Jesus' Most Outrageous Sayings - Can Any of You Prove Me Guilty of Sin? - Part 10

Jesus is most outrageous things.

What were doing is were going through the New Testament ever picking out 12 of the most radical things that Jesus never said and then were spending a week on each one of them and asking the question.

Well, so what we've already done know I were ready to do. Number 10 today so if you brought a Bible I want to ask you to open it with me to John chapter 8 Matthew Mark Luke John chapter 8 and if you did not bring a Bible right under the armrest there next to you in your chair you will find a copy of the Bible and were going to be on page 758 here in the main auditorium in in our copy of the Bible, page 758 or John chapter 8 in your copy of the Bible, not while you're turning. Let me give you little bit of background here in John chapter 8 Jesus is involved in a heated argument with the rabbi and the issue that they're arguing about is whether he Jesus is really the Messiah whether he is really God wrapped in human flesh with whether he is really the great I am, who spoke to Moses out of the burning bush, whether he is that I am in case in human flesh, and here in John chapter 8.

Three times Jesus claims to be exactly that book with me. Verse 24.

Jesus says if you do not believe that I am you will indeed die in your sins.

Verse 27. When you have lifted the Son of Man up Jesus was talking here about his death on the cross, then you will know Jesus is that I am.

And finally, verse 58, before Abraham was, Jesus says I am now in response to Jesus's claims. The rabbis accuse him of being a liar. They accuse him of being demon possessed. They accuse him of being a Samaritan, a lowlife slimeball. They even make a snide remark about his birth, rabbis, new about all the rumors surrounding Jesus's birth that his parents were not married for nine months before he appeared.

And so, in light of that, they make this really snide comment verse 44 verse 41 rather, they say we are not illegitimate children like you are we our true descendents of David and here's what Jesus says back to them. Verse 39 is that if you are really Abraham's children, you would do would Abraham this verse 40 instead.

You are looking for a way to kill me, a man was told to the truth that he heard from God. Abraham did not do such things and it's at this point that Jesus says a truly outrageous thing. He turns to the rabbis verse 46 and he says to them.

Can any of you prove me guilty of sin. Can any of you prove me guilty of sin, and if you can't. If I'm telling you the truth, then why go to. Believe me now you understand what Jesus did here is that okay fellas, if I'm such a liar. If I'm demon possessed. If, on the slimeball in the lowlife. The two guys say I am finally illegitimate child that you say IM then then then I have a challenge to offer you. I have a contest to offer you fellas here it is. You find one thing I've ever done wrong and I will remove my claim. I will retract my claim to be the Messiah and I'll go away. Find one thing I've ever done wrong, you know, one demerit I ever got school.

Find one speeding ticket I ever received. Find one bounced check that I ever wrote. Find one link credit card payment that I ever made. Find one selfish act for which I ever had to apologize. Find one rotten thing that ever came out of my mouth anywhere in my life prove me guilty of one sin, and I will withdraw my claim to be the Messiah and I'll go away but if you can't eat it.

If you can't find one single infraction anywhere in my life then why not accept my claim that on the Messiah and believe me not post this is an unbelievable statement Jesus makes here.

This is a preposterous challenge that he throws out to these rabbis which one of you can prove me guilty of a single sin, you try throwing a challenge out to your wife or your husband and you see what happens, you thrive.

Try throwing the challenge out of your young person your to your parents and watch what happens or to your children, you try throwing that out to them. If your parents try throwing the challenge out to your boss or to your neighbors or to your good friends. I guarantee you that even though they may be your friends and even though they may try to see the best in you. You say to them, prove me guilty of one sin and very quickly they would have a few examples that they could share with you now remember Jesus did not throw this challenge out to his friend.

He through this challenge out to his sworn enemies. People who were looking for ways to discredit him, looking for ways to make him retract his claim to be the Messiah and go away. And here it is all they have to do is come up with one single wrongdoing. One single infraction or sin.

