Sermon Tone Analysis

Last week I said that without Jesus, we have no hope.

Without Jesus, people put their hope in all kinds of unpredictable and unreliable things and ideologies.

Muslims put their hope in their own good works.

Atheists hope that there is no God that holds us accountable and when we die, that’s it.

Agnostics hope that there is someone out there in the universe that will sort it all out eventually.

Hindus hope for absorption into the universe.

Buddhists and New Agers hope for reincarnation, so that we can try to get it right again and again and hopefully reach nirvana.

Keep hoping - because none of that is predictable or reliable.

Without Jesus people put their hope in all kinds of unpredictable and unreliable things and ideologies.

People put their hope in things that are temporary, things that ebb and flow with culture and time - like governments, money, careers, social status, popularity, etc.

Or we put our hope in people who are imperfect, inconsistent, selfish.

We put our hopes in opinions.

We could go on, but it's interesting that there is no religion, no ideology, no person, no thing in this world that is fully capable of meeting our deepest needs and hopes.

They all fall short.

Without Jesus the Christ, the Son of the Living God humanity is hopeless.

Have no reason to hope that this world will get better or that we all get to go to a “better” place.

God set the stage.

From nothing He called the universe into existence.

He is the Creator, and

His main purpose in creation was and is and will always be relationship.

But sin, which is rebellion and failure to meet God’s standards, equals death.

The wages of sin is death and all have died because all have failed to meet God standards.

What is death?

Death is separation of relationship.

Sin separates us from the God who loves us.

Sin severs the relationship.

So what should God do?

Created us for relationship, but we can't have a relationship because of sin.

What are His options?

Option 1) Condone Sin.

God could say sin doesn’t really matter.

But how can a Just and Righteous God condone or dismiss sin?

How can He condone that which steals, kills, and destroys life in everything it touches?

He can't, lest He no longer be a Just and Righteous God.

Besides,

Excusing sin does not restore or reconcile our relationship with God.

Think about a person who is in an abusive relationship.

How is condoning or excusing the abuse okay?

It’s not okay!

It’s wrong.

Making excuses will never fix the problem.

Same with sin, condoning sin never fixes the problem of death and separation.

Besides, if the wages of sin is death, then death remains even if God condones and there is no life - there’s no hope.

God cannot condone or excuse sin.

So what's another option?

Option 2) Condemn Humanity.

God could say, “You’ve all sinned, so you’re all going to hell, so I'm out of here.

I quit.

You’re on your own.

Good luck” - and we all end up spending eternity in the lake of fire.

God could do that, but that is not what God desires.

What does He desire?

He desires that all people come to repentance, acknowledge that Jesus Christ is His Son, and that He is Lord of all, that all confess our sins to Him and receive the justice of God - that our sins were paid for on the Cross of Calvary and that anyone who believes in Him would never perish but have everlasting life.

God could condemn humanity, but condemnation doesn’t restore the relationship between God and humanity.

So, what’s another option?

Before we get to that, we need some background information.

The night Jesus was betrayed, He went to an olive grove and prayed - before His crucifixion.

What's this cup?

Yes, it's the crucifixion, but it goes way beyond that.

Jesus is referring to Jeremiah 25.

God revealed to Jeremiah the consequences that would fall upon the nations (the world) for rebelling against God.

The consequences is called the cup of wrath.

What does all that mean?

Key words: desolation, waste, fall and rise no more - all words that mean death - separation.

Another key word: curse.

What’s the curse?

If you are under the curse, you are under death, destruction, judgment, God’s wrath - all consequences for choosing to reject God.

If you are under the curse, you are unable to enter God’s Kingdom.

These are the ones who will drink the cup of God’s wrath, the cup that is the totality of God's judgment, wrath, and punishment poured out on humanity because of sin.

And Jesus knew this, so He asked His Father,

God cannot condone sin, and He does not want to condemn humanity - He doesn't want to pour out his wrath upon us - so what other option does God have?

The only option that’s left.

Option 3) Curse Himself.

So what do we do?

Only one person can prevent you from having eternal life.

You.

Only One person can give you eternal life.

Jesus.

For those who don’t know Jesus, put your faith and trust in Him - now - today.

Without Jesus, you will face the eternal consequences of your choice.

For those who know Jesus, go and tell it on the mountain, that …

Benediction