Some time ago, I heard about a person who gave one of their kidneys so it could be transplanted into a loved one who was about to die because their kidneys had failed. They risked their good health and gave their kidney in behalf of their relative. That is a huge sacrifice. Jesus gave an even greater sacrifice. He gave His body to be broken and crucified in our place. (Read 1 Corinthians 1:23-26)

Transition

Jesus said that we are to remember that His body was broken for us. This evening I want us to focus our thoughts on why it was needful for Christ to be crucified for us.

It was needful for Christ to be crucified for us…

Because we are sinful

  1. God is holy
    1. (Leviticus 11:45) “For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.”
    2. (Psalms 99:9) “Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the LORD our God is holy.”
    3. (Isaiah 6:3) “And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.”
  2. We have offended God
    1. (Romans 3:10-14) “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:”
    2. (Jeremiah 17:9) “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”
    3. (Romans 3:23) “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”
    4. (James 4:17) “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”
      It was needful for Christ to be crucified for us…

Because God’s wrath is upon us

  1. God’s wrath demands just punishment
    1. (Romans 6:23) “For the wages of sin is death…”
    2. (James 2:10) “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”
    3. (Luke 16:19-26) ” There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.”
    4. (Matthew 25:46) “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.”
    5. (Revelation 21:8) “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
  2. We deserve God’s wrath
    1. (John 3:36) “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”
    2. (Romans 5:9) “Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.”
    3. (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9) “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;”
    4. (Galatians 5:19-21) “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”
    5. (Hebrews 2:3) “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;”
      It was needful for Christ to be crucified for us…

Because God’s cleansing is our only hope

  1. Jesus paid our sin debt for us
    1. (Romans 5:8) “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
    2. (2 Corinthians 5:21) “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
    3. (1 Corinthians 15:3) “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;”
    4. (Hebrews 9:14) “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”
  2. Jesus applies His payment to repentant believers
    1. (Luke 13:3) “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”
    2. (Acts 3:19) “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;”
    3. (John 3:16) “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
    4. (1 Corinthians 6:11) “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”

Conclusion

When Jesus said, “this is my body, which is broken for you”, He was saying that it was absolutely needful for Him to die in our behalf. If He had not died in our place, we would all go to the Lake of Fire forever. We must not forget that. We do not deserve Christ’s forgiveness, yet He died in our place and endured our hell for us. If you have truly repented and received Christ’s salvation, you have that priceless treasure. Do not forget that!

If the way that you live does not clearly show that Christ has saved you and changed your life, do not try to fake it. Repent and trust Christ tonight!

Song: Cleanse Me – 166
Song: Lord’s Supper
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Broken for You
7 August 2016 PM – 1Corinthians 11:24 – Scott Childs