Sermon Tone Analysis

Secular:

* Choices… we love choices…

* Many restaurants to choose from Italian, Greek, Burgers, sit down, take out, delivery…

* Then when we order a meal… we can have choices like soup, salad or fries…

* When we order a new car… all kinds of choices…  paint colour… pick the interior… options galore

* In a democratic society a high value has been put on choice… choose your M.L.A., M.P., Municipal government… lots of choices…

* But something strange has happened… that very choice we treasure has become god… it has become the chief end of man… the right to choose…

* The abortion debate isn’t a debate about life… it is about lifestyle… it isn’t about health… it is about choice

* The gay marriage isn’t a debate about equality… it is a debate about choice…

* The man who wanted to have safe sex flyers printed… ones  that graphically displayed gay-sex and ultimately forced a “Christian” business man to pay a $100,000 fine….

It wasn’t about the printing….

It was about his choice…

* Unmitigated… choice…

* And the church has bought in…

* We serve when we choose

* We give when we choose

* We show up when we choose

* We worship when we choose

* We even think we become believers when we choose….

*  That is a mistake…

* Choice is not God here… The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are God here… we do not bow down to choice….

But to Jesus Christ.

* Justification is not by Choice…

* Justification is by Grace through Faith in Christ alone

* A gift from God….

God centred salvation

* If it is based on my choice it is man-centred….

* - /My salvation rests in the faith given by God in Christ alone… my salvation rests in Christ/

* *

Biblical:

/through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; He appeased God… was our propitiation /Romans 3:25b This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; 26 for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

27 Where then is boasting?

It is excluded.

By what kind of law?

Of works?

No, but by a law of faith.

28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.

29 Or is God the God of Jews only?

Is He not the God of Gentiles also?

Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one.

31 Do we then nullify the Law through faith?

May it never be!

On the contrary, we establish the Law.

Personal:

* Salvation isn’t a choice between heaven and hell…

* Great illustrations… sharks

* The airplane

* Salvation is recognizing who God is, through faith, and glorifying him forever

*  Apart from eternal destinations… God is worthy of all honour… worthy of all power….

Worthy of all praise!

Bridge:

* The Cross Reveals the true nature of salvation for us…

* *4 points*

* *Reveals God’s Righteousness*

* *Exalts God’s Grace*

* *Demonstrates God’s Inclusivity*

* *And the Cross Confirms God’s Law*

Body:

*The Cross Reveals God’s Righteousness.*

Romans 3:25b This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God /in his patience /He passed over the sins previously committed; 26 for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time/ – He waited/, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

*  John 15:13 "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.”

Jesus the sacrifice in Love… became our righteousness

*  Hebrews 9:22 And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission….

No Jesus… No Salvation

*  Price or value often = reaction…

* Drop a dollar store plate…

* Drop an heirloom piece of China…

* God is holy… Pure and Awesome

* The price to pay… was enormous… our unholiness… unrighteousness… was a huge debt….

* The cost….

Was the cross of Christ.

* A get out of jail free card in monopoly is a good thing…

* Having your charges dismissed in a criminal trial… is something substantially more…

* It was a big price…

* It was God’s declaration of his righteousness… a testimony of contrast in light of our position [This is Christ for You!!]

* You can’t even pay the price…

* Breaking something of extraordinaire value

* God demonstrates that he is the standard… that he is the just…

* And not only is he Just… He is the Justifier of those redeemed in Christ Jesus.

* An exorbitant price….

Only God can pay… and is paid by his Son for those who trust in Him.

*The Cross Reveals God’s Righteousness.*

 

 

*The Cross Exalts God’s Grace*

27 Where then is boasting?

It is excluded.

By what kind of law?

Of works?

No, but by a law of faith.

28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.

* Ever make the right choice…

* The turn here….

Directions debate… co-pilot

* And you win… (quietly of course)

* The temptation….

Especially with a sibling is to let them know… and let them know often.

* In salvation… that can only be obtain by the mercy and grace of God… through Christ Jesus….

Where then is boasting?

It is excluded.

(What are you nuts….)

* Hebrews 12:2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith,

*  Is it in what we do… is it in what we say… is it in our choices… By what kind of law?