Great Decisions of the Bible Life is filled with decisions every day! A study of great decisions men made centuries ago should help us in making ours. Initially preached February 2004 at West Side. Repeated on July 23, 2006. (Print slides, 5, 11, 15)

Great Decisions of the Bible Adam and Eve decided to disobey God Life for man began with decisions Genesis 3:6; 1 Corinthians 15:22

Genesis 3:6 “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.” Allurement and illicit desire lead to sin!

1 Corinthians 15:22 “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.” Adam’s sin affected all mankind. Our sins can affect others as well. Fortunately, there is an escape from death in Christ.

Great Decisions of the Bible Adam and Eve decided to disobey God Life for man began with decisions Genesis 3:6; 1 Corinthians 15:22 Abraham unhesitatingly decided to offer up Isaac Contrary to human wisdom Yet, offered in faith (Hebrews 11:17-19)

Hebrews 11:17-19 “By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18of whom it was said, ‘In Isaac your seed shall be called,’ 19concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.”

Great Decisions of the Bible King Saul unwisely decided to spare the Agag, and the plunder of the Amalekites He feared the people 1 Samuel 15:24 Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; Matthew 10:28

1 Samuel 15:24 “Then Saul said to Samuel, ‘I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.’” We ought to obey God rather than man!

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man's all. 14For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.”

Matthew 10:28 “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

Great Decisions of the Bible King Saul unwisely decided to spare the Agag, and the plunder of the Amalekites He feared the people 1 Samuel 15:24 Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; Matthew 10:28 Moses chose God’s people over Egypt It was much to give up, but he did it because of his faith (Hebrews 11:24-26)

Hebrews 11:24-26 “By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.”

Great Decisions of the Bible Joshua decided to serve God with his house God is the true God, and worthy of that service (Joshua 24:15) “God said it, that settles it.”

Joshua 24:15 “And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

Great Decisions of the Bible Joshua decided to serve God with his house God is the true God, and worthy of that service (Joshua 24:15) “God said it, that settles it.” Christ always made the right decisions It is because of this perfection that he is our effective sacrifice! (1 Peter 2:21-24)

1 Peter 2:21-24 “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: 22 "Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth"; 23who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness -- by whose stripes you were healed.”

You must make a decision Christ’s invitation requires a decision on your part tonight. “Yes” or “No” Which will it be?