Sermon notes for God's Christmas Plan Part 2: Predicted Pain for Our Gain

God’s Christmas Plan Part 2:  Predicted Pain for Our Gain
Isaiah 53:1-6
December 14, 2014

Isaiah 53:1-6

-God intended all along to save us from our sins

-He revealed this over 500 years before Jesus came into the world

Luke 24:25-27  Jesus used the Old Testament to explain that his suffering was predicted

Acts 8:34-35  Philip explains the Good News with the Old Testament scriptures
-The first New Testament writings didn't exist at that time!

Modern “Appearances” of Jesus

People trust the craziest "appearances" 
-5 picture examples of the "image of Christ":  a wall, iron, another wall, toast,  and a toasted cheese sandwich.

-these are some freaky phenomenons that have gained many devotees.  

Personally, my faith is based on far more solid evidence than burnt images in modern day items that resemble the picture of Jesus that doesn’t even exist!

History or Hoax?

Highlighted in The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel

Altered Stories

-did writers fabricate details to make it appear that Jesus fulfilled OT?

-the gospels would have been corrected by all the eye witnesses

-why would Matthew have allowed himself to be put to death for a lie?

Intentional Fulfillment

-did Jesus maneuver His life in a way to fulfill prophecy?

-example:  ride donkey into Jerusalem, others

-but, impossible to manipulate “30 pieces of silver, birth date

    Daniel 9:24-26 predicted when Jesus would arrive!

Taken Out of Context

-do Christians cherry pick OT verses to prove Jesus is the Messiah?

-this is a tired argument dismisses countless scholars and historians

-over 2000 years and we haven’t found any true basis for this theory

Coincidence

-did Jesus “accidentally” fulfill all these prophecies?

-could there be, or have there been others who fit the predictions?

-read excerpt from Case for Christ, page 183

-it is a staggering mathematical impossibility for even 8 prophecies to be fulfilled in one mane to be merely coincidence!  

-Jesus fulfilled over 100 clearly identifiable Old Testament prophecies!

God’s Christmas Plan:  Predicted Pain for Our Gain

Isaiah 53:6   “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has   

    turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of

    us all”   

-Every one of us was a born sinner, straying from what is right

-We are all unable to find our way apart from divine intervention

-Jesus entered the world to take away all of our sins

-God’s plan was bear the punishing pain of crucifixion for our gain, to be our substitute!

Have I examined God’s plan?

How do my plans compare?

Am I ready to trust God’s plan?

-For seekers:  Surrender my life to Jesus Christ

-For beleivers:  Repent and return to Jesus Christ