No Exit Door

Good Morning Church! Covenant Members, would you join me in welcoming all of our first time and returning guests? ( energetic applause) So good to see all of you and to be here. I hope you have been made to feel welcome today. This church is about walking out this life together in the RADICAL GRACE of JESUS CHRIST. It’s our heart that here a Concord, that you are made to feel “Known, Loved, and that you Belong.”

Scripture tells us in :‌ (ESV) but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

That means you don’t have to get it all figured out before you come. You come and we figure it out together. Whatever season you are in, we know the struggles of this sinful world…but we also know that our God is bigger than our circumstances.

guest connection:

Guests know that we want to connect with you!

With that said, I hope you received a program this morning you’ll notice in that program there’s more info about who we are and what we offer as a church. There you will find information about various ministries for the whole family. Also inside the program, along with the insert, there is a connect envelope. Later on in our service we will worship through a time of offering together. During this offering time we will give all of you a moment to fill out the connect envelopes (and they also serve as a place you can give any money or financial gift that you would offer to the Lord). During that time you will have an opportunity to connect and give and it’s really simple. Joe, our lead pastor will walk you through the steps. We desire to connect with you and help you get plugged in.

covenant connection:

Covenant Members, We want to remind you that next Sun at 2pm we have been asked to host the Southern Baptist Association’s Annual Business meeting. Our very own Concord Worship will be leading us in Worship and we will be hearing from a special guest speaker. We want to encourage our Covenant Members to be here (wearing your Concord shirts) receiving and greeting ministers and church messengers from all the churches that are within our Association. Let’s show the churches of our community that we are serious about making ALL people feel as though they are Known Loved and Belong in this place.

Call to Worship || Preparatory Prayer

Ask Congregation to stand Lead them in an intentional prayer to focus our hearts and minds on how the Holy Spirit would move within us today

Cole, immediately start playing the worship song as you take over

Greg exits the stage

FORGIVEN || worship leader || Cole Pevey

Cole, says:

Psalm 145:10–13 ESV

10 All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord, and all your saints shall bless you! 11 They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and tell of your power, 12 to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. 13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. The Lord is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works.

Psalm 145:

Psalm 145:16 ESV

16 You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing.

Psalm 145:10–13 ESV

2 Songs of Pardon || Concord WorshipCole prays: Thanking God for His presence through His Holy Spirit and how He reveals Himself through the person on Jesus who is “the Word.” Ask Him to anoint the service as we continue to worship through His Holy Spirit inspired Scripture and song.Band exits stage Joe takes the stage during prayer

2 Songs of Pardon || Concord Worship

Cole prays: Thanking God for His presence through His Holy Spirit and how He reveals Himself through the person on Jesus who is “the Word.”

Ask Him to anoint the service as we continue to worship through His Holy Spirit inspired Scripture and song.

Band exits stage

Joe takes the stage during prayer

Sermon || lead pastor || Joe Brantley

Introduction

Good morning church. Open your Bibles to John chapter 1 (found in the New Testament)…if you are joining us today and you don’t have Bible you should find a white paperback one laying around under the seats, grab that one…if you don’t own a Bible, consider that our gift to you.

(selective reading of verses)

John 1:1–18 ESV

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. 9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’ ”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

We learned that the Word, is Jesus.

Jesus was there in the beginning. With God and He was God. Yes, He is the Son of God, but He is One with the Father. HE IS GOD.

All things were made through Him. And without Him making it, nothing was made.

In Jesus was life and He was the light of men.

Jesus being the light was sent to “shine in the darkness”…interesting enough we learned that sin is the darkness, but not only do you and I live in sin (the darkness) but the darkness (sin) lives in us.

WE ARE THE DARKNESS in which JOHN is referring…Jesus came to shine light on the fact that we are sinners in need of a SAVIOR and that in our sin we die without God; separated to eternal darkness.

What did God use to show us the contrast in the saving grace of the Light of Jesus and how distinctively different it is than the darkness in which we live and which we are?

He used his law (v.17). He used His law given through Moses, to show us the light (Jesus) that we can only experience through Jesus, so John says “Grace and truth came through Jesus.”

