SERMON ABOUT THE TRUTH

So often preachers angle their messages. They preach the peace of the gospel, the power of the gospel, the truth of the gospel, and we accept peace, but not the cross; we seize power, but reject the cross; we seek truth, but forsake the cross.

Saint Paul said, “I will do all things for the sake of the gospel…” Can you say that? –that you do all things for the cause of Christ? The verse continues, “…so I may share in its rewards…Every athlete disciplines himself in every way…” Why? “…to win a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one. Thus I don’t run aimlessly; I don’t box as if beating against the wind.”

There was a film about a boxer, and the movie director was asked why he chose to direct it. He said, “There’s something about the way a boxer walks. There’s a directness. There's an economy of movement.” I believe that all men want to have direction in life, to have a focus.

What are you searching for? To be liked among your friends? To drink? To party?

Jesus Christ! Only in him can you find fulfillment and peace. When you come into that relationship with Christ, you are changed from the inside out.

In First John, the Bible says, “We have only come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do as he commands is a liar. The truth is not in him.”

What are the commandments? Thou shall have no other gods before me. Thou shall not take the name of the Lord God in vain. Thou shall honor thy father and mother. Thou shall not steal or lie.

But there isn’t a person in this room absolutely blameless. We all have sinned and broken God’s Law and therefore have to pay the penalty, which is death and an eternity in hell separated from God.

God loves you so much that He sent His son to take your place. Jesus came to the earth, took the punishment for sin (the sins of the whole world) on his back by dieing on a cross and paying the penalty. Three days later, Christ rose again, proving victory over sin and death.

Jesus did his part on the cross. Now you must do your part by turning and following him. In the gospels, whenever Jesus met someone, he always said, “Come, pursue me, follow me.” He never said, “Accept, relax, and enjoy.”

“Come, be trained, walk as I walk,” and those who do will have fellowship with God; yet those who hear the Word and the Law of the Lord and reject it will spend an eternity in an inescapable hell.