SERMON INSIGHTS

THE END OF THE OLD FALLEN MAN AT THE CROSS

Central Spiritual Truth: The crucifixion of Jesus Christ was the final judgment and termination of the old human nature and its subjection to sin and death.

• The Fall of Human Majesty: The original beauty and majesty of man in the first Adam were reduced to a “fallen state” where all have come short of the glory of God.
• The Economy of Death: Sin introduced an “economy of death” and a “kingdom of darkness,” where man is robbed of his stature as a divine spirit being.
• Devaluation of Creation: The rebellion of man caused a “devaluation” of the whole world, adversely affecting the properties of the earth, sun, moon, and stars.
• The Finality of “It Is Finished”: When Jesus cried out “It is finished,” he was nailing the old man, his curses, condemnation, and diseases to the cross once and for all.
• Cancellation of Death: Because the wages of sin is death, the removal of sin at the cross results in the total cancellation of death’s legal claim over the believer.

 THE RESURRECTION AS THE DOORWAY TO A NEW CREATION Central Spiritual Truth: The resurrection is not merely a historical event but an open door into a new level of existence where believers share in the nature of the risen God.

• Entry into Newness: The resurrection “opens a new door” for the fresh creation of man and the reordination of the affairs of the world.
• A New Personality: The post-resurrection man is a “completely new person” who has put off the old garment and assumed a new nature and stature.
• The Prototype of Life: Jesus became the “model” or “prototype,” being the first among those to rise from the dead so that all who believe may rise with him.
• The Rock of Confession: The belief and confession that Jesus is “the Christ, the son of the living God” serves as the foundational rock for this new birth.
• A Spiritual Rebirth: This transition is not a religious exercise but a literal “new birth” where the spirit of Christ is invited into the heart to grant the power to become sons of God.

 THE RESTORATION OF GLOBAL PEACE AND HARMONY Central Spiritual Truth: God’s vision for redemption extends beyond the individual to include the reconciliation and restoration of the entire created order.

• Reconciliation of the World: Jesus came to reconcile “not just man, but the whole world” with God to establish a state of peace.
• Restoration of Lost Virtues: Through the resurrection, creation regains her “lost virtues” and relationships within the earth are freshly returned to their original glory.
• The Establishment of Heaven on Earth: God is establishing the “condition that prevails in heaven” upon the earth through the new man in Christ.
• Victory Over Satanic Dominion: The era of human beings aligning with the powers of darkness in “rivers and trees” is ended by the victory flag of the resurrection.
• The End of Falsehood: The new order replaces the “integrity crisis” and falsehood of the present world with the light of truth and genuine hope.

 THE ULTIMATE TRIUMPH OF HOPE

Central Spiritual Truth: Hope in Jesus Christ is a higher spiritual order that provides the human race with an anchor of victory over sin, death, and the grave.

• A Tree of Hope: In a world where there is no hope for man, the resurrection stands as a “tree of hope” and a “door of entry” into divine nature.
• Victory Over the Grave: Because of the resurrection, man can hold a “victory flag” knowing that death cannot overpower him anymore.
• Exemption from Condemnation: Forces of destruction and total annihilation no longer apply to the resurrected man because he is beyond those forces.
• The Promise of Never Dying: For those who believe, there is a new element of existence where one “shall never die” and even if he dies, yet shall he live.
• The Messenger of Hope: The spirit of the Lord has brought this message to bring hope back to humanity through the ultimate work of Jesus Christ.

 SCRIPTURE REFERENCES (KJV)

• 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 10:9: “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture”.
• Romans 8:2: “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death”.
• 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new”.
• John 11:25-26: “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die”.

EXHORTATIONS AND CALLS TO ACTION:

• Believe and Confess: Believe in the heart and confess with the mouth the Lord Jesus to receive the power to become a son of God.
• Enter the Door: Do not merely observe the door; enter into the “new thing” God is doing through Christ to find spiritual pasture.
• Set Your Mind: If you are risen with the Lord, “let our mind be affected on things of the earth, not on things in the world” (set your affection on things above).
• Reject Falsehood: Turn away from the false pretenses and integrity crises of the world and embrace the true light that has appeared.

AMEN