Jesus: The Exclusive Light and Hope for Humanity

The thing that we are struck with at once of course is this that our Lord calls attention to himself I he says he's talking about himself he's not talking about a point of view he's not talking about a teaching it's he I I am the light of the world he isn't says I've come to give you a little light on the human situation no no what he says is I am the light the person of the Lord is essential it's vital there is no Christianity without Christ. [00:03:16]

He that followeth me the New Testament doesn't hold out any hope for this world I go on saying that every Sunday night don't I perhaps some of you are more ready to agree with me tonight than you are even a week tonight Summit conferences collapse you see you still feel there's hope for this world the New Testament says there's none it's a doomed world it's a condemned world it's a sinful world the New Testament doesn't set out to reform this world it says it cannot be reformed it's under judgment it's going to be destroyed and there will be a new heavens and a new Earth wherein dwelleth righteousness. [00:05:37]

But thank God isai though that is the position and the truth concerning the world there is hope for the individual he that followeth me this gospel is primarily for the individual it's a personal message and surely we all all to rejoice in that fact at a time such as this I'm amazed that anybody could object to the fact that the gospel is personal can't you see my friend that this is your only hope at the present time that though the world itself is in such a hopeless condition and will get worse and worse you are not of necessity inex involved in that you can be delivered out of it that's the message of Christianity. [00:07:09]

All the trouble in the world tonight is due to its ignorance of God you remember how our Lord in his high Priestly prayer at the end of his life said oh righteous father the world hath not known thee but I have known thee and these have known that thou has sent me that is the trouble with the world it doesn't know God of course he doesn't realize that it doesn't realize that that's the cause of its ills but it is that's the message of this whole book the world doesn't know God it doesn't know anything about him and end all its problems and its difficulties all its Disobedience and its sin and its rebellion and all the consequences that flow from that. [00:08:25]

What then is men's Supreme need now that's the question that's before us what is it that man needs primarily this evening now here again is the light which we get alone from the Lord Jesus Christ that's obvious isn't it you go and ask the average man what do we need tonight what is men's first most essential need and I think you'll find that most people will say that men's first and most essential need is World Peace World Peace the idea seems to be that if only somehow or another we could get these nations and Statesmen to agree and abolish their armaments and sign pcts and decide never to have War again that all would be well. [00:11:16]

Men's first need men's most essential need man's Central need is to be a reconcile to God you cannot abolish wall it'll never be abolished it'll never be abolished I mean until this final judgment and the return of Christ and the final punishment and destruction of evil and sin then there will be Universal peace but not until then there is no hope in the meantime very well then I said man's Supreme need is this is to be reconciled to God and my dear friend can't you see that it is your most urgent need. [00:13:43]

You are primary need is to be forgiven is to be reconciled to God for we're all Sinners before God our nature are sinful we are committing acts of sin constantly we've done soever we've began acting we are all sin in the sight of God and under condemnation that's our first need the second follows of course to know to discover how to live while we are left in this world in a worthy and in a good and a right manner but you notice the order in which I put them your first need and mind is not how to live our first need before we proceed a single step is how to be reconciled to God that's the message of Christianity. [00:15:39]

The first thing a man who is convicted by the spirit of God and of Christ the first question such a man faces is not how can I live a good life but what about my sins what about my past sins what about my evil nature what about my reconciliation to God my whole relationship to God how can I find God how can I be just with God that's the first question but there is so much you see that in the name of Christianity Today doesn't even mention that doesn't even raise the question it thinks of Christianity entirely in terms of conduct and of behavior. [00:18:20]

The problem of forgiveness is the most tremendous problem that even the almighty God has ever confronted you know the problem of forgiveness makes the problem of creation disappear and pale into insignificance it was easy to create he had better to say let there be light and there was light but when it comes to reconciling men and to forgive sins a word couldn't do it he sent his prophets he gave his law it wasn't enough this is the problem of the universe the problem of Eternity how can God forgive a man that's the light that Jesus Christ throws on the problem he says I am the light of the world. [00:30:59]

The question what is this son of God doing in this world why did he ever come here that's the question you've got to answer why was the Incarnation essential why did it ever take place have you ever thought what it means here is this blessed person this second person in the Blessed Holy Trinity from eternity in the bosom of the father enjoying that unmixed Bliss of glory and of Eternity dwelling in the light and glorying in it but he comes out of it all he who made the world and without whom was nothing made that is made he left it all he came into this world humbled himself was born as a helpless babe and put into a Manger mixed with ordinary men and women heard their blasphemy and their cursing saw their sin and their evil shared their life why has he done it why did he have to do it why did he come you've got to answer that question. [00:32:30]

The Lamb of God comes to be slaughtered not primarily to help us how to live but to save us from Eternal death the lamb is going to be offered the Lamb's going to be slaughtered our sins are transferred to the lamb the lamb the business of the Lamb is to reconcile us his blood is shed he doesn't help us to live primarily no no I say he saves us from Eternal death and the punishment that our sin so richly deserves the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world but listen to him saying it himself he says I am the light of the world. [00:37:38]

What is the message of the Gospel what have I got to preach as an ambassador of Christ isn't it this that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself not imputing unto them their trespasses Heath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in him yes says Peter how have you been redeemed not with gold or silver or any such thing but with the precious blood of Christ as of the lamb without blemish and without spot what is it that gives me forgiveness the blood of Jesus Christ says John cleanseth us from all sin and unrighteousness. [00:47:38]