What
Will You Do with Jesus?
May
1, 2005
Matt
27; Acts 2:35-38; Rom 6:3-7
Lesson Theme: The people present at Pentecost when Peter preached
the remedy for the curse of sin that had plagued mankind for 6000 years stand
as our proxy in the pages of the Bible.
They were given the choice to suffer the consequence of their sin, as
Adam and Eve did or to avoid their just punishment as Barabas did. Through the sacrifice of Jesus, the effects
of sin’s curse are wiped away, spiritual then physical. 2000 years after Pentecost, once we
understand the gravity of our situation we ask the same question. The answer has not changed, repent and be
baptized for the forgiveness of sins.
Outline
Introduction:
A. Lock keys in your car with a child in the car
B. Feel: foolish, helpless, fearful, embarrassed
C. Have you ever had that same sensation about your
relationship to God?
TRANSITION: This morning
we will look at 3 occasions where people came face to face with their sins
Fall of Man: (Genesis 3)
A. God created a perfect world where he had direct
contact with his creation
B. God was the best Father you can imagine (Hallmark
moments)
C. Man rebelled against God through disobedience
D. Imagine the emotions Adam and Eve felt as they were
confronted with their fear
a. Embarrassed
b. Fearful of punishment
c. Regret for disappointing their Father
d. Helpless to change your situation
e. Ongoing realization of the far-reaching effect
(murder, war, famine, hatred, 800 years /8 generations to observe the effect)
E. Because of their disobedience, God had to separate
himself from them.
F. Imagine the pain of being separated from you children
G. CONSEQUENCES:
Read: Gen 3:13-19
a. They suffered these consequences without pardon or
reprieve
b. There was no way out;
Genie was out of the bottle
c. He had to deal with his children through a veil
H. Even so, he initiated a process by which he could
remove their guilt
TRANSITION: For the 2nd
occasion of mankind being confronted with the consequence of his sin, fast
forward 6000 years. See God dealing
with his children from a distance, but continually working out a plan for their
redemption/restoration to himself
Story of Barabas: (Matthew 27)
A. Arrested for murder during a Jewish uprising
B. See him:
Proclaiming his innocence to the governor next begging for mercy
C. He was convicted and sent to a cold, dark, lonely
prison to await the day when he would suffer a cruel death as punishment for
his crime
D. Imagine the nights spent contemplating his crime, his
fate, his utter lack of hope
E. One day he hears a commotion outside the prison; He hears the crowd shouting his name; His time must be near
F. He hears the outer door of the prison swing open
G. He hears soldiers marching down the hall
H. He hears fellow prisoners cry out against the guards;
against him
I. He throws himself to the corner of his cell trying to
hide from the fate that awaits him
J. He is forcibly led out of his cell down the hallway to
the courtyard, blinded by the sunlight
K. Through squinting eyes, he sees a man who has been
beaten severely looking at him.
L. The commander says to him “Do you see that man?” “He will die in your place” “You are free!”
M. He watches as the beaten man is led away struggling
under the weight of HIS cross
N. He is frozen, he can’t understand what just happened
O. He is free, forgiven;
His guilt is taken away
P. What does he do now?
Q. Barabas received mercy through no action of his own
TRANSITION: God had
completed his work in restoring mankind to himself. Barabas was a first-hand observer as the final pieces were put
into place.
How Did the People in the Crowd Respond? (Acts 2)
A. 50 days later at a crowded celebration called
Pentecost some of those who had asked for Barabas to be released were gathered
to hear some men speak about Jesus
B. Jesus’ follower Peter convinced the crowd that they
had killed the Son of God (v36)
a. What a terrible crime
b. What a terrible punishment they would receive
C. They experienced the sensation of: There is no way out (keys locked in the
car) The Bible says “They were cut to
the heart”
D. The crowd asked: “what should we do?” (v37)
E. For the first time in 6000 years, they would be told
how to deal once and for all with their sin!
(Boston Red Sox won their first World Series in 86 years and removed the
curse so the city of Boston went wild)
F. Peter answered them:
a. Repent – turn around, change your mind, regret the
wrong
b. Be Baptized – Wash your sins away by being buried in
water
G. Romans 6:3-7
a. We go into the water of baptism carrying all the guilt
of our sins
b. We go under the water, where the old man dies
c. We come out of that water as a new creation in Jesus
d. Our debt is erased;
We walk out as free children of God!
Conclusion
A. 2000 years after this story, our situation is the
same:
a. We are separated from God by our sins
b. Jesus sacrifice is available to wipe away our sins
c. We are presented with the choice!
i.
Be like Barabas and let
Jesus bear our guilt
ii.
Be like Adam & Eve
and suffer the penalty for our guilt.
iii.
If I die in my sins, I
will suffer the full measure of that curse:
complete separation from God in a place that makes Barabas’ cell seem
like a palace.
B. Maybe this morning you have been cut to the heart and
you are asking: What shall I do?
C. The answer comes:
Repent and be Baptized
D. You can choose to obey God or arrogantly go your own
direction.
E. There is no middle ground!
F. What will you do with Jesus?
a. Will you die to your old, sinful self and take up the
new life Jesus has for you?
b. Or, will you arrogantly cling to your own way and
reject Jesus?
c. There is no middle ground!