Death on SermonAudio

Why does the psalmist cry "Hear this, all ye people" (Psalm 49:1) and then "give ear" (Psalm 49:1) in the same breath, and who is the ye? Read verse 5 and ask whether it begins with wherefore or with therefore, and whether a man can say he will not fear the days of evil. Then ask what the rich man who trusts in his wealth can pay for his brother's soul. "None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him." (Psalm 49:7)

This sermon explores the essential doctrine of who Jesus Christ is, distinguishing the biblical Jesus from false representations found in other religions and cultural views. It emphasizes that Jesus is both fully God and fully man, the unique Son of God who bypassed Adam's sin through the virgin birth to serve as the sinless sacrificial lamb. The teaching traces the messianic prophecies from Genesis through the Gospels, highlighting Jesus as the Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer who reverses the curse of death and restores creation. The core message defines discipleship not merely as belief but as a transformative process of being conformed to the image of Christ, abiding in Him as branches on the vine to bear fruit. The tone is instructional and pastoral, urging believers to deeply understand and follow the true Jesus to secure their eternal destiny and reflect His character in their lives. Questions: Why does it matter what I believe about who Jesus is? Did Jesus ever actually claim to be God? Can someone believe in Jesus but have the wrong Jesus? What makes Christianity's view of Jesus different from other religions? Why did Jesus ask His disciples, "Who do you say that I am?" What does it mean that Jesus is 100% God and 100% man? Why did Jesus have to become a man in order to save us? What does the Bible mean when it calls Jesus the "last Adam"? How does Jesus reverse what Adam did in the Garden of Eden? Why is Jesus called the "Son of God" if Christians are also called sons of God? What does "Christ" mean—is Christ Jesus' last name? How does the Old Testament point to Jesus before He was born? Why is the virgin birth important to understanding who Jesus is?

This sermon explores the theological foundation of personal evangelism, arguing that effective soul-winning requires a correct understanding of humanity's spiritual condition. It emphasizes that human assessment is often deceptive, citing examples like Cornelius and the publican to show that both the seemingly righteous and the obviously sinful are lost without Christ. The message traces the narrative from God's deliberate creation of man in His image for a personal relationship, through the fall which introduced shame, separation, and death, to the ultimate solution found in the new creation in Christ. By contrasting the disobedience of Adam with the obedience of Jesus, the sermon highlights that salvation is not achieved through religious works or self-effort but through the grace of God, which restores the broken fellowship between the Creator and humanity.

The sermon examines the disciples' sorrowful reaction to Jesus' prediction of His death and resurrection, arguing that their negativity stems from a tendency to focus on bad news rather than the ultimate victory of the cross. It identifies five character traits that contribute to a negative outlook: being candid about failures, overly cautious in the face of challenges, careless in seeking clarification, cavalier in explaining one's faith, and spiritually asleep to God's work. The speaker encourages believers to adopt a proactive, positive attitude by pursuing small victories, asking for divine wisdom, and remaining alert to the spiritual truths presented in worship. This approach allows Christians to overcome natural human tendencies toward worry and defeatism, relying instead on the assurance of God's faithfulness and the power of the Word.

The sermon explores the theological concept that Jesus Christ is the ultimate fulfilment of humanity, addressing the question of why God is mindful of man. It examines the original design of man as crowned with glory and honour and given dominion over creation, noting that this status was lost through the fall but is restored through Christ's incarnation, death, and resurrection. The preacher emphasizes that Christ, as the God-man, voluntarily tasted death to secure victory over the grave and to reclaim the inheritance lost in Adam. This restoration allows believers to reign with Christ, judging angels and experiencing the full potential of human existence in the new heaven and new earth. The message concludes by highlighting that this elevation is entirely by the grace of God, demonstrating His kindness toward insignificant humanity.

(1) Israel Watch 9/30/26: We discuss the BREAKING NEWS story (at the time of our study) of the FlyDubai flight Islamist Jihadist terror attack and the reality that the Islamic Death Cult presents to those who fly, have surgery, seek health care, etc. (2) About Gas Prices: The fact that our inflated gas prices as of the date of this recording was NOT due to the Iran War but do to high gas taxes, liberal environmental policies AND gouging (possibly to sabotage the mid-term elections in favor of Democrat Leftists). (3) The "news media" attempt to stir up a race war continues... This time knee-jerk reports and conclusions regarding handfuls of "KKK" flyers thrown out of a car window in the immediate area surrounding the BBF Church building. (4) Some funny things: Mamdani's wife, Britian's apologies to Muslim terrorists and BBF Valet Parking. https://bbfohio.com

In the day Adam ate, he died a spiritual death in sin. And we died in him. So, we come into this world already dead. A drowning man can grab a lifeline. But the 'already dead' can't help save himself. God alone, thru grace alone, saves the 'already dead' from 'already dead'.

David mourns Saul's death and judges the Amalekite who claims to have killed the Lord's anointed. Study and transcript: https://sharonrpc.org/devotions/2-samuel-1-1-16-honor-the-lords-anointed