknowledged by angels, adored by saints, and feared by devils, as the living, personal Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Author Unknown Published by the American Tract Society
Copied from Josh McDowell, Evidence that Demands a Verdict, Volume 1
Here’s Life Publishers, pages 135

What have you done with Jesus who is called the Christ, the Son of the Living God?

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved...”
Acts 16:31

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity.”
- 2 Peter 3:18             Feb. 2008