Sent to Save

Intro

Reflection on the death and burial of Jesus Christ

Richard Coekin For God to allow such a sacrifice for our sins is grace. For God to provide such a sacrifice for our sins is amazing grace. For God to become such a sacrifice for our sins is grace beyond our comprehension.

Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.

Psalm 51:5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.

A Destiny for Destruction

Genesis 18:20–22 Then the Lord said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave, I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me. And if not, I will know.” So the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord.

Genesis 19:13 For we are about to destroy this place, because the outcry against its people has become great before the Lord, and the Lord has sent us to destroy it.

We, like Sodom and Gomorrah, are destined for destruction without Christ because of sin.

A Plea for Mercy

Genesis 18:22–33 Then Abraham drew near and said, “Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” And the Lord said, “If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake.” Abraham answered and said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?” And he said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.” Again he spoke to him and said, “Suppose forty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of forty I will not do it.” Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak. Suppose thirty are found there.” He answered, “I will not do it, if I find thirty there.” He said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it.” Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.” And the Lord went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.

Abraham pleads on behalf of the righteous that may be among the wicked.

What if there are 50? 45? 40? 30? 20? Even only 10?

There was only one.

A Man Set Apart for Rescue

Genesis 19:12 Then the men said to Lot, “Have you anyone else here? Sons-in-law, sons, daughters, or anyone you have in the city, bring them out of the place.

Lot’s family was rescued because of his righteousness before God

We are rescued because of Christ’s righteousness before God

God rescued the one to destroy the many

God destroyed the One to rescue the many

Benediction

1 Peter 2:22–25 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Go in the grace beyond our comprehension, that God might become the sacrifice for us, bearing our sin and taking it to the grave. But go even more in the grace beyond our comprehension, that with great joy we can look to Sunday and proclaim the King risen from the grave and enter into the new life we have in Him.