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TEXT: Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. INTRO: It's a special thrill for a follower of Jesus Christ to be able to walk where Jesus walked. That's why, for many of us, a visit to the Holy Land would be a special memory or a special dream. Years ago, one of America's premier preachers, Dr. Robert G. Lee, paid his first visit to Israel. Every place was special, but when his tour group went to Golgotha, the place where many believe Jesus was crucified, he couldn't contain himself. He suddenly started running ahead of the group to get there. The guide had to run to catch up with him. He asked him breathlessly, "Sir, have you been here before?" Dr. Lee paused and then he answered - "Yes, I have been here before. Almost 2,000 years ago." TRANSITION: It is important to be a part of God's community, a member of the Body of Christ, Belonging to the Churh universal. But the only true way in to this is through something Deeply Personal. Are you fully apart of God's Family? 1. True Repentance Dr. Lee wasn't talking about some time-travel experience he'd had. He was talking about his deep feeling that when Jesus was dying on that cross, he was totally identified with what Jesus was doing there. It was his sin Jesus was paying the price for there. The great painter, Rembrandt, must have had that same sense when he painted his rendition of Christ's crucifixion. When his friends pointed out that a man in the crowd there looked like Rembrandt, he replied, "That is me." Once a person comes to understand what Jesus was really doing on that cross, His death becomes a deeply personal and a totally transforming event. It's what the great Apostle Paul was describing in Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. There are many people who wear a cross or who know all about the cross who have never been to the cross. In other words, they've never, in their heart, made their way to Jesus' cross and said, "For me. What He did there is to pay for every sin I've ever committed, for every wrong thing I've ever done." It's at that point that you realize Jesus is your only hope of being clean, your only hope of ever having a relationship with God, your only hope of going to heaven. And you surrender yourself to this Son of God who gave His life for you. And a christian goes through many of these during his Christian life. In some way we must do it every morning. Lu 9:23 And he said to [them] all, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. Recommitting. Saying in prayer, words and deeds,each day "I choose Jesus". Has there ever been times like that for you - when you move beyond. Going Jesus' brutal death as being just a historical event ... or just a religious event, commemorated by some religious observance - when Jesus' sacrifice on that cross becomes for you a deeply personal, "for me", event. Our churches are filled with people who know about the cross, who appreciate what Jesus did there - but who have missed the only thing that will change your eternal address from hell to heaven - that personal transaction at the cross where you make the Savior your Savior. "For me, Jesus - it's for me." Some have forgot the true meaning. Forgot how much mercy was given. How grace is still given! Ever heard the Rooster crow? Many a Christian has had them! Silent about Jesus when they should have spoke! Partaking in a filthy joke or watching what shouldn't have watched. Caving to pressure or influence. Quiet when you should have defended a brother or sister. Grace keeps you His! Not your good looks! Ever had a Nathan experience? Where David was nakedly exposed in all sin wrong? Ever outrightly sinned! The Cross again keeps you His? Not your mighty strength! Lu 18:8 . . .Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? 9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men [are], extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as [his] eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified [rather] than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. There maybe not so many false pious pharisees in the church but theirs a lot of ignorance. Those who think God will wink at their lack of commitment and obedience. Who justify their position rather than change. Riding on anothers coat tails or thinking you can do the bare minimum, or make up your own rules will be purged! What you don't know CAN hurt you! Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Have you truly repented? Are you living that same way? 2. Loving Remembrance 1Co 11:24 And when he had given thanks, he brake [it], and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25 After the same manner also [he took] the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink [it], in remembrance of me. Not just the event. But what the event means - Your a pathetic, evil, sinning loser who is going to heaven! Lu 7:40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. 41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. 42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? 43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that [he], to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. 44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped [them] with the hairs of her head. 45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, [the same] loveth little." That her sins, so many and aggravated, have been forgiven--that she is no longer such a sinner as you suppose, is manifest from her conduct. She shows deep gratitude, penitence, love. Her conduct is the proper expression of that love. While you have shown comparatively little evidence that you felt that your sins were great, and comparatively little love at their being forgiven, she has shown that she felt hers to be great, and has loved much." To whom little is forgiven. He who feels that little has been forgiven--that his sins were not as great as those of others. A man's love to God will be in proportion to the obligation he feels to him for forgiveness. God is to be loved for his perfections, apart from what he has done for us. But still it is proper that our love should be increased by a consideration of his goodness; and they who feel--as Christians do--that they are the chief of sinners,will feel under infinite obligation to love God and their Redeemer, and that no expression of attachment to him can be beyond what is due! Amen?! "Thank You Lord!" If there's never been a time when you actually gave yourself completely to Jesus as your only hope, please do not wait another day to get that settled. Your soul is at stake. Your eternity is at stake. Right where you are, tell Jesus that you're putting your total trust in Him to forgive your sin and change your life. You've been around this incredible love of Jesus for a long time. Now it's time for you to finally experience that love for yourself. It's your Jesus Day. Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. How much have you been forgiven? How much do you love? How much are you doing? |