Look to Jesus: Part 2

Introduction

Well, good morning!

If you have your Bible, and I hope that you do, go ahead and open it up with me to Hebrews chapter 2.

And listen, before we get into the Word this morning, I just wanna say how good it feels to be gathered together this morning, as God’s people. And listen, as we continue working our way through Hebrews, I want us to remember that we're not just moving through another book of the Bible. We're being reminded over and over again of the glory and of the greatness of Jesus.

That's really been the theme of these first couple chapters. Jesus is greater. He’s greater than the prophets. Greater than the angels. Greater than everything else that came before Him.

And if you remember last week, we began chapter 2 with a warning, right? [Pause]…Because Jesus is greater, we must pay much closer attention to what we've heard, lest we drift away from it.

And then the writer asked us that incredibly serious question: “How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?” And we spent a lot of our time talking about the seriousness of that warning.

But then, as we got toward the end of that passage, something really interesting happened. The writer started talking about Jesus becoming lower than the angels. The Son of God…who’s greater than the angels…He was made lower than the angels. And He did that so that He could taste death for us.

And that's where the writer picks up this morning. Because now he's gonna explain to us why Jesus had to become like us. Why did the Son of God have to take on flesh and blood? Why did He have to suffer? Why did He have to die? Why did He have to become like His brothers in every respect?

And the answer we find in these verses is absolutely incredible. Jesus didn't become like us because He had to become like us in order to understand what it was like to be human. No, He became like us to save us. He became like us to sanctify us. He became like us to free us. He became like us so that He could help us.

And listen, I think that's important for us to understand because sometimes we think about Jesus in a way that's almost distant…We know He's God. We know He's the King. We know He's the Creator. We know He's seated at the right hand of the Father. We know He's coming again. But sometimes, in all that greatness, we forget just how close He came to us.

He didn't save us from a distance. Or look down from heaven and simply give us a list of instructions. He came down. He took on flesh. He took on blood. He entered into our suffering. He experienced temptation. He experienced rejection. He experienced pain. And ultimately, He experienced death. And He did all of that for His people.

That's what makes this passage so beautiful. The same Jesus we've been told is greater than the angels…It’s the same Jesus who isn’t ashamed to call us His brothers.

The One who created us, He became like us. The One who gives us life tasted death. The One who reigns over everything entered into our weakness. And the One who suffered, He’s now able to help those who are suffering and being tempted today.

And so this morning, I don't want us to simply walk away knowing a little bit more about the humanity of Jesus. I want us to see what His humanity means for us. Because if Jesus really became like us…if He really suffered…if He really died…if He really defeated death…if He really is our merciful and faithful High Priest…then He's the Savior we need. That's our main idea this morning. Look to Jesus because He is the Savior you need.

And we're gonna ask one simple question as we walk through these verses together: Why should we look to Jesus? That’s a question we started exploring last week.

The writer gives us three more answers. First, because He sanctifies us. Second, because He frees us. And then finally…third, because He helps us.

And listen, I don't want us to miss how personal this is. This isn't just about what Jesus did 2,000 years ago. This is about what Jesus is doing for His people right now.

Because some of you are suffering right now.

Some of you are afraid right now.

Some of you are fighting temptation right now.

Some of you are carrying burdens that nobody else in this room knows about.

Some of you are struggling with sin that you don't know how to overcome.

Some of you are afraid of what the future holds.

And Hebrews comes along this morning and it says, look to Jesus. Because He knows what it is to suffer. He knows what it is to be tempted. He knows what it is to die. But He also knows what it is to conquer.

And because He’s suffered Himself, He is able to help you. And so wherever you find yourself this morning, I want you to see Jesus. Because He is the Savior you need.

…

And so if you've found your place there in Hebrews chapter 2, would you go ahead and stand with me as we read God's Word together. It says this starting in verse 10:

Hebrews 2:10–18 ESV

For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying, “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.” And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again, “Behold, I and the children God has given me.” Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Thank you. You can be seated.

[Prayer]

If you're taking notes this morning, I have three points for us as we answer that question: Why should we look to Jesus?

Point number 1…Because He Sanctifies Us.

Number 2…Because He Frees Us.

And then finally, number 3…Because He Helps Us.

And so if you’re there with me, let’s look at this first thing together.