He'd ever committed in Jesus that, although it all the way and the rabbis couldn't come up anything focuses the consistent and unbroken claim that the Bible makes for Jesus Christ, namely that he was the last son of God. Hebrews 4 verse 15 Jesus was tempted in every way as we are yet he was without sin. Second Corinthians chapter 5 verse 21 Paul says God made him Jesus Christ, who had no sin to become sin for us on the cross and in first Peter chapter 2 Peter says Jesus committed no sin. Think about it for a moment. Jesus often frequented the Temple in Jerusalem, but he never offered a sin sacrifice for himself.

There you know why he didn't need to think about it. Jesus prayed father forgive them. But Jesus never prayed father forgive me, why because he didn't need to use Avalon. I'm curious why the Bible goes to such lengths to make this point about Jesus. Well, the answer my friend is that if Jesus had one single sin in his life he would've been disqualified from fulfilling his mission here on this earth and what exactly was Jesus's mission here on this earth well, let's go back to the very beginning of time and will find out back to the guard to be in Genesis chapter 2 God said to Adam and Eve. Genesis 2 verse 17 you are free to eat from any tree in the garden but do not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

And if you keep from it you will surely die. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden. They brought a death penalty, not only on themselves but upon the entire human race. Paul says in Romans chapter 5 verse 12. Therefore, sin entered the world through one man, Adam, and death through sin, and so death passed upon all men, because were all descendents about it.

We've all got that defective gene we all inherit a sin nature verse 19. For by one man's disobedience.

All of us were made sinners in the sight of God. Now in the Old Testament times to deal with this problem, God set up the system of animal sacrifices to teach us a great spiritual truth and the truth is that God will accept a substitute. God will allow someone else to pay for your death penalty in my death penalty, God will accept somebody else dying in our place. However, that's substitute has to meet one very important requirement that substitute has to be without blemish.

It has to be perfect and spotless and flawless in every way. Now the Bible tells us that this this goes up a system of animal sacrifices was just a temporary solution to the problem of our sin.

Hebrews 10 for for it is impossible for the blood of bulls and lambs to take away sin in order for there to be a permanent solution to the problem of our death penalty. Sooner or later, a man had to die for mankind. There had to be a human substitute a human lamb and friends.

This was Jesus's mission incoming earth. Let me repeat, this was Jesus's mission incoming to earth. He came to earth to be this human substitute this human lamb. This is why that he's called in John chapter 1 verse 29. The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. This is why Peter referred to him first Peter chapter 1 as a lamb without blemish or's box and the point here is if Jesus had committed one act of wrongdoing. If the rabbis had been able to produce one sin and related to his charge, Jesus would have been a blemished lamb and therefore his death would've paid for no one's death penalty. His death would've been no good for any of us. Let's summarize God's justice demands death as the penalty for our sin.

But the Bible teaches that God will accept the substitute. However, that's substitute has to be perfect and blemished list and sinless. Well, the Lord Jesus Christ. God wrapped in human flesh came to earth and live that sinless life. Therefore, when he died on the cross.

His death satisfied the justice of God on our behalf and friends now that the good justice of God is satisfied for you and me and everybody else in trust cries God is three to do some wonderful things for us.

God is free to give us eternal life, God is free to adopt, just as his personal children.

God is free to enter into an intimate personal relationship with us.

Now that our death penalty is paid. God is three to be our heavenly father. Our shepherd, our God, our defender and our friend all kinds of good things happen friends all kinda good things because those rabbis in John chapter 8 could not answer Jesus back when he said which one of you can prove me guilty of us single soon all kinds of good stuff happens because they couldn't answer that question that you're here today limited moment to say you've never trusted Jesus Christ as your real and personal Savior. This is really important information for you to know it's important for you to know the problem and that is that there is a death penalty hanging over your head and the head of every human being outside of Christ. And it's good for you to know the solution that the solution is not your good works, your religious activity, your church involvement that the solution is Jesus Christ the sinless Lamb of God dying on the cross as your substitute and friend, if you will embrace him as your substitute if you will embrace what he did for you on the cross as your payment for sin before a holy God. You know what all kinds of good things will happen in your life.

