Sermon Tone Analysis

How do we make sense of the tragedy of Charlottesville?

How do we make sense that the things in our world right now seem purely evil?

Is God failing?

Are churches dying?

Is Christianity a fade that soon will pass?

Intro

We live in an upside down world right now

1st Century AD

Docetism - Belief that Jesus' physical body was an illusion, as was his crucifixion; that is, Jesus only seemed to have a physical body and to physically die, but in reality he was incorporeal, a pure spirit, and hence could not physically die

“Swoon Theory”

18-19 Century AD

Early proponents of this theory include German Karl Friedrich Bahrdt, who suggested in around 1780, that Jesus deliberately feigned his death, using drugs provided by the physician Luke to appear as a spiritual messiah and get Israel to abandon the idea of a political messiah.

Today - 2016

Crucifixion’s a Doddle by Julian Doyle

10 reasons why Jesus death was not real

Uses ancient text and dare I say Monty Pythons “The life fo Brian” as references.

We do live in a world where anything goes.

Relativism is prevelenet even lending itself toward lawlessness and evil is now good

Destruction of property is justified, killing of innocent children, killing of police officers is justified, and even free speech is only free if others agree it is OK.

How do we make sense of this?

Christ’s death is not negotiable in our belief system

If Christ did not die then God’s wrath still exists and we stand guilty for our sin

Drama

Jesus is buried

Joseph of Arimathea - A senator and a rich man (Matt and Luke)

Nicodemus - - nobleman and rich

They were afraid to claim to be a disciple of Jesus in the past

So, at Jesus death something happened to change that - something “heavenly” as Calvin calls it

So, what kept these men from coming forward before?

SIN

“Swoon Theory”

18-19 Century AD

Early proponents of this theory include German Karl Friedrich Bahrdt, who suggested in around 1780, that Jesus deliberately feigned his death, using drugs provided by the physician Luke to appear as a spiritual messiah and get Israel to abandon the idea of a political messiah.

Today - 2016

Crucifixion’s a Doddle by Julian Doyle

10 reasons why Jesus death was not real

Uses ancient text and dare I say Monty Pythons “The life fo Brian” as references.

We do live in a world where anything goes.

Relativism is prevelenet even lending itself toward lawlessness and evil is now good

Destruction of property is justified, killing of innocent children, killing of police officers is justified, and even free speech is only free if others agree it is OK.

How do we make sense of this?

Doctrine

Depravity of Man

We must first understand the depravity of man

IV.

From this original corruption, whereby we are utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite to all good, and wholly inclined to all evil, do proceed all actual transgressions.k

V.

This corruption of nature, during this life, doth remain in those that are regenerated: and although it be through Christ pardoned and mortified, yet both itself, and all the motions thereof, are truly and properly sin.m

If we know that Original sin effects the whole man and that man is depraved then we can understand how these evils around us happen.

We can also understand the need for Jesus death

Covenant with Abram

Gen 24:9

Gen 15:

God basically took the curse and responsibility of death upon himself

Atonement of Christ

“He descended into Hell”

Calvin - Jesus died a real death and experienced the pains of hell separated from God for a time while in the tomb

This was a part of the atoning sacrifice - God’s wrath on Jesus, His Son, for you

IV.

This office the Lord Jesus did most willingly undertake; which that he might discharge, he was made under the law, and did perfectly fulfil it;a endured most grievous torments immediately in his soul, and most painful sufferings in his body;c was crucified, and died; was buried, and remained under the power of death, yet saw no corruption.e

On

θάνατος (thanatos), death.

Cognate

120 times used in the NT to refer to dead or being dead

This is an important belief in the Christian faith because without it we have not received atonement for sin

We are still under the curse

Rom 5:19

Rom 5

Jesus death was so important that John mentioned more detail than we might expect

Doxology

Through death Jesus brings a quickening to life

Illus: Joseph and Nicodemus

Something happened to where they did not fear public ridicule

They did not fear being at odds with their own political party

Jesus death provided a quickening and regeneration in one who was plagued with sin

Now, they carrying Jesus to the tomb make a outward profession of faith

As Christians, we still struggle with sin

We are not immune to the war within - the tug between sin and righteousness

App:

We should be so bold as to be willing to profess our faith publically, knowing that men are deprave and in need of Christ

It should cause us to have urgency in sharing the gospel to those in need, still unregenerate and lost

We need to realize that of all of the sinners out there there is one that you are most responsible for - you

Jesus death is set apart and special

Set apart in the fact that it is unique and could only be accomplished by him

God established a new tomb where no one had laid

Since he is the first-born from the dead () and first-fruits to rise () as Paul says

His death is greater than any other death

It’s abnormal, and it is real

It is special in the sense that it accomplished the atoning work through sacrifice the appeasing of God’s wrath against sin for you and for me

This is what we mean when we say Christ died for you

He had to in order for you to be saved.

App: We should praise him for this gift of grace

Jesus death won the victory over sin for us

Conclusion

Death is a part of life, without it we will never experience the resurrection

At every level you cannot escape the fact that something has to die in order for life to take place

Jesus is telling us that in order for life to occur death has to happen first

Spiritually, in order for the new life in Christ to begin there has to be death within us - death to the old self and old ways

If we have never been quickened to even know what sin is and that we are in need of Christ we will not experience the resurrection - Justification

If we have never and are not continually dying to the depraved self we will not experience the resurrection - Sanctification