The Path to Abundant Life
John 11:36-46 • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 37 viewsNotes
Transcript
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
It is possible to exist, but to not really be living. COVID has done a lot to expose this preexisting condition. There are folks who are hiding away from the ‘Rona, drinking themselves into a coma, fearful of what is going to happen next. There are folks who in spite of the current socioeconomic disaster are enjoying their lives. They are are still making memories with their families, reaching out to others and shining the light of Jesus to all who enters their circles.
Some folks spend their time angry and bitter, others are are making lemonade out of the COVID flavored lemons that life has given them.
How can we possible experience that abundant life that Jesus said He came to give us? How can we make that transition from existence to truly living… and to enjoying an abundant life?
The story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the grave has some very powerful principles we can apply when it comes to the concepts of Abundant Life. Notice what happened at the actual Resurrection event.
And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
Here are three things that happened to Lazarus that can be applied to us when it comes to the path to Abundant Life.
Lazarus was dead.
Jesus raised the dead to new life
The living were tasked with helping Lazarus be untangled from his filthy graveclothes.
This is the path to Abundant Life.
Death is the Starting Point.
Death is the Starting Point.
Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!
And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?
Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.
The sting of death is sin
The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
The strength of sin is the law
The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.
It is impossible to overcome the condemnation that comes from the law.
For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.
Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Therefore it is impossible for us to be loosed from the death that sin brought into the world.
And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Death brings corruption and decay
Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.
Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.
But we are all as an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; And we all do fade as a leaf; And our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
There Must Be A Resurrection to New Life
There Must Be A Resurrection to New Life
Called to life
And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Eternal life comes from faith in Jesus as Savior
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
There Must Be A Liberation
There Must Be A Liberation
And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
We must be loosed from our stinking graveclothes that had us bound in death.
Sinful habits
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Fear
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Dead Works
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Tradition
Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
If you are saved, you are were dead, you have been made alive, and you must be loosed from the old grave clothes. Those old habits that keep dragging you down, cast off those old grave clothes! The fear of darkness, the unknown, of God’s wrath, of disease or death or imagined or real tragedy… cast off those graveclothes! Are you feverishly trying to finally merit God’s approval.. His love is completely Grace saturated… you will never deserve it… cast off those filthy rags… those rotten grave clothes. Are you stuck in extrabiblical traditions and standards, cast off those grave clothes and live the abundant life!