I. Because He Sanctifies Us (vv. 10-13)

Again…why should be we look to Jesus? Point number 1, because He sanctifies us.

Look at verse 10 with me again.

“For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.”

Now, that word “fitting” is important. The writer here, he’s telling us that what Jesus did, it wasn't something God came up with because the first plan didn't work. It was fitting. It was exactly what God had determined to do.

And notice who we're talking about.

“He, for whom and by whom all things exist…”

That's Jesus, right?

The One for whom all things exist is the same One who entered into His creation and suffered.

And why?

Look at the middle of the verse:

“…in bringing many sons to glory…”

That's what God is doing. He's bringing many sons to glory.

And then he says that Jesus, the “founder of their salvation,” was made perfect through suffering.

Listen, that word “perfect,” it doesn't mean Jesus was somehow imperfect before the cross. Jesus was always sinless. He was always holy. He was always the spotless Lamb of God.

The idea here is completion. Jesus was completing the work He came to accomplish.

He came to save His people, and that salvation would take Him through suffering, through rejection, through the cross, through death.

And when He hung on that cross, He could say: “It is finished.” He completed the work.

And that's important because Jesus didn't come simply to make bad people better. He came to save sinners. And saving sinners means more than simply forgiving our sins.

Look at verse 11.

“For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source.”

There it is.

“He who sanctifies.”

That's Jesus.

And “those who are sanctified.”

That's us.

To sanctify means to make holy, to set apart for God.

And church, we need to understand this because we can sometimes reduce salvation down to, “Jesus forgave me.”

Praise God, He did. But salvation doesn't stop there.

God didn't save you so that you could remain exactly who you were. He saved you to make you holy.

Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 4:3, “For this is the will of God, your sanctification.”

That's God's will for you.

Not just that you would attend church.

Not just that you would know the Bible.

Not just that you would call yourself a Christian.

Its that you would become holy.

And this is where we need to be honest with ourselves.

We live in a culture that wants the salvation Jesus offers without the obedience Jesus demands.

We want forgiveness without repentance. Or grace without obedience. We want heaven without holiness…But guys, that's not biblical Christianity.

Christ doesn't just justify His people. He sanctifies His people. He declares us righteous in Christ, and then He begins the lifelong work of making us increasingly like Christ.

And notice something else in verse 10.

How did Jesus accomplish His mission?

Through suffering.

And that means something for us.

If the sinless Son of God was brought through suffering as He accomplished His mission, don't be surprised when God uses suffering to sanctify you.

Sometimes we pray, “God, make me more like Jesus.” And then God puts us in a situation that exposes our pride, or our impatience, our selfishness, our anger, our lack of faith, and then we say, “God, why are You doing this to me?”

Maybe He's answering your prayer.

Maybe that difficult person in your life’s exposing something in you that needs to die.

Maybe that season of uncertainty is teaching you to trust God instead of yourself.

Maybe the suffering you're asking God to remove is the very thing He's using to make you more like Christ.

James 1:2–4 says that the testing of our faith produces steadfastness.

God is doing something in you. Sanctification doesn't always feel good while it's happening, right?

Think about physical therapy. You injure yourself, you go to therapy, and the therapist starts making you move in ways that hurt. And you're thinking, “Why are you making this worse?”

But listen, the pain isn't the goal. Healing is the goal. And sometimes God allows painful circumstances because He's not primarily interested in making you comfortable. He's interested in making you holy.

John Owen famously said, “Be killing sin or it’ll be killing you.”

That's a strong statement. But church, that's the Christian life.

We don't make peace with sin. Or try to manage it. We don't excuse it by just saying, “That's just the way I am.”

If Christ is sanctifying you, then you should be fighting sin.

You should be repenting.

You should be growing.

You should be changing.

You should look different today than you did five years ago. Not because you're saving yourself. But because the Savior who saved you is sanctifying you.

And then look at the end of verse 11.

“That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers.”

I want you think about that for a second.

This is Jesus. The Son of God. The Creator. The King. The One who’s holy and righteous. And yet He looks at His redeemed people and He says: “They're my brothers.”

He's not ashamed of them.

And listen, some of you need to hear that this morning.

Because you know your sin. You know your failures. You know the things nobody else in this room knows. And if you're in Christ, Jesus isn't standing over you saying, “I can't believe you did that again.”

