The Depth of Christ's Love and Our Response

 

Summary

In today's gathering, I expressed my heartfelt gratitude to everyone for their generous contributions over the past year, especially in the last ten weeks. Your commitment has allowed us to overcome a significant budget shortfall and continue our ministry without making drastic cuts. This collective effort is a testament to our church's ability and desire to sustain and expand our ministry across three campuses and globally. As we move forward, I am filled with gratitude and excitement for what lies ahead.

We are continuing our series on "The Full Extent of Christ's Love," focusing on the profound words Jesus spoke from the cross. Today, we delve into the fourth word, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" This cry from Jesus, recorded in Matthew 27:46, marks a pivotal moment in His crucifixion, where He enters the heart of His passion and atoning work. During the three hours of darkness, Jesus bore our sins, endured the punishment meant for us, and experienced complete isolation from the Father's love. This moment reveals the depth of Christ's sacrifice and the reality of hell, which He endured on our behalf.

Through this, we are invited to see sin for what it truly is and learn to hate it, recognizing the cost it exacted on our Savior. We are also called to understand the reality of hell and flee from it, knowing that Christ endured its full measure on the cross. Moreover, we are encouraged to see the love of God displayed in this sacrifice and learn to enjoy it, knowing that Jesus' victory over sin and death assures us of God's love. Finally, we are reminded of the nature of faith, which rests not on our feelings but on God's promises, grounded in the cross.

Key Takeaways:

- Understanding Sin and Its Consequences: The cross reveals the true nature of sin and its devastating consequences. By seeing the agony Christ endured, we are called to hate sin and turn away from it, recognizing that it was our sin that led to His suffering. This understanding should motivate us to live a life that reflects Christ's holiness. [18:43]

- The Reality of Hell: The darkness and isolation Jesus experienced on the cross provide a glimpse into the reality of hell. It is a place of conscious suffering, separation from God's love, and judgment. Christ endured this so that we would never have to, emphasizing the importance of fleeing from sin and seeking salvation in Him. [23:41]

- The Depth of God's Love: The cross is the ultimate demonstration of God's love for us. Despite the unimaginable suffering, Jesus willingly bore our sins to reconcile us to God. This love is not just to be acknowledged but enjoyed, as it assures us of our salvation and eternal life with Him. [29:03]

- Faith Beyond Feelings: Faith is not dependent on our feelings or circumstances but on the promises of God. Even in moments of darkness and doubt, we can trust in God's unwavering love and faithfulness, as demonstrated through Christ's sacrifice on the cross. [33:24]

- The Gift of Acceptance: Because Jesus was forsaken, we are accepted. His sacrifice on the cross means that we are righteous in God's eyes and have the promise of eternal life. This truth should fill us with gratitude and inspire us to live in a way that honors His sacrifice. [39:39]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:19] - Gratitude for Generosity
- [01:31] - Sustaining Ministry
- [02:38] - Easter Blessings
- [03:29] - Prayer for Guidance
- [04:36] - Series on Christ's Love
- [06:17] - The Fourth Word from the Cross
- [07:14] - The Crucifixion Timeline
- [08:27] - Darkness at Noon
- [09:42] - The Heart of Christ's Passion
- [10:20] - Bearing Our Sins
- [11:22] - Enduring Our Punishment
- [12:38] - Forsaken by God
- [18:43] - Window into Sin
- [23:41] - Window into Hell
- [29:03] - Window into Love
- [33:24] - Window into Faith
- [39:39] - The Gift of Acceptance

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Matthew 27:46
- 1 Peter 2:24
- Isaiah 53:6

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Observation Questions:

1. What significant event does Jesus' cry, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" mark during the crucifixion? ([06:47])

2. According to the sermon, what are the three things we know for sure were happening during the three hours of darkness on the cross? ([10:20])

3. How does the sermon describe the reality of hell as experienced by Jesus on the cross? ([23:41])

4. What does the sermon suggest is the ultimate demonstration of God's love for us? ([29:03])

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the sermon explain the significance of Jesus bearing our sins on the cross, and what does this mean for believers today? ([10:39])

