THERE IS CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING THE CROSS OF
JESUS CHRIST TODAY.
SOME HATE THE CROSS, SOME LOVE THE CROSS, BUT WE
KNOW THAT THE CROSS IS ULTIMATELY THE ONLY THING
IN WHICH WE CAN REALLY PLACE OUR HOPE.
THE CROSS OF JESUS CHRIST SYMBOLIZES THE GREATEST
ACT OF LOVE THE WORLD HAS EVER SEEN.
WE'RE ALL BORN IN SIN; AND THEREFORE, EVERY ONE OF US
NEEDS THE CROSS TO BE REDEEMED.
THE BEAUTY OF THE CROSS IS THAT THE LORD SAYS,
"THERE IS NO WAY TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH
HIM."
AND HE ALSO SAYS TO PICK UP THE CROSS AND FOLLOW,
SO THERE IS NO WAY AROUND THE CROSS.
WELCOME TO THIS SPECIAL PROGRAM, CROSS PURPOSES,
A PRODUCTION OF D. JAMES KENNEDY MINISTRIES, WHERE
WE ARE STANDING FOR TRUTH AND DEFENDING YOUR
FREEDOM.
DURING THIS SPECIAL TIME OF YEAR WHEN WE CELEBRATE
CHRIST'S RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD, WE'RE GOING TO
TAKE A CLOSER LOOK INSIDE THIS MOST IMPORTANT EVENT
IN ALL OF HISTORY.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN THAT JESUS DIED ON THE CROSS
FOR OUR SINS?
WHAT HAPPENED ON THAT CROSS?
AND WHY DOES IT MATTER TO YOU?
SADLY, MOST PEOPLE DO NOT UNDERSTAND THIS.
AND EVEN MANY CHRISTIANS MISS THE JOY, PEACE, AND
SECURITY GOD INTENDS FOR US BECAUSE WE DON'T
UNDERSTAND THE FULLNESS OF CHRIST'S DEATH, BURIAL,
AND RESURRECTION.
STAY TUNED, AND DISCOVER IN A DEEPER WAY WHAT
CHRIST HAS DONE FOR YOU.
THE CROSS HAS ALWAYS BEEN CONTROVERSIAL, SIMPLY
BECAUSE IT IS THE EMBLEM OF CHRISTIANITY, AND WHY
WOULD YOU USE THAT FOR YOUR LOGO, OF ALL THINGS,
AN INSTRUMENT OF TORTURE.
AND YET, IT'S ONE OF THE EARLIEST CHRISTIAN
SYMBOLS.
THE CROSS WAS AN INSTRUMENT OF DEATH, A
HORRIBLE INSTRUMENT OF TORTURE.
IN THE TIME OF JESUS, WEARING A CROSS AROUND
YOUR NECK WOULD'VE BEEN IN OUR CULTURE AKIN TO
WEARING AN ELECTRIC CHAIR AROUND YOUR NECK.
THE EARLY CHRISTIANS WOULD NEVER HAVE CHOSEN THE
CROSS AS THEIR SYMBOL IF IT ALL ENDED ON THE CROSS.
WE'RE ALL BORN IN SIN; AND THEREFORE, EVERY ONE OF US
NEEDS THE CROSS TO BE REDEEMED.
CRITICAL SCHOLARS WHO WANT TO REJECT THE DOCTRINE OF
THE ATONEMENT ARE, INDEED, REJECTING WHAT IS CENTRAL
TO THE CHRISTIAN FAITH.
WHILE THE CRITICS AND THE UNBELIEVERS AND THE
APOSTATE CHURCH SAY THAT THE CROSS IS PRIMITIVE
THE SHEDDING OF BLOOD IS PRIMITIVE, WE BELIEVE LIKE
THE APOSTLE PAUL SAID, "IT IS TO US IS NONE OTHER
THAN THE POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION."
THE CROSS OF CHRIST IS NOW A FAMILIAR SYMBOL.
WE WEAR IT AROUND OUR NECKS AND PUT IT ON BUMPER
STICKERS.
BUT IT WAS ONCE MUCH DIFFERENT.
AS YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE, AT THE TIME OF CHRIST, A
CROSS WAS A HORRIBLE AND EVEN SCANDALOUS THING.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT ALL FOUR GOSPELS YOU REALIZE THAT
ABOUT ONE-THIRD OF THEIR CONTENT DEALS WITH THE
LAST WEEK OF JESUS' LIFE; IN OTHER WORDS, REALLY THE
PASSION AND RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD WHERE HE DIED
FOR US IN OUR PLACE.