He’s your Savior. He’s sanctifying you. He’s not ashamed to call you His brother.

That doesn't mean He takes your sin lightly. He doesn't. He died for it. But it does means your standing before God doesn't rest on your ability to make yourself worthy. It rests on Jesus.

You don't become holy enough so that He’ll accept you. Jesus accepts you, and then He begins making you holy. That's grace.

And then the writer quotes Psalm 22 in verse 12:

“I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.”

Listen, that's significant because Psalm 22 is the Psalm Jesus quotes from the cross.

It begins with, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” But it doesn't end in abandonment. It ends in praise.

The suffering Messiah, He’s surrounded by His people, declaring God's name among His brothers. And Hebrews is saying, that's Jesus. The One who suffered is the One who identifies Himself with His people.

And then verse 13 says:

“Behold, I and the children God has given me.”

Jesus has a people that’s been set apart for Himself. And He's not ashamed of them. He's bringing them to glory.

…

And so, let me ask you something this morning…Are you being sanctified?

Not, “Do you call yourself a Christian?”

Not, “Have you been baptized?”

Not, “How long have you been coming to FBC?”

Are you becoming more like Jesus?

…

Is your speech changing?

Is your attitude changing?

Is your habits changing?

Is your marriage changing?

Is your thought life changing?

Are you quicker to repent?

Quicker to forgive?

Quicker to serve?

Quicker to open the Word?

Quicker to get on your knees?

Because a Christian isn't someone who’s arrived. A Christian, they’re someone God’s changing.

If you can look back over your life and see absolutely no evidence that Christ is changing you, don't comfort yourself by saying, “Well, I prayed a prayer years ago.”

Examine yourself. Because Jesus doesn't just save His people from the penalty of sin. He saves us from the power of sin. And one day, He'll save us from the presence of sin.

That's where verse 10 is ultimately taking us:

“…bringing many sons to glory.”

That's where He's taking you.

And church, that's why we look to Jesus. Because He sanctifies us.

But listen, the writer isn't finished. Jesus didn't just become like us to make us holy. He became like us because we were enslaved to something we could never free ourselves from.

And that's where we go next.

II. Because He Frees Us (vv. 14-16)

We look to Jesus, point number 2, because He frees us.

Look at verse 14 with me again.

“Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things…”

Now, remember what we just saw in the first point. Jesus became like us. And so the writer says it again here, but now he tells us why.

“SINCE therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things…”

The children have flesh and blood. And so Jesus took on flesh and blood. He became truly 100% human. Listen, that’s one of the most important truths in all Christianity.

Jesus wasn't pretending to be human. He wasn't God wearing a human costume…Or some kind of spirit who just looked like a man.

No, Jesus became man. He had a real human body. He experienced hunger. He experienced thirst. He became tired. He experienced pain. He could bleed just like you and I. And ultimately, He could die.

And that's exactly where the writer takes us.

Why did He become flesh and blood?

Look at the second part of verse 14.

“…that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil.”

Listen, pay attention to the irony here. Jesus became mortal so that He could defeat death.

The One who’s life itself entered into death. The One who created everything. The One who had the power to destroy His enemies…He allowed Himself to be nailed to a cross and killed by His enemies.

Why?

To destroy the one who had the power of death.

Now, that doesn't mean Satan is sovereign over death. God alone is sovereign. Satan doesn't have independent authority over life and death. But what the writer means here is that Satan used death as a weapon against sinners.

Think all the way back to Genesis chapter 3. God had warned Adam and Eve that if they disobeyed Him, they would die, right?

And so what’s Satan do?

He deceives them.

They sin.

Death enters the world.

And ever since then, humanity’s lived under the shadow of death. And Satan loves to use that fear. Because listen, when you know you're gonna die, and when you know you're a sinner, what hope do you have?

That's why verse 15 says Christ came to: “deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.”

Lifelong slavery. That's the condition of the natural man.

We live.

We work.

We build.

We save.

We make plans.

We try to control our lives.

But underneath all of it is this reality: We're gonna die. And we can't escape it.

You can eat healthy.

You can exercise.

You can take your vitamins.

You can go to the doctor.

You can have all the money in the world.

You can have insurance.

You can live in the safest neighborhoods.

