The greatest crime and the greatest villain of human history has to be the betrayal of Christ by Judas Iscariot. By looking at the story of Judas compared with that of Mary of Bethany, we can learn lessons about the sovereignty of God and the danger of undervaluing Christ.

The empty grave clothes remind us that Christ's body did not see the corruption of death (as David prophesied) and through his resurrection he conquered the corruption of sin in us that we might have eternal life.

The crown of thorns illustrates that Jesus came to suffer under the curse in order to remove the curse of sin. He became a curse for us.

The word cup is used metaphorically in the Bible to speak of both blessing and the curse of God's wrath. Jesus Christ, as the Lamb of God consumed the bitter cup of God's wrath for us so that we might receive the rich blessings of redemption, God's forgiveness and eternal salvation.

God speaks in pictures and the most powerful picture of the gospel is found in the cross of Christ. In the cross the justice and mercy of God met in time and space making the cross a bridge to fellowship with God.

Knowing Christ as Lord and Savior is not only the essence of what it means to be a Christian, but that relationship brings with it five eternal benefits—knowledge, righteousness, power, fellowship and glory.

Knowing Christ as Lord and Savior is the supreme purpose, priority and privilege of life. Nothing this world has to offer begins to compare. In this message Pastor Ron Burtz looks at Philippians 3:7-11 and discusses the great transaction of the Christian life--trading all the pleasures and treasures of this world for the joy of knowing Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior.

This text for this message is the latter half of Philippians 3:3 which gives a short, powerful description of an authentic follower of Jesus Christ. Such a person worships God in spirit and in truth, boasts in Christ alone and puts no confidence in his own flesh.

The outward sign of circumcision or any other human work is not what saves a person. Sinners must receive a new spiritual heart which comes by faith in Jesus Christ and repentance resulting in rebirth by the Holy Spirit.