Simply Believe

[0:00] We're talking in this recent morning series about families and faith.

[0:17] I want to urge you in this part of the service to faith today. To urge you to faith. I say to you to believe. We proclaim our faith today as we remember the Lord Jesus together at this time of communing together.

[0:33] It's a time where we reflect on the cross. We think back to the cross. We call to mind what God has done. And we think of God's unfailing love. God's unfailing love.

[0:44] 1 Corinthians 15. In a nutshell it captures the gospel. The good news about what faith is centred in. And Paul writes here in 1 Corinthians 15 from verse 3.

[0:56] He says, For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received. How that Christ died for us. For our sins.

[1:07] According to the scriptures. And that he was buried. And that he rose again the third day. According to the scriptures. So there's some vital truths here. Life transforming truths.

[1:19] And we shout it out today. We believe this. We believe this. This is the gospel. This is the good news. Christ died. Christ died. Christ died. Christ died. Christ died.

[1:33] For our sins. For our sins. He bore our sins. He took our place. Our sins. Freely. Fully. Forever.

[1:44] He shed his blood. Willingly. Willfully. For us. For a reason. The death was real. And the death was for a reason. For a reason.

[1:55] That's what we reflect on today. Philippians 2 verse 8. The context tells of how. He stepped down from glory. And became a man. Verse 8. Philippians 2 it says.

[2:06] And being found in fashion as a man. He humbled himself. And became obedient unto death. Even. The death of the cross. Even.

[2:17] The death of the cross. The cross. It's horrific. It's graphic. It's gruesome. It's brutal. And a transaction took place there at the cross. At that place.

[2:28] At that point. In time. And space. That changed human history forever. As you simply believe. It can change your destiny. Forever.

[2:40] A transfer. A credit. Is made to your account. Imagine going to your bank book. Or your bank transaction record. And seeing. Wow. There's a massive credit.

[2:52] Being put to my account. That's what God has done. He's credited. His righteousness. You were in the red. Big time. And God credited. His righteousness.

[3:03] To your account. He's wiped out your debt. That. You can't pay. A credit is made to your account. And you're undeserving of that. It's unmerited.

[3:13] To you and to me. Unworthy as we are. If you will. But receive it. By faith. If you would just believe. Simply believe. 1 Peter 2.

[3:24] It says that. Of our Lord. It says. Who? His own self. Bear our sins. In his own body. On the tree. That we being dead to sins. Should live unto righteousness.

[3:36] By whose stripes. Ye were healed. Bear our sins. In his own body. You can know. And say by faith today. My sins were there.

[3:47] My sins were there. On that body. My sins were there. My guilt. Has been changed. And. A transaction is made.

[3:59] That's transferred. My guilt. And replaced it. With his righteousness. My penalty. Replaced with his pardon. My stain.

[4:09] With his cleansing power. My fault. With his faultlessness. That transaction has been made. That transfer. That change of identity.

[4:21] And the reason that Christ died. Is because of our sin. That makes it very personal. Doesn't it? Makes it something meaningful. For each one. That believes here today.

[4:32] A change can happen. And a change happens at the cross. A revolution takes place. A liberation. A liberation. Happens at the cross. Something. Gets taken away.

[4:43] Taken. Away. The just condemnation for our sin. Gets taken away. It was blotted out. In other words. It was permanently removed. He's taken. His eraser.

[4:53] And he's removed it. He's erased it. I like to think of it. As someone has put it. How God's memory bank. He's just totally wiped the hard drive.

[5:05] Of all of that. Which was against us. All of the memory. That he could have held against us. It's been wiped clean. Blotted out. He can't remember it anymore.

[5:15] He can't retrieve it anymore. It's in the sea of his forgetfulness. It was blotted out at the cross. So that he can no longer remember it. And it's simply removed.

[5:26] If we simply believe. Colossians 2 we read. It tells us again. That which happened at the cross. It says. Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that were against us.

[5:37] Which was contrary to us. And he took it away. He took it out of the way. Nailing it to his cross. And having spoiled principalities and powers. He made a show of them openly.

[5:50] Triumphing over them in it. So just to go through that. He took what was against us. He took what was contrary to us. And what did he do with it?

[6:00] It says he took it out of the way. He took it out of the way. That barrier. That obstacle. That separation. He nailed it to the cross. He took it out of the way. In other words.

[6:10] He wiped the slate clean. The guilty verdict. I'm guilty. But he took that guilty verdict away. The law says I'm guilty.

[6:22] The law. I've broken the law. I've broken the Ten Commandments. I've broken every commandment. In some measure. And the just punishment. That was due to me.

[6:32] He took it out of the way. He took it out of the way. He took our death penalty. He took that decree. The charges. That record. If you like. That was. That all my sins were written.

[6:45] He nailed it to the cross. And said it's paid. Paid in full. Taken out of the way. The charges against me. The debt. That I could not pay. He paid it all. And he cancelled it there.

[6:56] At the cross. And in the cross. It says he triumphs over. Principalities. And powers. All of those. Powers and forces. And those. Authorities.

[7:08] That would say. We're guilting. He drags. Every power. That is against us. Hellwards. And he's won the victory. Over. Such things. Over our condemnation.

