Author: Art Davison

THE WORD OF ANGUISH–PART TWO–MATTHEW 27:46

Art Davison SEVEN SAYINGS 0 Comment
THE WORD OF ANGUISH
PART TWO
MATTHEW 27:46
“And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”

Introduction:

In the first message on this theme we saw the awfulness of sin. Here the depravity of man is fully displayed for all to see.

Then we saw the innocent suffer for the guilty. The Lord Jesus received the wages of sin which is death. Jesus had no sin of His own, but he suffered the chastisement that was due us. He was banished from the presence of God.

Then we saw the absolute holiness and inflexible justice of God as Jesus cried out from the cross. God did His work and was satisfied with Jesus’ offering.

Now let us regress somewhat.

I. WHAT HAPPENED AT GETHSEMANE?
A. Jesus’ Approach to The Cross.

1. From Early Infancy He had suffered at the hands of men, Matthew 2:16, “Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.”

2. From the beginning of His public ministry Jesus had suffered at the hands of Satan, Matthew 4:1, “Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.”

3. At the cross He was to suffer at the hands of God, Isaiah 53:4, “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.”

B. In the garden of Gethsemane Jesus entered the GLOOM of the cross, Matthew 26:38,“My soul is exceeding sorrowful,”

1. “This was no shrinking horror in anticipation of a cruel death.” (Pink), John 12:27, “Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.”

2. “It was not the thought of betrayal by his own familiar friend.” (Pink)

3. It was not the desertion by His beloved disciples in the hour of crisis, Matthew 26:31, “Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.”

4. Nor was it the expectation of mocking and reviling, the strips and the nails, that overwhelmed His soul.

5. These were nothing in comparison to what He had to endure as the SIN-BEARER.

II. JESUS’ IMMUTABLE FAITHFULNESS TO GOD, Matthew 26:36-39

A. Jesus Anticipates God’s Wrath.

1. “All of the faculties and powers of His soul were wrung with anguish.” (Pink) Mark 14:33, “And began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy;”

a. The hair stands on end.

b. The flesh creeps.

c. The spirit sinks.

d. The heart melts like wax.

2. This cup contained the undiluted wrath of a sin-hating God.

a. His agony, Luke 22:44, “And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

b. “Gethsemane” means “olive press.” “It was a place where the life-blood of the olives was pressed out drop by drop!”

B. Now Jesus had nothing except His faith to rest upon.

1. His cry was “a cry of distress, but not of distrust.”

2. Now Jesus goes to the invisible support and refuge of His faith.

3. Jesus’ unswerving faithfulness to God is seen in Psalm 22.

a. The point that His enemies sought to make against Him was His faith in God, v. 43 (text), “He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.”

b. But the Savior continued trusting though He was forsaken. Job 13:14a, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him:”

III. THE FOUNDATION OF OUR SALVATION.

A. Who could stand before the God of Heaven? Nahum 1:6,

1. “Who can stand before his indignation?

2. And who can abide in the fierceness of his anger?

a. His fury is poured out like fire,

b. And the rocks are thrown down by him.”

B. Jesus alone could stand!!

1. He alone could bear the curse and yet rise a victor above it. Galatians 3:10, “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:”

2. He alone could suffer His heel to be bruised by Satan and yet in that bruising destroy him that had the power of death. Genesis 3:15, “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”

IV. THE PROOF OF HIS LOVE.

John 15:13, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

A. He took our place on the Cross.

1. He was “made sin” for us, 2 Corinthians 5:21, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

2. He willing suffered for us, John 13:1, “Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.”

B. His love was matchless and unmeasured.

1. Some might sacrifice self for another, Romans 5:6-7, “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7-For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.”

2. Christ died for us while we were yet sinners, Romans 5:8, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

CONCLUSION
All of the suffering and anguish that Christ went through on the cross was for one purpose. That purpose was to redeem fallen man by fulfilling the will of God the Father.

God the Father knew that only Jesus, His only begotten Son, was qualified to be that sacrifice.

Everything we have mentioned in this message He did in order to fulfill the will of His Father.

