The Attractiveness of Christ

Theme: Because Christ’s character is attractive beyond all attractions, you will desire intimate fellowship with Him.

Introduction: Recently sick, I had much time on my hands with not much to do except to sit about and moan over my condition. So I turned to my limited movie collection and screened a few selections. Among them I viewed the recent screen adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. Written in 1950, Lewis desired his fantasy books to inspire children how to act properly and morally as well as to instruct that good always wins. He wrote his book from a very outspoken Christian mindset, which one can see clearly even in the movie. With that in mind I made 2 observations recently that brought me to tears because of my selfishness: 1) The children’s’ immediate attraction to Aslan 2) The children’s’ desire to return to Narnia. Aslan represents a Christ-like figure in the series, for sake of time I will not detail the comparisons for you. I began to wonder, “What is my attraction to Christ?” So this morning we are going to consider Christ’s attractiveness in that: Because Christ’s character is attractive beyond all attractions, you will desire to be with Him.

Define Attraction

Magnetism

A magnet possesses certain qualities that attract a metal object when present

Merely a force of nature

Relationships

Based upon personality compatibility one chooses out friends

Based upon physical appearance and personality compatibility one chooses out a heterosexual relationship with another

Qualities about one which leads us to desire (to be with that person)

Consider Christ’s Preciousness

Why not His appearance? (Is. 53:2)

No majestic appearance to look upon

No beautiful form to desire Him physically

What makes Christ so precious? *Points taken from John MacArthur’s Study Bible (NASB)

Atonement (Hebrews 10:12-But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;)

One sacrifice

No others were necessary

Only His will suffice

Forever

He does not need to continue to offer

Good for all people of all times

Sat down at God’s Right Hand

He believed the work finished

God approved His work

Tell me or show me one whose work has such a far reaching scope?

Promises (II Peter 1:4-Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.)

Description

*What is a promise?- an assurance on the part of another of some good for which we are dependent on him (Taken from Albert Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament)

*What all are implied when one makes a promise? (Taken from Albert Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament)

Within one’s power to accomplish

Bestowed at one’s pleasure

A Favor alone

Exceeding great-a promise unparalleled

Precious-a promise very dear

Gain

Partakers of divine nature

We get to become like God in Character

Become fully like Him in character when we see Christ (I John 3:2)

Escaped corruption in the world deriving from lust

Corruption

Something spoiled

This world is spoiled before God

Corruption comes from lust

Tell me or show me one person who can make such promises and follow through with them?

Care and tenderness (Isaiah 40:11-He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.)

Shepherd

Sustenance-He provides everything

Care-He attends your every need

Attention in a delicate time-He addresses your every need appropriately

Tell me or show me one person whose love and care matched His elevated position?

Conclusion: If you can sit and hear of Christ’s beauties unstirred in your seat then you have no hope. If the passing ugliness of this world’s sin finds a deeper resting place in your heart rather than the eternal unsurpassed attractiveness of Christ, you have nothing but to wait for God to bring about His judgment upon you for your rebellion against Him. My statement does not imply you deserve His judgment anymore than I do or anyone else for that matter; we all deserve God’s judgment. However; because I’ve accepted Christ as my attractive Savior, I’ve been spared from my justly deserved judgment because Christ was judged in my place on my account.