You can do everything humanly possible to preserve your earthly life. But eventually, every single one of us is gonna die. Hebrews says that apart from Christ, that reality, it can enslave us. And that's why our culture spends so much time trying to distract us from death.

We don't like talking about it.

We don't like thinking about it.

We hide it.

We try to stay young.

We try to preserve ourselves.

We spend billions of dollars trying to keep ourselves looking young because, deep down, we're terrified of getting old and dying.

But Hebrews says the answer isn't pretending death isn't coming. The answer is Jesus. Because Jesus entered death. And then He conquered it.

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15: “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”

Why can Paul talk like that? Because Jesus, He’s defeated death.

And listen, for the believer this morning, that changes everything. Death is still an enemy. Scripture doesn't tell us to pretend death isn't painful. Jesus Himself wept at Lazarus' tomb. But listen, for those who belong to Christ, death’s no longer the final word. Jesus, He’s taken the sting out of it.

Think about a bee. A bee can still fly around you. It can still make you nervous. It can still scare you. But if the stinger’s been removed, it can't do what it once could do, right?

And that's what Christ did to death for His people.

Death is still real.

Death still hurts.

Death still separates us temporarily from those we love.

But because Christ, He’s conquered death, death can’t destroy us anymore.

That's why Paul could say in Philippians 1:21: “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

Who talks like that?

Only someone who understands what Jesus accomplished.

Listen, this is where I wanna press us a little bit. Because if Jesus really has freed you from the fear of death, why do so many of us live as though this life is all there is?

We spend so much of our energy trying to build a comfortable life here.

We obsess over our houses. And our careers. Our bank accounts. Our retirement. Our possessions. And there's nothing inherently wrong with any of those things. But church, if you're living for this world, you're living for something that's gonna end.

Everything you own is temporary. Your house is temporary. Your car is temporary. Your bank account is temporary. Your career is temporary. Even your body is temporary.

But listen to me, Christ has secured something that can’t be taken away.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:19–20: “Don’t lay up for yourselves treasures on earth… but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.”

Why? Because everything here, in this world, it’s all passing away.

So don't spend your life trying to preserve what you can't keep. Live for what lasts.

And notice what verse 16 says:

“For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham.”

Listen, that's an interesting statement, right? Why does Hebrews bring up angels again? Because he's reminding us who Jesus came to save.

He didn't become an angel. He became like us. He came for the offspring of Abraham. And biblically speaking, that isn't necessarily talking about physical descendants of Abraham.

Paul says in Galatians 3:7: “Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham.”

The people Jesus came to save are those who belong to Him by faith. That's us. That's the church. That's God's people.

And notice the word Hebrews uses:

“He helps.”

Even here, we're already beginning to see where the writer’s taking us in verse 18.

Jesus came to deliver His people.

He came to free us.

He came to help us.

Meaning, you don't have to be enslaved to the fear of death anymore. You don't have to spend your entire life trying to hold onto this world. You don't have to live terrified of what happens when your heart stops beating. Because Jesus, He’s already gone there.

He died. And then He walked out of the grave.

And because He lives, those who belong to Him, they’ll live also.

…

And so let me ask you:

What are you afraid of losing?

Is it your health?

Your money?

Your house?

Your career?

Your reputation?

Your family?

Your life?

Listen, those things, they matter. We should care about them. But none of ‘em can ultimately be your hope. Because if your hope is built on something that death can take away, eventually you're gonna live in fear.

But guys, if your hope is built on Christ, even death itself can’t take away your hope. Jesus already defeated the worst thing that could ever happen to you. And that's why Paul could say in Romans 8:38–39 that neither death nor life can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

Church, Jesus didn't come just to make your life better. He came to set you free. Free from the guilt of sin. Free from condemnation. Free from slavery to the fear of death. And listen, one day, He’ll free us completely from death itself.

And so stop living like this world is your home. Stop treating temporary things like they're eternal. Stop allowing fear to control you.

Look to Jesus.

Because the One who became flesh and blood went into death for you. And by His death, He destroyed the power of the devil. And by His resurrection, He secured eternal life for His people.

He frees us.

But listen, there's one more thing the writer wants us to see. Because maybe you're thinking, “Okay, I understand that Jesus defeated death. I understand that He saves me. But what about right now? What about when I'm tempted? What about when I'm struggling? What about when I fall?”