NOW ONE ASPECT OF THAT PASSION WAS WHEN HE WAS
SCOURGED, ISAIAH 53 WRITTEN 700 YEARS BEFORE
CHRIST TALKS ABOUT, "BY HIS STRIPES WE ARE
HEALED."
NOW, SCOURGING INVOLVED TAKING A LEATHER WHIP, AND
THEN IT WAS USED TO FLAGELLATE THE PRISONER.
AND IT HAD TO BE DONE VERY CAREFULLY, BECAUSE IT
COULD ACTUALLY KILL THE PRISONER.
THE SCOURGING PRIOR TO CRUCIFIXION WAS A REAL
GRUESOME OPERATION.
THEY HAD LITTLE BITS OF BONE THAT WERE SHARPENED,
LITTLE PIECES OF METAL, SPIKES, NAILS THAT WERE
INCLUDED IN THE SCOURGE.
AND SO, A PERSON WAS FAIRLY WELL LACERATED,
THERE IS NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE ROMANS CALL THAT THE
LITTLE DEATH, PRIOR TO THE DEATH IN CRUCIFIXION.
THEN THE ROMANS MADE HIM CARRY HIS CROSS, AS HE
MADE HIS WAY THROUGH THE VIA DOLOROSA, THE WAY OF
SORROWS, THEN THEY BROUGHT HIM TO CALVARY WHERE THEY
CRUCIFIED HIM.
SO THE MOCKERY OF THE SOLDIERS, THE WEIGHT OF
THE WOOD, THE SCOURGING, THE WHIPS, THE NAILS, ALL
THE THINGS THAT WE ALL ARE FAMILIAR WITH, ARE A
REMINDER TO US THE DEGREE TO WHICH OUR LORD WAS
WILLING TO GO, THE WILLINGNESS TO LAY DOWN
HIS LIFE THAT WE MIGHT LIVE.
CRUCIFIXION IS A PUBLIC, EVER SO PUBLIC GHASTLY
DEMONSTRATION OF DON'T-DO- WHAT-THAT-FELLOW- DID
ELSE YOU'RE GONNA END UP ON THE CROSS LIKE HE IS.
CRUCIFIXION WAS INVENTED BY THE SYROPHOENICIANS
ABOUT 600 YEARS BEFORE CHRIST BUT IT WAS
PERFECTED BY THE ROMANS.
IT WAS THE MOST PAINFUL WAY TO DIE, YOU WOULD
RATHER BE MAULED BY ANIMALS OR STONED OR
ANYTHING THAN BE CRUCIFIED.
THE NAILS WENT THROUGH HERE AND THAT CAUSES THE
THUMB TO JERK IN BECAUSE OF THE NERVE THAT'S BEING
PINCHED THERE AS THE NAIL WOULD GO THROUGH THERE.
ASPHYXIATION IS PROBABLY THE CAUSE OF DEATH,
BECAUSE YOU SIMPLY CAN'T BREATHE.
WHEN YOU'RE HANGING ON THE CROSS LONG ENOUGH, YOU
FINALLY CAN'T GET YOUR BREATH ANYMORE, BECAUSE
THERE IS NO FULCRUM IN WHICH TO HOLD YOUR BODY
TOGETHER TO DRAW THAT BREATH.
AND JESUS CHRIST, OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, WAS HUNG ON
THAT CROSS FOR 6 HOURS; IT WAS HORRIFIC.
PEOPLE DID NOT TALK ABOUT THE CROSS IN POLITE
CONVERSATION.
YOU DIDN'T SIT AROUND YOUR DINNER TABLE AND DISCUSS
THE LATEST CRUCIFIXIONS.
MUCH IN THE SAME WAY THAT LYNCHINGS WOULD BE IN OUR
UNDERSTANDING, BUT YOU DIDN'T TALK ABOUT LYNCHING
AROUND THE TABLE WITH YOUR CHILDREN.
AND SO, THE CROSS TO THEM WOULD BE AKIN TO LYNCHING
TO US.
CLEARLY, THINGS WERE NOT RIGHT WITH THE UNIVERSE
WHEN THE SON OF GOD WAS HANGING ON THE CROSS.
IN FACT, THE SUN WAS DARKENED AND THAT'S WHERE
WE GET THE PHRASE "DARKNESS AT NOON."
