Sermon Tone Analysis

Karl Barth was one of the most prominent in distinguished theologians in the history of Christianity.

He was a Swiss Reformed pastor and one of the leading figures in what became known as the Neo Orthodox movement He authored over 20 bucks.

His writings to dominate the theology of the 20th century.

Yet, when he was once asked us, and if you words, all he had written in the field of theology, this was his summary: /“Jesus loves me, for the Bible tells me so.”/

I am not much of the theologian, but when I read this passage I too you must conclude, /“Jesus loves me, this I know for the Bible tells me so.

/Because Jesus loves me.

I can have communion with the Father, I can have confidence in the Father, and I can commit my life to the Father, without hesitation.

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I. WHEN JESUS SAID, FATHER, IN TO YOUR HANDS, HE WAS REMINDING US THAT WE CAN HAVE COMMUNION WITH THE FATHER    

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our Lord’s death on the cross made it possible for men to walk in fellowship with God once again.

!! A. THE ONLY WAY TO COMMUNION WITH GOD IS THROUGH JESUS CHRIST

#. during his earthly ministry among his disciples

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Jesus had proclaimed, /“I and the way and the truth and the life.

No one comes to the Father except through me.”/

John 14:6.

#. now that’s a bold statement of exclusivity.

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then as now, they were in any religious faiths in the world, and many would-be religious leaders and would-be messiahs and profits all proclaiming that in their way was the right way

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how were the disciples to know that their faith was genuine and focused on the right person? 

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how can we? 

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Jesus is miracles validated his claims

#. in the 10th chapter of John’s gospel Jesus has a clash with the Jewish leaders

#. they confront him and ask him plainly, /“How long we you keep us in suspense?

If you are the Christ, talus plainly.”/

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Jesus responds by saying, /“I did tell you, but you do not believe.

The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me ... even though you do not believe me, believe in miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in a Father.”/

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God authenticated Jesus’ claims

#. how did God do that?

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when the curtain in the temple was ripped apart from top to bottom

* /“And Jesus cried out with a loud voice and yielded up his Spirit.

And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn into, from top to bottom.

In the earth ship, and the rocks were split.”/

(Matthew 27:50-51)

#. all three synoptic gospels recorded the supernatural event.

#. the temple curtain separated the main hall of the temple from the most holy place in the temple – the holy of holies

#. in the holy of holies stood the ark of the covenant

#. it represented God’s covenant with the people of Israel

#. once a year – on the Day of Atonement – the high priest would enter the most holy place and sprinkled blood upon the lid of the Ark of the Covenant, which was referred to as the Mercy Seat

#. this act made atonement for the sins of Israel, and purchased God’s grace in mercy for another year

#. the curtain represented a barrier between a completely holy God and completely sinful men

#. the apostle Paul referred to it as a /“wall of hostility.”/

* /"Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— 12remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

13But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

14For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, 15by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace,"/ (Ephesians 2:11-15, NASB95).

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did you catch that phrase /“by abolishing in his flesh, along with its commandments and regulations”/? 

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the vail of the temple represented a religious code of conduct that the Jewish people – nor you and I – could never live up to

#. but Christ accomplished in his sacrifice for us what the law could never achieve – the possibility of true righteousness before God

* The curtain in itself was 60 ft.

tall in 30 ft. wide.

It was made of 72 strands of braided linen strips, and each linen strip contained 24 strands of linen.

The curtain was as thick as a man’s hand is wide – about 5 inches.

As our Lord mouthed his dying words, /"Father, into your hands, I commend my Spirit,”/ and breathed his last breath, the invisible hands of God reach down and tore that veil in two from top to bottom!

What a wonderful way, for God to illustrate a profound spiritual truth and validate his son’s claims, both at the same time.

That barrier – the wall of hostility – between God and the Christian has been destroyed.

The law, with its commandments and regulations are no longer needed.

A new and living away has been opened into the presence of God.

Christ himself has become are away into the very presence of God. 

* /"Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

23Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;"/ (Hebrews 10:19-23, NASB95).

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We can have access to God, because Jesus died on across, giving his life as a ransom for ours and making it possible for us to have communion with a loving heavenly Father

* ILLUS.

I love the story of a conversation which supposedly took place between former.

Prime Minister Menachem Begin of Israel and President Ronald Reagan during one of Begin's visits to America.

During his administration Reagan had three phones on his desk.

One was platinum, one was red and one was gold in color.

During a visit in the Oval Office, Begin questioned the president about these phones.

/"Tell me, what are they really for?"/ he kidded the president.

Reagan responded, /"Well, the platinum phone goes to Republican headquarters so I can keep track of political affairs.

The red phone is a hot line to Russia so I can keep track of what's happening there.

My gold phone is a direct line to God."  "How much does it cost to call God?" /Begin asked.

/"Ten thousand dollars, but it's worth every penny,"/ replied the President.

Some months later when the president was visiting Prime Minister Begin in Israel, he noticed three similar phones on Prime Minister Begin’s desk and couldn’t resist asking the question: /"What are your three phones for?"  /Begin replied, /"One's a hot line to Egypt, another's a hot line to Parliament, and the third is a hot line to God." "How much does it cost to call God from here?"/

Reagan asked the prime minister.

/"Ten cents," /Begin quipped.

/"It's a local call."/

Don’t you love that story?

What’s the point?

If you’re a Christian, talking to God is a local call!

#. when Jesus said Father, into your hands, he was reminding us that we can have communion with the Father

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II.

WHEN JESUS SAID, ‘FATHER, INTO YOUR HAND’ HE WAS REMINDING US THAT WE CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE FATHER

#. this last sayings from the cross was not a word of resignation, but a prayer of confident hope in God

#. like many of our Lord’s words, these too, have the Old Testament as their source

#. /“Into your hand, I commit my Spirit; you have redeemed me, own Lord, faithful God.”/

!! A. JESUS HAD CONFIDENCE THAT GOD WAS IN CONTROL

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Psalm 31:5 was the very first prayer taught to a Jewish child

#. from their earliest days they were taught to pray, /"Into thy hands I commit my spirit."/

#. what a beautiful prayer to teach a child!

#. when darkness or the unseen dangers or things that go bump in the night threaten, this prayer expresses a confident hope in a powerful God

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Jesus never questions why he is dying – he knows that it is for the sins of sinner

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He never questions what comes after death because he knows that he'll be safe in the hands of God

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B. YOU CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT GOD IS IN CONTROL

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God is in control of the world's agenda

#. nothing that takes place in this world surprises God

#. nothing that takes place in this world can thwart God from accomplishing His will, and bringing about His eternal kingdom

#. in the end, God wins, the devil loses!

#. in the end, the righteous will be rewarded and the unrighteous will be condemned

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God wants to be – and needs to be – in control of your agenda

#. folks – let me be blunt – if Jesus ain’t good enough to be your Lord and Master, He’s probably not your Savior

#. the Scriptures are clear – those who truly take Jesus as Savior, make Him their Lord and Master

#. may I make an observation?

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I told you a moment ago that /God is in control/