Good Friday 08
What you have witnessed (drama) was the greatest victory ever in the history of the mankind.
Come on – Ps James! What about battles like DUNKIRK – where 1000’s upon 1000’s of soldiers lost their lives fighting for the right to live the rest of their lives in a democratic free society?
Indeed these were great battles with horrific human cost! So how can I say the battle between Jesus Christ and the Devil himself supercedes any of the world’s great wars?
Let me give you some perspective today to answer this question.
Illustrate: Let’s suppose you knew there was a SERUM that if taken would not only give you a great life here on earth, but would take you beyond the horizon of death into a life that never ends – into eternity? This would put your 70 yr old existence on planet earth as being compared to a droplet of water in the Oceans of planet earth!
If the current potentates and rulers of the world knew of such a formula, such a serum and there was only enough for a handful of people, what do you suppose would happen to that Serum? Yes – nations would go against nation, spy on spy, undercover operatives working day and night to get a hold of such a serum – that could give eternal life beyond the grave.
Friends I qualify my statement again – what you have just watched is the greatest battle ever waged in the domain of planet earth.
You see friends – all of humanity has been bitten and poisoned by the serpent, Satan – the devil. We all carry the devastating effects in our lives of the ORIGINAL sin of Adam & Eve.
It’s effects have been ongoing in the history of mankind. Hatred, racism, wars, rumours of wars, idolatry, fornication, immorality, murder and the like.
However, these are only the effects of the poison experienced whilst living in our corrupt human bodies. But this poison’s effects go way beyond the grave into a LOST ETERNITY. An eternity where all have been doomed to spend FOREVER and EVER with the devil and his demonic hoardes – SEPARATED from a loving God because ALL HAVE SINNED and FALLEN SHORT of the GLORY of GOD. The penalty of our sin was never to be with the God of love for all eternity!
DRAMA: This is what the battle you have witnessed today was all about. If Jesus Christ had stayed in that grave and his body had fallen pray to corruption like all of ours one day will – then mankind was doomed forever to be ruled over by DEATH and HELL – no relief for our sins, no more mercy shown, destined to suffer in a lost eternity forever and ever.
When Jesus Christ died on that cross on the first easter – he paid for every wrong doing you and I have ever done and will do. He suffered for our sins, paid the ultimate price of sin – death – being separated from his heavenly Father.
HE who knew no sin became sin for us – that we might become the righteousness of God in Christ.
He took our place – friends, Jesus died for YOUR sins, for MY sins.
On the cross before he drew in his last breath – it is recorded he said “IT IS FINISHED!”
The devil mistook this to mean JESUS WAS FINISHED!
Friends what a terrible mistake he made. Jesus Christ was able to take the keys to hell and death – the keys that had been in the devil’s possession ever since the Garden of EDEN and the fall of MANKIND. He asserted his LORDSHIP over the power of death for all who would believe in Him – BECAUSE of ONE REASON and ONE REASON ALONE!
Jesus was able to rise out of the grave on the 3rd day because HE NEVER SINNED and therefore the poison of the ORIGINAL sin had not taken root in his body and soul.
Death had no HOLD over him!
Corruption could not wrap its ARMS around him.
Body Decay had no hold over him!
When Jesus Christ came bursting out of that TOMB on Ressurection SUNDAY he had purchased the SERUM, the ANTIDOTE for you and I to be FREE from the fear of DEATH, to be FREE from the power of SIN, to REDEEM us from the grave and give us an UNSPEAKABLE GIFT – ETERNAL LIFE!
CONCLUDE
Friends – if you are here today and you have not taken the SERUM of belief in JESUS CHRIST for your life – you must do it today. You cannot afford to DELAY. Your eternal destination is at stake. Without His FORGIVENESS and the CLEANSING of your SIN you cannot escape the flames of ETERNAL DAMNATION.
The bible says TODAY is the DAY of SALVATION!
What must you do?
Repent from your sins
Ask for God’s forgiveness
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ
Receive the gift of eternal life
Altar call