O death where is thy sting O grave

O death, where [is] thy sting? O grave, where [is] thy victory? 56 The sting of death [is] sin; and the strength of sin [is] the law. 57 But thanks [be] to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15: 55 -57

CHRIST – OUR CONFIDENCE AND COVERING Without the covering of the shed blood of Christ on the Cross, the offensive AND continual declarations of my sin would forcibly separate me from God.

GOD – THE RIGHTFUL JUDGE We all cry out when we see the injustices of the world. And we all want justice and judgment against wicked and tyrannical individuals, yet when God says he will judge the world of sin, harm and wickedness, we cry foul.

CHRIST – OUR ONLY WAY The only way for man to be reconciled to God was if God himself came down as a man and paid the penalty of our sins by dying in our place. He took our sins and nailed them to the cross.

For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6: 23

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: Romans 5: 12

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14: 6

Thanks [be] unto God for his unspeakable gift. 1 Corinthians 9: 15

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12: 1 -2

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2: 5 -8

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth; 11 And [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2: 9 -11

CREATION TO CHRIST GOD’S UNFOLDING PLAN OF REDEMPTION

GENESIS 1 THERE IS A GOD AND HE CREATED THE UNIVERSE GENESIS 2 GOD CREATED YOU

If we were created, then there is a reason for our existence.

KEY POINT #1 We exist to serve the purposes of our creator and our lives should be lived in accordance to his will.

THE MAKER’S CREATION The maker should have every right to expect their creation to work as intended. When the creation doesn’t operate according to it’s intended purpose we say that it is malfunctioning. . . And we de-commission it until it get’s back to it’s original purpose.

KEY POINT #2 God was forced to de-commission his creation when sin broke man. Man is re-commissioned at the moment of salvation now capable of serving God’s intended purposes once again.

In those days [there was] no king in Israel: every man did [that which was] right in his own eyes. Judges 21: 25

NO AUTHORITY When there is no Spiritual authority, then the compass which has always pointed us to TRUE NORTH now has no bearing. There is no, “north”. This behavior lends itself to the loss of absolutes and a loss of divine human order.

FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE “God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him. How shall we comfort ourselves, the murderers of all murderers? What was holiest and mightiest of all that the world has yet owned has bled to death under our knives: who will wipe this blood off us? . . .

FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE …What water is there for us to clean ourselves? What festivals of atonement, what sacred games shall we have to invent? Is not the greatness of this deed too great for us? Must we ourselves not become gods simply to appear worthy of it? ”

FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE In this statement, because of man’s wisdom and scientific sophistication, he claims that humanity has killed off God and that we no longer can produce a need for his existence.

KEY POINT #3 If you remove the Creator, the purpose of our existence is lost.

EXODUS 12 CHRIST, OUR PASSOVER SACRIFICE

THE 10 PLAGUES UPON EGYPT 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Turned water into blood Filled the land with frogs Gave lice to the people Swarms of flies Killing of cattle 6. Boils 7. Hail mingled with fire 8. Locusts 9. Darkness over the land 10. Death of the firstborn

And they shall take of the blood, and strike [it] on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. 8 And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; [and] with bitter [herbs] they shall eat it. 9 Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast [with] fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance (the inner organs) thereof. Exodus 12: 7 -9

And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire. 11 And thus shall ye eat it; [with] your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it [is] the LORD'S passover. Exodus 12: 10 -11

PASSOVER The blood of the sacrificial lamb (without blemish) was to be spread over the entering of their doors. The lamb was becoming the covering for their sins.

For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I [am] the LORD. 13 And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye [are]: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy [you], when I smite the land of Egypt. Exodus 12: 12 -13

PASSOVER Are you covered by the blood of the lamb?

PASSOVER Not only was the lamb the covering for your home, but the family was expected to eat the entire lamb as well.

The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us [his] flesh to eat? 53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6: 52 -54

PASSOVER To be saved from God’s judgment, you will need to completely take in the Lord Jesus Christ into your life.

KEY QUESTION #1 Does God have expectations for how he wants me to live my life? If so, it is of the utmost importance that I learn what those desires are.

PASSOVER We cannot add anything to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross that will actually satisfy God. Our good works, regular church attendance, kindness or peaceful behavior will not appease God. It will only be In Christ Alone.

And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever. 15 Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. Exodus 12: 14 -15

Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land. 20 Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread. Exodus 12: 19 -20

UNLEAVENED BREAD God asked them to remove all the leaven from their homes. This departure from the world needed to be done in haste. God was telling his people to separate themselves right away. The way in which leaven can spread in to the whole lump typically pictures the spreading of sin in the Bible.

…Know ye not that a little leaveneth the whole lump? 7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened [bread] of sincerity and truth. 1 Corinthians 5: 6 -8

UNLEAVENED BREAD God wanted the leaven removed from their lives.

KEY POINT #4 God wants the hesitation, the spreading of complacency, the sin of indecision and slothful waiting to be removed from our lives. How long will we tarry to follow the Lord?

And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip [it] in the blood that [is] in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that [is] in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning. 23 For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite [you]. Exodus 12: 22 -23

HYSSOP In the Old Testament hyssop was used to strike the doorposts with the blood of the lamb. In the New Testament hyssop is used to give Christ vinegar to drink.

Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put [it] upon hyssop, and put [it] to his mouth. 30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. John 19: 29 -30

VINEGAR and BITTER HERBS Water wasn’t used in the Old Testament sacrifice, nor was it given to Christ as he became the final passover sacrifice. Instead vinegar was given to Christ just as bitter herbs were added to the lamb in Exodus 12.

THE BITTERNESS OF OUR PAST The bitterness reminded Israel of their bitter bondage in Egypt. The bitterness placed upon Christ should remind us of how the bitterness of our sinful lives were placed upon him.

KEY POINT #5 The bitterness of your past and the bitterness of Christ’s death are no match for the sweetness of his resurrection.