Carest Thou Not That We Perish? 7-20-25 AM

 I.            Jesus cared enough to leave heaven.

a.      Could you imagine what it would be like to be in heaven?

b.      I am sure when we get to heaven we would never want to leave.

c.       However, Jesus willingly gave that up to come to earth.

           i.      Php. 2:5-8.

           ii.      ASV says, “Who existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped” (vs 6).

d.      Not only did Jesus give up heaven, He was so willing to come that He gave up being on an equal basis with God.

           i.      The word “equal” means equal in quantity and quality.

           ii.      There was no hint of selfishness in the Lord.

e.      Not only that, vs 7 tells us He emptied Himself (ASV).

           i.      He did not empty Himself of deity.

           ii.      He limited Himself by placing Himself under subjection to mere humans, the law of Moses and even to death.

f.        Lying at your feet is your dog. Imagine, for the moment, that your dog and every dog is in deep distress. Some of us love dogs very much. If it would help all the dogs in the world to become like men, would you be willing to become a dog? Would you put down your human nature, leave your loved ones, your job, hobbies, your art and literature and music, and choose instead of the intimate communion with your beloved, the poor substitute of looking into the beloved's face and wagging your tail, unable to smile or speak? Christ by becoming man limited the thing which to Him was the most precious thing in the world; his unhampered, unhindered communion with the Father. C.S. Lewis

g.      Surely we can see Jesus cares when we see what He gave up to come to this earth.

II.            Jesus cared enough to teach us how to live.

a.      When you think of what Jesus taught, He changed world.

b.      Jesus taught man how to live.

           i.      If every person followed His rules of conduct the world would be a better place.

           ii.      Even if there was no hope of heaven, the Christian life is the best life there is.

c.       His teaching was revolutionary.

           i.      Just following the Golden Rule would make the world a better place.

           ii.      Just loving our neighbor as our self would make the world a better place.

d.      The teaching that Jesus left us is enough to show He cares for us.

III.            Jesus cared enough to lose His life.

a.      Rom. 5:6-8.

b.      Php. 2:8 - even the death of the cross.

c.       There should be no doubt that Jesus cares since He was willing to go through all of this for us.

IV.            Jesus cared enough to be resurrected.

a.      1 Cor. 15 tells us why it was important for Him to be resurrected.

b.      Verses 13-20.

c.     There would be no hope for mankind without the resurrection.

d.     Notice this quote: Well over three hundred verses are concerned with the subject of Jesus' resurrection in the New Testament. We are told that this event is a sign for unbelievers (Mat 12:38-40); cf. Jo 20:24-29) as well as the answer for the believer's doubt (Lu 24:38-43). It serves as the guarantee that Jesus' teachings are true (Ac 2:22-24; 1 Cor 15:12-20) and is the center of the gospel itself (Ro 4:24-25, 10:9; 1 Co 15:1-4). Further, the resurrection is the impetus for evangelism (Matt. 28:18-20; Ac 10:39-43), the key indication of the believer's daily power to live the Christian life (Rom. 6:4-14, 8:9-11; Phil. 3:10) and the reason for the total commitment of our lives (Rom. 7:4; 1 Cor. 15:57-58). The resurrection even addresses the fear of death (Jo 11:25; 1 Cor. 15:54-58; cf. He 2:14-15) and is related to the second coming of Jesus (Acts 1:11; Rev 1:7). Lastly, this event is a model of the Christian's resurrection from the dead (Acts 4:2; 1 Cor. 6:14; 1 Th 4:13-18) and provides a foretaste of heaven for the believer (Php.3:20-21; 1 Peter 1:3-5)

e.      By doing something that means this much for us, it should show us Jesus truly cares.

V.            Jesus cared enough to ascend on high.

a.      His ascension into heaven means that He is reigning over His kingdom (1 Cor. 15:24-25).

b.      Another purpose of His ascension is to prepare a place for His faithful followers (Jo 14:1-3).

c.       By His doing this, we should know He truly cares.

VI.            Jesus cares enough to continually watch over us.

a.      Heb. 13:5.

b.      This allows us to not be afraid (Heb. 13:6).

c.       He wants us to cast our cares on Him because He still cares about us (1 Pe. 5:7).

d.      Jesus is our Advocate (1 John 2:1).

e. He still provides the strength that we need (Php. 4:13).