Welcome to another edition of the Weekend Sermon. I look forward each week to when it is time to post the message. I hope that all of you are having a good week.
This has been a good week for me. I have been having a good time watching the World Cup, and I am looking forward to the final two games. I've had a good week in writing, and I am thankful to the Lord for that.
In prayer this week, let us thank the Lord that the children in Thailand were rescued. Let us also thank the Lord that the World Cup has been safe. Let us pray for the continued safety for all there.
Please pray for those in Japan who are facing flooding and mudslides. Also, please pray for those in Puerto Rico who still do not have electricity or the aid that they need to recover.
I would ask that you pray for me in a matter. Please pray that I can find a part-time job that is just right for me. Thank you for your prayers.
Let us continue to pray for peace in the troubled areas of the world. Pray for peace in Yemen, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya, South Sudan and the Central African Republic.
For our prayer focus countries this week. let's pray for those in India and Turkey. Pray that many will come to know of the love and forgiveness of the Lord Jesus.
Over the course of the last several weeks, we have been engaged in a series of messages about Who is Jesus? We will continue with our series today, and I want us to ponder the fact that Jesus is the Savior of the Universe.
The Bible makes it quite clear that Jesus is the one who was sent to bring salvation to the world. We read this clearly in John 3:16 which states, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but should have everlasting life."
One day, Jesus was walking along the banks of the Jordan River. John the Baptist saw Jesus and said that Jesus was the Lamb of God who was sent to take away the sins of the world.
I John 2:2 states, "He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for our sins, but for the sins of the whole world."
I Peter 2:24 tells us that Jesus bore our sins in His body on the cross. He took our sins and in their place, He provided His righteousness.
Jesus had to come to be the Savior of the world because of sin that entered in to the perfection of God's creation. When God originally created this world, there was no sin. Everything was entirely perfect. All of the created order existed in harmony with God. However, humans sinned against their creator. Death entered into the world, and all of the created order was thrown into disarray.
Jesus came to provide salvation. His death and resurrection provided for the salvation of all those who would call upon Him in repentance and faith. Jesus' work as Savior applies to humans, but it applies to all of the creation as well. Let's look at both.
Jesus' death and resurrection provides for the salvation of people. We have sinned, and our sin has caused separation from God. Jesus saves us from our sins, and Jesus saves us from the penalty that our sins deserved. His death allows us to have restored fellowship with the Lord. One day, those who are in Christ Jesus will be with Him.
Jesus did not just come to this earth to save the human race. The death of Jesus and His saving mission apply to all of creation. Romans 8:21 tells us that, "The creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God." Verse 22 says, "We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time."
What does all this mean? It means that when humans fell into sin, all of creation fell into decay. The perfection that existed in the Garden of Eden was past. Now, all of creation is groaning and waiting for the day when all will be restored to the way that it was before sin entered into the world.
John Wesley, who is one of my spiritual heroes, preached a message called "The General Deliverance" in which he spoke about the fact that Jesus' death and resurrection provided for the restoration of all the created order including the animals that live on the earth. Everything is put right by the saving work of Jesus Christ.
We see the restoration of all things in Jesus described in Acts. Acts 3:21 states, "Heaven must receive Him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as He promised long ago through His holy prophets. Prophets like Isaiah foretold of time when all would be well. The lion and lamb would rest together. Nations would no longer wage war against one another. Fear and heartache would be banished. All would be well once again on this earth.
When Jesus comes again to this earth in power and great glory, that will be the ultimate fulfillment of the work of salvation. When Jesus comes, everything on planet earth and across the cosmos will be restored to the way it was before it was marred by sin. Jesus has saved and He will save all of creation.
Jesus loved us and came to save us. We can call upon the name of the Lord and be saved. Whoever comes to Jesus for salvation will not be cast away. Whosoever will may come.
One day, Jesus will come again. All will be well and good. Everything will once again be the way that God designed it to be. This has all been made possible by the work of the Lord Jesus Christ who is the Savior and Lord of all the Universe.
Next week, we will continue with our series of messages about Jesus. On Monday, I will post the verses for the week. On Wednesday, I will post the next chapter in my book about my friend Toby. May God bless you all. Amen.
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