God will remove that death penalty and God will bring you all the things we talked about in more dear here today. Boy I sure hope that you give serious consideration to doing now. That's as far as we want to go in the passage because it's time for us to ask our most important question you know what this question is so, put you to sleep for you guys. Okay, ready body weight. All right here we go now.

One to three, what you can do better than that. 123 go I knew you had it in you as you go is a lot okay so what you say. I mean, that's great that Jesus lived a sinless life and it's great that he died on the cross is my substitute on the follower of Christ already know all of that. So what difference is any of this make my life make it make a difference for me Monday to Saturday okay well I'm to do that you stick with me and let me see the me so show you how to do that, you know, the greatest demonstration of Jesus having lived a sinless life, was not here in John chapter 8.

It's wonderful that the rabbis couldn't find anything to say about Jesus, but that is not the greatest proof that he lived a sinless life in the greatest proof that he did. That is actually found in Matthew chapter 4 and I want to read that chapter 2. You and I want us to look at that because is a great lesson there for you and me today as followers of Christ. Matthew chapter 4 verse one then Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil Matthew where the devil and you want to go after anybody, especially the Lord Jesus.

What areas of life which you try to tempt him him or tempt any of us in well first John chapter 2 verse 16 tells us there are three basic areas of life where the devil and his forces try to tempt us to disobey God and they are the cravings of the flesh. John says the loss of the eyes and the pride of life, and here is in Matthew chapter 4 as we look at the at at the Lord Jesus being tempted by Satan himself were to find these are the exact three temptations that the devil use on Jesus first to use the cravings of the flesh, watch first to and after fasting for 40 days and 40 nights. Jesus was hungry. I say that's a an understatement. When you so the tempter came to him and said you are the son of God tell these stones to become bread. What was the first area where he tempter the Lord Jesus the cravings of the flesh. Jesus was hungry and the enemy said softly power Jesus impress everybody make these stones turning the bread because I know you're hungry. I know about any you guys but you ever get this thing at night called the munchies it hits about 9 PM you get those things they limit my home. I don't know if they live in your home. I think they live in the dust falls on the floor I'm I'm I'm not sure, but the cause called the munchies between 9 and 11 PM. You know that. Where you eat everything you not supposed to eat, and you do it you just gorge yourself and you hate yourself in the morning ever do that well. I tried everything I know to deal with the munchies in my house that I I tried wiping my teeth between nine and 11 so I got excuse not to eat something.

I'm Rick, I'm telling you the truth I tried brushing my teeth at 830 so I can say to myself leave our diversity dictating anything now.

I tried actually declaring the kitchen to be off limits to me after 839 and just saying I will not walk in the kitchen will just look at me does look like I succeed look at me know. I don't succeed as much as I wish. And you know what, here's the interesting part. I just ate dinner two or three hours before I had been fasting for 40 days and 40 nights is the center and I can beat the munchies well how about if the Lord Jesus about the Lord Jesus. He had needed in 40 days and 40 nights. Don't you think that there was a genuine temptation here for him to do with the enemy challenged him to do. It was hungry. How did the Lord Jesus respond verse four Jesus answered and said, it is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. So next. The devil turned himself to a second area where he tempts us and that is the pride of life. Verse five then the devil took Jesus into Jerusalem and having stand on the highest point of the temple. If you are the son of God, he said to Jesus, throw yourself down because he goes on to say the angels will come and rescue you. They won't let you hurt yourself.

Everybody in Jerusalem will see it you'll be a big shot don't name a street after you're in town here. You'll be a big McGill of the toolbar all over this town. The pride of life. Jesus answered and said verse seven, it is written, you shall not tempt the Lord your God.

