PARADOXES OF THE GOSPEL

I. JESUS LEFT HEAVEN FOR EARTH THAT WE MAY LEAVE EARTH FOR HEAVEN.
A. John 3:17; 1st Timothy 1:15; 1st John 4:9
He left the splendor of heaven for one reason: to save sinners and bring them home with Him.
B. John 14:1-3; 2nd Corinthians 5:1-8; 1st Thessalonians 4:13-18
Our goal as Christians is to enter our heavenly home.

II. JESUS WAS BORN OF FLESH THAT WE MAY BE BORN OF THE SPIRIT.
A. John 1:14; 1st John 4:2-3
The incarnation is such a fundamental fact of the gospel that denying it is the only qualification of the antichrists.
B. John 3:5-6; 1st Peter 1:23
He wants us to be born of the Spirit.

III. JESUS WAS BORN OF A WOMAN THAT WE MAY BE BORN OF GOD.
A. Galatians 4:4; Genesis 3:14-15
Jesus didn’t just enter the world on a visit. He was born into it. God promised from the beginning that the woman’s seed would defeat Satan.
B. John 1:12; 1st John 5:4
Through faith, we may be born of God.

IV. JESUS BECAME THE SON OF MAN THAT WE MAY BECOME SONS OF GOD.
A. Matthew 18:11; Philippians 2:5-8
He humbled Himself when he became the Son of Man.
B. Galatians 4:6; 1st John 2:29-3:1
He exalts us when we become the sons of God.

V. JESUS BECAME POOR THAT WE MAY BECOME RICH.
A. 2nd Corinthians 8:9; Luke 9:58; 2:22-24; (Leviticus 12)
Even the most luxurious wealth on earth couldn’t compare to the riches of heaven. Yet, Jesus never lived in wealth on earth. He was homeless in adulthood and His parents were poor in His childhood.
B. Ephesians 1:7, 18; 2:4-7; 3:8, 16
All this He did that we might know the riches of God’s grace and mercy in order to partake in the wealth of heaven.

VI. JESUS WAS REJECTED THAT WE MAY BE ACCEPTED.
A. Isaiah 53:3; John 1:10-11
His was a life of rejection and sorrow.
B. Acts 10:34-35; Ephesians 1:3-6
However, He accepts us in our obedience.

VII. JESUS KNEW GRIEF THAT WE MAY KNOW JOY.
A. Isaiah 53:3; John 11:35; Luke 19:41; Mark 14:34
He was “acquainted with grief”, having had so many occasions to weep.
B. Luke 8:1; Philippians 4:4; 1st Thessalonians 5:16
His message for man, though, is one of gladness, bringing joy.

VIII. JESUS WAS MADE SIN THAT WE MAY BE MADE RIGHTEOUS.
A. 1st Peter 2:24
He never sinned, but He bore ours in order for us to become righteous.
B. 2nd Corinthians 5:21
He wasn’t guilty, but He became sin.

IX. JESUS WAS KILLED THAT WE MAY LIVE.
A. Matthew 16:21; Luke 24:46-47
His death was what He intended that remission of sins may come.
B. Colossians 2:13; Ephesians 2:5
Of course, it is possible for someone to die that another may live, but Jesus did so much more. He died that we be made alive, having already been dead in sin. He revived us!

X. JESUS WAS CURSED THAT WE MAY BE BLESSED.
A. Galatians 3:13-14
The Lord became our curse.
B. Revelation 14:13
The result is that we are blessed in death.

CONCLUSION
A. 2nd Corinthians 6:9-10
The gospel presents one paradox after another.
B. 1st Corinthians 1:27-28
If, paradoxically, we are willing to become worldly foolish to gain heavenly wisdom, we will understand and accept this.

By Bryan Matthew Dockens

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