Category: Redemption
Subject: Redemption
Spiritual Surgery
Recently I came across a sermon outline by Joe Price titled Spiritual Surgery. (He preached it a couple of months ago). This article is basically a fleshing out of the three main points in his outline.
The apostle Paul, in Colossians 2, refers to a spiritual circumcision, using the token of the covenant between God and Israel to make an important point. “In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead” (2:11-12).
As physical circumcision was surgical removal (a cutting off, cf. Genesis 17:10-11; Galatians 5:12). Paul uses the same language to indicate they were to remove or put off the body of the sins of the flesh. This was not an unfamiliar concept to the Jews. In fact, Moses said something similar as he called upon the Israelites to repent of their transgressions against God in Deuteronomy 10:16, “Therefore circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and be stiff-necked no longer.”
Sermon: The Preacher and the Penitent
Luke’s narrative of the conversion of Cornelius and his household is unique in its use of two viewpoints to relate the facts. Both the preacher and the penitent are followed, with the two meeting as the gospel is preached and souls are saved.
Sermon: The Promises of God
The lesson shows that some of God’s promises are unconditional in nature, while others are conditional. God’s most wonderful promises are available through His Son Jesus, showing God’s mercy and grace.
Sermon: How Heaven Views Sinners
The Parables of Luke 15 explain the view that Heaven holds regarding lost souls.
Sermon: A Plan is Needed!
A plan is needed for the salvation of men. The lesson discusses why men are in need of salvation.
Sermon: Propitiation
What does the term Propitiation mean, and how does the term relate to God’s scheme for redeeming man?
Sermon: Jesus in the Temple
Second in a series on the life of Jesus. Jesus’ obeyed His Father, and accomplished His will in redeeming man. We too have a stewardship from God, and we too must be faithful.
Lessons Learned from the Remnant
The book of Ezra records a remnant of Judah returning to the homeland after 70 years spent in Babylonian captivity. The reason they had been conquered by the Babylonians was their rejection of God. As Jeremiah put it, “Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet My people have forgotten Me days without number” (Jeremiah 2:32).
However, after 70 years (prophesied in Jeremiah 29:10), God stirred up the heart of King Cyrus to allow the Jews to return to their homeland (cf. Ezra 1:1). Not all were interested in leaving the place where they had lived for two generations. But, a remnant was moved by God (1:5), and returned to the land. Here the Jews reestablished their worship to God, and ultimately rebuilt the temple.
The Good Shepherd
In the gospel of John, Jesus identified himself as the “good shepherd” (John 10:11). The work of the shepherd in New Testament times was challenging. He would train the sheep or goats to obey his commands, feed and water them, and protect them from harm. The young David is an good example, as he saved his sheep from both a lion and a bear (cf. 1 Samuel 17:34). Obviously, if the sheep belonged to the shepherd himself, the investment was a precious one. This explains Jesus’ words, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep” (11). In contrast, “The hireling flees [when he sees the wolf] because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep” (13). Jesus used this imagery to describe His sin sacrifice, “As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep” (15).
Sermon: Drawn to Jesus
This sermon expresses why we should desire to be drawn to Jesus, as well as how it is done.
Sermon: God’s Plans
Sermon by Brantley Gallman
Daniel 2 gives a good example of the grand and sovereign plans of God.
Sermon: What is Your Value?
In the eyes of God you are valuable. Valuable enough that God sent His Son to die on the cross for your sins!
Sermon: The Benefits of a Life Lived for Christ
A life lived for Jesus Christ brings blessings, both while we live upon the earth He created, and most importantly, in eternity!
Sermon: The “Plan” of Salvation?
The idea that there are things a man must do to be saved, some people contend to be a product of the legalistic theology of the 19th century. This lesson is a defense of the what the scriptures teach regarding the salvation of man.
Man Can’t Do It…But God Can!
Early in Nebuchadnezzar’s reign he had a dream. The dream made him anxious, and he sought it’s meaning. His astrologers, sorcerers and magicians were more than willing to provide an interpretation, but Nebuchadnezzar obviously did not trust their powers of divination. So, he created a test. Before giving him the interpretation, they had to describe the dream itself. They replied, “There is not a man on earth who can tell the king’s matter; therefore no king, lord, or ruler has ever asked such things of any magician, astrologer, or Chaldean” (Daniel 2:10). Their explanation did not impress Nebuchadnezzar. He became angry, and commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be killed!
Nebuchadnezzar’s disgust was understandable, even if his murderous response was not. These dream interpreters were not claiming psychological insight. They claimed to be able to “divine” the interpretation. That is, they claimed a supernatural ability to determine a dream’s meaning. Logically, if one possessed such supernatural powers, “divining” the dream itself would be as simple as the interpretation. By their inability, they showed themselves to be charlatans.
