UNIQUENESS OF JESUS CHRIST: HIS DEATH 1 PETER 1:3

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1 UNIQUENESS OF JESUS CHRIST: HIS DEATH 1 PETER 1:3 Jesus Christ is unique and last week I talked about THE UNIQUENESS OF JESUS: HIS LIFE and this week THE UNIQUENESS OF JESUS: HIS DEATH. Jesus death was unique NOT because he was crucified but because His death was followed by His resurrection. Other religious leaders of major world religions.including all religions in Japan.have lived and died but none have been resurrected from the dead.like UNIQUE JESUS. You see.jesus was unique in life and in death.and I cannot talk about the birth and the life of Jesus without talking about the death of Jesus and the resurrection of Jesus. Important points IF YOU REMOVE THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS FROM CHRISTIANITY, THERE IS NO CHRISTIANITY A TRUE BELIEVER IN JESUS CHRIST MUST BELIEVE IN THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS If you are a believer and follower of Christ.the resurrection of UNIQUE JESUS CHRIST gives you a living hope. If I hope in my business career for my success I have a dead hope. If I hope in my education for my success I have a dead hope. because His life and death and resurrection guarantees a living hope. 1 Peter 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. but first, remember the definition of unique ONE OF A KIND, HAVING NO EQUAL, JESUS CANNOT BE COMPARED TO ANY OTHER RELIGIOUS PERSON LIVING OR DEAD Remember.Christmas is NOT about a Christmas Tree or lights or singing or dancing or a Christmas Cake or Christmas presents or holidays or Santa San.Christmas is about the UNIQUE JESUS CHRIST.born to live and die and be resurrected as your personal Savior. The main focus of Christmas is an event.the birth of Jesus Christ.but if you only celebrate Christmas as the birthday of Jesus.you miss the UNIQUE JESUS.who came to give you eternal life by His resurrection. You see.for me today.for me to talk to you only about God s birthday at a time called Christmas without also talking to you about the amazing and UNIQUE JESUS who died and was resurrected from the dead.would be the same as if you went to a doctor and the doctor found cancer but gave you this report: I found a couple of problems but I do not 1

2 want to ruin your day talking about these problems so I can report to you that your blood pressure is okay and your appetite is good. Have a good day. I know you want an honest doctor and you should want me.as your pastor to be honest with you and give you straight talk about Jesus Christ as a baby who is also your savior who gives you a solution for your sickness called sin. HERE IS THE SOLUTION FOR SIN Romans 6:23 says For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. Notice that the gift of God is more than the birth of Jesus Christ.and this is why at Christmas you must know the full story of Jesus Christ. The Christmas story is more than the birth of Jesus. The point TALKING ABOUT CHRISTMAS WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT THE REASON FOR THE BIRTH OF JESUS IS LIKE GOING TO A DOCTOR THAT REFUSES TO TALK ABOUT YOUR ILLNESS Something to remember YOU CANNOT UNDERSTAND THE GOOD NEWS OF THE BIRTH OF JESUS UNTIL YOU ALSO UNDERSTAND THE GOOD NEWS OF THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS Luke 19:10 Jesus said For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost. There are many religions and many religious leaders who claim they have the answer to your problems of life and death. But they are only men.and like all men.they live and they die. But only UNIQUE JESUS was born for you. Luke 2:11 says A Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. Here are ways Jesus is unique Jesus is the exact copy of God Colossians 1:15 He (Jesus) is the image of the invisible God Jesus died and was resurrected from the dead so you can live forever 2

3 John 11:25 Jesus said, I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies. Jesus Himself predicted His own death and resurrection Jesus said in John 2:19 Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days. Jesus taught in Mark 8:31 That the Son of Man must suffer many things and be killed and after three days rise again. Jesus said in John 10:18 I have the authority to lay My life down and the authority to take it up again. Because His death and resurrection was God s eternal plan that Jesus Christ would die as a substitute payment for your sins and my sins, like a lamb used for sacrifice. John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 1 Corinthians 5:7 For Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is unique to prove that Jesus Christ is the Son of God John 19:7 The Jews insisted, We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God. Romans 1:4 And who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. Jesus made 12 appearances to different people after His resurrection Here are two examples Jesus appeared to the women returning from His empty tomb Matthew 28:9 10 Suddenly Jesus met them. Greetings, he said. Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me. 3

4 For example Jesus was seen by 500 believers at one time. 1 Corinthians 15:6 After that, he appeared to more than 500 of the brothers at the same time. Jesus died and was raised to life Romans 4:25 He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God. NLT Death has no victory for true followers of Jesus Christ 1 Corinthians 15:57 But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. NLT As a believer and follower of Christ you cannot be defeated by trouble. You can have peace in the middle of trouble. This is amazing! No believer and follower of Christ should live a defeated life. John 16:33 Jesus said, I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. The Greek word for trouble has a basic meaning of pressure. It means in your life you will be under pressure and squeezed by the troubles of life. But in the middle of the pressures of life.you should remember to Take heart or cheer up! Because Jesus has overcome the world. So can you! Nothing can separate you from the love of God Romans 8:38-39 I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 4

5 By His death and His resurrection you can be saved from sin Romans 10:9-10 If you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. You can have salvation today. Remember, I am not inviting you to be part of a religion. Religion can trick you into believing that because of what you do.you and God are all right. TBC is not about religion but about God s grace and love and salvation. Salvation is about having a personal relationship with the Almighty God! I am inviting you to believe in the true and living God through Jesus Christ! For prayer and salvation.please go out to the JOY CAFÉ for coffee and cake and the men and women there will answer your questions and pray with you for your salvation. Remember FRUSTRATED WITH LIFE? IS ANXIETY AND PRESSURE PUSHING YOU DOWN? Lonely and need a friend? Are you living in fear? Are you caught and trapped in your sin? Jesus said in John 11:25 I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies. God loves you very much and Jesus was born to die for you and was resurrected to give you salvation and eternal life. Let s pray. DENNIS FOLDS TOKYO BAPTIST CHURCH DECEMBER 11 & 12,