Sermon Prepared by James McCullen
Email Preach Him with Dr. Jim

WHY JESUS CAME TO EARTH
VARIOUS IN I JOHN

INTRODUCTION:
The Bible tells why Jesus came to this earth.  In fact it gives us several reasons why He came to this earth.   I want us to look at these verses and see why Jesus came to this earth.
 

1. HE CAME TO BE THE WAY OF SALVATION.

2. HE CAME TO BE THE WAY OF SPIRITUALITY.

3. HE CAM TO BE THE WAY OF STRENGTH.
 
 

I.    HE CAME TO BE THE WAY OF SALVATION.

1 John 4:14 And we have beheld and bear witness that the Father has sent  the Son to be the Savior of the world.

A.    A Savior who causes sin to be taken . . .AWAY. . . 3:5
        1 John 3:5 And you know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin.

B.    A Savior who causes sin to be . . .APPEASED. . .4:10
        1 John 4:10 In this is live, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the
        propitiation for our sins.

ILLUSTRATION: TAKEN FROM OTHER WORDS MAR-APR 1993
Jerome was a Church Father who translated the Greek manuscripts into Latin and put the Bible in the language of the people. He purposefully lived in Bethlehem where Jesus was born. One night while living in Bethlehem, Jerome had a dream that Jesus visited him. The dream was so real to him that he collected all his money and offered it to Jesus as a gift. The Lord said, "I don't want your money." So Jerome rounded up all of his possessions and tried to give them to Jesus. Again the Lord said, "I don't want your possessions."

Jerome then recalled the moment in his dream when he turned to Christ and asked, "What can I give you? What do you want?" Jesus replied. "Give Me your sin, that's what I came for, I came to take away your sin. Give Me your sin, that's what I came for, I came to take away your sin. Give Me your sin.

Jesus wants to give you the gift of eternal life in exchange for you giving Him your sin. What an exchange of gifts? Are you willing to give Christ the gift He wants most?

APPLICATION:

Do you understand that Jesus came to this earth to be the Savior?   Have you acknowledged Him as Lord of your life.
 
 

II.    HE CAME TO BE THE WAY OF SPIRITUALITY.

1 John 4:9 By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.

A. He locates His life in us.

ILLUSTRATION:
I know Bible metaphors are sometimes lost on children, but I temporarily forgot the day my 3 year old volunteered during lunch, "I got Jesus in my heart."

That's great," I replied. "It makes me happy to know you love Jesus like Daddy and I do." He took a few more bites of his peanut butter and jelly sandwich before asking, "Does Daddy got Jesus in his heart?" "Of course he does." "I thought so."

A cloud passed over his normally cheerful face. He climbed off the chair and came over to my side, looked in my face and said, "I wish Jesus was in your heart too." What had I done or said to make him think I wasn't a Christian? I ran down a mental checklist of possible transgressions. Had I scolded him unjustly or yelled at him or ignored his needs? Nothing came t mind. Trying to sound as natural as possible I asked, "Why do you think Jesus isn't in my heart?"

His big brown eyes shifted to my abdomen, then in the eight month of pregnancy. "Well, Mom," he said, "that baby's getting so big there's no room for anyone else in there." -- Christian Herald, April 1988
 

Application

Do we allow worldliness to grow? Does it seem some times we crowd Jesus and spiritualality out of our lives?

B. He lives His life through us.

ILLUSTRATION:
Sheldon Van Auken in his excellent book Severe Mercy has a piece that says, "The best argument for Christianity is Christians -- their joy, their certainty, their completeness.

But the strongest argument against Christianity is also Christians -- when they're self-righteous and smug in complacent consecration. When they're narrow and repressive, then Christianity dies a thousand deaths."

APPLICATION:

We must Realize Jesus Came to Locate His Live in Us. He Does this to Live His Live in and Through Us. The Difference Is the Desire for Christ to Reign Daily.
 
 

III.    HE CAME TO BE THE WAY OF STRENGTH.

1 John 3:8 The one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

A. Strength to overcome . . . sin. v. 8a

B. Strength to overcome . . . Satan. v. 8b

ILLUSTRATIONS:
The Origin of the Candy Cane;   Story from Radio & TV. Commission
 
 

CONCLUSION:

Ben Wofford caught a bass worth $21,786 on Saturday April 11, 1992 at the Texas Bass Championship Tournament on Lake Conroe. His 7.64 pound fish was the fourth largest fish overall but according to Rule Number 6, Ben's fish didn't qualify. The fish was fine but Ben wasn't. Rule 6 clearly stated all contestants must wear the official tournament hat they were issued at check-in. Ben opted instead to wear his "lucky" cap and left the tournament headgear in his partner's truck. Because of Ben's small error he was denied any prize money.
 

The Bible says put on the helmet of salvation for it identifies you with Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord - you must wear His hat. Unfortunately, though many feel their "lucky" cap is a better option and they end up forfeiting the greatest prize of all - eternal life.
 
 

I. HE CAME TO BE THE WAY OF SALVATION.

2. HE CAME TO BE THE WAY OF SPIRITUALITY.

3. HE CAME TO BE THE WAY OF STRENGTH.