TEXT:  1 Cor. 1:18-25

INTRODUCTION:

A.  vs. 23.  CHRIST CRUCIFIED – VICARIOUS ATONEMENT, INNOCENT FOR GUILTY.

B.  DOCTRINE SCOFFED AT BY MODERNISTS FOR 2 REASONS:

          1.  Conceit – man doesn’t need salvation or anyone to die for him.

          2.  Unjust for righteous to die for the righteous.  A stumblingblock.

                   a.  The Jew sought to establish his own righteousness (Rom. 10:3).

                   b.  The Greeks were glorified in human wisdom (1 Cor. 3:18;  Jer. 10:23).

          3.  Both seek to remedy sin by redefining or ignoring it.

C.  THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT THE REMEDY FOR SIN IS THE BLOOD OF CHRIST.

I.      THE HOPE OF THE WORLD.

A.  PROPHECY (Zech 12:10;  13:1;  Isa. 53:4-6).

B.  CAIAPHAS (John 11:47-52).

C.  JESUS (Matt. 26:28).

D.  PAUL (Acts 20:28;  Rom. 3:21-26;  Eph. 1:6-7;  2:11-13;  Col. 1:19-22).

E.  JOHN (1 John 1:5-9;  Rev. 7:14-15).

F.  PETER  (1 Pet. 1:17-20).

G.  HEBREWS (Heb. 9 & 10).

          a.  Cleanse your conscience (9:14).

          b.  No blood, no remission (9:22).

          c.  Access to God (10:19).

II.     SOME ARE NOT WILLING TO ACCEPT THIS SACRIFICE.

A.  THEY COMPARE THEMSELVES TO OTHERS (2 Cor. 10:12).  I’m not as bad as …

B.  THEY DEPEND ON THEIR OWN MORAL GOODNESS.

          1.  Cornelius was better than many Christians (Acts 10:1-6).

          2.  Why send for Peter? (11:13-15).

          3.  And besides (Rom. 3:9-10, 23;  6:23).

C.  SOME SAY “JUST KEEP THE 10 COMMANDMENTS.”

          1.  A part of the Old covenant (Ex. 34:27-28;  Deut. 4:13).

          2.  Those seeking salvation under that law are cursed (Gal. 3:10-12).

          3.  The provisions of that law were righteous, but inadequate (Heb. 10:1-4).

          4.  Those sacrifices were removed in order to empower Christ’s (Heb. 10:8-14).

D.  THE HUMANIST BELIEVES ALL ANSWERS ARE WITHIN MAN.

          1.  What is the meaning of life?  Humanist – “There is none.”  Bible (Ecc. 12:13-14).

          2.  What is man’s destiny? Humanist – “Oblivion.”  Bible (John 5:28-29).

          3.  What is man’s duty?  Humanist – “Pleasure.”  Bible (2 Cor. 5:10)

          4.  (Jer. 10:23;  Prov. 16:25;  Matt. 9:36). vs. (John 8:12;  Titus 2:11-12).

III.    HOW DOES HIS BLOOD SAVE US?

A.  EVERY SOUL EVER SAVED WAS SAVED BY THE SHEDDING OF HIS BLOOD.

          1.  He tasted of death for every man (Heb. 2:9;  2 Cor. 5:14).

          2.  His death is the appeasement or satisfaction of justice (Rom. 3:21-26).

B.  OUR BENEFIT IS CONDITIONED.

          1.  We must trust the Lord (Heb. 11:6;  Mark 16:16).

          2.  And obey (Matt. 7:21;  Heb. 5:8-9).

C.  WHAT MUST WE DO?

          1.  The Scriptural answer (Acts 2:38).

          2.  How do we access the death of Jesus? (Rom. 6:3-4).

CONCLUSION:

A.  WHAT MUST I DO?  THE ANSWER IS THE SAME.

B.  HAVE YOU DONE IT?