This may be old news for some of you, but for others it may be the first time you've actually heard this. I'm sure alot of you, whether Christian or not, have heard how this Jesus guy died on the cross and all that, but have you ever wondered why? Like, what does Him dying have to do with us? And why was it death that was required? Like, hello, He's God, why couldn't He just go "yeah, I guess you're forgiven, it's all good man, don't worry about it!"? well, that was the point of this weeks message. So we're gonna look at two reasons for why He died: the figurative reason, and the spiritual reason.

The Figurative Reason:
In the old testament, when Moses and the Isrealites were wandering through the wilderness, they had some pretty elaborate ways to be forgiven of their sins. For example, they had the tabernacle, which had three main sections: the outer court, the inner court, and the Holy of Holies. The people weren't allowed into the Holy of Holies, except once a year when only the high priest could enter so that he could make a sacrifice to God. This sacrifice would cover the people for their sins that year, until the next year when it would have to be done again. On top of that there were also certain cases where the sin was so bad the person would have to pay or make a sacrifice to be forgiven. So you could you imagine if every time you sinned, you had to go kill a couple of goats and a cow? I think our supermarket's would run short on beef pretty soon! But by Jesus coming to Earth and dying on the cross, His blood was shed as the sacrifice for our sins, so that we would no longer have to do this. This does not mean we can now go on sinning without a care, but it does mean that when we do slip up, as we all know we do, we can just ask His forgivness, because the price has already been paid

The Spiritual Reason:
The reason why Jesus died goes further than just to save us a few cows. God has always wanted to have a relationship with us, but because God is holy, He can't allow sin to come near Him. So he sent Jesus, His one and only Son, to come down here to Earth, be tortured for hours, then die on a cross, just so that WE can come closer to God! It wasn't for Jesus' sake, because he was already there with God. He could hang out with God any time he wanted. But he came here and died just so that we could also have that relationship. I think that's pretty awesome, you?

Another interesting point to think about, and the point i shall leave you with is this. God knows everything, so he knew when he created man that we were going to sin. Which means he knew from the begining that Jesus would have to come die. And there's no secrets between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, which means that even before any of us were created, Jesus agreed to come and die for you!

God Bless,
The Uncloned Team.

TELLING THE WORLD – UNCLONED 3^RD MAY 06

WHAT ARE YOU TELLIN THEM?

Romans 10:9

That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

WHY TELL THEM?

Romans 10:13-15

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written by the prophet Isaiah, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

TELL THE WORLD

John 8:26

“But He who sent me is reliable, and what I have heard from Him I tell the world” – Jesus

Ephesians 2:8-10

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is a gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

WHAT TO SAY

Matthew 10:20, 22 and Philippians 2:13

…Don’t worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you…for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose…All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved!

ANYONE CAN DO IT

Acts 2:17-21

In the last days, God says,

I will pour out my Spirit on all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy,

Your young men will see visions,

Your old men will dream dreams

Even on my servants, both men and women,

I will pour out my Spirit in those days,

And they will prophesy.

I will show wonders in the heaven above

And signs on the earth below,

Blood and fire and billows of smoke.

The sun will be turned to darkness

And the moon to blood

Before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.

And everyone who calls

On the name of the Lord will be saved.

Acts 4:13

When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

SHARING WITH BELIEVERS

Acts 2: 44, 47

All the believers were together and had everything in common…they ate together with glad and sincere hearts and at every meal they praised God. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

BEING CONFIDENT

Hebrews 10:35-36, 39

So don’t throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised…We are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.

GOD IS ALL POWERFUL

1 Corinthians 1:25