THE WORD OF ANGUISH–MATTHEW 27:46,

Art Davison SEVEN SAYINGS 0 Comment
THE WORD OF ANGUISH
MATTHEW 27:46
“And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”
Introduction:
Because of the size of this subject, I believe it is necessary to present it in at least two messages. “The crucifixion of the Lord of Glory was the most extraordinary event that has ever happened on the earth and the cry of the suffering One was the most startling utterance of that appalling scene.” (Arthur Pink).
“My God, My God, why has Thou forsaken Me?” These are words of appalling woe. The word “forsaken” is one of the most tragic in all human speech. It is one thing for a city to be forsaken, or a wife or a child to be forsaken by a loved one, “but a creature forsaken by the Creator, a man forsaken of God – O this is the most frightful of all.”
These are words of unequalled suffering. These words mark the climax of the Lord’s suffering. The cruel mocking, the crown of thorns, the scourging were all part of His suffering. Yet He suffered in silence.
These are words of deepest mystery. Of old Jehovah never forsook His people. Time after time He was their refuge in trouble. In their cruel bondage in Egypt Israel had cried to God and He heard them. Yet He abandoned the Lord Jesus there on the cross.
These are words of the most profound solemnity. The cry of the Lord Jesus made the very earth tremble and that reverberated throughout the entire universe. Who can analyze the meaning of the amazing cry that tore the fabric of darkness on that day?
I. IN HIS ANGUISH WE SEE THE AWFULNESS OF SIN.
A. The Depravity of the Human Heart Was Fully Displayed.
1. It’s hatred for God.
2. It’s base ingratitude.
3. It’s preference for a murderer rather than the Prince of Life.
B. Sin Was Plainly Exhibited.
1. It’s baseness (The quality or state of being contemptible, mean-spirited, or selfish).
2. It’s lawlessness (Unrestrained by law; unruly).
C. The Character of the Awful Wages of Sin is Seen.
1. Death is the consequence of sin, Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
2. Death brought into the world by man, Romans 5:12, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:”
3. Spiritual Death (Separation from God) is the Wages of Sin.
a. Adam died spiritually at the moment of his disobedience to God, Genesis 3.
b. Cain was excluded from God’s presence because of his sin, Genesis 4:14, “Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid;” SIN EXCLUDES MAN FROM GOD’S PRESENCE.
c. The VEIL of the Temple barred access to the throne of God.
d. The wages of sin is not just physical death, but PENAL DEATH that is, SPIRITUAL DEATH or the SECOND DEATH, Revelation 20:14-15, “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
II. IN HIS ANGUISH WE SEE THE INNOCENT SUFFER FOR THE GUILTY.
A. The Lord Jesus was receiving the wages that were due His people.
1. He had no sin of His own, 2 Corinthians 5:21, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
2. He bore our sins, 1 Peter 2:24, “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”
B. The suffering and chastisement that was due us, was death.
1. Not only physical death.
2. But Spiritual death also.
C. Banishment from God’s presence was due us, 2 Thessalonians 1:9, “Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;”
III. IN THE LORD’S CRY WE SEE THE ABSOLUTE HOLINESS AND INFLEXIBLE JUSTICE OF GOD.
A. “At the cross MAN did a work: He displayed his depravity by taking the Perfect One and with ‘wicked hands’ nailing Him to the tree.” Acts 2:23, “Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:”
B. “At the cross SATAN did a work: he manifested his insatiable enmity against the woman’s seed by bruising His heel.” Genesis 3:15, “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”
C. “At the cross the Lord Jesus did a work: He died the Just for the unjust that He might bring us to God.” 1 Peter 3:18, “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:”
D. “At the cross God did a work: He exhibited His holiness and satisfied His justice by pouring His wrath on the One who was made sin for us.” (Arthur Pink). 2 Corinthians 5:21, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
CONCLUSION
“My God, My God, why has Thou forsaken Me?”
The Father had abandoned Jesus because he became sin for me. The Lord cannot look upon my sin. He cannot look upon YOUR sin either.
Will the Lord’s sacrifice be for nothing in your case? I have trusted Him as my Savior. What will you do with Jesus?????

THE WORD OF AFFECTION–JOHN 19:25-27

Art Davison SEVEN SAYINGS 0 Comment
THE WORD OF AFFECTION
JOHN 19:25-27
Introduction:

This is the third word of the Lord Jesus Christ from the cross. The first was the Word of Forgiveness. Jesus had asked the God of Heaven to forgive those who were crucifying Him “for they know not what they do.”

The second word from the cross was the Word of Salvation. Here the Lord saves one of the two thieves who were crucified with Him.

Now this third thing spoken by our Lord is the Word of Affection as He sees His mother at the foot of the cross.

I. THE PROPHESY OF SIMEON FULFILLED–THE SUFFERING OF JESUS.

A. Simeon prophesied the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus, Luke 2:34-35.

B. Mary suffered with the Lord.

1. How she suffered.

a. Not hysterical or demonstrative sorrow.

b. No show of feminine weakness.

c. No fainting or wild outcry.

d. She suffered in unbroken silence.

