Our Family Tree

Charles McKendree

Evangelism: Sharing Christ to a Lost World • Sermon • Submitted a year ago • Presented a year ago

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One tree says it all, Our Family Tree

Notes

Transcript

Handout

Introduction

Focus Passage

1 Peter 2:24 NKJV

24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.

Outline

The Forbidden Tree

1 Peter 2:24a who Himself bore our sins...

As one looks at the Forbidden Tree they begin to see a picture of man’s broken nature. They see dead limbs. They see an apple that has a bite out of it. They see a tree that is in a state of ruin. These all point to the picture of person without Christ.

As one looks at this picture in context of 1 Peter 2:24, we see a few other details to bring out about man and his fallen condition.

1. Man has willingly chosen to disobey God and go his own way (half eaten apple)

2. Man is in a state of disarray because of their rebellion

3. Man has a penalty because of that sin, death (dead branches)

Romans 6:23 NKJV

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Ephesians 2:5 NKJV

5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

God takes our sin seriously. He kicked Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden. He allowed Jesus to die and pay the penalty of our sin and rebellion.

Romans 5:8 NKJV

8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

If God takes our sin and rebellion that serious, then we should too. Are we taking our sin seriously? The good news is that, if we take our sins seriously and repent of those sin by placing our faith in Christ, we can see another part of Our Family Tree.

The Forgiveness Tree

1 Peter 2:24b He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree...

One see that through the Forbidden Tree that there life, our lives even, are a mess because we rejected God and His way. We see through the singular fall of Adam in the Garden of Eden that man has been separated God. Through one man death came into this world. Yet, we find a way to bridge the gap between us and God, the man Christ Jesus.

He himself bor our sins in his body on the tree; Jesus took our sins and bore the wait and consequence of our sins at Calvary. Paul writes that Jesus nailed our sins to the cross.

Colossians 2:14 NKJV

14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

When looks at the Forgiveness Tree, they brought face-to-face with what Jesus did for them.

1. Jesus became our payment for our sin (pictured by the nails and crown of thorns)

2. Jesus died, was buried, and was raised to life (pictured by the absence of Jesus on the cross)

3. God, through Jesus, has extended grace and mercy toward us

Romans 6:23 NKJV

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

4. We are called to confess our sins, and if we do so, He will forgive us our sins

1 John 1:9 NKJV

9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Once we acknowledge our sin and need for forgiveness, followed by understand that Jesus is the only One that forgive us our sins, we must make a choice to accept or deny Christ. Which leads us to our third and final tree...

The Forever Tree

1 Peter 2:24c …that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.

1. The Bible reveals to us that we are sinners and dead in our sin without Christ

2. The Bible tells us that there is a penalty for our that sin

3. The Bible tells us that Jesus willfully payed that penalty

4. The Bible tells us that if we will repent of our sin, Jesus will forgive us our sin

5. The Bible tells us that if we will do this, we will die to sin and live for God, live to righteousness

How will one respond? I’ve said over-and-over again, once the Gospel is presented a decision must be had. There is no neutral ground at the foot of the cross. Once decision will determine their forever home. In Christ, we see what is portrayed within the picture of the Forever Tree’s green leaves and strong, healthy branches, life. A life that is only afforded through accepting Jesus’ willful sacrifice on the cross, portrayed within the crown of thorns. It is through the acceptance of this sacrifice that one sees eternal life in Christ, live to righteousness.