So John, has taught us through this “prologue” the doctrine of the person of Jesus Christ. He has brought to us the doctrine of salvation and how the law of the OT was needed to remind us of ( 3 S’s)our sins, separation, and need of a Savior.

Why? Why do we need to be saved? Why do we need Jesus to save us? Why can’t we just do better? become good people? and live and die in peace without all of this NEED for Jesus?

Let me tell you why...

The truth of God’s law and grace shows there is existence beyond physical death for all. (repeat slowly)

So how does that have bearing on us who believe and to those of you who don’t? Why is this important?

Because what I’m going to unpack for us today, through John’s reminder and pointing us to the Scriptures what I want you to understand is whether you believe or not doesn’t mean that this physical existence is all you will experience.

“I don’t believe in God! When I die, I die…I don’t believe that I’m going up to some place in the clouds where I get wings and will play a harp for eternity (you are right about that and some believers have that wrong). But what I’m telling you is in your ignorance to believe in a God that created you, does not mean the reality you hope for is simply to take the proverbial “dirt nap.” Not true.

Just because you don’t believe in life after death doesn’t mean that you are right, it just determines how you spend your eternity.

The truth of God’s law and grace shows there is existence beyond physical death for all.

Scripture tells us through out this truth...

Peter:

1 Peter 4:17 ESV

17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?

Luke (recording the words of Paul on trial for heresy in Caesarea):

Acts 24:14–15 ESV

14 But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, 15 having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust.

Acts 24:14

Paul to the Romans:

Romans 1:16–25 ESV

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

That’s us… ALL OF US...

Romans 3:23 ESV

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Then the Apostle John later quoting Jesus:

John 5:25–29 ESV

25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.

John 5

The truth of God’s law and grace shows there is existence beyond physical death for all.

Just because you don’t believe in life after death doesn’t mean that you are right, it just determines how you spend your eternity.

There are two ways in which the Scriptures teach this and that’s what we are going to focus on today.

There is existence beyond physical death for all of us; meaning there is Good News and Bad News.

1. The Bad News:

The dismissal/rejection of God’s law reveals there is no exit door from the judgment of sin.

Just because you don’t want to play by the rules doesn’t mean there aren’t rules!

Mark 9:42–48 ESV

42 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 43 And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. 45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, 48 ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’

Mark 9:

Mark 9:43–48 ESV

43 And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. 45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, 48 ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’

So let’s break Jesus’ teaching about tempting those who believe in Him to sin and the consequences of that. What is the consequence of simply tempting one to sin, much less the sinner him or herself? Is Jesus being literal?

“The fact that a saying is not meant to be taken literally is not to diminish or discount its importance, however... The metaphors of eyes, hands, and feet are all-inclusive of what we view, what we do, where we go… Jesus does not counsel the removal of body parts because they are “useless and unprofitable”; rather, he signals the inestimable worth of the kingdom of God, which surpasses things of incalculable value… As important as eyes, hands, and feet are to us—or whatever else claims ultimate allegiance—they are not life; the kingdom of God is life, and nothing in this life should be allowed to prevent one from entering the kingdom. The choice is literally between God’s kingdom and “the fire that never goes out.”

a. HELL—Jesus was the great theologian of Hell. He spoke of it often. He made it clear that without Him that this law we are talking about…God’s law, that reveals how filthy we truly are, that law condemns us.

The metaphors of eyes, hands, and feet are all-inclusive of what we view, what we do, where we go.

As important as eyes, hands, and feet are to us—or whatever else claims ultimate allegiance—they are not life; the kingdom of God is life, and nothing in this life should be allowed to prevent one from entering the kingdom. The choice is literally between God’s kingdom and “the fire that never goes out.”

The fact that a saying is not meant to be taken literally is not to diminish or discount its importance, however.

Jesus does not counsel the removal of body parts because they are “useless and unprofitable”; rather, he signals the inestimable worth of the kingdom of God, which surpasses things of incalculable value.

b. And as guilty of our rebellion and sin the only sentence we deserve is death (eternal death); compete separation from God. It was Jesus who likened hell to “a fire” at least twenty different times.

c. Let’s look specifically at what Jesus says about when we give ourselves over to the temptation of sin. And justly serve our penalty…

Mark 9:42 ESV

42 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.

