Born to Die

Friends, today we are here to reflect upon the profound truth that Jesus, our Lord and Savior, was born to die.

This title, “Born to Die,” sums up the very essence of Jesus’ purpose on this earth.

It reminds us of the sacrifice He willingly made for the redemption of humanity.

Jesus came to earth and carried out His mission in complete victory.

Luke 4:18–19 (NASB95)

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,

Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor.

He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives,

And recovery of sight to the blind,

To set free those who are oppressed,

19 To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.”

Jesus came for the guilty, the lost and the brokenhearted.

I know some of you are hurting and your heart is empty.

I have good news for you.

There is hope for you today.

(Testimony)

Jesus was born to die for you and me.

You might have burned some bridges in life, but Jesus wants to restore those bridges.

He is in the business of total restoration.

Colossians 1:13–14 (NASB95)

13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,

14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

In other words, Jesus delivered and rescued us from doom.

We were in danger of spending eternity apart from God the Father.

The sword of God’s judgment was hanging over our heads.

Romans 6:23 (NASB95)

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

We were delivered from living under the authority of satan’s dark domain.

In verse 13 of Colossians, the word “transferred” means deportation of a population of people from one country to another.

Jesus Christ did not release us from bondage to have us walk blindly in this lost and fallen world.

He moved us into His Kingdom of light and love and made us victors over satan’s kingdom of darkness.

In verse 14, redemption means to “release a prisoner by payment of ransom.”

Christ paid the ransom to satan in order to rescue us from the kingdom of darkness.

2 Corinthians 5:17–21 (NASB95)

17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

18 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,

19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

When I see the cross I see an expression of the sin of all the world laid upon Him, Jesus Christ, our Savior.

It was your sins and my sins that nailed Him there.

1 Corinthians 1:18 (NASB95)

18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Rather than a testimony of weakness, the cross is a tremendous instrument of power.

Colossians 1:19–20 (NASB95)

19 For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him,

20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.

The whole Bible points to His death.

You must understand the very heart of this book is the cross of Jesus Christ from Genesis to Revelation.

Jesus gave us the way out of God’s judgment for sin.

He demolished the chains of bondage.

But the story does not end at the cross.

Romans 8:2 (NASB95)

2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.

Jesus chose to be born and He chose to die to complete His mission.

The truth that Jesus was born to die is a profound reminder of God’s immense love for us.

It is a reminder that our lives have purpose and meaning because of Jesus’ sacrifice.

We don’t have the choice to be born or whether or not we are going to die once.

But if we choose to be chosen, to be born again, we do not have to face the second death of judgment.

Regeneration doesn’t happen at the manger but at the cross and it only happens when we know we are nothing without Christ and repent.

The best gift you can ever give in life is to give your heart to Jesus.

Jesus wants your whole heart.

Have you asked Him to forgive you and wash you sins under the blood?

Come to give your heart to Jesus Christ today and receive the gift of life so you can stand before a just and holy Judge in righteousness.

(altar call)