2. Mary stands with the Lord:

a. With silent courage.

b. Her reverence for the Lord kept her from disturbing His last moments.

II. THE PERFECT MAN SETS THE EXAMPLE.

John 19:26-27, “When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.”

A. The Lord was ever mindful of the Law of Moses. Exodus 20:12, “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.”

1. That law had not been repealed, but reiterated in the New Testament: Ephesians 6:1-2, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)

a. To honor ones parents goes far beyond mere obedience.

b. It embraces love and affection, gratitude and respect.

c. It implies a debt that we owe which can never be fully paid.

2. The Lord Jesus here teaches the responsibility of caring for the parents.

a. To Mary He said, “Woman behold thy son.”

1) A title of respect among Orientals meaning “Lady.”

b. To his disciple, “Behold thy mother!” This disciple is assumed to be John.

B. The Lord fulfilled all of the Law.

1. Mary is entrusted into the hands of John, the disciple who understood the love of God the most, perhaps.

III. THE RETURN OF JOHN TO THE SAVIOR’S SIDE.

A. The disciples had fled at the arrest of Jesus, Matthew 26:56, “But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.”

B. This may have been the most difficult part of the Lord’s ordeal, seeing those men leave.

1. By fleeing they exposed the Lord to the contempt and scoffs of His enemies, John 18:19, “The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine.”

2. Jesus had warned the disciples of their approaching cowardice, Matthew 26:31, “Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.”

3. All of the disciples affirmed their determination to stand with the Lord, Matthew 26:35, “Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.”

C. They forsook Him because they were “offended” at Him, Matthew 26:31.

1. From the human side, they were ashamed to be in His company.

2. From the Divine side, this was due to the suspension of God’s preserving and upholding grace.

a. Jesus had to suffer alone. How could He bare the burden and heat of the day if not alone?

b. How would His sorrows be unmitigated if His disciples had not left Him? He would have been comforted by their presence; therefore, they were scattered as sheep. Matthew 26:31, “Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.”

D. His disciples never left Him again.

1. John had returned while Jesus was still on the cross.

2. Peter was “converted” and became a great preacher and leader of the church.

3. Thomas, who had doubted the resurrection, believed after having seen the Lord face to face.

4. James became the pastor of the Jerusalem Church and later was martyred by Herod.

5. All of the Apostles became great men for God.

CONCLUSION

Here we see the marvelous blending of Christ’s perfection. Although suffering on the cross for the sins of mankind, He still remembers His mother. Showing that He could overcome the pain, He dealt with this important problem.

His wisdom is demonstrated in His choice of the Apostle John to care for His mother, fulfilling the Scripture, Isaiah 53:13, “Behold, my servant shall deal prudently.” John was known as the apostle of love. It was John who carried the good news of the resurrection to Mary.

WHO IS THIS? THIS IS JESUS THE PROPHET–MATTHEW 21:1-11

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WHO IS THIS? THIS IS JESUS THE PROPHET.
MATTHEW 21:1-11
Introduction:

All four of the evangelists take notice in their gospels of this passage of Christ’s riding in triumph into Jerusalem, five days before His death.

The Passover was on the 14th day of the month and this was the tenth. This was the day the Law required that the Paschal Lamb should be taken up and set apart for that service, Exodus 12:3, “Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:” On that day therefore, Christ, our Passover, who was to be sacrificed for us, was publicly shown.

I. THE JEWISH LEADERS WERE PLOTTING TO SLAY CHRIST

A. The Jews planned to kill Jesus, John 11:53, “Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.”

B. The Pharisees had given a commandment to find Jesus, John 11:57, “Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he were, he should shew it, that they might take him.”

II. MARY ANOINTS JESUS’ FEET

A. Meanwhile He was at the home of Lazarus, Mary and Martha, John 12:1, “Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.”

B. There they made him a supper, John 12:2, “There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.

C. After supper Mary anoints the feet of Jesus, John 12:3, “Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.

1. The ointment of spikenard was very costly.

2. Some complained.

a. Judas Iscariot was most outspoken, John 12:4-6, “Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him, 5-Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? 6-This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.”

b. Some of the others picked up on his criticism, Mark 14:4-5, “And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made? 5-For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her.”

