Sermon Tone Analysis

Read – Why did Jesus come to earth?

Why did God become man?

Why did Jesus die?

The Greeley Tribune faith columnist on July 10, 2010 answered, “An honest reading of the Bible can only lead us to the conclusion that the Bible is uncertain on the significance of Jesus death.”

Since he can’t find a biblical view, this writer suggests on his own that Jesus death was not “a divine necessity” but the tragic result of his promoting the cause of social justice.

Clark Pinnock and Robert Brow in Unbounded Love suggest the death of Christ was “for God an educational experience.”

Jesus’ experience enabled God to identify with us so He forgives based on sympathy, not because the penalty for sin had been paid.

So, is that what Jesus was all about?

A learning exercise for God?

We will learn this morning, most decidedly not.

Mary and Joseph have come to the temple after 40 days to offer sacrifices for Mary’s purification and to present Jesus to God.

They have to be wondering, “Are we doing it right?”

But in obedience to the Word, they come to the temple where God fills in more pieces thru 2 choice servants.

Simeon is righteous and devout -- a true believer.

Like Abraham in Gen 15:6, “he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness.”

He was a good man, but he was saved by faith.

Simeon was awaiting the consolation of Israel – a term that points us to the OT Messiah, the promised One who would provide salvation and rule on the throne of David forever.

But Simeon had received another promise for his faithfulness – one way out of the ordinary.

V. 26, “And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.”

The term “Christ” means anointed one -- Messiah.

God had promised Simeon that he would see Messiah before he died.

What a rare promise!

Perhaps Simeon came looking every day, but we know on this day he came in the Spirit – directed by the HS, and he and Joseph and Mary connected.

This was extraordinary.

Simeon was not a priest nor temple official.

Yet he somehow convinced Mary and Joseph to let him hold their baby, and then prophesied concerning His Messianic mission – affirming that things were going according to plan – and providing further insight into God’s plan for this amazing event – the incarnation.

Four great truths emerge regarding God’s plan to bring salvation to the world through the life and death of Jesus.

I assure you the Bible is not uncertain about the mission of Christ.

*I.

Its Preparation – by God*

Notice Simeon’s comments in Luke 2: 30) for my eyes have seen your salvation 31) that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples.”

Who is the author of salvation?

There is no doubt in Simeon’s mind.

It is your salvation that you have prepared.

There is not one single iota, not one spec of man in God’s plan of salvation.

It is His salvation that He has prepared.

We are simply beneficiaries of amazing grace.

No one can boast about being a Christian.

Salvation is all of God.

To me this is wonderful news!

But to most people it’s an affront they can’t get over.

Most people outside of Christ are not in blatant rebellion.

A few are, but not most.

Most think they are okay; they think they are in, but their faith is based on something they do.

They insist on their merit.

So they stake their eternal destiny on the hope that being as good as the next guy will make them acceptable to God.

But do you not see, Beloved, that is salvation by me, not salvation by God.

That is my salvation prepared by me, not God’s salvation prepared by God.

There is an eternal difference between the two.

Eph 1:4 teaches God “chose us in him before the foundation of the world.”

God chose me; I did not choose Him.

If you are in Christ today, it is because God chose you.

He chose us before the world even existed.

His choosing was based on the life and death of Jesus -- His mission.

Turn to I Pet 1:18, “knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers (that is the tendency to sin, the brokenness with which we are all born.

We were ransomed), not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

20 He was (watch this) foreknown before the foundation of the world (God’s eternal plan) but was made manifest (messianic mission) in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him (not through ourselves, but him) are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.” Beloved, to suggest that the Bible is uncertain about the significance of Jesus’ death is a blatant lie.

It is blasphemous.

In dying for your sins and mine, Jesus absorbed the righteous wrath of God against sin for all who will believe.

What we could never do for ourselves, He did for us.

It is His salvation prepared by Him -- available to anyone who will accept the gift.

God says in I John 2:2, “He is the propitiation (that is, the payment to satisfy God’s holy judgment on all sin) for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.”

That’s why He died – not accidentally and tragically, but purposefully and intentionally to pay the wages of death our sin had earned.

This is the mission of the Lord’s Christ -- the longstanding plan of God, prepared before time began and executed in time by Jesus of Nazareth.

It’s God’s plan and God’s salvation.

How tragic that so many insist on their own goodness to their own condemnation.

Beloved, test yourself?

In the words of II Cor 13: 5) Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith.”

He didn’t say, “Examine to see if you are good enough, but are you in the faith?”

Remember Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde?

Dr. Jekyll knows he’s a mix of good and evil.

Believing his bad nature holds back his good, he creates a potion to separate the two.

His hope is that his good self, which will come out during the day, will be free from the influence of evil.

But, when he takes the potion one night and his evil comes out, he is far worse than he expected.

Every act is selfish.

His name, Hyde, reflects his desire to cover up, to rationalize every action.

Stevenson’s point is even the best of people hide from themselves the horrendous egoism and selfishness that is within.

Horrified at his capacity for evil, Jekyll resolves not to take the potion anymore.

He devotes himself to charity to atone for his sinful nature and congratulates himself on his efforts.

He addresses his readers, “You know how earnestly, in the last months of the last year, I labored to relieve suffering; you know that much was done for others . . . .

(But as) I smiled, comparing myself with other men, comparing my active goodwill with the lazy cruelty of their neglect . . .

at the very moment of that vain-glorious thought, a qualm came over me, a horrid nausea and the most dreadful shuddering . . . .

I looked down . . . .

I was once more Edward Hyde.”

In his pride of accomplishment, Jekyll has become Hyde without the potion.

Devastated, he kills himself.

Stevenson’s insight is profound.

Like so many, Jekyll tries desperately to cover his sin with great piles of good works.

Yet his efforts don’t shrink his pride and selfishness, they aggravate it.

He becomes Hyde without the potion, not in spite of his goodness, but because of his goodness.

His goodness became his greatest evil.

This is a vivid picture of any person creating his or her own salvation.

Is this you?

Then you are not saved, dear friend.

Salvation is of God alone; we can only accept it, never create it.

*II.

Its Person -- Christ*

Lu 2:26, “And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.”

Simeon has been promised that he will see the Lord’s Messiah.

But look what else he saw in v. 30, “for my eyes have seen your salvation.”