AS IF HEAVEN IS MOURNING THE FACT THAT THE CREATOR
OF THE SUN AND THAT THE CREATOR OF LIGHT IS NOW
HANGING ON A CROSS AND IT BECAME DARK, AND THE
DARKNESS FELL UPON THIS ENTIRE AREA TO TELL THAT
THIS IS THE ONE WHO SAID, "LET THERE BE LIGHT, AND
THERE WAS LIGHT."
AND SO, WHEN HE WAS ON THE CROSS IT BECAME DARK.
IN JOHN'S GOSPEL IT SAYS THAT THE ROMAN SOLDIERS
WENT TO THE THIEVES ON BOTH SIDES OF CHRIST, AND
THEY BROKE THEIR KNEES; THEN WHEN THEY CAME TO
CHRIST THEY SAW THAT HE WAS ALREADY DEAD, SO ONE
OF THEM TOOK A SPEAR AND PIERCED HIS HEART AND
IMMEDIATELY OUT FLOWED BLOOD AND WATER.
THEY HAD TO BORROW A TOMB.
SOMEBODY VOLUNTEERED AND SAYS, "I HAVE A NEW TOMB,
YOU CAN BURY HIM IN MY TOMB," AND HE WAS BURIED
IN JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA'S TOMB, WHICH WAS BRAND NEW.
AND IT IS BEFITTING THAT THE LORD OF GLORY BE
BURIED IN A BRAND NEW TOMB, BECAUSE HE WASN'T
GONNA BE THERE FOR VERY LONG.
AND THE THIRD DAY HE ROSE AGAIN WITH POWER AND GREAT
GLORY, AND HE WAS SEEN FOR OVER 40 DAYS BY
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE.
HE FELLOWSHIPPED WITH THE DISCIPLES, HE
FELLOWSHIPPED WITH THE 72 AND THE 12 AND THE 500
EYEWITNESSES SAW THE RISEN LORD.
A CRUCIFIED MESSIAH IS A FALSE MESSIAH.
ONLY JESUS IS THOUGHT TO BE THE TRUE MESSIAH AFTER
HE'S CRUCIFIED.
THAT'S A VERY STRONG ARGUMENT FOR THE
RESURRECTION, 'CAUSE YOU HAVE TO ANSWER THE
QUESTION, WHAT'S DIFFERENT ABOUT JESUS FROM THESE
OTHER DOZEN MESSIANIC CLAIMANTS WHO WERE ALSO
CRUCIFIED.
WHAT WOULD CAUSE FOLLOWERS TO SAY, "YES, HE WAS STILL
THE MESSIAH, DESPITE THE FACT THAT HE WAS
CRUCIFIED?"
JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD AFTER HE EARNED OUR
SALVATION ON THE CROSS.
HE CAME TO GIVE HIS LIFE AS A RANSOM FOR MANY.
HE SAYS THAT HE CAME TO LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS
SHEEP.
AND SO, WE CAN UNDERSTAND THAT CHRIST UNDERSTOOD
THAT HIS COMING INTO THE WORLD WAS A COMING TO DIE
FOR THE SIN THAT IT SAYS IN MATTHEW, CHAPTER 1,
"FOR THE SINS OF HIS PEOPLE."
WE CALL THE DAY CHRIST WAS CRUCIFIED "GOOD FRIDAY."
ISN'T THAT STRANGE?
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, WE'RE CELEBRATING THE
EXECUTION OF OUR SAVIOR.
HOW COULD SUCH A THING BE CALLED GOOD?
IF JESUS WERE MERELY DRAGGED TO HIS DEATH
AGAINST HIS WILL AS SOME MODERN SCHOLARS HAVE
CLAIMED- A MERE VICTIM OF CIRCUMSTANCE- IT COULDN'T
BE "GOOD."
BUT IS IT POSSIBLE THERE WAS MORE TO IT THAN THAT?
LET'S TAKE A CLOSER LOOK.
SOME SKEPTICS HAVE SAID, WELL JESUS DIED AS A
MARTYR TO HIS CAUSE; THAT'S NOT WHAT HAPPENED.
JESUS VOLUNTARILY LAID DOWN HIS LIFE ON OUR
BEHALF.
GOD HATES SIN; GOD POURED OUT HIS WRATH ON HIS SON
JESUS CHRIST WHEN HE WAS THERE ON THE CROSS.
AND THE NIGHT BEFORE HE WAS CRUCIFIED HE
CONTEMPLATED WHAT HE WAS GONNA HAVE TO DO ON THAT
GOOD FRIDAY.
SO, HE GOES OUT TO THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE AND
IT IS THERE THAT HE ENTERS INTO PRAYER.