“Little Ones” (v.42) – does not mean children though it does not exclude them neither.

Zechariah 13:7 ESV

7 “Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who stands next to me,” declares the Lord of hosts. “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; I will turn my hand against the little ones.

Little ones would be like sheep in which we are leading.

Under this use of the greek it speaks to the penalty of disrupting the “BELIEVE” meaning “confidence/assurance” of a weaker or smaller minded person; causing them to sin.

Sin (Gk. skandalise) means to fall away or stumble. There isn’t even a Greek Word for cause, but cause is implied by the Pronoun or noun in which it attaches to. Meaning “Whoever, causes “ a weaker brother or sister” who believe in Jesus to (scandal, to fall away, to stumble, to sin) it would be better for you to wear a giant concrete tie and someone through you into the ocean; that, would be to endure the suffering that awaits you.

Mark 9:43 ESV

43 And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire.

Zechariah 13:7 ESV

HELL (v.43)—GK. geenna translated to English wld be Gehenna (Heb.-- the Valley of Hinnom)

That word Unquenchable in the greek is asbestos… that’s mineral that was used in all these building that they are removing because its killing people of cancer. Asbestos was applied as fireproofing…but it leads to death.

;

Jesus was known for using relatable imagery to the existing culture to grasp from there past and there present.

HELL (v.43)—GK. geenna translated to English wld be Gehenna (Heb.-- the Valley of Hinnom)

The Greek word for “hell” in vv. 43, 45, and 47 is Gehenna, from which the Hinnom Valley, the steep ravine to the southwest of Jerusalem () where human sacrifice had been practiced under Ahaz and Manasseh (; ), derives its name. The detestable practice of human sacrifice was later excoriated by Jeremiah (; ) and abolished by King Josiah (), who desecrated the Hinnom Valley by making it a garbage dump. “ ‘To go into hell, where the fire never goes out,’ ” became a symbol of divine wrath and punishment in subsequent Judaism and Christianity, or of the darkness, pain, and torment resulting from it.

To the image of smoldering putrefaction in the Hinnom Valley, Mark appends a saying that comes from the final verse of Isaiah (66:24): “ ‘Where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ ” The imagery of devouring worm and consuming fire, gruesome and grotesque, seems hardly necessary given the already lurid picture of the Hinnom Valley. Its use here conforms in one important respect to its use in Isaiah, where it concludes two chapters of promise and salvation by a final forceful warning of the consequences of rebellion against God. The quotation of this verse in v. 48 serves as the strongest possible warning against misjudging or trivializing the call and commission of discipleship. Who would imagine that in the simple and mundane tasks of either enabling or hindering believers in faith disciples are charting eternal destinies for themselves ()? But they are.

Geheena which took on the imagery of eternal punishment for sin, was an actual place…just outside the walls of the southwest corner of Jerusalem.

So in the days of the Prophets (OT times) there where pagans who were worshiping this pagan God, Topheth, in the Valley of Hinnom. The valley was a deep ravine that ran dramatically deep just outside the walls of Jerusalem. In the Valley of Hinnom these pagan would make fires burning hot that engulfed this statue of Topheth, who would have had a place like arms of the god to set there children in as a sacrifice. Babies were sacrificed to pagan gods in this deep ravine just outside the walls of Jerusalem.

Jeremiah 7:31–33 ESV

31 And they have built the high places of Topheth, which is in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire, which I did not command, nor did it come into my mind. 32 Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when it will no more be called Topheth, or the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter; for they will bury in Topheth, because there is no room elsewhere. 33 And the dead bodies of this people will be food for the birds of the air, and for the beasts of the earth, and none will frighten them away.

Jer

Jeremiah 7:31–33 ESV

That got shut down before Jesus time, but in Greek the Valley of Hinnom translates to geenna…Gehenna. So Jesus is using this deep valley where horrible things had happened to bring to mind in comparison what living in sin against God would look like in the afterlife for skeptics, for the evil and wicked, for those who did not believe in Jesus.

