My Lord And My God
We just celebrated Easter the first of the month and Easter is also known as Resurrection Sunday. I personally like Resurrection Sunday because it more accurately describes why we celebrate the event. Followers of Jesus are celebrating that not only did Jesus suffer, bleed and die for our sins, but He also rose from the grave. We serve a risen Savior. Do you remember what the apostle Thomas said when he saw the risen Lord?
Before we get to Thomas’ words, let’s review what happened prior to that. Jesus first revealed Himself after His resurrection to Mary Magdalene, then to His disciples. But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, And saw two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
Why Do You Weep?
And they say unto her, Woman, why do you weep? She said unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus said unto her, Woman, why do you weep? whom do you seek? She, supposing him to be the gardener, said unto him, Sir, if you have taken him from here, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.
Jesus said unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and said unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. Jesus said unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.
Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and said unto them, Peace be unto you. And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father has sent me, even so send I you.
Thomas Wasn’t Present
And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said unto them, Receive the Holy Ghost: Whosoever sins you remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosoever sins you retain, they are retained. But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
Then said he to Thomas, Reach here your finger, and behold my hands; and reach here your hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing (John 20:11-27). Then how does Thomas respond? With those wonderful words: My Lord and my God (John 20:28). My Lord and my God. Thomas said that he would not believe unless he put his finger into the nail prints in Jesus’ hands and thrust his hand into Jesus’ side where the Roman soldier stabbed Jesus with a spear.
Thomas Says My Lord And My God
But when Thomas saw Jesus, he did not put his finger into the nail prints of Jesus’ hands and he did not put his hand in Jesus’ side. He saw Jesus, the risen Lord with his own eyes. He spoke to Jesus and he immediately realized that Jesus is who He says He is. Jesus is Lord of all and He is God in the flesh – Immanuel with us. Then Thomas cries out those wonderful words – My Lord and my God.
I never get tired of hearing those wonderful words My Lord and my God because Jesus is Lord of my life. I have repented from my sins and surrendered my life fully and completely to Him. Oh, can you say the same tonight? Do you exclaim with Thomas and myself – My Lord and my God? Is Jesus Lord of your life? Have you repented from your sins and put your complete trust in Jesus Christ the Lord?
What Is The god Of Your Life?
If you have not repented from your sins and put your faith in Jesus Christ, then He is not your Lord and your God. Someone or something else is the god of your life. What is your god? Is it your girlfriend, money, work, alcohol or drugs? What do you spend your money, time and talents on? What has your heart? Jesus said where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Who or what has your heart?
Maybe you really don’t worship anyone or anything else, but you have put yourself in place of Almighty God. If Jesus is not your Lord and Savior, then most likely this is what you have done. You have said no to God, no to His commands. You have gone your own way. Instead of surrendering your life to Jesus fully and completely, you are living your life as if you would never surrender.
Continuing on this path will not bring you lasting happiness or true joy. Living for yourself will not bring you ultimate joy. Oh, you may be happy living in your depravity, you may love your sins temporarily. The Bible says sin is pleasurable for a season. But you will keep going until it isn’t fun anymore. Left to our own devices, we always go too far. We want one more drink or one more high. Enough is never enough.
True Joy And Peace
But true joy and true peace is found In Jesus Christ alone. The Lord Jesus is the Prince of peace. The only way to have peace with God is through Jesus Christ alone. Nothing else will ever bring you true, everlasting joy. No one or nothing else can bring you true peace; the peace that surpasses all understanding.
Joy and peace are found in Jesus Christ when you sincerely and honestly recognize the King of kings and the Lord of lords as: My Lord and my God. When you truly see yourself as the sinful creature that you are, the depraved wretch that all of us are, then you can truly see the righteousness and Holiness of Jesus Christ the Lord. He is Holy, Holy, Holy. Come to the Lord Jesus tonight and be saved.
Oh, stop going your own way. Don’t continue racing down the broad road to Hell. Jesus is the Way, the only way. He is the only Savior of mankind. There is no other way of salvation. We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. The Lord is Holy, we are not. God is righteous, we are not. None of us are righteous on our own.
There Is None Righteous No Not One
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understands, there is none that seeks after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that does good, no, not one (Romans 3:10-12). Not a single human being is righteous, not one of us. Only Jesus Christ is the righteous one.
Jesus never sinned, yet He willingly went to the cross in the place of guilty sinners who repent and trust Him. God is Holy and He cannot tolerate sin. All sin is exceedingly sinful to God. Jesus said that all liars will have their part in the lake of fire and brimstone (Revelation 21:8). Oh, folks, you cannot save yourself. All unrepentant sinners are doing is storing up more wrath against the day of wrath. The problem is most people don’t fear God today. The demons fear God and tremble. They chose the wrong side, but they have enough sense to tremble before our Holy, righteous God.
Men and women are the only created beings who don’t have enough sense to fear God, but they should. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. But many people today in our secular society have no fear of God. There is no fear of God before their eyes. Now we know that what things soever the law says, it says to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
The Law Does Not Save
Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him that believes in Jesus (Romans 3:18-26).
God’s Wrath Was Satisfied
Jesus suffered, bled and died on the cruel cross for guilty sinners who repent and put their faith in Him. The Lord Jesus was the propitiation for our sins. Propitiation means the wrath was satisfied. God poured His anger, His wrath over sin upon His own sinless Son. Jesus took the punishment that we deserve. He died on the cross, was buried and rose again three days later. Oh, put your trust in Jesus. Trust in the one who bore God’s wrath. Believe in the Lord Jesus and His shed blood that takes away your sins.
Your sins can be forgiven. There is remission or forgiveness of sins for all who repent from their sins and put their faith in Jesus. Trust in the Lord Jesus tonight and God will no longer hold your sins against you. Your conscience can be cleared. You can be cleansed, washed white as snow. Jesus takes your sins and He gives you His righteousness through repentance and faith in Him.
Trust Jesus tonight. Truly cry out: My Lord and my God. Recognize your sinfulness and Jesus’ Holiness. Confess and forsake your sins. Cry out for God to save you. Repent and surrender your life fully and completely to Jesus Christ the Lord. He is Lord of all, but if you don’t bow your knee and confess with your tongue that Jesus is Lord in this lifetime, it will do you no good. You will do so on Judgment Day, but it will be too late on the great and terrible day of the Lord.
Judgment Day Is Not A Trial Or Hearing
Please notice Judgment Day is called Judgment Day! It’s not a trial or a hearing, it is a day of sentencing. You are already guilty. As Romans 3:19 says your mouth will be stopped, you will have no excuse on Judgment Day. God will remind you of every single sin that you’ve ever committed. From your little white lies to the sins that are so heinous that you would be mortified if anyone else found out about them.
God will review all your sins over your whole lifetime with you and you will have no excuses, no defense. You will hang your head in shame, bow your knee, confess that Jesus is Lord and then He will have His servants cast you into the lake of fire and brimstone where you will suffer His righteous judgement for all eternity (Matthew 13:41-42).
Don’t continue on the broad road to destruction. Recognize that are a sinner and that God is Holy. Admit that only Jesus can save you. Confess your sins and cry out with all your heart: My Lord and my God. Repent and believe the Gospel and be saved. Do this tonight.
(This message was lifted up in downtown Springfield, MO on April 13, 2018)