AND HE HAS INVITED THE DISCIPLES TO PRAY WITH
HIM, BUT THEY ARE TOO TIRED.
THEY FALL ASLEEP, AND SO HE IS ALONE.
AND THIS IS WHERE HE IS IN CONVERSATION WITH THE
FATHER AND ASKS THE FATHER IF THERE'S ANY OTHER WAY
TO ACCOMPLISH THIS MISSION.
"PLEASE, TAKE THIS CUP AWAY FROM ME," HE SAYS.
"BUT NOT MY WILL BUT THINE BE DONE."
SO, HE IS WILLING TO SUBMIT HIMSELF, HIS WHOLE
BEING TO THE FATHER'S WILL AND TO DO WHATEVER IT IS
GOING TO TAKE TO ACCOMPLISH THE MISSION,
WHICH IS TO RESCUE US.
IT'S TO SUBSTITUTE FOR US.
AND HE GOES INTO THAT KNOWING IT IS GOING TO BE
PAINFUL.
IN FACT, HE IS SO AWARE OF HOW PAINFUL IT IS GOING TO
BE THAT HE SWEATS SO PROFUSELY THAT IT IS AS IF
BLOOD WERE COMING OUT.
AND THE IMAGES ARE VERY REAL FOR ALL OF US, THE
LORD IN A MOMENT OF PRAYER, AND THIS WHOLE
AGONY, WE REFER TO IT AS THE AGONY IN THE GARDEN,
WELL WHAT IS AGONIZING?
OF COURSE, THE REALITY OF WHAT IS FORTHCOMING, THE
LORD KNOWING THAT WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO WIN THE
SALVATION, WHAT IT WOULD COST IS HIS OWN LIFE, HIS
OWN BLOOD, HIS OWN SHEDDING OF HIS OWN FLESH
BROKEN OPEN FOR US.
IN THIS CASE WE HAVE MORE THAN AN EARTHLY EVENT
TAKING PLACE HERE.
THIS IS PART OF A DIVINE DRAMA OF OUR SALVATION.
THIS IS ONLY AT THE SURFACE WHAT IS HAPPENING
AT A TREMENDOUS DEPTH BY WHICH OUR SALVATION WAS
ACCOMPLISHED BY GOD IN CHRIST.
THAT IS A COSMIC DIFFERENCE BETWEEN JESUS'
DEATH AND ALL OTHER DEATHS AND ALL OTHER MARTYRDOMS
THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE.
JESUS HAD NOT ONLY THE PHYSICAL AGONIES OF GOOD
FRIDAY, BUT HE HAD ALSO THE BURDEN OF THE SINS OF
THE WORLD.
IT WAS A COSMIC LOAD THAT ONLY GOD HIMSELF COULD'VE
SHOULDERED.
AND I THINK THAT'S THE LARGER SIGNIFICANCE OF
WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE ON GOOD FRIDAY.
WHEN JESUS WAS ON THE CROSS HE ALLOWED THE
INFINITE WRATH OF GOD TO BE PLACED ON HIM BECAUSE
HE HAD BECOME SIN ON OUR BEHALF AND BECAUSE GOD
HATES SIN HE BROKE FELLOWSHIP WITH HIS SON.
GOD THE FATHER REJECTED GOD THE SON AND SO JESUS
CRIES OUT, QUOTING PSALM 22: "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY
HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?"
AND I BELIEVE THAT HE IS CRYING OUT OF HIS ANGUISH
AT THE EXPERIENCE THAT HE IS ENCOUNTERING AT THAT
MOMENT, AS HE'S CARRYING THE SINS OF THE WORLD.
AND WHAT'S AMAZING ABOUT THAT MOMENT IS HE IS
CARRYING OUR FORSAKENNESS, WHAT SHOULD'VE BEEN OUR
FORSAKENNESS.
GOD SHOULD BE TURNING HIS FACE AWAY FROM US, BUT
INSTEAD HE'S TURNING IT AWAY FROM CHRIST.
AND AT THAT MOMENT ON THE CROSS, AS JESUS CHRIST
CARRIED ON HIS HOLY SHOULDERS THE SINS OF THE
WORLD AND THE REBELLION AND ALL OF THE WORSE THINGS
WE CAN THINK ABOUT, AS THOSE SINS AND THE
MAN'S REBELLION WERE CARRIED ON HIS HOLY
SHOULDERS, THE FATHER COULD NOT LOOK UPON SIN.
AND THAT IS THAT MOMENT OF SEPARATION FOR WHICH HE IS
BORN.