2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that understanding the reality of hell should impact a believer's life and choices? ([23:41])

3. How does the sermon describe the relationship between faith and feelings, especially in moments of darkness and doubt? ([33:24])

4. What does the sermon imply about the nature of God's love and how it should be enjoyed by believers? ([29:03])

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you felt distant from God. How can the understanding of Jesus' experience on the cross help you in such moments? ([33:54])

2. The sermon calls us to hate sin by seeing its true nature. What specific sin in your life do you need to confront, and how can you begin to turn away from it? ([18:43])

3. How can the reality of hell, as described in the sermon, motivate you to share the message of salvation with others? ([23:41])

4. In what ways can you actively enjoy and celebrate God's love in your daily life, knowing the sacrifice Jesus made for you? ([29:03])

5. The sermon emphasizes faith beyond feelings. How can you strengthen your faith to rely more on God's promises rather than your emotions? ([33:24])

6. Consider the idea that because Jesus was forsaken, we are accepted. How does this truth impact your view of yourself and your relationship with God? ([39:39])

7. Identify one area in your life where you struggle to trust God's promises. What steps can you take this week to deepen your trust in Him? ([35:25])

Devotional

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Quotes


Now let me try to describe the scene for you mark tells us that it was the third hour that Jesus was crucified the third hour would have been 9 o'clock in the morning they measured the day from the 6 o'clock hour they nailed Jesus to the cross 9 o'clock in the morning they lifted the cross up and there at 9 o'clock in the morning as we saw a few weeks ago as he's lifted up he says Father forgive them they do not know what they are doing the morning wore on jeering from the crowds insults from two robbers who would either side of him and then 10 o'clock 11 o'clock 11:30 morning slips by and sometime during the three hours before noon one of these thieves begins to fear God and he says to Jesus now remember me when you come into your kingdom and Jesus says as we saw today you will be with me in paradise then at noon after Christ had already been hanging on the cross for three hours enduring this agony and insult from the hands and from the mouths of men something new happened and Jesus Christ entered into the very heart of his passion. [00:06:59]

The first thing we know is this that Jesus Christ bore our sins on the cross and thinking of 1 Peter chapter 2 and verse 24 just giving you where this is plainly stated in the Bible he himself bore our sins in his body on the tree and what was what was happening during these three hours of darkness second Corinthians chapter five and verse 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us or as Isaiah puts it in the Old Testament the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all in these hours of darkness on the cross here is something new that is happening Christ bears our sins on the cross. [00:10:27]

Christ bearing our sins therefore bore the punishment for our sins on the cross Isaiah puts it this way the punishment that brought us peace noticed that word was on him Paul says in Romans chapter 3 and verse 25 that God presented him as the propitiation that is one on whom wrath is poured out so that it may be diverted away from us the propitiation for our sins John says the same thing in 1 John chapter 2 and verse 2 so as Christ bears the guilt of our sins on the cross so he endures the punishment for our sins on the cross if I substitute a synonym for that phrase he endures the punishment for our sins on the cross what that means friends is he injured hell on the cross because that is the punishment for sin all that hell is he experienced right there during these three hours of darkness in which he bore our sin and which he endured our punishment. [00:11:19]

Christ was completely and utterly alone in this suffering we know from the story that the disciples had forsaken him but now he enters into a far deeper deeper level of his own isolation and aloneness he is forsaken by God as Luther said God forsaken by God who can understand this earth has rejected him heaven has given him up and now at the very heart of his passion he cries out my God my God why have you forsaken me now this abandoning of the Lord Jesus Christ as he bears our sins and as he endures our punishment means two things first it means that all the comforts of the Father's love were beyond the Savior's reach all the comforts of the Father's love were beyond the Savior's reach. [00:12:34]

I did not say that the father ceased to love him the father could never cease to love him jesus said the reason that my father loves me is that I lay down my life so if the father loves him because he lays down his life the father cannot cease to love him as he lays down his life no the father did not stop loving the son during these three hours of darkness but Christ is separated from this love he is outside of it it is beyond his reach the love that he has enjoyed with the father in the union between the father and the son for all eternity and it's beyond him it's beyond him not only did the comforts of where were the comforts of the father's love beyond the Savior's reach but but the terrors of the Father's judgment were poured out on the Savior and here we come to the very heart of what he did at the cross to be our sin bearer to bear your sins meant that he received in himself the hell that our sins bring. [00:14:23]

