Archive for June 2010
Sermon Database
Nov 08 Luke 16:1-13 The Unjust Steward Dec 06 Dec 20 Isaiah 9:6-7 Government and Peace Jan 03 Luke 2:1-7 The Center of the Universe Feb 07 Matthew 25:14-30 Enabling A Response Feb 14 Isaiah 61:5-9 Blessed With A Double Portion Feb 21 Exodus 29:38-46 God’s Desire Feb 28 John 3:1-15 Stories of Faith Mar…
Read MoreFather and Son Together Again — Hebrews 1:1-12
Father and Son Together Again Reverend Anthony R. Locke June 20th, 2010 (Father’s Day) at the First Presbyterian Church of Tucker Hebrews 1:1-12 Apostle’s Creed Series 09 English Standard Version 1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he…
Read Moreby the Holy Spirit — from the Apostle's Creed & John 3:34
Reverend Anthony R. Locke at the First Presbyterian Church of Tucker John 3:34 Apostle’s Creed Series 07 English Standard Version 34 For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.[1] Jesus was sent from the Father to utter eternal words of life. The Father anointed the…
Read MoreWho Is Jesus? — 1 John 5:20
To believe in Jesus as the Son of God and to confess Him as such before men is the distinguishing mark of a Christian. Believing Him to be the Son of God means that we confess that Jesus is equal with God. The nation of Israel and the people in Jerusalem had Jesus killed for this solitary claim.
Defining what this title means gets a little complicated. Especially when the Bible adds that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God. Most Christians have no idea what these terms mean.
The title Son of God is used twenty-six times in the Gospels alone referring to Jesus. He is called Son of God by Satan (Matt. 4:3, 6; Luke 4:3, 9), by demons (Matt. 8:29; Mark 3:11; Luke 4:41), by John the Baptist (John 1:34), by his followers (Matt. 14:23; John 1:49; 11:27; 20:31), by angels (Luke 1:35), and by a Roman centurion (Matt. 27:54; Mark 15:39).
This title is so significant that God the Father broke through the heavens twice to declare it to the world. In Matthew 3:17 and Matthew 17:5 God thunders from heaven, “and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
Jesus says that our acceptance and understanding of this title will determine our destiny. Matthew 16:13-17 says, Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
Read More2010 05 16
What Does the Ascension Accomplish? Reverend Anthony R. Locke May 16th, 2010 Ascension Sunday at the First Presbyterian Church of Tucker Ephesians 4:7-10 Apostle’s Creed Series 05 English Standard Version 7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore it says, “When he ascended on…
Read More2010 05 09
Considering My Treasure Reverend Anthony R. Locke May 9th, 2010 Mother’s Day at the First Presbyterian Church of Tucker Luke 2:41-52 Apostle’s Creed Series 04 English Standard Version 41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up according…
Read More2010 05 02
All Things Reverend Anthony R. Locke May 2nd, 2010 at the First Presbyterian Church of Tucker Colossians 1:15-20 Apostle’s Creed Series 03 English Standard Version 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible,…
Read More2010 04 25
The Staff in Their Hands Reverend Anthony R. Locke April 25th, 2010 at the First Presbyterian Church of Tucker Isaiah 10:1-23 Apostle’s Creed Series 02 English Standard Version 1 Woe to those who decree iniquitous decrees, and the writers who keep writing oppression, 2 to turn aside the needy from justice and to rob the…
Read MoreIs FAITH the Good Works Necessary for Heaven? — John 6:22-40
Everyone has an inner desire to draw near to God, but not everyone is drawn by faith. The people in our passage were drawing near to Jesus to get food for their stomachs. Like Simon the magician in Acts 8, they wanted to be a part of the spectacle. John 6:26 Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.
Why do we draw near to God? Is it because we think church attendance will magically make our life better? Many people who used to go to church can tell you that isn’t true.
Do we seek God so He will bless our business, our family, our marriage, and our life? Are we seeking the blessing or are we seeking to draw near to Jesus?
Going to church to seek a better life for yourself will leave you empty and cynical. I know this from personal experience while in college. John 6:27 Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.
Jesus is stamped with the Father’s own divine seal of approval. “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Believing and living for Jesus constitutes doing the work of God.
This is a broad definition and very liberating. Everyone can do God’s work wherever they find themselves. We seek Jesus first, and then in faith we do our labors in this world as unto the Lord and not unto men. Our own talents and interests lead us into our hobbies and employment, but our faith in Jesus enables us to do these things for God’s glory and not our own.
My dad used to tell his three sons, “find what you love and learn to make a living at it.”
Jesus would say, “find what you love and by faith glorify and enjoy God with it.”
Read MoreJesus Suffered, But You Are Not Allowed to See!
Jesus cried out “My God, My God, Why hast thou forsaken me?” And in those three hours of total darkness on the cross Jesus went through what we would have suffered if we had gone to Hell.
He is the only person to ever go through Hell on earth. We must believe this or we miss the message of the Gospel. If Jesus didn’t go through Hell for us then our Hell remains unpaid.
The Gospel says that there is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus – for Jesus took it all. There is no wrath remaining – for Jesus drank it all.
The Apostle’s Creed includes this theological statement to explain what really happened just before Jesus dismissed His spirit. If it speaks to nothing more than His death and burial then it is redundant. This is the position of John Calvin and the church since the Reformation.
Confessing that Jesus descended into Hell tells us what really happened in the darkness. It is the real story told from God’s perspective. We will never be allowed to peer into this mystery of our salvation because Hell is not for us if we are in Christ.
In Jesus the darkness has lifted. The curse is gone. Death’s stinger broke off inside the flesh of Jesus. The grave holds no victory dance over the dead body of a saint. Hell is not for us.
For on the cross Jesus descended into Hell. Praise His name forever.
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