BOTTOM LINE: Paying the price for sin, Jesus died and rose again.

INTRO

Review series…GOSPEL

**Street Racing Story***

TENSION

Why did Jesus have to die? Couldn’t Jesus just write “warning” on our sins?

Sin had a price, and paying the price for sin, Jesus died and rose again.

TRUTH

Isaiah 53 (Read whole chapter)

  • Background: Written 700 years before Jesus came; 400 quotations in NT; Called Israel to a renewed commitment to God.
  • Context: Ch 1-39 (Judgement) & Ch 40-66 (Consolation/Prophecy); Chapter 53 is called the “Holy of Holies” of Isaiah’s prophetic section, because it’s in the middle, and prophesies of the Messiah; 80 NT refs to ch.53.

Why couldn’t God just snap his fingers and forgive us?

Why did Jesus have to die?

  1. Because a price had to be paid.

Sin: Breaks God’s commands, attacks his character, and misses his mark.

Separation/Death: Immediately spiritual; future physical; impending eternal.

  • God can’t just cancel tickets – that would make him unjust.
  1. The price was paid in blood (v.5; 7).
  • Cf. 53:5 – “Like a lamb to the slaughter…”
  • Leviticus 17:10 – “Life of the flesh is in the blood”
  • Hebrews 9:22 – “Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins.”
  • Lev. 16 (Day of Atonement): The bull, the goat, and the scapegoat.
    • Slain goat: Took judgment of sin; Jesus took judgment of sin.
    • Scapegoat: Took guilt of sin; Jesus took guilt of sin, justified us by raising again.
      • Cf. 53:10 – “An offering for guilt…”
      • Propitiation – God’s wrath was satisfied.
      • “Pierced, crushed, for OUR…” *TTA Bus illustration*
  • Read Hebrews 9:22, 26. 
  1. The price was paid out of love (v.10).
  • Cf. 52:10; 53:1 “The arm of the Lord…”
    • Arm = Strength
    • God could have flexed any of his attributes to show the world his glory, but he chose to flex his love.
  • Cf. 53:10 – “God’s will to crush him” *To Sacrifice a Son: An Allegory*
  • John 3:16 – “God so LOVED the world…”
  1. Because an exchange had to be made.

*Who has the most worthless thing in the room?*

  1. Jesus received our sin. 
  • Cf. 53:6 – “Laid on him the iniquity of us all…”
  • Cf. 53:11 – “He shall bear their iniquities…”
  • Cf. 53:12 – “Numbered with the transgressors…”
  • Made it personal… Jesus took MY sin on the cross.
  1. We received Jesus’ righteousness.
  • Righteousness = Acceptable to a holy God
  • Cf. 53:11 – “He shall…make many to be accounted righteous.”
  • 2 Cor. 5:21 – “He made him…”
  • Is. 61:10 – “He has covered me with the robe of righteousness.”
  • Matt. 22:8-24 – Parable of the wedding banquet…
    • v.12 – “How did you get here without wedding clothes, my friend?”
    • v. 14 – “Many are invited, but few are chosen.”
    • You’re here at the party tonight, but do you have your wedding clothes?
  1. Because a victory had to be displayed.
  2. The victory of the cross.

“He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” – Col. 2:13-15

  • Cancelled our ticket (legal indebtedness).
  • “Satan fills the For You page of your mind’s TikTok with a highlight reel of your worst and most recent failures.”
  • The accuser (Rev. 12:10) has been overcome by Jesus’ blood (Rev. 12:11).
  • Public spectacle = Roman soldiers would parade captives naked down public streets.
  • Cf. 53:10 – Jesus paid for our guilt, so we don’t have to live in it.
  • Genesis 3:15 realized – NOT TODAY SATAN!
  1. The victory of the resurrection (v.9).

“He shall prolong his days…”

  • Our entire belief system hinges on this.
  • Jesus was seen resurrected over 40 days 12 times, by over 500 witnesses!
  • 1 Cor. 15:15 – “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile, and you are still in your sins.”
  • At the resurrection, the receipt for our salvation was printed.
    • His sacrifice was accepted.
    • His righteousness was credited to us.
    • Satan’s charges against us can’t stick.

Paying the price for sin, Jesus died and rose again.

Just like on D-Day, he secured the beach head that guaranteed a victory. The battle still rages, but the war has been won!

APPLICATION

Jesus paid the price…now it’s your move…

#1 – Advance the gospel.

There are 22,990 students in the Huntington DMA. Statistically, only 5% of them know Jesus. That means 19,991 teens need to know that Jesus paid the price for sin.

  • Sign up to serve together: This Friday!
  • **Invest & Invite** One Night: Next Wednesday (2/3)

#2 – Believe that Jesus paid the price for your sin.

Believe in Jesus and be saved tonight!

Text YES to 304-208-8044.

#3 – Claim the victory of the cross when Satan accuses.

The highlight reel of your faults and failures does not have to define your life, or your eternity. Thank Jesus for the cross.

LANDING

As the music plays…

  • Pray for people in your cause circle.
  • Thank Jesus for dying for your sins.
  • Ask Jesus to be your Savior.