Jesus: Judge, Savior, and the Call to Repent

Devotional

Day 1: The Divine Exaltation of Jesus

Jesus Christ's name is exalted above all others due to His obedience and sacrifice, as described in Philippians 2:8-11. This exaltation is not merely a matter of reverence but a divine mandate that requires our worship and reverence, which in turn glorifies the Father. Our prayers reflect this divine order, as we approach the Father through the Son, empowered by the Holy Spirit. This reflects the unity and purpose of the Trinity, emphasizing the importance of recognizing Jesus' unique position in our faith. The exaltation of Jesus is a call to align our lives with His example of humility and obedience, acknowledging His lordship in every aspect of our lives. [01:48]

Hebrews 1:3-4 (ESV): "He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs."

Reflection: In what ways can you intentionally acknowledge and honor the exalted name of Jesus in your daily life today?

Day 2: The Certainty of Divine Judgment

Judgment is an objective reality that confronts us with our accountability before God. Unlike sin, which we often rationalize, judgment is certain and unavoidable. Hebrews 9:27 reminds us that after death comes judgment, a certainty we cannot escape. Romans 14:10-12 and Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 emphasize that every deed will be brought into judgment, highlighting the seriousness of our accountability before God. This reality calls us to live with a sense of responsibility and awareness of our actions, knowing that they will be evaluated by a just and holy God. [06:07]

2 Corinthians 5:10 (ESV): "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to be more accountable to God, and how can you start making changes today?

Day 3: The Duality of Judgment and Reward

Judgment is not solely about punishment but also about reward. For those who align themselves with Jesus, there is the promise of eternal life and kinship with God. This duality of judgment and grace is reconciled through Christ's sacrifice. Jesus was judged for our sins, allowing mercy to be extended and justice to be satisfied. As believers, we are called to steward God's gifts wisely, knowing that our actions will be accounted for, not for punishment, but for reward. This understanding encourages us to live faithfully and purposefully, seeking to honor God in all we do. [14:37]

1 Corinthians 3:13-14 (ESV): "Each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward."

Reflection: How can you better align your daily actions with the promise of eternal reward in Christ?

Day 4: The Great Exchange of the Cross

The crucifixion of Christ is the ultimate demonstration of God's love and justice. Jesus bore our sins, and through His sacrifice, we are offered salvation. This is the great exchange: our sins for His righteousness. The call is clear—repent and believe in the gospel, for there is room at the cross for all who come. Embrace the grace offered through Jesus, and let His sacrifice be the foundation of your faith and hope. This profound truth invites us to live in gratitude and humility, recognizing the depth of God's love and the cost of our redemption. [28:41]

2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV): "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

Reflection: What does it mean for you personally to embrace the great exchange of the cross in your life today?

Day 5: The Call to Repent and Believe

The call to repent and believe in the gospel is a central message of the Christian faith. There is room at the cross for all who come, and embracing the grace offered through Jesus is essential for our spiritual journey. Let His sacrifice be the foundation of your faith and hope, as you turn away from sin and towards the life-giving relationship with God. This call to repentance is not a one-time event but a continual process of aligning our hearts and minds with God's will, seeking His guidance and strength in our daily lives. [33:39]

Acts 3:19-20 (ESV): "Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus."

Reflection: What is one specific area of your life where you need to repent and seek God's forgiveness today? How can you take a step towards that repentance now?

Sermon Summary

The name of Jesus is unparalleled, a name above every other name, as declared in Philippians 2:8-11. Jesus, who humbled Himself by taking on human form and becoming obedient to death on the cross, is exalted by God. This exaltation is not just a matter of reverence but a divine mandate, as every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. This glorifies the Father, as our worship of the Son is an act of obedience to God's will. In our prayers, we approach the Father through the Son, empowered by the Holy Spirit, reflecting the unity and purpose of the Trinity.

Today's focus is on Jesus as the ultimate judge, as described in John 5:19-30. Judgment is a challenging topic because it confronts us with the reality of accountability before God. Unlike sin, which we often rationalize, judgment is an objective reality with no sliding scale. Hebrews 9:27 reminds us that after death comes judgment, a certainty we cannot escape. Romans 14:10-12 and Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 emphasize that every deed will be brought into judgment, highlighting the seriousness of our accountability before God.

The judgment is not solely about punishment but also about reward. For those who align themselves with Jesus, there is the promise of eternal life and kinship with God. This duality of judgment and grace is reconciled through Christ's sacrifice. Jesus was judged for our sins, allowing mercy to be extended and justice to be satisfied. As believers, we are called to steward God's gifts wisely, knowing that our actions will be accounted for, not for punishment, but for reward.

The crucifixion of Christ is the ultimate demonstration of God's love and justice. Jesus bore our sins, and through His sacrifice, we are offered salvation. This is the great exchange: our sins for His righteousness. The call is clear—repent and believe in the gospel, for there is room at the cross for all who come. Embrace the grace offered through Jesus, and let His sacrifice be the foundation of your faith and hope.