That's exactly where the writer takes us next. Because Jesus doesn't just save us from death someday. He helps us right now.

And that's our third point.

III. Because He Helps Us (vv. 17-18)

Why should we look to Jesus? Point number 3, because He helps us.

Look at verse 17 with me again.

“Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect…”

Now, we've already talked about Jesus becoming like us, but notice that little phrase: “He had to.” There was a necessity here. Jesus had to become like His brothers. Not because He was obligated to us. Or because we somehow deserved it. No, it’s because this was the way God had determined to accomplish our salvation.

He had to become like us so that He could represent us.

He had to become like us so that He could die for us.

He had to become like us so that He could be OUR High Priest.

And look at what kind of High Priest He became.

“…so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God…”

I love those two words.

Merciful. And faithful.

Jesus is merciful toward us, and He’s faithful to us.

Listen, we need both.

Sometimes we need mercy. Sometimes we need someone to look at our weakness and have compassion on us.

But listen, sometimes we need faithfulness. We need someone who isn't gonna abandon us when we fail. We need someone who’ll continue to hold us up when we're weak.

And that's Jesus.

He's merciful. And He's faithful.

And notice why He became our High Priest.

“…to make propitiation for the sins of the people.”

Listen, that’s an important word, propitiation. It means that Christ satisfied the righteous wrath of God against our sin. He didn't simply overlook our sin. Or sweep it under the rug. Or pretend it wasn't there. He paid for it. The wrath that we deserved was poured out upon Christ. The judgment that should’ve fallen on us, it fell on Him.

Isaiah 53:5 says, “He was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities.”

That's the gospel.

Jesus didn't die because He was a sinner. He died because we are.

He became like us so that He could stand in our place. And that's why He's a merciful and faithful High Priest. He knows exactly what our sin cost. Because He paid for it.

And then we get to verse 18. And I think this is where the whole passage becomes very personal.

“For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”

And so there it is. “He’s able to help.”

Not, “He might help.”

Not, “He wants you to figure it out yourself.”

Not, “He understands what you're going through, but there's not much He can do about it.”

No, He is able to help.

And why’s He able to help? Because He Himself has suffered when tempted.

…

Now listen, we need to be careful here. Lot’s of people read Hebrews and try and twist all the theology it presents to us.

Jesus was tempted, but He was never tempted by sinful desires the way that we are.

James 1:13 tells us that God can’t be tempted with evil, and Jesus never sinned, right? So when Hebrews says Jesus suffered when tempted, it's not saying Jesus experienced the sinful desires that we experience. Rather, He experienced the full reality of temptation and suffering without ever giving in to it.

He knows what it is to be hungry and tempted to satisfy Himself.

He knows what it is to be rejected.

He knows what it is to suffer.

He knows what it is to be tired.

He knows what it is to be surrounded by people who don't understand Him.

He knows what it is to face Satan's attacks.

And yet He never sinned. He stood where Adam fell. He stood where Israel failed. He stood where we fail. And He remained faithful. That's why He can help us.

…

Listen, this is where I really wanna challenge us this morning. Because what do you do when you're tempted? Where do you go? Who do you run to?

Because I think one of the biggest mistakes we make when we're struggling with sin is that we run away from Jesus.

We sin, and then we hide…just like Adam and Eve.

We fall, and then we withdraw.

We become ashamed, and we stop praying.

We feel guilty, and we don't wanna open our Bibles.

We convince ourselves that we need to clean ourselves up before we come back to God.

But Hebrews says the exact opposite.

When you're tempted, run to Jesus.

When you've sinned, run to Jesus.

When you're ashamed, run to Jesus.

When you're weak, run to Jesus.

Why?

Because He’s able to help.

Think about a child who's learning to walk.

They fall. And what do they do? They don't decide, “Well, apparently walking isn't for me.” No, they reach for their father, right? They grab his hand and they get back up. That's what the Christian life looks like.

You're gonna stumble. You're gonna fall. You're gonna have days when you fail miserably. But listen to me, don't stay down. Get back up. Run to Christ. Confess your sin. Receive His forgiveness. And keep on walking.

Proverbs 24:16 says, “For the righteous falls seven times and rises again.”

