43rd Anniversary Message
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Introduction
Introduction
Today is the 43rd Anniversary of our church. Over the past 43 years, Calvary Baptist Church has faithfully followed God’s Word’s promises. This church is not about these wonderful buildings and beautiful property. We are thankful for them. It is about people. A church is people, not buildings. Every single person who is a member of this church is the church. A church is a group of believers who have come together as a called-out assembly to follow, worship, and serve the Lord Jesus Christ. For the past 43 years, this church has held firm in its dedication to God and His Word. It is something to celebrate. We are celebrating all God has done, is doing, and will continue to do through this incredible group of believers. I am excited about the future of our church.
I look forward to what God will do through us as we move into year 44 and beyond. We must remain faithful to Him through our obedience to His Word until He comes, or we all go home to be with Him. Amen?
Today I want to share a straightforward message from one of the most known verses of the Bible. It is football season. There will be hundreds of games across the nation throughout the next 5 months. You probably see this verse’s address on display in many stadiums at one of those games. The verse is John 3:16.
Why John 3:16? Over the past month, we, as a church, spent an enormous amount of time learning from 1 Corinthians 11 as well as James 4. In my time of study preparing for those messages, God has impressed upon me how much He desires to have a personal relationship with every person. In fact, He created us for relationships.
7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
15 And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.
16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
18 And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
The following two verses describe how God gave Adam the responsibility of naming the animals. After accomplishing this vital task, Scripture records that “for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.” Why was God searching for a help meet for man? God did not create Adam to live alone. He created man in His own image. Thus, God designed men for relationships.
Just recently, I discovered an exciting reality show entitled “Alone.” How many have seen that show and know what I am talking about? If you don’t, let me explain the show’s premise. The producers of this show choose ten people who have wilderness survival skills. They then take these ten people and drop them off in some remote wilderness areas like Vancouver Island, Upper British Columbian, and even places like Peru. All ten are placed in locations where they are each alone and completely cut off from each other and the rest of the world, including their families. It is then a competition to see who can survive on their own alone. The last person standing wins $500,000.000. During their time, they fight against the elements, predators, and starvation. Many do last more than a week. What is interesting to me is this? Those who stay the longest survive because of their wilderness skills, such as building shelters, setting traps, fishing, and gathering food. Yet, the longer they go alone, the worse it gets for them. Their ability to survive physically is often not the issue. It is the mental anguish they suffer from just being alone. It doesn’t take long in the show before all of them contemplate who they have left behind and how much they miss their loved ones. The Achilles heel of each individual is their own loneliness. God did make us to be alone. He made us for relationships. This show is living proof that God indeed created us. In creating us, He specifically designed us for relationships.
When we come to Scripture, we learn that God made us for two types of relationships. We are to have a relationship with Him. He is our Creator. Thus, a special relationship exists between the Creator and His creation. The second relationship is our relationship with others.
If you go back to Genesis and the creation of mankind, God first created a man and, in doing so, established that first relationship. Later, as we read a moment ago, God knew men could not live alone. Look what God did next.
21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
22 And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
Note again verse 24.
24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
God made a woman from man. He put them together. They were then to be “one flesh.” This entire verse deals with relationships. God designed both men and women to have relationships. Later, as the earth became populated, men and women produced. Children were born. Grandchildren were born as well. Men became fathers. Women became mothers. Through this process, family units were established. Over time, relationships were born in families, communities, and nations. Even today, these same relationships remain.
However, one significant problem affects all relationships, even our relationship with God. It is a problem that Scripture calls sin. Sin is disobedience to God’s commands. That is the plain and simple definition of sin.
It didn’t take long for God’s enemy, Satan, to stick his ugly nose into things of God. Thus, after God created man, Adam, and Woman, Eve, Satan came nosing around. Remember that God instructed Adam and Eve not to eat the fruit of one tree. The garden of Eden was filled with all types of trees with delicious fruit for them to eat. Out of all the trees in the Garden, God reserved one tree for Himself and instructed them NOT to eat of it. For a time, both Adam and Eve were content with God’s instruction and enjoyed a beautiful relationship with Him and each other. It was indeed paradise with no sin. Satan, however, came to Eve in the form of a serpent. He subtly questioned the validity of God’s Word.
1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
The next verse describes how Satan’s influence convinced Eve to reconsider the forbidden fruit. Note what happens.
6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
In that moment of spiritual weakness, Adam and Eve sinned. They disobeyed God. As you read the rest of that chapter, you see how it devastated their relationships with God and each other.
Over in Romans, God’s Word describes that moment this way.
12 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:
Some of you are here this morning looking for something missing in your life. Many people are missing something. They are missing that significant relationship with God. You were designed to have a unique and personal relationship with Him. It is the very reason for our existence. However, because of Adam’s sin, our relationship with Him ended. God, who is Holy, meaning He is perfect and without sin, cannot have a relationship with sinful people. It goes against His very character to do so. The great news is that despite our sin, God wants and desires even now to have a relationship with you and me. It is why I am sharing John 3:16 with you this morning. This great verse tells us God’s plan by which you can have the one relationship you are missing this morning.
