Christ and His Conflicts

Text: John 15: 18-25

INTRODUCTION:
      Living a CHristian's life is, by its nature, a life of conflict. We know we are walking in the way when conflicts or trials confront us. Because they confronted Christ, we also will be confronted.

Let us review the conflicts Christ faced.

  1. Self-Righteous Religionists Planned and Promoted His Difficulties.

    1. They Disliked His Mission

      1. He demanded regeneration, not reformation (Jo. 3:1-5)
      2. He denounced religion without righteousness (Matt. 5:20)

    2. They Despised His Message

      1. Those on salvation were passionate (Lu. 15:1-7)
      2. Those on selfishness were too personal (Lu. 16:14-31)
      3. Those on self-righteousness were too painful (Lu. 18:9-14)

  2. Self-Righteous Religionists Desired and Plotted His Death.

    1. Religionists Desired His Condemnation and Death.

      1. This is why they had Him arrested (Matt. 26:47-49)
      2. This is why they had Him accused (Matt. 26:59-61)

    2. They Demanded His Cricifixion and Death.

      1. They announced His manner of death (Matt.27:22)
      2. They accepted charge for His death (Matt.27:25)

    3. They Denied His Conquest over Death

      1. They tried to silence the fact of His resurrection (Matt. 28:11-20)
      2. They tried to stop the force of His resurrection
        1. By discouraging preaching about it (Acts 4:1-2)
        2. By denying its power [Acts 7:54-60)

      Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, because of the fact and force of Christ's resurrection, delivered a convicting message. But the self-righteous religionists "stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord" (v.57), trying to deny the power of the resurrection.
      Any religion that discourages the preaching of Christ's resurrection and denies the power of Christ's resurrection will always be a satanic source of conflict among Christians and in the Church.

The Savior warned that self-righteous religion would not save (Matt. 7:21-23)
The Scriptures warn that self-righteous religion will not save (Romans 10:1-4)

CONCLUSION:
If self-righteous religion crucified the perfect Son of God, surely it will condemn you if you are trusting in it and not in Christ. Do not trust religion, trust the Redeemer.

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