So here folks we are entering into the very deepest mystery of what happened in this darkness how in all the world could the father who loves the son plunge the son who he loves into these torments speaking just last Sunday with a grandmother in the congregation who asked me to pray for her grandson little boy who is undergoing some extensive medical treatment for a very severe condition and she described the procedure it was not at all easy and she described the great pain that is involved in going through this for this little boy and and this grandmother says you know my son has to hold him down while this is happening to him while the doctors are doing what they have to do and she says my son says to me when I have to hold him down and when he screams I can't even look and she said to me do you know what I think that's what it was like for the father of the Cross father who at the same time is plunging the son into this and yet loves the son turns his face away he cannot bear to look. [00:15:45]

Now friends I want to suggest to you today that that these words of Jesus at the very center of our faith open for windows into what was happening in these hours of darkness and my prayer for today is that as you look through these windows you will be changed by what you see let me describe them to you in this way as simply as I can window number one see what sin is and learn to hate it see what sin is there's my prayer for us today that you will see what sin is through this window through the cross and that you will learn to hear it changing letting go of sin becoming more like the Lord Jesus Christ not easy for us as Christians and here's why because there is something within sin that attracts us what tempted you before will tempt you again instances Hart because part of us enjoys our sin so that sometimes even when we confess our sin there's a little bit of us that would like to go back to it again so how can you get to the place where you learn to hate your sins so much that you will not keep going back to it again and again and again and again and again how can you get to the place where you will really change. [00:18:09]

The law will never get you there the law can tell you what sin is but the law will never make you hit it in fact frankly the Locke and sometimes even provoke you to sin and make you worse have you have you noticed this you go to a restaurant is I hope I'm not the only person it was like this but the waiter comes and he says now don't touch the plate because it's hot what's the first thing you want to do when touch the plate is he why what is it about you and me that would make us be like that everyone who has children knows about this you give a child a rule and he or she sees it as an invitation Paul says in Romans chapter 7 and verse 9 when the commandment came sin sprang to life see sin was laying dormant but as soon as God said don't do this Oh since I that's exactly what I'm gonna do spring to life morality can tell you what sin is but it cannot teach you to hit it that's why people who are committed to mortal ism or always stuck in saying how can I find a greater will pushing one way than a will that's pushing the other way you're just conflicted all the time you're stuck. [00:20:07]

Now the great practical question of the Christian life is this how can I learn to really love sin especially the sin that I fall into so that I really leave it and turn from it listen to these words from Richard sibs if you would indeed see the most ugly colors of sin see it in Christ upon the cross see how bitter a thing it was forcing him to send forth strong cries to the Father my God my God why have you forsaken me you think about that indulgent greed in your life you think about that cherished pride that settled Envy that secret lust that subtle lie that grumbling that fault-finding that deception you look at what it cost you look at what that did you see the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross and the agony that he goes through for this learn to hate that sin at the cross I say to you today as you look at how Jesus Christ was forsaken on account of your sin what sin can you not forsake on account of him this is why we need to live at the cross folks because it is only here that we will really learn to hate the sin that so entices us see what sin is and learn to hate it at the cross. [00:21:26]

Here's a second window I want us today to see what hell is and to learn to flee it see what sin is and learn to hit it and see what hell is and learn to flee it now folks here is what we are learning today when Jesus Christ bore our sins he entered into the judgment that was due for our sins Christ endured all the hell is on the cross now you know that poets and artists have speculated over the centuries about Hell there is so much about Hell that we do not know and that's why there's so much speculation about it you know Dante's Inferno and so forth and so on but I want to say to you today that the clearest revelation about Hell is given to us at the cross hell has six dimensions and Christ experienced all of them on the cross let me remind you of them briefly number one he is in conscious suffering number two he is in the blackest darkness number three he is surrounded by demonic powers unleashed number four he is bearing number five he is under judgment and number six and here's the heart of his cry he is separated from the love of God that is hell hell is friends conscious suffering in blackest darkness surrounded by demonic powers bearing the guilt of your own sin under the judgment of God but I tell you the hell of Hell will be to know that there is a God of love and you could have known this love but now it is beyond your reach and you're outside of it forever. [00:23:37]