16 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.
Here are two things from this verse that you need to know.
First is this.
God’s Great Initiative of Love
God’s Great Initiative of Love
Note what the Bible says about our natural spiritual condition. You see, God knew that there was the only way by which our relationship could be restored with Him. Sin broke that relationship with Adam. As Adam’s descendants, we are already born in sin and, thus, with no way back to God. There is nothing we can do.
10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Our sinful nature is the one thing that divides our relationship with God. People often ask how is that God knew we would be sinners even when we were not born yet. The answer is simple. Adam sinned. He is our father. Each of us is born of him and in his fallen image. We see the effects of sin all around us. Our battle to do right is a constant one, for it is a battle against our very nature. I always illustrate it this way.
How would it communicate if a dog walks in here and down to the front wanting to speak to me? Would it talk like a human using the English vocabulary? We know that is silly. How then does a dog speak? A dog barks because it is a dog. It is its nature to do so. It does not squeal like a pig, meows like a cat, or even moo like a cow. Cows moo. Cats meow. Pigs squeal. Dog bark. Each acts according to its nature. So it is with men and women. We sin because we are sinners.
Remember that our sin stands in the way of a personal relationship with God. A relationship for which God designed us to have. It is the one thing missing in many people’s lives. Perhaps, it is missing in your life even this morning. Again, the great news is that God knew this and had a plan.
Go back to John 3:16
16 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.
Look at the first phrase there.
16 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.
My friend, God loves you. He is your Creator. He designed you for one significant reason: to have a relationship with Him. When man sinned, God had a plan. Even now, when the world is full of sinful people, God still loves each and every person. He desires more than anything to have a personal relationship with you and me. What was His plan?
Look again at John 3:16
16 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.
His plan was to offer for our sin the most precious gift in His position - His only begotten Son.
Note this verse in Romans.
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
God’s love for every single person is found in this one act of giving. He demonstrated His love for you and me by allowing His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to come to this earth. He was born in a manger. He lived among us. In fact, He lived a perfect life without sin, making Him the ideal candidate for our sin. Many of you may know His story. Men rejected Him as God’s Son. They beat Him, mocked Him, and publically shamed Him. Then, they nailed Him to a tree crucifying Him. They buried Him in a tomb, rolled a massive stone over it, and sealed it. However, because Jesus Christ is God, death could not hold Him, and He arose victoriously alive on the third day just as He promised. You see, He suffered all this for you and me. His love held Him on the cross. It was His love for you and the knowledge that what He did would make it so you and I could have a personal relationship with Him once again.
All of this was God’s Initiative of Love. Christ, as God, did it all. He laid down His own life for our sin. Everything is complete. All has been accomplished. God’s part is done.
Now go back to John 3:16 and note this.
16 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.
Your Invitation to Believe
Your Invitation to Believe
God is inviting you this morning to simply believe. Note that John 3:16 says “whosoever believeth.” You see, God did all. Everything is done. The only thing is that we believe that it is all done.
The word “believe” means being so persuaded about something that you place your complete confidence and faith in it. That is the invitation to you this morning. Will you fully believe it? Are you persuaded that God wants to have a personal relationship with you? Are you willing to place your complete confidence and faith in all He, God, has done for you?
You might ask, “What exactly am I believing?”
Believe and Accept the fact that you are a sinner!
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Believe and Accept that there is a penalty for your sin!
12 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:
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Believe and Accept that Christ paid the penalty for your sin with His death, burial, and resurrection!
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Believe with your whole heart and confess with your mouth these things.
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Remember our text which is John 3:16
16 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.
The promise from God is this. If you will thoroughly, completely with your whole heart, believe and confess that Christ is indeed your Savior, God will give you an eternal personal relationship with Him. Those who genuinely believe in accepting Christ will find the emptiness they are filling gone, for He will fill it.
I am not asking you to join our church even though I think we have an awesome church. I am not even asking you to clean up your act, be baptized, or do anything other than simply believe all that God has done for you. That is it. There are no gimmicks, no tricks. It is very simple. The only way to have a personal relationship with God is through the Lord Jesus Christ.
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
How does one receive Christ since He is not physically here? That is a great question. Again, the answer is to believe and confess.
If you truly believe, then the confession part is easy. You simply pray to Him saying something like this:
“Lord, I truly believe your Word. I believe and accept the fact that I am a sinner. I ask for forgiveness and repent of my life of sin. I believe and accept that you died for me on the cross of Calvary. I believe and accept that you rose again on the third day. Right now and right here, I accept you into my life. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.”
That is it. That is all you must do. However, remember it is more than just saying words; you must entirely mean what you are saying. That is the belief part.