The Most Offensive – week 8

Pastor Bob McCartney gave a sermon series on current social issues this fall highlighting the truth found in the Bible. Here are my notes from this eighth and final sermon in his series, True Colors.

Your citizenship in the kingdom of God makes all the difference in your salvation. There is only ONE way to go to Heaven and it is by totally trusting in Jesus.

1 “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And you know the way where I am going.”

5 Thomas *said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” 6 Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

John 14:1-6 NASB1995

That is a pretty exclusive statement. When Jesus made that statement you could say one of three things about Him, He’s delusional, He’s a liar or He’s telling the truth.

If He’s delusional or a liar, then He’s not worthy to be followed. But if that statement is true, you’d best stake your life and eternity on who Jesus Christ is.

1. Jesus alone can restore our broken relationship with God.

Jesus is the Way to God

Our sin has made a separation between us and God. And Jesus says I am THE WAY, I alone can restore the broken relationship with God. No other religious leader, no other prophet can do that and you certainly can’t do it on your own.

For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

1 Timothy 2:5 NASB1995

And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”

Acts 4:12 NASB1995

He gave us only ONE way to heaven, but we deserve NO way. Your citizenship in the kingdom of God is your salvation. There is one way to spell salvation and it is J E S U S!

2. Jesus alone can reveal the truth about God.

Jesus is the Truth

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:14 NASB1995

Jesus *said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

John 14:9 NASB1995

What about those who have never heard the Gospel? Our natural light is not enough to save you, but it is enough to condemn you.

A. The revelation factor: All people have some light
    1. through the witness of Creation
    2. through the witness of conscience
         Romans 2:14-15
B. The refusal factor: Light refused increases darkness
You can’t stay morally neutral toward God. You either refuse or accept.
         Romans 1:21
C. The reception factor: Light obeyed increases light
Anyone who wants to hear the Gospel, will hear it because God will make it happen. He will move Heaven and Earth to get to you. He does it through His church. It’s our responsibility to pray, give and go!
         Romans 1:16

Every other religion is a false religion. Biblical Christianity is the only true faith and it is the only way to know God and to go to His heaven. Full stop. Period.

3. Jesus alone can give you the life you are longing for.

Jesus is the Life in God

Most people who seek God feel that something is missing. There’s guilt, shame a sense of loneliness and isolation.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

John 10:10 NASB1995

I came to give you the abundant life. This promise is not about abundance of THINGS. It’s about the abundance of Jesus in your life that helps you cope with problems. We are not promised a life with no problems. It’s the abundance of His power, His presence and His peace in the midst of all that’s going on in a world that’s gone nuts!

I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

Galatians 2:20 NASB2020

The abundant life is a life of confidence in God knowing that no matter how this world goes, you’re going to heaven. And Jesus offers it to you.

Watch the full sermon here: