Why Does God Forgive People?

 

Why Does God Forgive People?

ROM. 3:21-26

SUBJECT:  THE FOUNDATION OF FORGIVENESS

THEME: The Only Thing That Motivates God to Forgive Fallen Humanity is His Great Love and the Fact That All Sin Was Paid for in the Death of Christ. God Pardons Us When We Receive His Grace, and Jesus Christ’s Sacrifice Provides the Basis, or Foundation for Forgiveness.                                                                                

RELEVANCY: God’s wants you to experience complete forgiveness of your sins and to receive full restoration in your relationship to the Lord God. If you are looking for forgiveness based on your pleas, promises, and performance, then I can guarantee you will remain in sin and guilt. If you accept Christ’s sacrifice on your behalf, you will receive the fullness of God’s life-giving forgiveness.

INTRODUCTION:

1.  At the base of every modern skyscraper you will find a foundation or platform on which it is built.  Often this would involve digging down deep into the ground to ensure that a good substructure or basis is established. This will prevent the skyscraper from sinking into the ground, tipping over, improving the structural integrity, and strengthening the building. It provides a more stable basis. Simply stated a good foundation must be laid if that building structure is to last. (Dr. C. Stanley)

2.  Likewise, when it comes to building our lives we must have a solid foundation, some things that will not give away during the pressures of life. In the matter of our salvation, it is vitally important that it be based on the correct foundation. A failure to lay a reliable foundation will certainly result in an eternity in the lake of fire. This is extremely important to us.

3.  God’s foundation for Forgiveness is the finish work of Jesus Christ. One of the key words in our text is the word “Propitiation”.  Which basically means to satisfy justice.  God accepted the blood of Christ as the complete and satisfying sacrifice for all human sin, thus establishing the only method of reconciliation between God and Man. Again, God expressed his entire righteous anger against our sin on Christ on the cross to the point of death, paying what we owed in full. This gift of the sacrifice of God’s own Son to atone for our own sin must be received to be forgiven. The finished work of Christ is the reliable, dependable, eternal, trustworthy, unfailing, and guaranteed foundation for our forgiveness of sins. Romans 3:25, Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation [fair complete payment] through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission [forgiveness] of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

MESSAGE:  

I. What Does Not Motivate God to Forgive (Rom. 3:21-23).

What if someone asked you, “Why does God forgive people?” I have encountered many people who have given me answers implying that God has to forgive people for this reason or that. God doesn’t have to do anything! God certainly does not forgive us for any of these reasons:

A.  HE DOESN’T FORGIVE US BECAUSE WE ARE GOOD PEOPLE.

We all know that we aren't good. Even Jesus said, “There is none good but One, that is, God” (Matt. 19:17). We live in a fallen world, and we are born in a fallen state. The apostle Paul taught the Romans,

Romans 5:12-14, Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: [13] (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. [14] Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.

The Bible truth is clear; we are Adam’s heirs. We are born in a sinful state, separated from God and in need of God’s forgiveness and reconciliation to Himself.

B.  HE DOESN’T FORGIVE US BECAUSE WE PROMISE NEVER TO SIN AGAIN.

In all probability, we will sin again, and God knows it even if we won’t admit it to ourselves.

C.  HE DOESN’T FORGIVE US BECAUSE WE GO TO CHURCH OR GIVE MONEY TO WORTHY CAUSES. Our works, as noble as they may be, have nothing to do with our salvation. We see this clearly in Ephesians 2:8–9: “For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.”

D.  HE DOESN’T FORGIVE US BECAUSE HE IS HAVING A GOOD DAY AND FEELS KINDLY TOWARD HUMANKIND. God is not capricious, bestowing forgiveness on one day and withholding forgiveness on the next. God’s nature doesn’t change; He isn’t ruled by whim; He doesn’t operate according to an emotional barometer. When things go well, some people comment, “God was smiling on me today.” The fact is, God is always smiling on us. (Dr. C. Stanley)

E.  HE DOESN’T FORGIVE US BECAUSE WE ASK HIM TO FORGIVE US.

   1.  God forgives us when we ask Him to forgive us, but He doesn’t forgive us because we ask Him. That would imply that God is in a state of unforgiveness toward us until we ask, which simply isn’t the case. God is always extending an offer of forgiveness to us.