Mark 9:48 ESV

48 ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’

Mark

(v.48)—which, depending on which Bible you have is missing vv.44, 46— if it’s missing is noted in your Bible that this was not in the Original manuscripts—but, those missing verses say the exact same thing as v.48. As if to EMPHASIZE the suffering that would take place after every use of GK. Geennna—the ESV gets this one right and only includes it where the original manuscript says it, yet it does not lose its impact!

Isaiah 66:24 ESV

24 “And they shall go out and look on the dead bodies of the men who have rebelled against me. For their worm shall not die, their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.”

Here Jesus is quoting the prophet Isaiah...

Isaiah 66:24 ESV

So the Valley of Hinnom now known as Gehenna is taking on the concept of what Hell will look like. Jesus is painting a vivd picture, because...

The truth of God’s law (everything represented in the OT narrative) and grace (everything that is revealed to us through the NT narrative) shows there is existence beyond physical death for all.

The truth of God’s law and grace shows there is existence beyond physical death for all.

Jesus said this...

Matthew 10:28 ESV

28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

We must understand...

The truth of God’s law and grace shows there is existence beyond physical death for all.

What does this judgment of sin look like for both saint and skeptic?

Jesus’ teaching of hell is the reality for those of you who are living in the darkness of your sin, not trusting in Jesus’ finished work on the cross as payment for your sin debt to a Holy God.

For the saint (it means make sure you are a saint, not just in name), what I mean is that you are following Jesus in relationship with Him and you see fruit in your life from knowing Him.

For the skeptic...

Jesus’ teaching of hell is the reality for you who are living in the darkness of your sin, not trusting in Jesus’ finished work on the cross as payment for your sin debt to a Holy God.

But here is the GOOD NEWS.

1. The Good News: By grace, through faith, and belief in Jesus, the Scriptures reveal that He is the door in which we escape God’s judgment and wrath.

2 Peter 1:19–21 ESV

19 And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

So that means that this isn’t something you can do. It’s something God does in you. So how do you know God is doing this in you today?

Being here is a pretty good indicator, God wants you to know His truth and His reality for your existence beyond this temporary physical place.

So what does that mean and how do we respond to knowing this?

4 things that we must do:

1. Repent. What does repentance mean and what does it look like? I’m gonna give you both the practical and biblical...

(explain repentance of sin)

King David shows us a picture of repentance in...

Psalm 51:4 ESV

4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.

This is what you and I must do confess our sins, repent of our sins.

2. Believe. Belief in what? Let’s start with the Biblical...

Romans 10:9 ESV

9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 10:9

Practically do just that in a conversation with God. Confess with your mouth… BELIEVE in your heart...

3. GRACE. You must start to grasp the understanding of why God would restore you. He restores you because through your messy broken life he will bring others to repentance of their sins and they will believe in Jesus and they will receive grace upon grace just like John tells us in 1:16

Paul says this...

Ephesians 2:8–9 ESV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Eph 2:8

4.TRUTH.

Maybe you are asking what is truth? Pialate asked Jesus that very question about himself before he sent him to the cross. This is truth...

The truth of God’s law and grace shows there is existence beyond physical death for all.

How that looks temporarily...The Apostle John says it this way in his 3rd letter...

3 John 3 ESV

3 For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth.

Are you walking in truth? Because John says if we are walking in truth that should lead us to rejoice greatly.

John 14:6 ESV

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

What does the good news (Gospel) mean for both saint & skeptic?

; ; ; ; ; ; ; (ESV)

Band comes up

For the saint it’s eternal life.

For the skeptic it’s eternal judgment.

The truth of God’s law and grace shows there is existence beyond physical death for all.

So what must we do to turn bad news into good news? Nothing! Jesus is already done it. You simply walk in the truth of Scripture…

by...

Romans 10:9 ESV

9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

The truth of God’s law and grace shows there is existence beyond physical death for all.

How is the Holy Spirit moving you to respond? And do you really want to quench the fire of the Holy Spirit, to settle for the fire of eternity where

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