The righteous aren't people who never fall. They're people who get back up.

And how do we get back up? We look to Jesus. Because He’s merciful. And He’s faithful. He’s able to help.

Listen, some of you, you’ve been fighting the same sin for years.

Maybe it's anger.

Maybe it's lust.

Bitterness.

Maybe it's pride.

Gossip.

Maybe it's an addiction.

Maybe it's fear.

Listen, whatever it is, you've begun to believe, “This is just who I am.”

No.

If you're in Christ, that's not who you are. You’re being sanctified. You’ve been freed. And you have a Savior who’s able to help you. So don't make peace with your sin. Don't baptize it or try and rename it. Don't say, “That's just my personality” or, “Everybody else struggles with this.” Maybe they do. But Christ didn't save you so that you could remain enslaved to it.

Fight it.

Confess it.

Put it to death.

And when you fall, run back to Christ. Because He's not surprised by your weakness. He's not standing there shocked that you failed again. He already knows. And He's still your merciful and faithful High Priest.

That's the beauty of the gospel.

You don't run to Jesus because you're strong. You run to Jesus because you're weak.

You don't come to Him because you've conquered temptation. You come to Him because you need help conquering temptation.

And that's why the writer says, “He’s able to help those who are being tempted.”

Not those who have everything together. Not those who’ve conquered every sin. Those who are being tempted.

That's us.

Every one of us.

…

And so let me ask you this morning:

Where do you go when you're tempted?

Do you run to Christ? Or do you run to yourself?

Do you pray? Or do you hide?

Do you confess? Or do you make excuses?

Do you open God's Word? Or do you feed the temptation?

Listen, the next time you're tempted, I want you to remember this verse. “He is able to help.”

You don't have to fight alone.

You don't have to surrender to sin.

You don't have to live enslaved to your old desires.

You have a Savior who understands your weakness, who’s conquered sin, who’s defeated death, who’s made atonement for your sins, and listen to me, who’s able to help you.

And so church, look to Jesus.

Look to Him when you're suffering.

Look to Him when you're afraid.

Look to Him when you're tempted.

Look to Him when you've failed.

Look to Him when you're weak.

Because He’s exactly what Hebrews has been showing us all along. He is the Savior you need.

He sanctifies you.

He frees you.

And He helps you.

And that brings us all the way back to where we started.

Why should we look to Jesus? Because He isn't a distant Savior. He became like us. He suffered for us. He died for us. He conquered death for us. He made propitiation for our sins. And now, as our merciful and faithful High Priest, He helps us.

And so whatever you're facing this morning…

Whatever temptation you're fighting…

Whatever suffering you're walking through…

Whatever fear’s keeping you awake at night…

Look to Jesus because He is the Savior you need.

Closing

But listen, if you're here this morning and you're not a believer, let me just leave you with the gospel.

The bad news that the Bible lays out for us… You’re a sinner. You've rebelled against a holy God, and your sin, its separated you from Him. That’s everyone of us…that’s why we need a Savior.

The worse news!? You can’t fix it yourself. You can’t make yourself good enough. And because the wages of sin is death, one day you're gonna stand before God and you’re give an account for your life.

But here's the good: God didn't leave us in our sin. He sent His Son. Jesus became like us. He lived the perfect life you and I couldn't live…And He went to the cross to take the punishment that you deserved.

But here's the best news: He didn't stay dead. He rose again. And because He lives, He offers forgiveness, and freedom, and eternal life to anyone who would just simply turn from their sin and trust in Him. Its all a free gift!

And so if you're not a believer this morning, look to Jesus. Because He's the Savior you need.

Again listen, you don't have to clean yourself up first. You don't have to fix your life first. Come to Christ. Repent of your sin and trust in Him. He’ll do the rest.

And so with all that being said, I want us to bow our heads and close our eyes for just a moment. The praise team’s gonna come and play for us one more time…And listen, as they do that I want you to take a moment and just consider what you’ve heard this morning.

If you're a believer, thank God for the Savior who sanctifies you, who frees you, who helps you.

And if you're not a believer, don't ignore what God’s doing in your heart. Turn to Christ. Look to Jesus.

We’re gonna have some pastors up front…I’ll be in the back if you need us. But you take this time and then I’ll close us after.

[Prayer]