"THE STONE OVER THE DOOR"
Intro: The horrible crime had been committed, Jesus had been crucified. Man's first sin was suicide, next recorded sin fratricide-deicide. It was over now, they could gloat in their successful scheme while Judas goes out and hangs himself. In a few days the shock of the crime will pass and in a few weeks people will forget. The limp body of Jesus is removed from the cross, tender hands of love emblam the body while tears of disappointment and sorrow roll down the cheeks. The body now prepared is laid in a tomb and a great stone is rolled against the opening. This seems to be the tragic end of a beautiful story.
I. WHAT LIES BEHIND THAT STONE?
A. A dead religion.
1. Based on love - love for God, love for fellow man.
2. Emphasized God's love.
a. God reaching for man.
3. Marked by mercy and truth.
a. No penname - superstitions.
4. Man would not receive this idea of God.
B. A dead desire to redeem.
1. Greek philosophy had concluded that redemption was impossible.
a. Once a person had gone bad - no hope.
2. Jesus said He had come to seek and to save that which was lost.
3. He went about, and with His touch he restored sight, hearing, speech, the lame, the sinner.
4. Greek philosophers apparently correct.
C. A dead hope.
1. They who sat in darkness saw a light, they began to hope for the promised salvation of Israel.
2. Their history was replete with stories of the greatness of their God. He had been silent for 400 years.
3. Many had lost hope, but here was a glimmer, a new ray of light.
4. Each day the hope seemed to grow.
a. He turned water into wine.
b. He healed the sick and cleansed the leper.
c. He even brought the dead back to life.
d. He fed a multitude with five loaves and two fish.
5. Some had come to believe that this was truly the promised Messiah, salvation at last had come.
6. But now that hope is gone, the light has been put out the darkness seems greater than ever.
II. "AND WHEN THEY LOOKED THE STONE WAS ROLLED AWAY."
A. The religion is not dead, Christianity is born and is destined to changed the course of history.
B. The redeemer is not dead, but alive forever more.
1. "It is Christ who hath died, yea rather is risen again and is even at..."
2. "Wherefore He is able to save to..."
C. All hope is not gone.
1. "Blessed be God, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."
III. FOR I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST.
A. Not ashamed.
1. Day and age in which we live, cathedrals, churches, denominations, colleges, etc.
B. Gospel of Christ.
1. Gospel means good news.
2. Christ love and grace, death and resurrection, forgiveness and cleansing.
C. Paul's willingness to preach.
1. Preach means to proclaim as a herald.
a. A herald does not stop to argue his message.
2. Foolishness of preaching.
a. Philosophy by passed.
b. Intellect by passed.
IV. FOR IT IS THE POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION.
A. Power of God to destruction.
B. "Word of Cross unto them that perish."
1. Word of Cross not Cross alone. "Not to thy cross, but to thyself, My living Savior would I cling." "Twas thou and not thy cross that bore souls dark guilt, sins deadly sting." "A Christless cross no refuge were for me. A crossless Christ my Savior could not be. But "O Christ Crucified I rest in Thee."
C. To Salvation.
1. Not reformation.
2. Christ crucified, buried, risen, ascended is the Divine wire by which runs God's current of Powers.
a. Take care of small wires erected by man.
3. Jew First.
V. FOR THEREIN THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD REVEALED.
A. New revelation God's righteousness.
1. God in righteousness could have punished.
B. Gods righteousness satisfied in substitute.
Verse-Reference
Square — [Jhn 1:1 KJV]
Abbreviate Books
Use SBL Abbrev.
