[audio:http://crosschurch.net/media/audio/10oct10.mp3]
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Sermon Outline:
The Light of the World – pt. 3
“The Authority of Jesus Christ” – pt. 2
1. The Terror of the Gospel (8:21-24)
2. The Testimony of the Son of Man (8:25-30)
3. The Truth That Sets You Free (8:31-38)
Sermon Text:
John 8:25-38
25 So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning. 26 I have much to say about you and much to judge, but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.” 27 They did not understand that he had been speaking to them about the Father. 28 So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. 29 And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.” 30 As he was saying these things, many believed in him.
The Truth Will Set You Free
31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”
34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave [1] to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. 38 I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.”
Sermon Notes:
Because He is God
Because He is God, He must be reckoned with and He must not be trifled with. Because He is God, we must love Him with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength—and love our neighbor as ourselves. Because He is God, we ought to worship Him in spirit and truth. Because He is God, we esteem Him as our First Love. Because He is God, we must approach Him in humility; trembling at His Word. He has given us His grace instead of His wrath; His love instead of His enmity; His mercy instead of His justice; joy unspeakable in glory instead of torment in hell for perpetuity. Because He is God, He has the preeminence in all things.
Because He is God, we have no right to ourselves. We must walk in love, and love others, as Christ loved us and gave Himself for us. Because He is God, we must be willing to forgive as God in Christ has forgiven us. Because He is God, we love the brethren. Because He is God, we cannot harbor anger, wrath, clamor, bitterness, and malice in our hearts toward another. Because He is God, we do not give ourselves to the natter chatter behind the backs of others. We turn the other cheek, go the extra mile, and give someone our shirt if they want our coat too. Because He is God, we must be willing to suffer the loss of all things. Because He is God, we can rest in the surety that He is orchestrating all things for our good and His glory. Because He is God, we cannot repay evil for evil, wrong for wrong, hurt for hurt. Because He is God, we may rejoice when our hearts are breaking and our world has been shaken. Because He is God, our trials are blessings for they conform us to Jesus.
Because He is God, we keep our vows to our spouse and train up our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Because He is God, we cannot take another to court and sue for reparations. Because He is God, we have the right to be wronged. Because He is God, we love His Word more than daily food. Because He is God, pastors should preach the Word of God instead of being clever asinine raconteurs. Because He is God, the church must confront sin and not wink at it. Because He is God, I cannot cherish my sin, but must daily repent of it. Because He is God, I must guard my heart. Because He is God, I must not be motivated by mans applause, but by His “well done.” Because He is God, we must deny ourselves, daily take up our cross and follow Him.
To do all to His glory, according to His divine purpose, under the authority of His Word, to seek His will more than earthly reward, to embrace the fellowship of His sufferings rather than the pleasures of this world even for a season, to live self-sacrificially in unreciprocated love and service to others—to do all this for no other reason than… because He is God!