   2.  Our plea for forgiveness doesn’t move God to action; He has already moved toward us—all the way from Heaven right to the place where we live in our sin—and He is waiting for us to turn to Him and receive the forgiveness He offers.

F.  HE DOESN’T FORGIVE US BECAUSE HE IS A GOOD GOD AND WOULD NEVER SEND ANYBODY TO HELL. That’s one of the foremost heresies of our time. I hear it often: “God is a good God, and He’d never condemn a person to an eternity without Him.” That isn’t what the Bible teaches. John 3:16—the salvation verse that tells us that “whosoever believeth” will have everlasting life—is followed by these words: John 3:17-19, For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.  [18] He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. [19] And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

   1.  Our actions condemn us. Primarily the sin of unbelief! 

   2.  God doesn't desire that any should perish, but He will not override our will.

   3.  If someone chooses to reject God's offer of forgiveness, then he or she has chosen his/her eternal destiny without God.

APPLICATION: If you have been offering these reasons to God as to why He should forgive you of your sin then please stop today because you are wasting your time and energy. God is the one who establishes the basis for Forgiveness and this rest within His own Holy nature! There is nothing that we could do to motivate God to forgive us! (Dr. C. Stanley)

II.  What Motivates God to Forgive? (Rom. 3:24-25)

The motivation for God’s forgiveness lies totally within God Himself. He forgives us because He has a basis to forgive—the propitiation of Jesus Christ. But, what are the specifics?

A.  GOD IS MOTIVATED BY HIS LOVE; FORGIVENESS IS ROOTED IN GOD’S LOVE.

1 John 4:8-10, He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. [9] In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. [10] Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

God forgives out of His unconditional, eternal love. John tells us that God’s very nature is love, and forgiveness flows from His nature (1 John 4:8–10). We are forgiven because it is God’s will to forgive.

B.  GOD IS MOTIVATED BY HIS GRACE; FORGIVENESS IS BASED ON GOD’S GRACE.

Romans 5:15, But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

Rom. 5:17, For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

C.  GOD IS MOTIVATED BY HIS MERCY; FORGIVENESS IS GROUNDED IN GOD’S MERCY.

Ephes. 2:4-5, But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, [5] Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 

APPLICATION: Since God’s Forgiveness is rooted in His very Nature and since He is the unchanging God, then we have a consistent unchanging bases for forgiveness. God does not change in his nature. That means if He forgives you for what you view as a little sin, then by the same motives He will forgive a big sin.  Just as He forgave you for your few sins, He can forgive the worst criminal ever known by the same motives.  The quantity nor the quality, nor the impact of our sins neither encourage nor discourage God from forgiving us.  Forgiveness is based in His very nature, He is Merciful, Loving, and Gracious these are the principles that motivate Him to forgive.  (Dr. C. Stanley)

Hebrews 13:8, Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

James 1:17, Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

How does it make you feel to know that God forgives because He wants to forgive, and not as a result of anything that you do?

III. God Sets the Rules for Forgiveness (Rom. 3:24-26).

Because forgiveness is totally at God’s initiative and subject to God’s will alone, we must ask, “Has God established any rules or protocol for forgiveness?” He certainly has.

A.  THE HOLY NATURE OF GOD WILL NEVER CHANGE.

We must recognize that God is a holy God, which means He is separate from humankind in nature. God has no capacity for sin, and He cannot have fellowship with sin. God is totally pure, righteous, and without fault. He cannot coexist where sin is present.

Light and dark do not exist simultaneously. In a similar manner, your sin cannot exist in God's presence. God consumes or destroys sin just as light consumes darkness. And in that, we find a picture of our vulnerability before God when we are filled with sin. We are subject to being consumed by Him, having the innermost being vaporized by His fire of righteousness. In a word, we are subject to death.

Hebrews 12:14, Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

B.  GOD’S PERFECT PROVISION IS JESUS CHRIST.

Romans 3:25, Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

God made a provision, however, for us to be cleansed of sin so that we might have fellowship with Him. Literally, Jesus satisfied the wrath of God against us sinners and our sin…and it was God himself who “hath set forth” this reality. God presented Christ as the atonement, and that provision was in the form of a blood sacrifice. Through the cross God demonstrated His righteous nature though he endured our sin for a season. No doubt, someone will say, “But I don't like this idea of blood.” The idea of blood sacrifice was not our idea—it was God’s idea. It is not within our prerogative to choose another means for reconciliation with God. God sets the rules in this matter, and God established Christ’s blood sacrifice as a means of reconciling us to Him.