THAT IS THE PAIN OF THE CROSS.
THAT WAS THE SACRIFICE OF THE CROSS.
AS YOU'VE HEARD FROM OUR EXPERTS, THE BIBLE MAKES
IT CLEAR THAT JESUS TOOK OUR SINS TO THE CROSS.
BUT SO WHAT?
THAT HAPPENED 2000 YEARS AGO.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR US TODAY?
WAS IT A MERE CURIOSITY OF HISTORY, OR DID SOMETHING
HAPPEN IN JESUS' DEATH AND RESURRECTION THAT AFFECTS
THINGS RIGHT NOW- IN YOUR LIFE AND MINE?
TETELESTAI IS A GREEK WORD THAT MEANS IT IS FINISHED.
IT'S INTERESTING THAT THAT'S THE WORD YOU HEAR
JESUS CRYING FROM THE CROSS, TETELESTAI, IT IS
FINISHED, IT IS PAID IN FULL, THAT THE DEBT THAT
WE OWED THAT WE COULD NEVER PAY, CHRIST HAS PAID
IN FULL.
THE FACT IS THAT GOD IS A LAWGIVER AND WE HAVE
BROKEN HIS LAWS.
ALL OF OUR SINS WILL BE PUNISHED.
BUT THE QUESTION IS WHETHER THEY'RE PUNISHED
IN CHRIST OR WHETHER WE WILL EXPERIENCE THEIR
PUNISHMENT.
EVERY SIN WILL BE PUNISHED.
IT IS EITHER PUNISHED ON THE CROSS OR IT IS
PUNISHED IN EVERLASTING HELL.
WILL WE ACCEPT THE PUNISHMENT THAT GOD LAYS
UPON HIS SON, OR WILL WE ASSUME THAT PUNISHMENT FOR
OURSELVES.
EVERY TIME I LOOK AT THE IMAGE OF OUR LORD ON THE
CROSS, I'M REMINDED OF A GIFT.
A GIFT THAT I DIDN'T DESERVE, A GIFT THAT IS
FREELY GIVEN, A GIFT THAT I DON'T EARN, A GIFT THAT
I CANNOT PURCHASE; IT IS A PURE GIFT THAT GOD
HIMSELF, IN THE FULLNESS OF TIME BRINGS ABOUT THE
MOST PRECIOUS THING THE WORLD WILL EVER HAVE, AND
THAT IS SALVATION.
IN THE POSTMODERN CULTURE, OF COURSE, WHAT IS
HAPPENING, A LOT OF SO-CALLED EVANGELICALS ARE
USING THE GRACE OF GOD AS A LICENSE.
THERE ARE CHURCHES ARE FILLED WITH YOUNG PEOPLE
WHO ARE LIVING IMMORAL LIVES AND THEY'LL BE DRUNK
ON SATURDAY NIGHT AND BEFORE THEY'RE LEAVING THE
PARTY, THEY SAID, "HEY, WHICH SERVICE ARE YOU
GONNA GO TO."
THAT IS PRESUMING ON GOD.
YOU SEE, UNTIL WE UNDERSTAND THE ENORMITY OF
SIN DO WE APPRECIATE THE FORGIVENESS OF GOD.
NOW, WHAT'S AT CHRIST'S DEATH, APART FROM ANY
OTHER DEATH?
WHAT MADE HIS SO SPECIAL?
WAS IT THE SUFFERING, WAS IT THAT HE SUFFERED
PHYSICALLY WORSE THAN ANYBODY ELSE?
NO, IT WAS BECAUSE OF WHO HE WAS.
AND ANSELM, WHO'S WRITING IN THE END OF THE 11TH
CENTURY IS THE ONE THAT IS GIVEN THE CREDIT FOR
REALLY SETTING OUT IN THE CAREFULLY REASONED WAY-
WHY IT WAS THAT JESUS WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO COULD BE
THE ONE TO STEP IN AND TAKE THE PLACE OF
HUMANITY.
AND HE ARGUED IN HIS CUR DEUS HOMO, WHICH IS WHY
THE GOD-MAN, THAT IT HAD TO BE SOMEONE WHO WAS BOTH
GOD AND HUMAN.
THAT HE, WHO IS LIFE, THE WORD MADE FLESH, BREAKS
OPEN THE DOORS THAT SEEMED TO HAVE CAPTURED HIM, BUT
HE WHO IS SINLESS OPENS THOSE DOORS WITH A POWER
THAT THE WORLD CANNOT CONTAIN, AND THIS POWER
IS STILL TRANSFORMING THE WORLD TODAY.
