Sermon Tone Analysis

What is Truth?

Jesus, while standing before Pilate in John 18:33ff, was asked this question, “What is truth?”

Prior to meeting up with Pilate, Jesus told the Jews in John 8:32 that “the truth will set you free.”

Peter, when standing before the rulers, elders, and scribes, filled with the Holy Spirit in Acts 4:1f, spoke boldly regarding Jesus and said in Acts 4:12 (ESV) “. . .

there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

The truth is that apart from putting one’s faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord, there is no salvation.

This morning, we focus our attention on the gospel or Good News.

1. God’s Intention; 2. Humanity’s Rejection; 3. Humanity’s Condition; 4. God’s Redemption; and Humanity’s Option.

1. God’s Intention

a.

To create man/woman to be like Him...

b.

To work...

c.

To build a family...

But...

2. Humanity’s Rejection

God’s warned, but was His warning was rejected...

So, being tricked/convinced by the Serpent to disregard God’s command...

This rebellion caused a cascading effect resulting in a drastic change in the relationship between God and humanity...

God would later introduce the notion in the Old Testament that sin required a sacrifice/the shedding of innocent blood to make atonement/to pay the price...

Exodus 12 tells us that a lamb, a perfect lamb without blemish, had to be sacrificed and its blood put on the doorframes of one’s home.

In so doing, that household would be saved from death.

3. Humanity’s Condition

Sin plunged humanity into rebellion against God

The result (Gen 3:14-17): was that sin brought judgment (the serpent, then the woman, and then the man)

This is the sin or wrong-doing humanity leveled against God, which, according to Ro 6:23, brought death—humanity would now feel the effects of dying and eventual death

Does this mean that everyone picked and ate the fruit?

Clearly, No, but the result of Adam and Eve’s initial sin, would be perpetuated from them through their kids, and generation after generation would bring increasing levels of distortion in their relationship to God with each passing generation. . .

as we can clearly see today

Ro 5:18 says that “one trespass led to condemnation for all men”

No one is exempt, no matter how good a person thinks they are

And elsewhere, Paul writes...

Everyone, since Adam and Eve, is born with this sinful nature—a desire to rebel against God

THIS, leaves humanity in a state of rebellion before God—a state that cannot be fixed by humanity.

It requires outside help...

So, seeing that humanity could not save itself, and so that a right relationship with God could be reestablished, God worked out a plan...

4. God’s Redemption

God’s desire was to let people know that He has a plan to save humanity...

Isaiah prophesied in Isaiah 7:14 (ESV) “Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign.

Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Emmanuel.”

Isaiah 12:1–2 (ESV) “You will say in that day: ‘I will give thanks to you, O Lord, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, that you might comfort me.’

‘Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.’”

Isaiah 40:3 (ESV) “A voice cries: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”

More than 500 hundred of years later, this is echoed and fulfilled by John the Baptist in Matthew 3:3

It was also prophesied that ...

Isaiah 53:5–6 (ESV) “But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

So heavy was this task on Jesus that when considering the road that lied before Him due to our sins, prayed in Matthew 26:39 (ESV) “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me...”

Q: Why did He do it?

John 3:16 (ESV) “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

He did it to reconcile us to the Father—to reestablish the relationship He intended for us from the beginning of time

Can you hear the echo of the prophet Isaiah (53)?

5. Humanity’s Option

(my wife thought of “Respontion”)

Salvation is found in no one else...

Q: So, what do you need to do to enter into a relationship with Jesus?

Not only this, but then God takes our sins and...

The challenge is yours: What are you going to do with Jesus?

Put your faith in Him as your Savior or discount Him and His teaching as nothing more than foolish myths?

If you’re ready to put your faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord, then I urge you to come...

Jesus said

So, come.

Don’t let anything stop you from receiving the free gift of salvation that comes through Jesus Christ.

Closing Prayer