Why Did Jesus Come to Earth?

 
Why Did Jesus Come to Earth? By Pastor Dan Kennedy © November 30, 2014 www.pastorkennedy.com The Greatness of God…Evidenced to a minute degree in the Vastness of the Heavens! There are estimated to be 100 - 400 billion (with a “B”!) solar “masses” in our Milky Way – masses (stars) approximating the size of the sun - some smaller some larger. * http://www.space.com/25959-how-many-stars-are-in-the-milky-way.html It is safe to say that our planet is not alone in this Universe. Milky Way Center Region Mosaic http://sguisard.astrosurf.com/Pagim/GC.html Why Did Jesus Come to Earth? We are on the cusp of the beginning of the Christmas Season. Christmas is so delightful because we acknowledge the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, but why did He come? The natural self-sufficient human attitude often causes us to believe and act as independent and self-created beings. What fools we are to think so Godlessly and to be so prideful! Why Did Jesus Come to Earth? We are told the intent of His first mission to earth in the oldest statement of faith passed down by the Early Church in a statement quoted by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. The Early Church’s Statement of Faith 1 Corinthians 15:3–4 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures…. What is the first phrase of this proclamation? Christ Died for Our Sins. The Primary Reason for Christ’s Coming The Primary Reason Why Jesus, God’s Son, Came to Earth was to provide a means whereby human beings could have his or her sins forgiven. • Why is the Forgiveness of Sins so Important? We must have forgiveness for our sins before we can be reconciled with God. We cannot enter the Presence of God, in His Holiness, and live with Him forever, unless there is some means whereby our sins are justly atoned for and forgiven. What is more Difficult – to Heal a man’s Paralysis or Forgive His Sins? Remember the paralyzed man who had been lowered through the roof by his friends, in front of Jesus (Mark 2:1-12). The first thing Jesus told him was that his sins had been forgiven! This incensed the religious leaders listening. “He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” “What is easier to say to a paralytic?” Jesus asked. “To say your sins are forgiven, or rise and walk?” Jesus turned to the man and said, “Rise, pick up your bed and walk!” And he did! Both forgiveness of sins and healing of a paralytic are impossible with humans. We would call them both, “MIRACLES”! The greater miracle comes with a huge price: The Shedding of the Blood and Death of the sinless Son of God. The Forgiveness of Sins is Critically Important because of our Need for Reconciliation with God • We must have Reconciliation with God: Christ’s Sacrifice Provided the Means whereby Sinful Mankind can be Reconciled to God in His Holiness. The Primary Reason for Christ’s 1st Coming was for the Forgiveness of Sins, without which God’s Complete Plan could not be accomplished. Psalm 32:1–2 1 Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. John 1:29 29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! Romans 4:20–25 20 No unbelief made him (Abraham) waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22 That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” 23 But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, 24 but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, 25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. The Problem of Sin and its Condemnation of all Mankind Romans 5:18–19 18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. Galatians 1:3–4 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father…. 1 Peter 2:24 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 1 John 3:5 5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. The Imperfect Earthly Example of the Jewish High Priest • The Jewish High Priest was appointed to offer temporary blood sacrifices to act on behalf of men in relation to God (until Christ came). (Heb. 5:1) • He understands the weakness of others because he understands his own weakness and must offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for the people.. (Heb. 5:2-3) Hebrews 5:1–3 For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. 3 Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people. The Supreme and Complete Sacrifice of Jesus Christ as Our Eternal High Priest • Jesus Christ is holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, exalted above the heavens and made perfect forever. (Heb. 7:26, 28) • Jesus does not need to offer sacrifices daily, as the earthly high priest were required to do – first for His own sins and then for those of the people, because Christ was sinless and His sacrifice was complet. (Heb. 7:27) • Jesus sacrificed Himself, once for all, by entering once for all into Heaven’s holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by his own blood. (Heb. 9:12, 24) • By means of His own blood, Jesus secured an eternal redemption. (Heb. 9:12) • Jesus appeared once for all in the fullness of time to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. (Heb. 9:26) • Just as each of us is appointed to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, was offered once to bear the sins of many. (Heb. 9:27-28) • Jesus will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. (Heb. 9:28) Hebrews 7:26–28 26 For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. 28 For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever. Hebrews 9:12 12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. Hebrews 9:23–28 23 Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. 25 Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, 26 for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, 28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. Hebrews 10:1–11 Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All 10 For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. 2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? 3 But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5 Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; 6  in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. 7  Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’ ” 8 When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), 9 then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second. 10 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 1 Peter 3:18 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, A Mother’s Request for Her Sons to have a High Position in Christ’s Kingdom, and Jesus’ Statement of What it means to Have Authority in His Kingdom Matthew 20:20–28 20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. 