I preach this today because I do not want one of you to know what this is like ever and I tell you that Jesus Christ died on the cross so that you should never know what this is like ever in fact no one can fully understand what he injured in these three hours of darkness unless that person had been in hell it's beyond what any one of us here today can begin to imagine you know a lot of people are talking about health today and a lot of the discussion about whether or not it is real let me give you this simple answer hell is as real as the cross hell is as real as the cross Jesus Christ entered all the dimensions of Hell all six dimensions of Hell on the cross this happened folks he received in himself what was due to us so when people say well maybe there's no hell I want to ask this question what do you think this was all about them what do you think this darkness this forsaken 'us was all about what do you think this laying of sin on him was all about that the Bible speaks about it happened and the reason that it happened is simply this there is wrath there is for sickeness there is darkness and there is hell and all of it was poured out on our Lord Jesus Christ and he absorbed it in himself on the cross in order to save you and me from it. [00:26:00]

Here's the third thing third window see what love is and learn to enjoy it see what love is and learn to enjoy it say boy that sounds like an extraordinary jump yes it does but here's the miracle and the amazing thing love and justice meeting at the cross it's staggering one way to measure the love of God for you is by the price that the father and the son were willing to pay to redeem you and here again we are staring into an unfathomable and yet a glorious mystery can you begin to fathom in your mind can you think just around the edges of this what it meant to the Father to give up to this his own dearly loved son and at the same time as we saw just last week as the union of wills between the father and the son has been isn't always will be complete and total what it meant for the holy son of God to give himself up to be your sin bearer and as a consequence to be shut out of the knowledge of the eternal love of the father right there in the darkness friends sometimes I hear Christians around the church say this you know I I know that Jesus died for me on the cross but I don't really feel that God loves me I want to say slow down slow down slow down before he created the universe God the Father had you on his horizon and planned for you in love before you were ever born God the son took your flesh and he lived a perfect life for you and then he went to this awful cross for you and friend your sins your sins were laid on him and he entered into your hell your hell and he shuddered from the knowledge of the father's love for you in that darkness and he cries out my God my God why have you forsaken me and he does this for you and you think that God doesn't love you I want you to see this love you'll never see it more clearly than right here at the cross and learn to enjoy it. [00:28:55]

You see how can I enjoy this this is a excruciating suffering ah here is how you enjoy this Jesus Christ is not on the cross today he's risen he is exalted he's at the right hand of the father he's triumphed over all of this and his victory is complete God's righteous judgment for your sin fell on Jesus he absorbed it he drained it he exhausted it and he came through it and here's where you rejoice in God's love Christian you're in Christ today I say to you hell burned itself out on Jesus at the cross as far as you are concerned see that love rejoice at the end of these three hours of darkness as we'll see later in our series he cries out in a loud voice not in defeat but in absolute triumph it is finished he gave himself into death so that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus see this love and as you're in Christ rejoice in it. [00:31:54]

Here's the very last thing see what sin is and learn to hear it see what hell is and learn to flee it see what love is and learn to enjoy it and see what faith is and learn to use it in the darkness your savior says my God my God why have you forsaken me now you think about this the Father's love is at this moment beyond his reach he's been shut out from it and yet he says my God my God Robert Mary McShane says these words show the greatest faith that ever was in the world I think that's a good description these words showed the greatest faith that ever was in this world because he says faith means believing the Word of God not because we see it to be true or feel it to be true but because God has said it for instances of huge importance for our faith today God has said to us I will never leave you and I will never forsake you that's his promise but as most Christians know and have experienced and if you haven't I think you will at some time you will find that there are dark times in your life where you simply cannot feel the love and the presence of God and at these times you need to know that your Jesus has been there. [00:33:09]

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Transcript
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