Simplicity of the Gospel Videos


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I want to remind us of the perspective that Jesus, our Savior, had concerning His own death. Because I think it helps us appreciate it a little bit more. His death was 1) Purposeful, 2) Voluntary, 3) Joyful, and 4) Glorious.

Well, first of all, His death was purposeful. He recognized that He was going to die. John 12:27 says, “What shall I say, Father, do not let this hour come upon me. But that is why I came.”

The purpose of his death was also voluntary. It was a voluntary or volitional outpouring of His love, and it showed full and true submission to God, the Father. Romans 5:8, “for God demonstrates his love towards us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” In the garden, Jesus said three times to the Father, “not My will, but Your will be done.” In John 10:17-18 Jesus said, “The Father loves me because I’m willing to give up My life in order that I may receive it back again. No one takes My life away from Me. I give it up of My own free will. I have the right to give it up and I have the right to take it back.This is what my father has commanded me to do.”

His death was purposeful. His death was voluntary. His death was also joyful. Hebrews 12:2 says, “Who, for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and He sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Jesus was fully aware of the pain and the suffering that He would face at the cross, but He had his eyes on the joy, and that joy was purchasing our eternal destiny.

And then finally, Jesus considered death as the path to glory. In John 12:23 He said those words, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to receive great glory.” And this is an amazing verse to me because this is shortly before the passion week. This is shortly before He would go through all of that suffering, the betrayal, the arrest, the scourging, the piercing of his hands and feet, the crown of thorns on his head, and the gathering up the sins of the world that pierced His heart. He didn’t say the time has come for the Son of Man to be tortured and tormented and suffer for the sins of the world. No, He said, “the hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” He ignored the suffering and kept his eyes on the glory. And if we can grasp the truth of that verse, it would totally change our perspective of the sufferings in our life.

So this is His perspective of His own death. He was born to die.

Gene Cunningham - July 23, 2000

In, but not of #3

In but not of

God's promise to Hagar, regarding her son illustrates our sense of God's distance, but also the reality God is here with us (Gen 21:14-20). Joh 14:19-24 Jesus said He'd be visible to the disciples - "You will see ("theoreo") me". In Joh 20:5-8 "blepo" means glance - John at the tomb; "theoreo" means observe - Peter went into the tomb. Jesus said they'd share in His resurrection life. "In that day (Pentecost), you'll know (experience as a living reality)" the union we have (Joh 14:20). Personal revelation of Jesus Christ to believers (Joh 14:21). Conscious living as with a family in a "dwelling place" (Joh 14:23, Rom 8:9-11). "Manifest" or "revealed" in Joh 14:20 is same word found in Joh 2:1, Joh 9:3, 1Jo 1:2, 1Jo 3:5-6, 1Jo 4:9, and 2Co 4:11. Similar is "visit" or "visitation" found in Psa 8:4, Luk 1:68-78, 1Sa 2:21, Luk 19:44, and 1Pe 2:12. We need assurance that God cares, that our decisions matter, that we are significant in the sight of God, and that His hand is on us. What does Christs promise to reveal Himself to us be like? (1) a conscious realization more real than the world around us (Joh 14:19-21). (2) evidence seen continually of answered prayers (Joh 15:8). (3) a joy filled experience of friendship with Christ (Joh 15:9-14). (4) life has a quality of communion like that of the Father and the Son (Joh 17:17-23). (5) assurance of guidance, blessing, and care. Criteria for this relationship (1) cleansing Joh 5:13-17; Mat 5:8; (2) love one another (Joh 13:34-35, Joh 14:21-23); (3) obedience (Joh 14:21-23, Joh 15:10, Joh 15:14). 1st John is a commentary on the Upper Room discourse: The evidences of fellowship with Him: (1) 1Jo 2:3 - "By this we know if you keep my commandments"; (2) 1Jo 2:24-28 - "abide in Him" so we can have confidence without shame and fear; (3) 1Jo 3:16 - "By this we know love because He lay down His life for us" - Joh 15:17 - we have to set ourselves aside over and over - a reflection of His character. 1Jo 3:18-19 - "we know that we are of the Truth" - when we love in deed and in truth we reflect Him; (4) 1Jo 3:24 - we know we abide in Him because we are living in fellowship; (5) 1Jo 4:12-13 - love is being perfected in us as we give it to others; (6) 1Jo 5:13 - that we have assurance of eternal security and live a life of faith and fellowship - our prayers are fulfilled (Joh 15:17, 1Jo 5:14). (7) 1Jo 5:20 - we know we are in Him -- this is eternal life.

Scripture References: Luke 19:44, John 20:5-8, John 15:17, Matthew 5:8, John 2:1, John 2:3, Luke 1:68-78, John 14:19-24, John 5:13, John 5:13-17, John 14:20, John 15:14, Psalms 8:4, Genesis 21:14-20, John 4:12-13, John 17:17-23, Romans 8:9-11, John 15:10, John 4:9, John 3:24, John 15:9-14, John 14:23, John 14:21-23, John 3:5-6, John 15:17, John 15:8, John 5:20, John 14:21, John 14:21-23, John 1:2, John 3:16, John 14:19-21, John 5:14, John 14:20, John 13:34-35, John 9:3, John 2:24-28

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