Yes, the angels would come get me, but I'm knocking up with the Lord in that position. Jesus. Third, the enemy turned his temptation to the lust of the eyes for states and the devil took Jesus to a very hot place and he showed him all the kingdoms of the world and there's one door.

All this I will give you Satan said to Jesus, if you will bow down and worship me.

And Jesus said verse 10 away from the state for it is written, you shall worship the Lord your God and him alone shall you serve.

Verse 11 in the devil left in the angels came and attended him. Why is Matthew chapter 4 the greatest demonstration of the sinlessness of Jesus Christ because I want you to remind yourself who Jesus was dealing with here. He was not taking on some demon he was taking on Satan himself one on one in all Satan's fury at all.

Satan's deceitfulness in all of Satan's subtlety and he'd been Satan here without even a hick up, thus confirming that beyond all doubt that he indeed was the sinlessness son of God, but you know there's another reason why I believe God put Jesus through this exercise in Matthew four, not just to demonstrate to us that he indeed was the sinless son of God, but also to show us as followers of Christ today, the correct way to fight off temptation in our lives.

Let's talk about that as we conclude this morning. Ephesians chapter 6 tells us that as followers of Christ we are in the original warfare with Satan and the forces of hell every single day.

Ephesians 6 tells us that God has given us for natural weapons for the fight. And if you look carefully at the list of weapons in Ephesians chapter 6, you will find that they are all defensive weapons, with the exception of one, there is only one offensive weapon.

We've been given.

Ephesians 6 verse 17 the Bible says and take off the sword of the Holy Spirit which is the written word of God.

This is the be all offensive weapon that the Lord Jesus has given us to use the Bible and that is exactly the weapon that Jesus used here in Matthew chapter 4 to fight Satan friends. But what Jesus is teaching us in Matthew chapter 4 is that as followers of Christ. Far too often we try to fight all Satan's temptations using the wrong weapon.

We try to use the power of our own human logic. We try to use the power of our own will, the power of our own human resolve. We try to just got it out when were tempted. We go about will not do that will not do that I will not do that I will not do that I will not and you know what we lose one because were not using the right weapons Jesus and use that weapon. He didn't stand there before Satan say I will not turn to stone.

The bread I will not, I will need that what you need to well Jesus used the sword of the Spirit, he used the word of God. What he say to Satan three times. It is written, it is written, it is written, that's how we fought back against temptation in his life, and this is exactly how he teaches us to do it and I'm telling you it will work a lot better then we will work in your life. For example, if were tempted to look at a woman wrongly man that how we fight that we fight that by saying it is written. Job 31 one. I have made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a woman.

Matthew chapter 5 Jesus said any man who looks on a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery in his heart.

You throwbacks at your temptation to look at a local woman wrong and I guarantee that you lose its appeal.

Real quick. Hey, what if were tempted to cheat or to lie. Well, how do we fight something like that.

We fight it by saying it is written. Psalm 11 seven.

The Lord is righteous and he loves righteousness and what I'm about to do is then, and therefore the Lord hates this to throw throw that in an attempt to do something lying or cheating, and you watch how quickly loses its appeal. If were tempted to give up. How do we deal with that. We say it is written in Philippians 413 I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. If were tempted to gossip and backbiting speak ill of other people.

