Because of Love - Palm Sunday

9 Because of Love Vision 2018: Forward Because of Love Zechariah 9:9 2018 March 25 AM Introduction: This is Palm Sunday I. Holy Week or The Week of Passion. A. It is Palm Sunday, the day of the week nearly 2,000 years ago when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a lowly donkey with people lining the streets, shedding their coats on the ground, waving palm branches shouting "Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Hosanna in the highest!" a. Jesus was rightfully celebrated as He entered in Jerusalem that day prophesied by Zechariah. He is worthy of all the praise, glory & honor, all the laudation you pour on Him. b. With all the praise & adoration poured onto this man from Galilee, the love shown towards Him, the respect given Him how could in only a few days some of that same crowd along with many others turn their Hosannas into jeers of hate?  B. Jesus loves people. a. His love is manifested by what He ultimately did on the cross & from the grave, but His love is demonstrated by the lives He touches, the souls He heals, the sin He forgives. b. His love should never be questioned yet it is. There are many who will challenge you with the statement, "If God is a God of love, He would not send people to hell."  C. Does/Should the love of God keep Him from sending people to Hell? a. It is His love, have you seen what sin did to Jesus? Do you understand the judgement of sin bestowed upon the body of Christ? {Video of Whipping Post} Have you seen what sin did to Jesus? b. Most people consider themselves morally good and whenever they see a severe injustice they feel that Justice should be served. Whenever you know without a doubt that someone has committed a murder you want justice served to that murderer. God is a good God but He serves justice equitably.  {Video of Crucifixion} Have you seen what sin did to Jesus? c. I fear most do not recognize the horror, the cruelty, the ignominy & agony of the cross. Yes, Jesus came to earth as Messiah, Savior, He came as the ultimate sacrificial Lamb of God however He did not have to die. Thousands of angels were waiting for Him to call to be rescued from His pain. In the midst of the darkness of that afternoon Jesus cries out, "My God, My God. Why have you forsaken Me?" d. Jesus died for His love of mankind along with His desire for you to be in an eternal heaven with Him as well as to receive praise & worship from Him. Revelation 20:11-15 (BIBLE) II. The Throne & the Judge He is a great God. He is a God that is full of tender mercies and loving kindness he is gracious and merciful and loving but He serves the unjust with justice. And justice is the judgment and wrath of God upon sin to those who have rejected His love and mercy and goodness and kindness and graciousness. Remember the application: Today is the Day of Salvation. A. The Throne a. Great.—Because so many are to stand before it ; because so great a Savior is to sit down upon it ; because everlasting sentences are to be given out from it. b. White.—Because of his holiness, because of his equity. He will be righteous in acquitting and in condemning. None can cast a stain upon it. B. The Judge – Christ Himself a. Because He is the Son of Man; knows by experience our inmost feelings. John v. 22-27. 1. Jesus says those who believe will never be condemned. aac John 5:24 b. As a reward for His pains & the confusion of the Christless. (Philipians 2) 1. Confusion of the Christless? - How God would send His Son to be killed by wicked mankind on the cross of a criminal yet elevating Him to the place of highest honor & give Him a Name above every name. aac Philippians 2:10 C. The Judged a. All. The dead, small and great; men of all ranks and degrees; Presidents, Queens & Dictators; none too high, none too low. b. From all places; grave, sea, death, hell – Will stand together before God. c. Thoughts, words, and actions; secret sins done in the heart, or in the dark; secret fraud and uncleanness; forgotten sins. III. The Sentence. A. This explains why God does not take vengeance now. a. Repent. God commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day in which He will judge the world. b. God is not willing that any should perish. B. The reason we can do this is because of the resurrection of Christ. - He asks us to: * Repent * Live by Faith * Be Baptized * Be Filled with His Spirit Conclusion: PRESENT THE GOSPEL FOR SALVATION – EVERY WEEK – AND THE NEED TO COME FORWARD IN PUBLIC ACCEPTANCE OF CHRIST