“The Verdict is Rendered” Sunday, 27 March 2022 10:00 a.m.
We are continuing our series leading up to the Easter season entitled: “Resurrection: Power Over Death.” Last week we talked about hell; it’s a real place that Jesus spoke about numerous times in the Bible, directly and through parables. And we talked about the fact that sheol/hades is a temporary place where unrighteous souls are kept as they await the final resurrection but that the souls of the righteous, at death, go directly into the presence of God.
This week we want to turn our focus to Jesus; what did He say about sin, death and the grave. It's vital for us, if we want an honest approach to these issues, to have a proper perspective of who Jesus is. For many religions and cults, Jesus is nothing more than a good man or a prophet; they don’t see Him as divine. And when we fail to see Jesus as equal with God, our understanding of death, sin and the grave becomes distorted.
In John 5, Jesus tells the Jews plainly that He is equal with God. They found this very disturbing and plotted to kill Him. But Jesus uses this opportunity to tell them that the Father has committed ALL judgment into His hands. He has judged the world for its sin in the past and He will certainly judge believers and unbelievers alike in the future. As judge of the earth, Jesus begins to make some judgments with regards to sin, death and the grave.
Verdict #1 - Sin’s Penalty is Paid
John 5:24 “I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life. (NLT) Sin demands a sinless sacrifice; Jesus was the sacrifice for us ; He was our substitute. And by dying in our place, He paid our sin debt; and He clothed us with His righteousness. The judgment on sin’s penalty was rendered at the cross and it was judged to be paid in full.
Verdict #2 - The Dead Are Made Alive!
John 5:25 Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. The devil desires to keep us in that attitude of perpetual death and defeat; you aren’t good enough, you can’t live victoriously. But Jesus our Advocate steps down off the bench and says “devil: you are overruled. The dead are now made alive!
Verdict #3 - The Grave is Rendered Powerless
John 5:28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His (Jesus) voice 29 and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.
The devil must have been full of glee when Jesus died on that cross, but on the 3rd day, God made a declaration; He proclaimed that Jesus was the righteous Son of God. And the verdict is: Because I live; you too will also live eternally.
Join us in person on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. or via livestream by going to https://www.firstbaptistsudbury.com and clicking on livestream for “The Verdict is Rendered.”
Kevin