sermon notes - Why Did Jesus Come?

"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

Matthew 5:17

 

How determined are you to win your race? Video clip of Heather Dorniden shown. Runner who fell down flat during race but got up and managed to win.

 

The New Testament – God shows up. Not about religion or ritual, temple or sacrifice. It’s not an analogy or a metaphor. The pivot point of all human history. The birth, the life, the death, resurrection then ascension of the one called Jesus.

 

We don’t generate hope – hope comes to us. It’s not originally internal, we generate on our own, or us trying harder. Hope is God coming to us, loving us, comforting us. Loving us far too much to leave us there. He comes alongside his people, picks us up from the ground when we’re face down, brushes us off, puts us back on our feet and sets us on our race. Hope is planted deep within, nurtured and grows unseen to others. Is only possible because God has come, has shown up.

 

When God comes, when He shows up, He surprises the world. While the  whole world is climbing the ladder, stepping on others to ascend. God reaches down the ladder.

 

Read the 4 gospels and discover hope. Hope on every page! Allow Jesus to whisper to you in your life and in your soul. Personally, honestly, intimately – Do you know Jesus?

 

Matthew was a tax collector and therefore meticulous with records. His recording of Jesus’ actions, words in Matthew is to be trusted.

 

Jesus does not treat you as your sins deserve. Loves you as a parent loves a lost child, for we all were/maybe still are. Nothing you can do for Him to love you less. He loves you completely. Also nothing you can do for Him to love you more. His is absolutely unconditional love. He searching. Searching for you. He’ll always be searching for you, calling you by name until you’re found. He’ll save you every hour of every day. God never comes to visit; He comes to stay.

 

Why did Jesus come? He came to set all things right, to mend this broken world, establish the kingdom of God, to reconcile the whole world back to God, to bring a sword to draw a line between good and bad, not to be served but to serve, to seek and to save what was lost.

 

My hope & anchor, lover of my soul. Abiding presence and power the world can never take away. Jesus loves me and will always love me. Jesus sends me and will always send me so that we may, in His name, go love.

Can have a knowledge of what is right and wrong. Can come from a very moral family but have absolutely no connection to the gospel.

 

Regardless of the world’s chaos – God wins!