THE CROSS OF CHRIST HAS THE POWER TO TRANSFORM
INDIVIDUAL LIVES AND ENTIRE SOCIETIES.
DR. D. JAMES KENNEDY HAD HIS OWN PERSONAL ENCOUNTER
WITH JESUS CHRIST AND, AS YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE, THE
LIFE OF THIS YOUNG DANCE INSTRUCTOR WAS CHANGED
FOREVER.
I GREW UP BEING SENT TO SUNDAY SCHOOL AND CHURCH
AND WHEN I GOT TO BE ABOUT 13 OR 14 AND OLD ENOUGH TO
MAKE A LOUD ENOUGH SQUAWK, WELL, MY PARENTS STOPPED
SENDING ME.
I WENT THROUGH A PERIOD OF ABOUT 9 OR 10 YEARS WHERE
I RARELY WENT TO CHURCH AT ALL, MAYBE ON EASTER ON A
GOOD YEAR BUT THAT WAS ABOUT ALL.
I HAD NO REAL INTEREST IN SPIRITUAL MATTERS.
I HAD NEVER LEARNED ANYTHING IN CHURCH THAT
REALLY APPEALED TO ME OR GRASPED MY ATTENTION.
I HAD NEVER UNDERSTOOD OR HEARD THE GOSPEL.
AND ONE THING I LOVED TO DO WAS TO DANCE.
SO WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE, I APPLIED FOR A JOB
TEACHING DANCING AT ARTHUR MURRAY'S.
AND HE BECAME A DANCE INSTRUCTOR AND WAS QUITE
GOOD AT IT AND BECAME EVEN A MANAGER OF ONE OF THE
ARTHUR MURRAY DANCE STUDIOS, IN THE TAMPA
AREA.
ONE DAY, ANNE LEWIS CAME IN AS JUST ONE OF THE
CUSTOMERS AND JIM KENNEDY WENT INTO THE BACK AND
TOLD SOMEBODY, "I JUST MET THE WOMAN THAT I'M GOING
TO BE MARRIED TO."
JIM KENNEDY HAD NO PLACE FOR GOD IN HIS LIFE, BUT
ONE DAY IN HIS EARLY 20S HE WENT TO BED AFTER A
WILD PARTY ON A SATURDAY NIGHT.
AND I WAS SLEEPING IN ONE SUNDAY MORNING WHEN I
HEARD A RADIO BROADCAST.
WHAT HAD BEEN MUSIC THE NIGHT BEFORE WAS A
PREACHER THAT MORNING.
SUPPOSE THAT YOU AND I SHOULD GO OUT OF THIS
BUILDING AND A SWERVING AUTOMOBILE SHOULD COME UP
ON THE SIDEWALK AND KILL THE TWO OF US.
YOU ARE GOING TO MEET GOD.
AND IF IN THIS NEXT MINUTE GOD SHOULD SAY TO YOU,
"WHAT RIGHT," AND NOTE MY EMPHASIS ON THE WORD WHAT
RIGHT, "DO YOU HAVE TO COME INTO MY HEAVEN?"
WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ANSWER?
AND SO I LISTENED AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE,
I HEARD THE GOSPEL.
I HEARD THE INCREDIBLE GOOD NEWS OF THE FREE
OFFER OF ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST AND
THAT HOW HIS DEATH WAS THE PAYMENT FOR MY SINS AND
THAT HE HAD PURCHASED FOR ME A PLACE IN HEAVEN IF I
WOULD RECEIVE HIM INTO MY LIFE AND TRUST HIM AS MY
SAVIOR AND LORD THAT I COULD BE FORGIVEN AND HAVE
ETERNAL LIFE.
WELL MY INITIAL RESPONSE WAS THAT WAS TOO GOOD TO
BE TRUE.
SO HE WENT TO A NEWS STAND AND HE SAID "DO YOU HAVE
ANY RELIGIOUS BOOKS?"
AND HE TOLD ME ONE TIME, I SHUDDER TO THINK NOW WHAT
I MIGHT HAVE RECEIVED.
WHAT I ACTUALLY RECEIVED WAS THE GREATEST STORY
EVER TOLD BY FULTON OURSLER.
I STAYED HOME EACH NIGHT AND READ A PART OF THAT
AND THE FOLLOWING SATURDAY NIGHT I COMPLETED THE BOOK
AND SLIPPED ONTO MY KNEES THERE IN MY ROOM AND
INVITED JESUS CHRIST INTO MY LIFE AS SAVIOR AND
LORD.