[7:19] He's won the victory. At the cross. If you'll simply. Believe. Simply. Believe. Believe. Christ died. Not only that. Christ died. Why?

[7:30] For. Our. Sins. Christ died. Yet he rose. He conquered death. And now. There is triumph. It says that. He spoiled.

[7:41] Principalities. And powers. Having made a show of them openly. Triumphing over them. In it. He triumphed over. Such forces against us. In the cross. And Ephesians 4.

[7:52] 8. It tells us. When he ascended up on high. When he rose. And ascended. Into heaven. He led captivity. Captive. So. It's telling us. There.

[8:02] We're no longer held captive. In the prison house of guilt. He's set us free. He's broken the shackles. He's tore the bars away. He's broken every chain.

[8:13] That holds us prisoner. Why? If you simply believe. Simply believe this. And now. In faith. We stir our hearts. As we prepare for the next event.

[8:23] It says. This do till I come. We do this until the next event. On God's calendar. Which is. He's returning. He's coming back again. And he says.

[8:33] This do till then. And our part is simply to believe today. And so for each one. I ask you. I urge you. To believe. I'll call the ushers now.

[8:44] And I've got Bob. Ian. Moses. Josh. If you'd like to come. And we grab from the back. And then bring to the front. And lead through. And every believer is welcome.

[8:55] If you believe. Simply believe. This is for you today. There's no. There's no.

[9:07] Extensive. Ritual. Or ceremony. I don't need to. I kind of make it. A bit of a. Tongue in cheek about this. I don't have to blow holy smoke over you. Or sprinkle holy water on you.

[9:19] Or say. Some magic words over you. It's simply believe. Simply believe this morning. Simply trust him. Simply trust him now. Trust him now. And if you trust him.

[9:30] If you believe. That he died. For your sins. This is for you today. Please. Join with us. If you'd like. To remember. Our Lord's death.

[9:41] With us just now. This is the opportunity. Just now. And as we serve. We'll just hold together. And then we'll join as one. Hold the bread and the cup.

[9:53] And let's wait for one another. And I read this quote from a preacher. About this simply believing. That our part is simply to believe.

[10:03] And this is what the preacher says about the gospel. He says. The gospel tells rebellious men. That God is reconciled. That justice is satisfied.

[10:16] That sin has been atoned for. That the judgment of the guilty may be revoked. The condemnation of the sinner cancelled. The curse of the Lord blotted out.

[10:29] The gates of hell closed. And the portals of heaven opened wide. The power of sin subdued. The guilty conscience healed.

[10:42] The broken heart comforted. And the sorrow and misery of the four undone. Simply believe.

[10:53] For I delivered unto you first of all that. Which I also received. How that Christ died for our sins. According to the scriptures. And that he was buried.

[11:04] And that he rose again. The third day. According to the scriptures. And being found in fashion as a man. He humbled himself. And became obedient unto death.

[11:14] Even the death of the cross. Who his own self bare our sins. In his own body. On the tree. That we being dead to sin. Should live unto righteousness.

[11:26] By whose stripes ye were healed. Blotting out the handwriting. Of ordinances that was against us. Which was contrary to us. And took it out of the way.

[11:38] Nailing it to his cross. And having spoiled principalities and powers. He made a show of them. Openly. And triumphing over them. In it.

[11:50] When he ascended up on high. He led. Captivity. Captivity. Simply believe today. Simply trust him. Believe that Christ died.

[12:05] For your sins. And personally. Trust him. Trust his cleansing power. Trust his forgiveness. Trust his grace.

[12:17] To welcome you. Unworthy as each one is. His arms are extended to us today. Thank God for his grace. That he still extends mercy.

[12:28] To those undeserving. Which is all of humanity. Hands extended. As they were extended across.

[12:40] Wide open. They still are wide open. To receive. And he will not cast away one. Who comes to him. By faith.

[12:51] Simply believe. Simply believe. Sometimes our belief is a bit like the man.

[13:06] He cried. I believe. Lord I believe. Help thou. Mine unbelief. Amen. We don't have to have all the I's dotted. And the T's crossed. Every point of doctrine.

[13:19] Ratified to the nth degree. And simply believe. As a child would believe. Simply believe.

[13:31] I'll ask. Someone at the back there. With a loud voice. Please. To give thanks for the bread. That reflects his broken body for us.

[13:42] One of you fellas at the back there. Amen. Father. I come to you in the Lord Jesus name. Thank you my Lord God. For the wonderful salvation.

[13:53] That we have in the death and resurrection. Of your only begotten son. In the Lord Jesus Christ. Lord. We are all sinners. And none of us are worthy. My Lord. That you took our sins upon yourself.

[14:03] On the cross. That we might be with you forever. Lord. Thank you. Thank you God. Thank you Lord Jesus Christ. We drink. We eat this bread. In remembrance of the sacrifice.

[14:13] That you made on the cross. Substitutionally. Getting. That we have in the Lord Jesus. Amen. Amen. Let us eat together. Last one of the chaps at the back.

[14:34] To pray for them. The cup. That speaks of the blood. Shed for us. Heavenly Father. Thank you. Amen.

[15:05] Let us drink. Let us drink. Amen. Let us drink. Let us drink.