1.  There Is No Forgiveness Without Blood Sacrifice.

This theme is in the Bible from cover to cover.

Hebrews 9:22, And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

      a.  When Cain and Abel made sacrificial offerings to God, the offering that was accepted by God was the blood sacrifice of a lamb. (See Gen. 4:2–5.)

      b.  The sacrifices that atoned for sin under the law of Moses were blood sacrifices.

      c.  In like manner, the blood of Jesus shed on the cross of Calvary is the sacrificial, substitutionary, all-sufficient atonement for our sins. Each of the words in the previous sentence is important to our understanding of the forgiveness made available to us through the death of Jesus Christ. (Dr. C. Stanley)

1 Peter 1:18-19, Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; [19] But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

  2.  We Must Accept God’s Provision and Not Seek to Establish Our Own. (See Rom. 10:1-5) 

Romans 3:24, Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

“Being justified freely,” describes the worldwide opportunity for every precious soul. God has made it possible for us to be justified—declared righteous and sinless—by His grace. Such salvation is only through faith and reliance on God’s pure unmerited favor, not through our good deeds or performance.

C.  GOD’S RULES FOR FORGIVENESS SATISFY HIS REQUIREMENTS.

   1. Rule #1: The Sacrificial Death of Christ.

Jesus gave His life on the cross as a sacrifice. He wasn’t merely put to death by the Romans or the Jewish leaders. On the contrary, Jesus appeared in history to “put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself” (Heb. 9:26). Jesus gave His life, as an act of His will conforming to the Father’s will, as the “Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Rev. 13:8). While religious and political leaders of that time bear their responsibility for the murder of Christ (Acts 2:22-24, Jesus was on a mission to sacrifice himself for our sin.

        a.  A Dying Sacrifice.

Hebrews 9:26, For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.   

        b.  A Predetermined Sacrifice.

Rev. 13:8, And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

His death was not an accident nor a mere act of the will of the Jewish and Roman officials.  It was the will of God as determined before the world was created that took place on Calvary 2,000 years ago.  It was God radically making provision to rid His universe of sin!

    2.  Rule #2: The Substitutionary Death of Christ.

1 John 2:1-2, My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: [2] And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

          a.  He Died in Our Place.

Jesus took your place and mine on the cross. He died in your place and in my place and in the place of everyone you know.

          b.  The Penalty for Sin Is Death.

And we are all sinners. Unless God, pure and righteous, take our place and suffered the penalty for our sin, we would have to bear that penalty ourselves. The apostle Paul explained this in Romans 3:10–18 by citing several verses from the Old Testament: As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: [11] There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. [12] They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. [13] Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: [14] Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: [15] Their feet are swift to shed blood: [16] Destruction and misery are in their ways: [17] And the way of peace have they not known: [18] There is no fear of God before their eyes.   

    3.  Rule #3: The All-Sufficient Death of Christ.

       a.  The Work That Jesus Did Was Definitive.

We no longer need to offer blood sacrifices in acknowledgment of our sin. We need only have faith in Jesus Christ and accept what He has done on our behalf. The writer of Hebrews says that God took away the first means of blood sacrifice that He might establish the second means, the sacrifice of Jesus. (Heb. 9:15-28)

       b.  His Sacrifice Was Made Once and For All Time.

The sacrifice of Jesus was the only one necessary. The phrase that is used is a powerful one: “once for all.”

Hebrews 10:10-14, By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. [11] And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: [12] But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; [13] From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. [14] For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

     4. Rule #4: The Atoning Death of Christ.   

Romans 5:1, Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

          a.  Atonement is a word that means “reconciliation”—at-one-ment. Jesus' death on the cross made it possible for the gap between God and people to be bridged. Romans 5:1 speaks of atonement in terms of peace.  

         b.  Christ’s Death is THE Atonement.