AND MY LIFE HAS NEVER BEEN THE SAME SINCE THAT DAY.
AND HE THEN WENT ON TO TRANSFORM THE LIVES,
LITERALLY, OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE THROUGH RADIO,
TELEVISION, HIS WRITINGS AND HIS ONE-ON-ONE
EVANGELISM TRAINING THAT'S GONE OUT INTO ALL THE WORLD.
IT SHOULD BE THE GREAT PASSION AND ZEAL AND
CONSUMING VISION OF OUR HEART THAT JESUS CHRIST
MIGHT BE KNOWN THROUGHOUT ALL OF THE EARTH.
WHERE THERE IS NO VISION, THE PEOPLE PERISH.
MAY GOD GRANT TO ALL OF US THAT VISION, THAT PEOPLE
THROUGHOUT ALL OF THE WORLD MAY NOT PERISH
BECAUSE THEY HAVE HEARD THROUGH OUR EFFORTS,
THROUGH OUR FAITHFULNESS THE GLAD TIDINGS OF
ETERNAL LIFE FROM THE KING OF KINGS.
AND WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
DR. D. JAMES KENNEDY IS AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF A
LIFE TRANSFORMED BY CHRIST, ONCE HE UNDERSTOOD
WHAT JESUS HAD DONE FOR HIM AT THE CROSS.
DR. D. JAMES KENNEDY WENT ON TO INFLUENCE THE LIVES
OF LITERALLY MILLIONS OF PEOPLE THROUGH RADIO,
TELEVISION, HIS WRITINGS, AND HIS ONE-ON-ONE
EVANGELISM EXPLOSION TRAINING THAT HAS GONE OUT
INTO EVERY NATION ON EARTH.
HE IS AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF HOW
UNDERSTANDING WHAT JESUS HAS DONE FOR US AT THE
CROSS CAN COMPLETELY TRANSFORM A LIFE.
THE DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST ON A CRUEL ROMAN CROSS,
AND HIS SUBSEQUENT RESURRECTION, ARE THE MOST
IMPORTANT EVENTS IN ALL OF HUMAN HISTORY.
THESE EVENTS TRANSFORMED D. JAMES KENNEDY, AND
THEY'VE TRANSFORMED MILLIONS OF OTHERS.
IT'S NOT SURPRISING, THEN, THAT MANY TRY TO ATTACK
THE TRUTH OF THESE EVENTS, AS WELL AS MANY OTHER
COMPONENTS OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH.
ARE YOU PREPARED TO ANSWER THEM?
THE BIBLE CALLS EACH OF US TO "ALWAYS BE PREPARED TO
MAKE A DEFENSE TO ANYONE WHO ASKS YOU FOR THE
REASON FOR THE HOPE THAT IS IN YOU; YET DO IT WITH
GENTLENESS AND RESPECT."
WE HAVE A CLASSIC RESOURCE TO HELP YOU DO THAT.
HERE'S MY DEAR FRIEND JENNIFER KENNEDY CASSIDY
WITH MORE.
JENNIFER HAPPY EASTER AND WELCOME.
THANK YOU, FRANK, AND HAPPY EASTER TO YOU.
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT BOOKS MY FATHER,
DR. D. JAMES KENNEDY EVER WROTE WAS HIS CLASSIC BOOK
SKEPTICS ANSWERED.
IN IT, HE TAKES ON SOME OF THE MOST-ASKED QUESTIONS
REGARDING THE VALIDITY OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH AND
PROVIDES FACTUAL, WELL-REASONED ANSWERS.
HE EXAMINES THE RELIABILITY OF THE BIBLE,
THE NATURE OF GOD, AND ADDRESSES COMMON
OBJECTIONS TO THE CHRISTIAN FAITH IN CLEAR,
EASY-TO-UNDERSTAND LANGUAGE.
THIS BOOK WILL EQUIP YOU TO ENGAGE WITH UNBELIEVERS
AROUND YOU, AND YOU'LL EVEN WANT TO SHARE IT WITH
SOMEONE YOU WANT TO SEE COME TO KNOW CHRIST.
WE'LL SEND YOU SKEPTICS ANSWERED BY D. JAMES
KENNEDY, AS OUR THANKS FOR YOUR GENEROUS DONATION TO
THE ONGOING WORK OF THIS MINISTRY.
