Sermon Tone Analysis
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*Distortions of the Cross*
*/October 24, 2004/*
We are keenly aware of attacks against our faith.
Daily, we’re barraged with things that *demean* and *deny* our *beliefs* and *values*.
*Q:* How good are we at recognizing threats from the *inside*?
There are many things that *call* themselves Christian, but are a *distortion*.
They are *close*, but not *quite* right.
*Q:* How effective are we at spotting *distortions* of Christianity?
Do we catch things like the websites devoted to *angels*, stories of “*near* *death* *experiences*,” or books like “The *Da* *Vinci* *Code*”?
*Q:* Can we spot *our* *own* distortions of the Gospel?
*Romans in summary *
Pastor Bruce has been taking us through Romans.
The core of Romans is found in *three* *verses*.
If you understand these three verses, you *understand* *Romans*.
· If *understand* these verses, you understand *Christianity*.
· If you *believe* these verses, you probably *are* a *Christian*.
...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.*
*Romans 3:23-25 NIV
This is the *core* of Christianity:
1.
All humans have *sinned* and deserve *judgment* and death.
2. God *forgives* and *justifies* us as an act of *grace*.
3. We *receive* this gift by *faith* in Jesus’ death.
4. This grace came through *Jesus’* *atoning* *death*.
*Why did Jesus have to die?*
The last point brings up a very important question.
It’s a question we *mistakenly* *relegate* to *theologians*, but that we must *personally* answer.
· Our answer will show if we are *distorting* the Gospel.
*Q:* Why did Jesus have to die?
I know, “He died for our sins,” but what does that *mean*?
This is not some *theoretical* side note, *minutia* for scholars.
If you *distort* the *meaning* of the *cross*, you distort *Christianity*.
· A *distorted* cross comes from a *distorted* view of *God*.
This morning, we are going to briefly look at *four* different *explanations* of why Jesus died.
In doing so, we will be looking for *our* *own* distortions of the cross and, hence, of God.
*Moral-Influence Explanation*
· Jesus died as an *example* of real *love*.
First, it’s a *demonstration* of God’s love for *us*.
As such, it *motivates* us to love God and obey Him.
We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19 NIV
Secondly, His death is an *example* of how we are to *love* *others*.
As humans, we are *self*-*centered* and even when we serve others, it’s frequently with *mixed* *motives*.
· Jesus’ death was a completely *selfless* act.
In His earthly ministry, Jesus *preached* a message of *sacrificial* *love*, but also he *demonstrated* it by giving the ultimate *sacrifice*.
As His followers, Jesus *calls* us to do the *same*.
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:12-13 NIV
*/Distortion/*: Ignores the *contamination* and *condemnation* of sin.
We need more than good *teachings* and an *example* – history is filled with those.
· We need *forgiveness* and a *new* *heart*.
*Ransom Explanation*
· Jesus’ death was a *ransom* to set us *free*.
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Mark 10:45 NIV
But *who* was the ransom paid to?
According to this theory, Satan is at war with God and when Adam sinned, all humans came under Satan’s power.
And so *God* paid a ransom to *Satan* to free us.
*/Distortion/*: Makes *God* and *Satan* to be *equal*.
It makes it look like they are locked in *mortal* *combat*.
Good verses evil.
· In reality, *Satan* is like an *ant* verses a *bulldozer*.
· God does not need to *pay* *off* Satan.
*Governmental Explanation*
· God *must* punish sin for *our* *benefit*.
God is *not* like a *lender* who can *forgive* a debt, but rather He is like a *government* *official* who must provide *justice* for the governed, or *sin* and *its* *suffering* run rampant.
Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent – the LORD detests them both.
Proverbs 17:15 NIV
Our sin *requires* punishment as a *deterrent* to further sin.
Jesus chose to bear that punishment, so that now his death demonstrates the *destructiveness* and *costliness* of sin.
*/Distortion/*: Sin is a crime *against* *God* before it is crime against *humanity*.
This explanation *minimizes* God’s *glory* and makes *us* the center.
· Rebellion again our *Creator* would *deserve* punishment even *if* it didn’t hurt *anyone* else.
So this is a distortion too, but we still have one more:
*Substitution Explanation \\ \\ *
· Jesus died to take our *punishment* so God *could* forgive us and still be *just*.
This says that we have all sinned and the *penalty* for sin is *death*.
The reason that sin carries this penalty is that sin is *rebellion* against our *Creator* and an *affront* to His *glory*.
If God were to *ignore* sin, He would be saying that *sin* and *evil* are *not* really *bad*.
Jesus died to pay *this* *penalty* on our behalf, so God could *forgive* us and still be *just*.
God presented [Jesus] as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.
...[H]e did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
Romans 3:25-26 NIV
Sound familiar?
Bruce preached this a couple of weeks ago.
*/Distortion/*: God is not a “*bad guy*” that Jesus is *protecting* us from.
This explanation makes it sound like *God* is *angry* and Jesus is *defending* us.
I once heard Jesus’ death explained by saying we’re like a piece of *glass* on an *anvil* and God is bring a *hammer* down to smash us, but *Jesus* is a metal *pot* that jumps in the way to save us.
· This makes me think “Jesus is *cool*!
But God’s kind of *scary*.”
· *Too* *many* people feel this way; they love *Jesus* but are scared of *God*.
*Balancing atonement *
That’s it.
Those are all the options I have.
All the other explanations I’ve heard are *even* *bigger* *distortions*:
· Jesus *never* *existed*.
· Jesus’ crucifixion was an *accident*, another *pointless* *death*.
· Jesus was just a *good* *man* who died a *martyr* for a *good* *cause*.
But those four answers to the question “Why did Jesus die?” all distort the Gospel.
So what’s the answer?
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