Key Takeaways

1. The Exaltation of Jesus: Jesus' name is exalted above every name because of His obedience and sacrifice. This exaltation is a divine mandate, requiring our worship and reverence, which glorifies the Father. Our prayers reflect this divine order, approaching the Father through the Son by the Spirit. [01:48]
2. The Reality of Judgment: Judgment is an objective reality that confronts us with our accountability before God. Unlike sin, which we often rationalize, judgment is certain and unavoidable. Every deed will be brought into judgment, emphasizing the seriousness of our accountability. [06:07]
3. Judgment and Reward: Judgment is not solely about punishment but also about reward. For those who align with Jesus, there is the promise of eternal life and kinship with God. This duality of judgment and grace is reconciled through Christ's sacrifice. [14:37]
4. The Great Exchange: The crucifixion of Christ is the ultimate demonstration of God's love and justice. Jesus bore our sins, and through His sacrifice, we are offered salvation. This is the great exchange: our sins for His righteousness. [28:41]
5. The Call to Repent and Believe: The call is clear—repent and believe in the gospel, for there is room at the cross for all who come. Embrace the grace offered through Jesus, and let His sacrifice be the foundation of your faith and hope. [33:39]
** [33:39]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:48] - The Exaltation of Jesus
[03:45] - Jesus as the Judge
[06:07] - The Reality of Judgment
[08:01] - Scriptures on Judgment
[10:11] - The Day of Wrath
[12:01] - The Judgment Seat of Christ
[14:37] - Judgment and Reward
[17:12] - Grace and Accountability
[19:07] - The Healing at Bethesda
[21:44] - Jesus' Authority and Equality with God
[24:38] - The Life-Giving Son
[28:41] - The Great Exchange
[31:45] - The Crucifixion and Its Significance
[33:39] - The Call to Repent and Believe

Sermon Clips

"How can you grow weary of the name of Jesus and the renown that the Father has given to Him? It's from Philippians 2, verses 8 through 11. And listen to the Scriptures. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, being found in human form. This was God who became man, humbling Himself because of course it would be necessary for the divine to inhabit the human." [00:33:46] (35 seconds)

"He became obedient to the death of the cross. He came on mission to save sinners. And this cross was the place that mercy and justice met. This was the place where forgiveness could be extended and God's character could be preserved. The death of the cross. And therefore God, notice the word therefore, Him being incarnate, Him being humbled, Him dying the sinner's death, though no sinner himself." [00:68:58] (34 seconds)

"Why do we worship Jesus? Because the Father has required it of us. He's given to Jesus a name above every name. So that the name of Jesus, at that name every knee should bow, in heaven and in earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord, to the glory of God the Father. It glorifies the Father when we worship the Son." [00:114:89] (28 seconds)

"Sometimes we have judgments to make. And often when we have difficult decisions, we feel inadequate, or we feel perplexed, or we feel fearful because of our judgments, the necessity of them. Should I do this or should I do that? For persons who are in civil government that have to make decisions for other people, it's even the harder thing to decide because your decisions affect others." [00:207:15] (30 seconds)

"Because unlike the idea of sin in our human consciousness, the reality of the ultimate judgment before Almighty God, there's no way to rationalize that. So sin, we may rationalize, but judgment is an objective reality because the one doing the judging has no sliding scale. He sees that which is in darkness as well as he does that which is in light." [00:370:71] (31 seconds)

"Romans 14, 10 through 12. For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. Who will? All. For it is written, as I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me and every tongue shall confess to God. So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. Ecclesiastes 12, 13 and 14. The end of the matter, and here it is, all has been heard." [00:461:44] (37 seconds)

"All of us rebellious of heart, all of us sinners, and all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. And then for that category of all, when we respond in our sinfulness by rejecting God's remedy, Jesus, when we do that, when we reject the way God has chosen to save and forgive us, Jesus, save and forgive us." [00:539:70] (24 seconds)

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. I will stand at the judgment and so will you. And the first question will be, is your name written in the Lamb's book of life? In the book of Revelation, it says that when they came to this day of wrath, this day of judgment, here was the language of it, and the books were opened." [00:728:21] (30 seconds)

"For those who are in partnership enveloped in Christ, joint heirs with Him, brothers and sisters with Jesus, you shall inherit the right to become children of God and have eternal life. And so the judgment just isn't about punishment. The judgment is about reward. Everyone who has given and served and loved and... read the Azure Master of wicked прик evolved. You? You." [00:885:35] (25 seconds)

"Jesus was judged for our sins so mercy could be given and justice satisfied. This is the position of everyone who believes in Jesus Christ. Being a Christian doesn't mean that you're a great church member or you're a big donor or an active and. or a worker in the church. Being a Christian means that you have put aside any self-advancement thinking that, oh, I'll just work my way to heaven." [01:037:88] (33 seconds)

"Whoever believes in the Lord Jesus Christ, his death, his burial, his resurrection has eternal life. You have the right to be a child of God in that category. If you're a person of the category of believing, then you're a person in the category of being saved. That's what you got to do. You say, well, there's got to be more to it than that. No, there doesn't. There doesn't have to be any more to it than that. Well, why not? Because it's God's gospel." [01:646:90] (30 seconds)

"Look at the crucified Christ and understand the foolishness of that way of thinking. Why would God do that to his own son if you could figure it out? If it were possible for a human to work his way well enough, why would God do that to his son? If you could be smart enough, why would God do that to his son to bring you wisdom?" [01:773:60] (25 seconds)

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