GOOD NEWS FROM THE CROSS “THERE IS HELP” “THERE IS HELP” II Corinthians 5:21

“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us. That we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” II Cor. 5:21

I. QUESTIONS TO ASK A.WHO NEEDS HELP? “And you were dead in your sins…” Eph. 2:1 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

QUESTIONS TO ASK (cont.) B. WHO’S AVAILABLE TO HELP MAN IN HIS HELPLESSNESS AND WHO HAS THE ABILITY AND QUALIFICATIONS TO HELP?

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS QUALIFICATIONS: MUST BE QUALIFIED IN HUMANITY: (“and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…” John 1:14 MUST BE QUALIFIED IN PERFECTION: (“…but with the precious blood of Christ, who was the perfect and unblemished sacrificial lamb.” I Peter 1:18 (The Voice paraphrase)

REQUIRED ABILITY MUST HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE MUST HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IN A WAY THAT SATIFIES ALL THE DEMANDS OF JUSTICE AND HOLINESS

REQUIRED WILLINGNESS MUST BE WILLING TO LEAVE HEAVEN AND COME TO EARTH MUST BE WILLING TO BECOME A MAN AND COVER HIS DEITY MUST BE WILLING TO WILLING TO EXPERIENCE DEATH – EVEN THE DEATH UPON A CROSS

II. WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE? THE JOB DESCRIPTION TO BE FULFILLED A.ONE MUST DO THE WORK OF SUBSTITUTION! SOMEONE NEEDED TO TAKE THE SINNERS PLACE “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities, and the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him and by His scourging, we are healed…and the Lord laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:5,6) “…He became sin for us…” II Cor. 5:21

JOB DESCRIPTION (cont.)

C. ONE MUST DO THE WORK OF REMOVAL! SOMEONE NEEDED TO REMOVE THE SINNERS SIN! “Yes, Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.” Micah 7:19 “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” Ps. 103:12

JOB DESCRIPTION (cont.) D.ONE MUST DO THE WORK OF PROVISION! SOMEONE NEEDED TO PROVIDE THE SINNER WITH GOD’S HOLINESS AND RIGHTEOUSNESS! “…that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” II Cor. 5:21

JOB DESCRIPTION (cont.) E. ONE MUST DO THE WORK OF SATISFACTION! SOMEONE NEEDED TO DO ALL OF THE ABOVE ON BEHALF OF THE SINNER – AND DO IT TO GOD’S SATISFACTION! “And He – that same Jesus Himself, is the satisfying atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only, but for the sins of the whole world” I Jn. 2:2

III. THE INCREDIBLE GOOD NEWS FROM THE CROSS!

GOOD NEWS (cont.) B.THE WORK OF SALVATION THAT JESUS DID ON OUR BEHALF IS COMPLETE! IT IS FINISHED! (JN. 19:30) THE BATTLE IS FOUGHT! THE VICTORY IS WON! SATAN HAS BEEN DEFEATED! SIN HAS BEEN FORGIVEN! IT IS FINISHED! THE PROPHECIES OF THE CENTURIES HAVE BEEN FULFILLED! IT IS FINISHED!

THE LAMB FOR SINNERS HAS BEEN SLAIN! HE WAS WOUNDED FOR OUR TRANSGRESSONS AND HE WAS BRUISED FOR OUR INIQUITIES! IT IS FINISHED! THE OLD TESTAMENT TYPES, PICTURES AND ILLUSTRATIONS ARE NOW COMPLETE! THE PURPOSE OF THE INCARNATION IS NOW FULFILLED! THE RANSOM IS PAID. REDEMPTION IS COMPLETE! IT IS FINISHED!

OUR SINS ARE NAILED TO THE CROSS AND FORGIVEN! FORGIVENSS OF SIN IS OFFERED TO ALL! OUR GUILT AND OUR SIN BEFORE GOD HAS BEEN REMOVED FOREVER AND EVER! IT IS FINISHED! SIN NO LONGER HAS DOMINION OVER US! SATAN’S POWER IS BROKEN DOWN! THE DEMANDS OF THE LAW HAVE ALL BEEN MET! IT IS FINISHED!

THERE IS NOTHING MORE THAT MAN CAN DO! THERE IS NOTHING MORE THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE! SALVATION IS FULL AND FREE TO BE ACCEPTED AND RECEIVED! IT IS FINISHED!

GOOD NEWS (cont) C.OUR ONLY HOPE FOR SALVATION IS IN HIM AND NOT IN OURSELVES “GOD MADE HIM (JESUS) WHO KNEW NO SIN, TO BE SIN ON OUR BEHALF, THAT WE MIGHT BECOME THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN HIM!” II Cor. 5:21

TRUTH TO LIVE BY 1.MAN WAS HELPLESS BECAUSE OF HIS SIN AND DESPERATELY NEEDED (NEEDS) HELP! “For you were dead in your trespasses and sins…” Eph. 2:1

TRUTH TO LIVE BY 2. NO HELP FOR MAN WAS AVAILABLE NOR ACCEPTABLE APART FROM GOD HIMSELF WHO CAME TO MAN’S RESCUE! “For God demonstrated His great love toward man, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

TRUTH TO LIVE BY 3. THE WORK OF JESUS CHRIST WHO PROVIDED SALVATION FOR MAN WAS SO COMPLETE, SO SUFFICIENT, AND SO THOROUGH, THAT NOTHING CAN BE ADDED TO IT! IT IS FINISHED!

TRUTH TO LIVE BY 4. GOD OFFERS THIS INCREDIBLE GOOD NEWS FROM THE CROSS TO ANYONE AND EVERYONE WHO WILL BY FAITH RECEIVE IT FOR THEMSELVES! “But as many as received Him, to them he gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name!” Jn. 1:12

GOOD NEWS FROM THE CROSS “THERE IS HELP” “THERE IS HELP” II Corinthians 5:21