Romans 5:11, And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

What Jesus did on the cross, He never needs to do again, and neither does anyone else ever have to suffer and die as He did. He is the sacrificial, substitutionary, all-sufficient atonement (Romans 5:20-21; 6:10-11). Christ died for us. Jesus came so that you and I might transfer our guilt to Him, and accept, by faith, that He is the guiltless One who has received our sin and taken it to Himself.

CONCLUSION:  If you are expecting forgiveness based on your pleas, promises, and performance, then you will remain in sin and guilt. But, if you accept His blood sacrifice on your behalf, you open yourself to receiving the fullness of God’s life-giving forgiveness.

The Only Thing that Motivates God to Forgive Fallen Humanity is His Great Love and the Fact That All Sin Was Paid for in the Death of Christ. God Pardons Us When We Receive His Grace and Jesus Christ’s Sacrifice Provides the Foundation for Forgiveness. Beloved, this is the only reason why God forgives people.

1.  If you need God’s forgiveness you may come and receive Christ and his work!

2.  If you think you have gone too far to be forgiven, you need to remember forgiveness rests in the nature of God, not in the quality and quantity of your actions.

Christmas, A Witness

 

Christmas, A Witness! 

 MATT. 1:21-23; PS. 19:7-11; 33:11; JN. 12:44-50; 2Tim. 3:15-17

 SUBJECT: PROPHECY/BIBLE CREDIBILITY               

THEME: The Inspired Word of God is Completely Reliable and Trustworthy Throughout. We Will Set Forth the Bible’s Credentials by Examining One Aspect of the Christmas Story and Ancient Bible Predictions. By Analyzing These Irrefutable Proofs, We Support the Bible’s Claim to Be God’s Word and Recommend its Truth as the Final Authority for Our Generation. 

RELEVANCY: Clearly Scripture declares that its Word’s are God’s Words and that God promised to Preserve His Words forever in complete purity.     

INTRODUCTION:     

1) The Bible is On Trial, and We Need a Strong Defense.

    A.  Imagine You Are in a Court of Law and the Bible Is on Trial.

        1.  The Accusation is that the Bible is not true and therefore unreliable for salvation, instruction and guidance. 

        2.  You are counsel for the defense.  What witnesses can you call to give testimony to the truthfulness and accuracy of the Bible?  Who can prove that the Scriptures are free of errors and mistakes—thus an authoritative infallible Bible? But who could we call on?  Who could give a testimony that would be completely believed and received by us all?

        3.  We will look at the witnesses of Christmas itself today.  Certainly, we are celebrating a literal historical event about a life that transformed and shaped the course of subsequent history.  

        4.  Jesus Christ was God born into this world to die for our sins is the significance of his life.  The important thing to note here is that all of this was wonderfully predicted in the Bible.

    B.  It Is True That the Lord’s “Pure Words” are “Purified Seven Times.” (Ps. 12:6-7) 

For the English-speaking world, the Bible is accurate, and perfectly preserved for us and for every generation in the KJV.  This much is clearly taught, and we believe it with our whole heart. 

        But how can we convince others that the Bible is 100% Reliable, Credible, Trustworthy, and the Final Answer?  What supporting arguments would be completely plausible evidence? 

2) The Dominate Attitude of Our Age Demands Evidence.

Is it any wonder then that people question the authority of the Bible? As an Evangelist I can say, “The Bible is the absolute authority for English-speaking people. It is inerrant, effective, and absolutely authoritative. It is the final word on how we should all live.”

   A.  People Still Want to Know For themselves. 

   B.  People Still Say, “Show Me.” 

We will answer the skeptics’ questions from Bible Prophesy as it relates to the Life of Christ and His Birth.

MESSAGE:

I.               Consider Fulfilled Prophecies.

Fulfilled prophecy is a witness to the Bible’s trustworthiness.

Matthew 1:22-23, Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, [23] Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

   * Note The Clear Statement of Inspiration for the Scriptures and The Prophets. The Bible’s Words and Message Came from God through men.

   * Note the Clear Statement of Bible Prophecy Fulfilled through the Birth of Christ. A Specific 700-year-old prediction about the birth of Christ fulfilled in detail.    

Perhaps the strongest objective argument for the validity of Scripture comes from fulfilled Bible prophecy.  The fulfilled predictions of the Bible lend powerful support to its being the Word of God.