How do we fight that all we quote added. It is written. Ephesians 429 do not let any unwholesome word talk come out of your mouth, but only that which is helpful for building people up if were tempted to curse and use foul language, how do we fight that temptation off. It is written Colossians 46 let your conversation be full of grace. Season the salt for tempted to try to get away with doing something evil and wrong cheat on our taxes, engage in a business deal that we know is unrighteous. How do we fight that temptation off. It is written. Galatians 67 do not be deceived. Nobody makes a fool out of God for whatever a person sows, that is exactly what they're going to read for that sure makes it more enticing to tell you truth tell the truth on taxes to see friends as a follower of Christ. I found over the last 35 years that when I'm faced with temptation and I so Scripture added then it loses its attractiveness to me, real quickly and this is how the Lord Jesus taught temptation and if he thought it this way and this is the way you and I need to fight it. If we want to be successful. One last thought here before we quit and that is what you notice that the three it is written is that the Lord Jesus used two of them were from Deuteronomy chapter 6 and the other one was from Deuteronomy chapter 8 what is this tell us it tells us that when the Lord Jesus was out there for 40 days and 40 nights fasting in the wilderness he was not playing pinochle. He was not playing backgammon. He was meditating on the word of God. He was reading the book of Deuteronomy and memorizing the book of Deuteronomy and meditating on the book of Deuteronomy and hiding the book of Deuteronomy in his heart, so that when he needed it. It was there in an interesting that Jesus didn't say to Satan when he tempted him Satan when it wait a minute is a first for that. I don't know what it is I know is in there somewhere on the second I got a run to my concordance, the Google this. I'll be right back to say we are coming right back universe didn't even do that. No, no, what did Jesus do the right verse for the right temptation, right on the tip of his tongue right when he needed it.

Why because he'd been hiding the word of God.

It is hard for 40 days and 40 nights, even memorizing it.

Ruminating on it and he had a right were needed. That's why Psalm 119 verse 11 says your word I have hidden in my heart. Why so that I might not sin against you, so that I got a theory use when I needed and friendly say in closing, if you're here today in your follower of Christ and you are losing the battle against temptation in your life more than your winning. If you're here today in your follower of Christ in your Christian experience is unstable. Your Christian spirit experience is inconsistent.

I will bet my retirement fund on why that is.

It's because all back to that you are not doing in your life with the Lord Jesus was doing in his life for those 40 days he was out of the wilderness that you were not doing in your life. What enabled him to fight off temptation out there in the wilderness, you are not hiding the word of God in your heart every day you're not meditating on it memorizing it ruminating over it so that you don't have the right verse at the right time when you need it for the right temptation and that's why we don't do better now were never going to do perfect were never going to be similarly perfect were never going to get it all right but I'm here to tell you that most of us can do a whole lot better than were doing if we learn to fight temptation the right way, not with the power of human logic cannot with the power of human will, but with the sword of the Spirit is written, it is written is written. That's what you throwback at temptation. That's what you throwback at the enemy. So I want to challenge you today that if your Christian life is inconsistent. If it is unstable if you're losing more than your winning. I can tell you how to change that Psalm 119. Your word I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin against you friend you set aside time every single day to do what Jesus did out the wilderness to hide the word of God in your heart memorize the word of God meditate on the word of God ruminate on the word of God study the word of God and then you use it to fight temptation in your life and I promise you. Your consistency in the Christian experience. Your stability in the Christian experience will go up significantly. So let me ask you what to do about this. You walk out here you go.

To say B+ not bad today B+ today or you walk out of here and say you know what I'm to change my daily routine. I want to change my daily lifestyle I'm little reorient my priorities, to make sure I get time every day to hide the word of God in my heart so I can be more consistent in table I can win more than I lose.

Well, I can't make the decision for you.

I can just tell you walking on your grade in the sermons.

Michael change life to walk out here and change your priorities in your lifestyle to build the word of God in and it will that's the so what are today fight temptation away the Lord Jesus to hope you'll take that to heart for Jesus, thank you that you are mighty God and thank you that you love us so much that you want us to be successful in our fight against the enemy in our fight against our own sinful human nature that you want us to have a Christian experience that is driven by consistency and stability, and so Lord I pray that you would show us today that you provided the weaponry for us to do that you provided the strategy for us to do that and we simply need to humble ourselves and accept your strategy. Instead of trying to do it in our own energy in our own strength, Lord Jesus change the very way we relate to temptation in our life change the way we fight it change the way we orient our life each and every day. When it comes to the word of God change our lives because we were here today and help us go out and live a more consistent life in the eyes of an onlooking world so that Jesus Christ gets the glory, and gets the honor or thanks for bringing us here today. May we be different as we leave and we pray these things in Jesus name God's people said