## After Easter

## Hebrews 7:25

What a wonderful day we had last Sunday! To see the auditorium filled, to hear the children sing about Jesus, to enjoy a clear message of the Gospel, to folks getting things right with God at the altar! It was great! But that was last week, what about today? If last week was simply an emotional high it really won't have a lasting impact, because emotions rise and fall with every moment. However, if what took place last Sunday was of God…and I believe that it was…then the impact will be realized for all eternity! Why? Because God is eternal, therefore His work is eternal! It isn't about a moment in time; it is about forever! With that in mind, consider that what God does today in our hearts and lives will also be forever! We are eternal beings! God created us in His image. Everyone here will continue to exist for all eternity. The question of key importance though is where will we spend that eternal existence? That is not determined by church! It is not determined by the things we do or do not do. It is determined by only one thing…that is our relationship with Jesus Christ! Ask most people about their relationship with the Lord, and the answer will be totally off the subject. You will get all sorts of answers…I go to church or I don't go to church. I was baptized…or I haven't been baptized. I read my Bible…or I don't read my Bible. I pray…or I don't pray. While all of these are important…none of them are on point. For several weeks we have focused our attention on Jesus Christ. The Passion focused on His suffering and death on Calvary. Palm Sunday focused on His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. And on Easter we focused on His resurrection from the tomb. After Easter where are we to focus? We continue to focus on the person of Jesus Christ!

Text: Hebrews 7:25

I. He Is Able "…also to save them to the uttermost…"

A. To forgive our sins.

Mr 2:10a "…Know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins…"

1. Forgiveness of sin = salvation

2. It doesn't matter what we have done

1Jo 1:7b "…The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."

3. Jesus paid the price for sin on Calvary and He is able to forgive us!

4. Paul's testimony was that he was the worst of sinners…

1Ti 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

B. To change our lives.

2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

1. He is able to transform us!

2. When we come to Christ, not only does He save our souls, but He also changes our lives!

3. He brings us from darkness into light.

4. He changes our direction and gives us a new purpose in life.

5. When we come to Christ in faith, it is clear that we will never be the same!

6. Our lives will be changed, because He is able!

C. To keep us safe.

1. The verse says that He is able to save to the uttermost.

2. The uttermost = means completely or entirely.

3. What the Lord does for us isn't half-way!

4. He completely saves and He will keep us saved for all eternity!

Jude 1:24 "Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,"

5. It isn't up to me! I couldn't save myself and there is no way I can keep myself saved…but He is able!

2Ti 1:12b "… For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day."

II. He Is Available "…come unto God by Him…"

A. To everyone

1. I have some great news!

2. No, I didn't save money on my car insurance!

3. The great news is that Jesus Christ is available to everyone this morning.

4. No one is excluded!

Joh 6:37b, "Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out."

5. He is the open access route to God.

6. Actually He is the only access route!

Joh 14:6 "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

B. To you

1. The greatest news that I could give you today is that He is able to save you this morning!

2. That's right…you don't have to leave this auditorium without a personal relationship with the Almighty God and Creator of the universe.

3. You can come today by faith and find salvation in Jesus…find forgiveness of sins…find a new life in Him.

4. What is stopping you?

5. Faith…we can only come to Him by faith!

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

C. Today

1. One thing that will keep you from coming to Christ is procrastination.

2. Too often the response is, "Yes, I know I need to come to the Lord, but not right now!"

3. There is no other day to come to Jesus than today.

4. Yesterday is gone and tomorrow may never come…all we have is right now!

5. Don't put off the most important decision you will ever make!

2Co 6:2b, "…Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)"

III. He Is Alive "…He ever liveth…"

Ac 1:3a, "To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs…"

A. To intercede

1Ti 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

1. He is our representative.

2. He is our advocate with the Father.

1Jo 2:1b "…If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:"

3. We can come to the Father anytime we need to because Jesus opened the way for us to approach God.

B. To encourage

1. I will be the first to admit that there will be some discouraging days ahead for us.

2. But the Lord will be there to encourage us along the way.

3. In Hebrews 12:1-2 the Christian life is compared to running a race.

4. The writer challenges us to "…run with patience (endurance) the race that is set before us."

5. Note in v2 we are encouraged to look unto Jesus.

Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

6. He is not only to be our example, but I see Him as our Encourager.

7. He is there all along the way to encourage us not to give up…but to stay faithful!

C. To equip

Php 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

1. We find that He also lives to equip us.

2. That means He provides everything we need to do the job that He has called us to do.

3. Just as the Lord provided the nation of Israel with everything they needed…

4. He will provide everything we need to live our lives for Him.

Heb 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Jesus Christ: He is Able He is Available He is Alive

Do you know Him today? Come now and allow us to show you from God's Word how you can be saved for all eternity. What is your need this morning? Come now and meet God at this altar.