How The Cross Effected Three Men’s Lives

How The Cross Effected Three Men’s Lives
Notes on the sermon (April 26, 2009)
given by Jerry Stokes

Intro: Are we (you and me) following Jesus? Maybe like Peter, although not verbally we denied Christ by our actions.
I. First is a Christian, a follower of Jesus, a man named Peter. See Matthew 26:31-35 and Matthew 26:57-75 when we take our eyes off Jesus we start hanging around with the wrong crowd. See also Luke 22:61. See Matthew 16:4-7 and John 21:7-8.
See also John 21:15 -So, is there anything in your life that Jesus takes second place to?
II. Second is a religious man, a man named Nicodemus. See John 3:1-9 and 2 Corinthians 5:17. New Birth produces New Life! Nicodemus is now willing to be identified with Jesus, see John 19:38-40.  
III. Third is a lost man, who is delaying getting saved, a man named Felix. See Acts 24:22-25. Felix is not saved for he is waiting for a convenient time/season. Where will your soul spend eternity? See John 3:36.

IV. The three steps to restore our fellowship with God:
1. a broken heart, see Psalm 51:1-19.
2. Confession, see 1 John 1:9.
3. True repentance - Is when we finally stop doing what we are repenting of, see Luke 15:17-20.

Personal Application:
1. Life doesn’t have to be complicated – see John 3:16.
It is not about being religious – it is about believing in Jesus!
2. DANGER!  Putting off salvation is – Putting off going to Hell.

3. God is the God of second chance!