Sermon Notes

April 17, 2017

The Power of Jesus’ Death and Resurrection


We all have down days. Even Jesus, after Calvary, was down three days … But He got up! And our victory is in His resurrection. You're not supposed to stay down. And I promise you this: when Jesus comes into your heart, you won't stay down. You'll get up and you'll get out, because He exhausted sin's power to dominate you. He defeated death's terror to hold you down, and you don't have to be afraid of anything anymore. The Greater One got up, got out, and says to you, "I'll never leave you, nor forsake you." He'll walk you through—even into the next life—He will be there for you. That's the message of the cross and the resurrection!

 

You see, when we look at Calvary and see the cross, we see what God hates (sin) and what God loves (sinners). When Jesus was on the cross at Calvary, God was at war with what is at war with us … sin. Sin is like an infection that kills. It destroys marriages and homes and families and lives and bodies and futures and destinies. Whatever's trying to destroy your life, destroy your character, destroy your future, destroy your purpose, it was defeated on Calvary. Any addiction, any bondage in your life; Jesus took it on at Calvary for you. And when He finished on the cross, He became our substitute. Jesus came to fight my battle. He came to fight your battle. And he won.

 

When you receive the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, He does three things for you:

 

  1. He removes your transgressions
  2. He remembers your sins no more
  3. He releases you from your iniquities

 

“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities” (Isaiah 53:5).
 

"Their sins I will not remember" (Hebrews 8:12).

 

On the cross, Jesus took the judgment of your sin—everything inside, everything outside—He completely removed it. He won't remember it, and He has released you from it. In other words, Jesus is the mercy seat, and all you've got to do is run to Him today and He will not only get you up and get you out, but He will move into your home, to your family, to your marriage, to your life, to your future. But He never comes where He's not invited. He wants you to run to the mercy seat, and Jesus is the mercy seat.

 

When I gave my heart to Jesus, I did it for three reasons: I needed a friend, I needed forgiveness, and I needed a future. Jesus gave me all three. He became my best friend, He gave me total forgiveness, and He gave me a future. I never dreamed when I was lost, that one day God would use me to preach His glorious gospel. He has a plan and a future for you, too, according to Jeremiah 29. Come home.  Come back to the cross. 

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