The Bible is the only book in the world that has specific prophecies clearly fulfilled hundreds of years after they were given. Two-thirds of the Bible is made up of prophecies. Prophecy is history written in advance. Many of these prophecies have been fulfilled, and all fulfilled prophecy has been literally fulfilled -- fulfilled to the very letter. In the Bible we have prophecies relating to places, to events and to persons.  The most helpful approach to this subject of the prophecies of the Bible would be to study the prophecies of the Old Testament which relate to the Person of Christ and see them literally fulfilled in His birth, life, ministry, death, resurrection and ascension. The prophecies that validated the deity of The Lord Jesus are exactly the same as those that validate the Bible as the word of God.

For example, over thirty prophecies relating to His arrest, trial, and crucifixion were all literally fulfilled within twenty-four hours when He died. What is the explanation of the power of this book to predict the future? The explanation is this: The Bible is a credible book. (Based on M. Anders)

A.  THE BIRTH OF CHRIST WAS A FULFILMENT OF PROPHECY.

Jesus fulfilled many Old Testament prophecies, some of them more obvious than others. For our purposes, we will focus on the more obvious ones. So that you can see them most clearly, I’ll state the Old Testament prophecy briefly, and then its fulfillment in the New Testament. Let the record speak for itself.

   1. Prophecy: The Messiah Would Be Born of a Virgin.

       A.  The Prediction: Isaiah 7:14, Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (This prophecy was given (7) seven centuries before it was fulfilled.)  (Also Gen. 3:15).       

       B.  The Fulfillment: the Lord Jesus was born of Mary the young virgin. 

Matthew 1:18, Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

Matthew 1:21-23, And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. [22] Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, [23] Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.  

Matthew 1:25, And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus.

   2. Prophecy: The Messiah Would Be Born into the Family of King David.

        A.  The Prediction: Jeremiah 23:5, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.

Isaiah 9:7, Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. 

        B.  The Fulfillment:  In the genealogies in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, Jesus is listed as being in the lineage of David.

Matthew 1:1, The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Matthew 1:17, So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.

Luke 1:32, He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: (Also see Luke 3:23, 31)

   3. Prophecy: The Messiah Would Be Born in the City of Bethlehem.

        A.  The Prediction: Micah 5:2, But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

        B.  The Fulfillment: Jesus was born in Bethlehem. 

Luke 2:4, And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

Luke 2:11, For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

These prophecies have to do with the birth of Jesus, the Messiah.

B.  THE DEATH OF CHRIST WAS A FULFILLMENT OF PROPHECY.

Other remarkable prophecies concern His death, some of them in the Old Testament, and some of them in the Gospels.

   1. Prophecy: The Messiah Would Be Tortured and Crucified.

        A.  The Prediction: 

Isaiah 53:5, But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

 Zech. 12:10, And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

          B.  The Fulfillment: Jesus was beaten and then crucified.

Matthew 27:26, Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. 

John 19:34, But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.

   2. Prophecy:  Jesus Would Rise from the Dead.

          A.  The Prediction: Psalm 16:10, For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. (Also Ps. 49:15)

          B.  The Fulfillment: Jesus rose from the dead.  

Matthew 28:5-6, And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. [6] He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

Mark 16:6, And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. (Acts 2:27, 30-31)

We could continue with many more prophecies and fulfillments. I have selected only a few of the major ones to give an idea of Jesus' remarkable life as it fulfilled one after another of the prophecies that told of the Messiah, in some cases, thousands of years before He was born.

II. Consider Fulfilled Prophecy as Convincing.

The Fulfillment of These Prophecies Is Not Mere Chance nor Coincidence.   

A.  FULFILLED PROPHECY PROVES THE BIBLE IS GOD’S PURE WORD.

   1.  Consider The Highly Reliable Standard for Determining God’s Predictions.

Jeremiah 28:9, The prophet which prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that the Lord hath truly sent him.

Ezekiel 33:33, And when this cometh to pass, (lo, it will come,) then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them.

The Bible itself makes it clear that fulfilled prophecy attests to the supernatural origin of the words of its prophets (Jeremiah 28:9).  When the details of a Divine Prophesy are fully consummated it lends credence to the Bible as being of Divine origin.  Only God can accurately predict the future hundreds and thousands of years into the future.

   2.  Conclude that Prophesy Does Verify that the Bible Came from God.

Jeremiah 28:9, The prophet which prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that the Lord hath truly sent him.

