Gtcotr/ws102120
The Bible only tells one story … it is the story of redemption. The Old Testament and the New Testament fit together perfectly to reveal God’s goodness and His love toward mankind.
During the past 15 weeks we have enjoyed the study of several of my favorite Bible characters and drawn principles of life from their stories. We have reviewed the lives of saints and sinners alike; priests, prophets, and kings; men and women of faith; both winners and losers from the Old and the New Testaments. Each character provided a wealth of wisdom which we can apply in our lives today.
This evening we are going to conclude this series by discussing what I have learned from the most important character in the Bible. We will begin tonight by reading three individual verses:
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
2 Corinthians 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.
In order to focus on tonight’s Bible character and what I learned from them I suppose I must reveal who is the most important character in the Bible …
Some might imagine the most important character in the Bible would, of course, be Jesus. However, allow me to offer an alternate perspective. Not to take anything at all away from the Lord of all glory but, in many respects: The Bible is not a book about Jesus … it is a book about you.
I will offer you the thought this evening that Jesus is not the most important character in the Bible, you are. The truth is, the Bible is all about you and what God has done to court your love.
Hebrews 12
13 For when God made a
promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by
Himself,
14 saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.”
2 Corinthians 4
15 For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.
John 12:30 Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake.
Genesis 9:3 “Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs.
John 14:2 “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Philippians 1:24 Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.
Were it not for you, all of the ‘yous’ represented in God’s Word, there would be no Bible, no need for one and no story to tell. I know this could present a stretch for some to imagine but, truly, it is about you.
·
When God created Adam and Eve … it was
about you.
·
When God saved Noah and his family …
it was all about you.
·
When God made a covenant with Abraham,
Isaac, and Jacob … it was all about you.
·
When God appeared to Moses in the
burning bush … it was all about you.
·
When God called David to be King … it
was all about you.
·
When God delivered Daniel from the
lion’s den … it was all about you.
·
When God spoke to the prophet’s Joel,
Zachariah, and Malachi … it was all about you.
·
When God sent the angel Gabriel to Mary
in Nazareth … it was all about you.
·
When Jesus called His 12 Disciples …
it was all about you.
·
When they freed Barabbas and crucified
the Lord of Glory … it was all about you.
·
When, on the third day, Jesus rose
victorious over sin, death, hell, and the grave … it was all about you.
·
When Saul of Tarsus met Jesus on the Road
to Damascus … it was all about you.
·
When the elder Apostle John wrote his Gospel
and the Book of Revelation … it was all about you.
·
And when Jesus returns on a great
white horse to defeat the anti-Christ … it will all be about you.
You were chosen in Christ before the
foundation of the world and you are the main character on the heart, on the
mind, and in the Word of God.
You should take the Bible personal … it is all about you!
Here are three things I have learned from all of you in the Bible:
1. You are
capable of anything.
a.
You are capable of good. You are capable of
evil.
b.
You are capable of pleasing God. You are
capable of displeasing God.
c.
You are capable of winning. You are capable
of losing.
d.
God has placed both heaven and hell within
your grasp.
2. Your future
is more important than your past.
3. You are
worth a lot to God.
a. Since you are worth
the sacrifice of His only Son
i. You are certainly
worth my time and my effort.
ii. You are worth another
chance.
b. You are valuable to
God as both a son and a servant.
i. Until you come to know
Christ it is all about you …
ii. After you are born
again, it is all about the other you’s …