SIMPLY WRITE TO US AT:
OR CALL TOLL FREE:
OR GO ONLINE TO:
AND IF YOU ARE ABLE TO GIVE A DONATION OF $50 OR
MORE, WE'LL SEND YOU NOT ONLY THE BOOK, SKEPTICS
ANSWERED, BUT ALSO A SPECIAL DVD VERSION OF
THIS PROGRAM, FEATURING MATERIAL NOT INCLUDED IN
THE BROADCAST VERSION.
IT EXPLORES THE BIBLICAL PROPHECIES ABOUT CHRIST'S
SUFFERING AND EXAMINES COMMON MISUNDERSTANDINGS
ABOUT THE CRUCIFIXION AND RESURRECTION.
THERE ARE SO MANY RICHES IN THE CROSS OF CHRIST-
AND THE DVD OF THIS PROGRAM, CROSS PURPOSES,
DIGS DEEP INTO THE BIBLE AND HISTORY TO BRING THEM
TO LIFE FOR YOU.
WE'LL SEND IT TO YOU, ALONG WITH MY FATHER'S
CLASSIC BOOK SKEPTICS ANSWERED, AS OUR THANKS
FOR YOUR GENEROUS DONATION OF $50 OR MORE.
THESE TWO RESOURCES WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH SOLID,
BIBLICAL GROUNDING FOR YOUR FAITH, AND ENABLE YOU
TO SHARE THAT FAITH WITH ANYONE WHO QUESTIONS IT.
SIMPLY WRITE TO US AT:
OR CALL TOLL FREE:
OR GO ONLINE TO:
IN 2000 YEARS OF CHRISTIAN HISTORY THE CROSS AND
RESURRECTION HAVE BEEN AT THE VERY CENTER OF THE
GOSPEL.
FROM THE VERY BEGINNING IT'S HAD ITS OPPONENTS;
BUT THE FACT IS, IF YOU UNDERSTAND THE CROSS OF
CHRIST YOU UNDERSTAND THE WAY TO HEAVEN; BUT
TRAGICALLY, THAT MESSAGE ELUDES MANY TODAY.
THE WORLD WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND IT, BUT THOSE
OF US WHO ARE IN CHRIST KNOW THAT WITHOUT THAT
CROSS WE ARE DOOMED FOR ETERNITY.
ON THE CROSS, JESUS FOUGHT AGAINST EVIL, AND ON THE
CROSS, JESUS PAID THE DEBT FOR SIN THAT WE COULD
NEVER PAY.
THE MESSAGE OF EASTER IS SIMPLE.
CHRIST CONQUERS DEATH AND TAKES AWAY THE POWER OF
DEATH FOREVER.
NO PERSON COULD EVER HAVE LIVED A PERFECT LIFE LIKE
GOD DEMANDED.
GOD HIMSELF HAD TO DO IT.
HE SUFFERED THE PENALTY WE SHOULD HAVE SUFFERED.
THIS IS THE BASIC HEART OF THE CHRISTIAN MESSAGE.
THERE ARE THREE WORDS THAT EVERY HUMAN BEING WANTS TO
HEAR.
YOU ARE FORGIVEN.
ON THE CROSS JESUS CHRIST PAID A PRICE THAT HE
DIDN'T OWE, BUT IT'S A PRICE THAT WE COULD NEVER
PAY.
AND IF WE TRUST IN HIM AND HIS FINISHED WORK ON THE
CROSS, WE WILL BE SAVED.
SUPPOSE THAT YOU WERE TO DIE TODAY- DO YOU KNOW
ASSUREDLY THAT YOU WILL BE UNITED WITH ALMIGHTY GOD?
IF HE WERE TO SAY TO YOU, "WHAT RIGHT DO YOU HAVE TO
ENTER INTO MY HEAVEN?"
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO HIM IN RESPONSE?
DEAR FRIEND, IF CHRIST IS NOT THE PERSON THAT YOU'RE
TRUSTING IN FOR YOUR HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE, THEN YOU
HAVE NO HOPE AT ALL.
I URGE YOU TO INVITE HIM INTO YOUR HEART TODAY, TO
PLACE YOUR TRUST IN CHRIST ALONE FOR YOUR SALVATION,
AND TO KNOW THE ETERNAL LIFE THAT JESUS WON FOR US
THROUGH HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION.
D. JAMES KENNEDY MINISTRIES IS STANDING FOR TRUTH AND
DEFENDING YOUR FREEDOM.
I'M FRANK WRIGHT.
THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR THIS SPECIAL PROGRAM.
THIS HAS BEEN A PRODUCTION OF
D. JAMES KENNEDY MINISTRIES
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