Deut. 18:20-22, But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die. [21] And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the Lord hath not spoken? [22] When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.

Fulfilled prophecy proved God’s Word is the pure Word of God.

B.  FULFILLED PROPHECY IS NOT A MATTER OF CHANCE.

    1.  The Birth and Life of Jesus Christ Was No Mere Chance.

Consider Josh MacDowell’s Arguments to Helps Us Realize that Prophesy Was Literally and Divinely Fulfilled.

Again, in “Evidence that Demands a Verdict” (167), we see that the chance that any man might have lived down to the present time and fulfilled just eight of the major prophecies that Jesus fulfilled are 1 in 10 to the 17th power. That is, one in 100,000,000,000,000,000.

ILLUSTRATION: In order to help us comprehend these staggering odds, suppose we take this many silver dollars (10 to the 17th power) and lay them on the face of Texas. Now, as you know, Texas is a big state. If you could flip Texas west using El Paso as a hinge, Houston would land in the Pacific Ocean. If you could flip Texas east, using Houston as a hinge, El Paso would land in the Atlantic. If you could flip Texas north using the top of the panhandle as a hinge, the lowest part of Texas would land just short of the Canadian border. Texas is a big state. This many silver dollars (10 to the 17th power) would cover the entire state two feet deep in coins.

Now imagine that one of those silver dollars was painted red. Blindfold a man and tell him that he can travel anywhere in the state he wants to, and pick up one silver dollar. Keep in mind that traveling at seventy miles per hour, he could not drive across Texas in a day. His chances of getting the marked silver dollar are approximately the same as a person fulfilling eight major prophecies of the Messiah by chance. (Based on M. Anders)

    2.  The Birth and Life of Jesus Christ Was No Mere Accident.

God was acting in pure mercy and grace when He sent His Son into the World, there was no other way for man to be saved from the consequences of his sinful heart. This was no accident, but God executing a precision plan to rescue eternal souls from eternal suffering in Hell.

       A.  The Birth of Christ Reflect a Divine Design and Determination.

             1.  Christ Came to Save Sinner, Especially Israel a Privileged Nation.

Matthew 1:21, And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. 

John 3:16, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 10:10, The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Acts 3:26, Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities. (See also Acts 4:12; Acts 5:31; Acts 13:23, 13:38-39)

              2.  Christ Came to Save Sinners, Because Israel’s Guilt Proved the World’s Guilt.

Romans 3:19, Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

Romans 3:9, What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;

              3.  Christ Came to Save Sinner, By Dying in Our Stead, That We Could Be Saved Through Faith.

Romans 3:23-26, For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; [24] Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: [25] Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; [26] To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

        B. The Odds of These Prophecies Being Accidentally Fulfilled Are Virtually Zero. 

              1.  Now, Consider That Jesus Fulfilled Forty-eight Prophecies.

The odds that any one man fulfilled all forty-eight by chance are 10 to the 157th power. There is no practical way even to illustrate that number.

ILLUSTRATION:  Let's just say that there is about as good a chance of a tornado going through a junk yard and assembling a perfect automobile. When we look at the fulfilled prophecies in the life of Christ, the Bible becomes a very convincing book, and Jesus becomes a very convincing Messiah, God the Son. (Based on M. Anders)

              2.  Of Course, These Prophecies Deal Only with the Lord Jesus Christ.

But many more prophecies in the Bible were fulfilled.

              3.  These Are Not Fortune-cookie Prophecies.

We all have read things like “an attractive person will soon come into your life,” or “things will soon begin looking up for you.” No, these are specific and verifiable. The Bible itself makes it clear that fulfilled prophecy attests to the supernatural origin of the word of its prophets (Jeremiah 28:9). If a prophet ever spoke anything that did not come true, he was not a true prophet (Deuteronomy 18:20–22) and was to be stoned. (Based on M. Anders)

    3.  But Look at the Record of the Psychics in the Tabloid Papers.  No one is able, on any level of credibility, to prophesy things that come true. Yet the Bible is full of such prophecies. They create a set of odds so remarkable that, if the prophecies are believed, they validate the Bible as the word of God. Only if you do not want to accept that conclusion do you dismiss them.

