Purpose: Show how the crucifixion of Jesus Christ should motivate the whole world to be obedient to Him.
1. Every action that we take in life has to have a motivation behind it.
2. We are motivated to get up in the morning by the need to go to work so that we can make money. We are motivated to shower so that we won't stink and so on...
3. It takes a great deal of motivation to be COMMITTED TO CHRIST.
4. What should it be that motivates an individual to commit his/her life to Jesus Christ?
5. If I were to ask you, "Why are you a Christian?" What kind of answer would you give?
6. Should not be motivated by:
a. Guilt.
b. Family Pressure.
c. Peer Pressure.
d. Greed.
e. Loneliness.
7. We should be motivated by the crucifixion of Christ (John 3:16-17; 12:32).
We should be motivated because of...
A. Christ was equal to God the Father before He came to earth (Philippians 2:5-8).
1. By Him, all things were created (Colossians 1:16).
2. He was God (John 1:1-5).
B. Yet He willingly endured the cross.
1. He despised the shame of the cross (Hebrews 12:1-2).
2. He desired that the cup would pass from Him (Matthew 26:39).
3. He could have come down at any time (Matthew 26:53;
John 19:11).
C. Yet, He was still willing to die (Romans 5:6-8).
D. That kind of love should be enough to motivate us to be committed to Him.
We should be motivated because of...
A. Christ endured several beatings...
1. By the Jews (Matthew 26:67).
2. Scourged by the Romans (Matthew 27:26).
B. He has a crown of thorns placed on His head (Matthew 27:29).
C. He was mocked and spit upon (Matthew 26:68; 27:29).
D. He was forced to carry His own cross, which He was unable to do (Matthew 27:32).
E. He was hung on the cross to die...
1. Nails were placed through His wrists and feet.
2. While hanging on the cross it is very difficult to breath and one's lungs fill with fluid.
3. If you did not die quickly enough, the broke your legs to speed the process.
F. He was even ridiculed while on the cross (Matthew 27:39-44).
G. Yet, still He endured it.
H. Need we any more motivation to follow Him?
We should be motivated by...
A. We often like to blame those nasty Jews for having Christ crucified.
B. Have you ever stopped to think that if we would only live righteously, Christ would not have needed to die?
C. Every time we sin, we need the blood of Christ to wash us clean (1 John 1:7; Revelation 1:5).
D. Christ died on the cross for US.
E. That should motivate us to follow Him.
We should be motivated by...
A. Because of the Cross, we can have salvation (John 3:16).
B. Because of the Cross, we are no longer under the Old Covenant (Colossians 2:14; Heb 10:1-4).
C. Because of the Cross, we can go to heaven (Hebrews 9:24). The veil has been rent (Matthew 27:51).
D. The consequences of the cross should motivate us to be committed to Christ.
1. Are you committed to Christ?
2. Have you been washed in His precious blood?
3. Why not do that today?
4. Please see Plan of Salvation.
-- Ralph Price, 2000 --
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