D. The Lord had put this in her heart to do, John 12:7, “Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.”

III. THE DAY OF THE LAMB OF GOD

A. John the Baptist was the first to reveal the Lamb of God, John 1:29, “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”

B. Five days before the Passover, the Lamb was chosen and set aside for the sacrifice, Exodus 12:3, “Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:”

1. This Lamb was “for an house.”

2. This Lamb had to be “without spot,” Exodus 12:5, “Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:”

C. The Lamb was to be killed “in the evening” on the 14th day of the month, Exodus 12:6, “And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.”

D. The blood was applied according to the Word of God, Exodus 12:7, “And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.”

E. “When I see the blood,” Exodus 12:13, “And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.”

IV. BEHOLD, THY KING COMETH UNTO THEE

A. Rejoice greatly for the King is coming, Zechariah 9:9, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.”

1. Jesus does not ride in on a magnificent white horse.

2. He does not come in beautiful royal robes.

3. The King, the Lord of host, was seen upon a throne, high and lifted up, but there was none of that here, Isaiah 6:1-3, ” In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2-Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3-And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.”

B. The King is coming riding on an ass.

1. The Lord instructed his disciples, Matthew 21:1-3, “And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, 2-Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. 3-And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.”

2. The Lord fulfilled the Scriptures, Matthew 21:4-5, “All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, 5-Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.”

C. Who is this? Matthew 21:10-11.

1. He was called the “Prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.” He was not their beloved, Song of Solomon 5:9, “What is thy beloved more than another beloved, O thou fairest among women? what is thy beloved more than another beloved, that thou dost so charge us?”

2. But He was rejected as King, John 1:11, “He came unto his own, and his own received him not.”

CONCLUSION

Thank the Lord not everyone rejected the Lamb of God as King. John 1:12 says, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:”

WHO IS JESUS?–MATTHEW 1:18-25

Art Davison MATTHEW 0 Comment
WHO IS JESUS?
MATTHEW 1:18-25
Introduction:

This week the world will celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. However, the world does not know our Lord. All of this is mere religion that has nothing to do with Jesus Christ.

Men and women will get drunk, prostitute themselves and sin in every way imaginable in Christmas parties. They will see the “baby Jesus” in dramas and films and hear preachments about “the birth of Christ.” However, none of this will affect the heart of these people. WHY? Because they do not know who Jesus is.

I. THE “BABY JESUS” IS NOT THE SAVIOR.

A. It is truth that Jesus was born of a virgin, Isaiah 7:14, “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

B. It is true that Jesus is the Promised Savior, Luke 2:11, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”

C. It is true that he was born in Bethlehem of Judah, Micah 5:2, “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”

D. But Jesus as a Baby CANNOT SAVE anyone.

II. JESUS THE GOOD TEACHER IS NOT THE SAVIOR

A. The One who taught the truth in the Temple, Mark 14:49, “I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me not: but the scriptures must be fulfilled.”

B. The One who fed the multitudes, Matthew 14:14-21; Luke 9:10-17.

C. The One who calmed the raging waters of the sea, Mark 4:36-41.

D. All of this is part of His story.

III. THE JESUS ON THE CRUCIFIX IS NOT THE SAVIOR.

A. The Crucifix is the symbol of Sin, Romans 6:1-2, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2-God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?”

B. The Crucifix is a symbol of Judgment, Romans 5:18, “Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.”

C. The Crucifix is a symbol of Suffering, Matthew 16:21, “From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.”

D. The Crucifix is NOT a symbol of Salvation.

IV. JESUS, THE ONE WHO ROSE FROM THE DEAD, IS THE SAVIOR.

A. Jesus was born exactly as it was said earlier in this message, Galatians 4:4, “But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,”

1. He was born of a VIRGIN, Isaiah 7:14.

2. He was born in BETHLEHEM, Micah 5:2.

3. He was the PROMISED SAVIOR, Isaiah 19:20.

B. He was the good TEACHER of the Truth; He taught ALL of the Truth, John 8:40, “But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not.”

1. He FED the multitudes as the Scriptures say.

2. He CURED the sick and RAISED the dead.

C. Jesus DIED ON THE CROSS according to the Scriptures.

1. He SUFFERED because of our sins on the Cross.

2. He PAID for our sins on the Cross, John 19:30, “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”

3. He DIED for our sins that we might live, 2 Corinthians 5:21, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

D. But HE WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD for our justification, Romans 3:25, “Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.” Romans 5:18, “Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.”

1. He overcame death, 1 Corinthians 15:55-57, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56-The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57-But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

2. He justifies those that trust in Him, Romans 3:24, “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:”

CONCLUSION

Jesus invites the unbeliever to believe in Him. Matthew 11:28 says, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”