III.        Consider Fulfilled Prophecy as Authoritative.

Fulfilled prophecy is a witness to the Bible’s authority.

Since what the Bible says about Christmas is true, then all its other claims, and prophecies are just as authoritative and trustworthy.

A.  ACCEPT CHRISTMAS AS A WITNESS TO BIBLE AUTHORITY.

Matthew 1:22, Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

     1.  Christ’s Birth Was History Given In Advance.

Since the Bible is given to mankind by inspiration of God then it is not merely the writings of men, but they find their source in Jehovah. The reliability of the scriptures rest in the Power, Sovereignty, and Wisdom of an All-Mighty God, and not human strength or frailty! Christmas is much more than a holiday, it historically marks the fact that God had mercy on sinners and sent a Savior to die for our sins. The scriptures do not only record the historical fulfillment of these facts, but they also literally predicted the history before it happen. 

      2.  We Must Truly Be Sinners in Need of a Savior.

 2 Tim. 3:15, And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

2 Tim. 3:16, All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

      3.  The Meaning of Christmas is a Final Reality.

A Final Reality describes the fact that the universe and reality exist in a certain form and are not subject to popular opinion. In other words, final reality is what is real and true.

ILLUSTRATION: The facts that Jesus Christ was born, lived, died, and rose again from the dead is a final reality. Whether or not people choose to accept this does not alter the reality that it happened. That is final reality.  Scripture inform us of this truth.  The fact that we are sinners destine for Hell does not have to be a final reality, receive the gift of Christmas—Jesus Christ the Savior.

B.  ACCEPT THE BIBLE AS YOUR FINAL AUTHORITY.

The Bible Is the Final Authority in Our Lives!

   1.  The Bible Is to Be the Final Authority in the Believer’s Life.

Numbers 23:19-20, God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? [20] Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it.

This by application means that ultimately, we should choose to believe and obey what the Bible says, not the opinions of men. The reason for this belief in the Bible as the final authority is not that we choose to be religious legalists whose minds are shut from other opinions or that we are frightened of creative thinking.

         A.  We Believe That the Bible Is the Word of God and Divinely Inspired.

         B. Therefore, We Choose to Believe it above the Opinions, Philosophies, and Writings of Men, Which Constantly Change.

ILLUSTRATION: If you have ever studied Psychology which most college students are at least introduced to the subject. Then you can recall that each theorist differed fundamentally from the other in His teachings.  Whether Rogerian Methodology or Freudian Principles they contradicted each other. I am not surprised nor amazed to find that every major psychological theorist contradicted or markedly disagree with his predecessors. Since psychology is being taught as a science, it is hard to understand why its proponents disagreed so vastly with one another. The reason they did is that their theories were based on their subjective belief systems. In contrast, the Bible is based on what God has to say and not on the opinions of men.

    2.  God’s Word is a Final Reality!

Psalm 119:89-91, For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven. [90] Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth. [91] They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all are thy servants.

The word “settled” means “to bring to rest; to establish or secure permanently.” God’s Law is eternal and unchanging it is fixed and established forever. In our ever-changing world nothing is established or secured permanently. But God’s Word is forever “settled” or established and secured permanently in Heaven!

        A.  This Means Our Bible is True Throughout!

Here we see that the Bible, God’s Word, is final reality. In other words, it is true—not just in religious or spiritual matters. It is true in every area of life because God created all of life and the universe. He understands how it functions.  Psalm 119:160, Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever. (Ps. 19:7-11)

        B.  It is Important to Understand That Christianity Is Truth and Not a Religion!

God’s Word is not just true because you and I choose to believe in it. It is true, because on an objective scientific basis it simply is “true.” When we understand this reality, it should give us confidence in our daily living and relating to our society.  It should give us confidence as we preach, teach, read, study, and witness with it. It should give us confidence as we build our homes, and other relationships by it.  It should reassure us that we are indeed saved and secure in Jesus Christ as our Savior and that we don’t need Confucius, Mohammad, Buddha nor any other religious philosophy.

CONCLUSION:

Prophecy is evidence that proves that the Bible is the word of God.  The weight of all such proofs taken together enables a person to believe that the Bible is the word of God. It takes a mind prejudiced in favor of the anti-supernatural not to agree that the evidence for the Bible's being the word of God is strong indeed.