21 And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” 22 Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” 23 He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” 24 And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Jesus Gave His Life to be a Ransom, not to exercise Authority Isaiah 53:10–12 10 Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. 11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors. John 10:15 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. Caiaphas, the High Priest’s, Unique Prophecy John 11:49–52 49 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. 50 Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” 51 He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. – Caiaphas the High Priest, spoke this in declaring the Jewish religious leaders’ reason to put Jesus to death… But he didn’t realize that his statement was true for a whole other reason: For the world’s Sacrificial Redemption from sin, by the Lamb of God. Galatians 1:4 4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, Galatians 2:20 20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 1 Timothy 2:5–6 5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. What parts do Repentance and Faith play? o God asks a Response from those who receive His Gift of Redemption and Eternal Life… Admitting we are a sinner, with Repentance and Turning from our Sin. “Whoever believes on Him” (John 3:16)…“Repentance toward God and Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21; Hebrews 6:1). “Dear Heavenly Father, I know that I am a sinner who does not deserve to live in Your Holy Presence! Please forgive me of my sin, through the death and sacrifice of the Blood of Jesus Christ. I repent of my sin and I ask to be Born Again into Your Family and Transformed to live a life that is pleasing to You, by the Power of Your Holy Spirit!” o We must have Forgiveness of our Sin in order to be positionally Reconciled with God experiencing New Birth into His Spiritual Family through the Holy Spirit’s power. Jesus Christ came to earth to provide a way so our sins could be forgiven! When we accept this “free gift”…this “ransom”, this “pardon” from God, we are born into His Family, by the power of God’s Holy Spirit. Romans 6:23 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Titus 3:5–6 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, It is like any family. We must be “born” into it, or “adopted” into it before we can become part of the family. This is when we ask for Christ’s cleansing from sin to be born into His family. “You must be born again,” Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3. This is the “positional” side. But even when we are (positionally) part of the family we may still sometimes act inappropriately. That is when, the “practical” side of forgiveness comes in. Family members still need to apologize to one another. Those in the Family of God need to ask their Father’s forgiveness when they dishonor Him. Daily Practical Needs for Forgiveness with those in God’s Family o Those who have been Reconciled Positionally with God are also continuing to live in a sinful world, themselves still struggling with the sins of their practical day to day walk. These we bring daily to our Father in Heaven. Luke 11:2–4 (NIV84) 2 He (Jesus) said to them, “When you pray, say: “ ‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread. 4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’ ” 1 John 1:9 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Why is it so important to each of us that Jesus came to die for our sins? • If Jesus came to die for our sins, is there any sin too horrendous that He cannot cleanse? o Have you ever worried that maybe your sins were too terrible for God to forgive? o Have you experienced such great guilt that it is overwhelming to your emotions? Lay your sin and your guilt at the foot of the cross of Jesus. His Blood was shed to cleanse you from that guilt and condemnation before God. Satan’s Constant Ploy What is Satan’s constant ploy to give people an overwhelming sense of unworthiness and lack of acceptableness before God? “God would never save you and let you go to heaven because you have committed so many sins…and look how terrible they are!” Our spiritual enemy first of all captivates us with the desires of our flesh and mind to sin…with his goal that we be captured by an unbroken pattern of habitual sin. Then, he surrounds our mind with this seemingly unbreakable emotion of “unforgivable sin”. God Has Provided His Most Precious Treasure to Forgive Us and Redeem Us! • God is fully aware that we are woefully sinful and unworthy of His Presence. • God provided the Death and Blood Sacrifice of His own Son as the way whereby sinful people can be redeemed! God Sent His Son to Earth… 1. So those He Created could have the opportunity to be Forgiven, Redeemed and Free from the Condemnation of Sin (This is what we have spent the majority of this message affirming!) This could be called the necessary, First-Purpose for Christ’s coming to earth God Sent His Son to Earth… 2. So those He Created could have the opportunity to be a Transformed People Who Honorably Serve Him here on Earth This could be called the Mid-Purpose (or Practical Life-Purpose) of Christ’s Laying Down His Life for our Sins Titus 2:11–14 11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. Ephesians 2:10 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. 1 Peter 1:17–19 17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 1 Peter 2:5–9 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ…. 8bThey (the Old Testament Jewish people) stumble because they disobey the word (and rejected “the Cornerstone”), as they were destined to do. 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. God Sent His Son to Earth… 3. So those He Created could have the opportunity to be Part of His Kingdom to be with Him Forever, as His Precious Bride (Rev. 19:6-9; Eph. 5:23-30) This could be called the End-Purpose of Christ’s Laying Down His Life for our Sins Ezekiel 37:23 23b  …But I will save them from all the backslidings in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them; and they shall be my people, and I will be their God. Revelation 1:5–6 5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Closing Thoughts – the Worthiness of Jesus Christ Revelation 5:6–14 6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. 8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10  and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” 11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” 13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” 14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped. http://www.pastorkennedy.comhttp://www.space.com/25959-how-many-stars-are-in-the-milky-way.htmlhttp://www.space.com/25959-how-many-stars-are-in-the-milky-way.htmlhttp://www.space.com/25959-how-many-stars-are-in-the-milky-way.htmlhttp://sguisard.astrosurf.com/Pagim/GC.htmlshapeimage_1_link_0shapeimage_1_link_1shapeimage_1_link_2shapeimage_1_link_3shapeimage_1_link_4