Sermon Cloud

Living in Awe of God: How to Avoid Punishment

Exodus 12-15 (Read 12:12-13)

Intro: 13, got a choice of grounding from game or a spanking.  Chose the spanking – bad idea.

Proposition: Punishment is painful and so we all try to avoid it.  But the best way to avoid punishment is to do the things that keep you from it.  In Exodus we learn of the great punishment of Passover.  God sent an angel of death to kill all the firstborn of Egypt.  It is one of the most important events in all of world history. – and in it we can learn how we can avoid punishment.

1. Trust in Christ Alone. (12)  Read 12:21-23,28-31

Final plague – Angel of Death to kill all firstborn.  Only one thing could save people from the certain punishment of death – the blood of a spotless lamb covering their home.

Obviously we see a shadow of Christ here.  The Hebrews were to apply to blood with hyssop, which was a plant associated with priestly rituals of cleansings.  And so David asked in Psalm 51:7 to be purified and cleansed with hyssop.  Christ is our High Priest who has made us clean with His blood.

Jesus is our Passover lamb.  For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 1 Corinthians 5:7  When Jesus began His ministry John the Baptist said Jesus was the Lamb of God that has come to take away the sin of the world (John 1:29).  At the Last Supper, He identified the wine in the cup as His blood, by which He would create a New Covenant (Matt. 16:28).  In heaven, He is praised as the “the Lamb” (Rev. 7:10,17: 14:4).

All sin demands death.  In the OT they used sacrifices to represent the atonement/covering of blood over their sin.  Jesus is that perfect sacrificial atonement.  The Hebrew word for Passover – literally means to spare by leaping over.  We are spared by the wrath of God ONLY by the blood of the lamb – Jesus Christ.

God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! Romans 5:8-9

The ONLY way to avoid the punishment of eternal wrath is to trust in the death and resurrection of Christ alone.  It’s the only sacrifice that can cover your sin.

Ex. Explaining Aslan’s death on behalf of Edmund to Abigail made me tear up.  It was hard for her to grasp.  She didn’t want to be spanked on behalf of Lianne.  But He did it for us!

1. Set yourself apart for His service. (13) Read 13:1-2

God called for the firstborn that was saved to be sanctified – set apart.  Later we’d learn that this was signified by the Levites representing the firstborn of all the tribes – they would be set apart of the service of God.  Every believer who comes to Christ is sanctified – set apart – by the Holy Spirit.  But we must choose every day to continue to live that out.

13 The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! Hebrews 9:13-14

We have been saved – but it doesn’t end there.  We’ve been saved to then be set apart to serve God.

You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. Galatians 5:13

God has set you free from bondage – not to fulfill your own passions – but to serve others in love.

Ex. Read about a lawyer who did defense law until one of the guys he got off from killing someone turned around and killed someone with in days of his release. 

God doesn’t get you out of Hell to go and sin.  He wants you to go serve.  And if you want a life that avoids punishment – the best way is to get caught up serving others.  Like grandma used to say – idol hands are the devil’s workshop.

Do you remember the story of the 3 men given talents?  Ones with 5 and 2 doubled it and were given honor.  The only one that did nothing with what was given to him – what was his result?  His one talent was taken away, he was called wicket, and he was thrown outside where there was weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Use your freedom to serve.

1. III.           Hold to hope in hopeless situations. (14)  Read 14:10-14

The Israelites got away from Egypt but then they reach a sea that cannot be crossed.  On the other side of them is the Egyptian army in hot pursuit – they were in a hopeless situation and they lost all hope.  God could have punished them, but He decided to show them to always hope in God in a hopeless situations.  When you hope God will get on your side.  When you lose all hope in a hopeless situation you punish yourself with worry and anxiety and doubt.

4 Quick Pointers About Having Hope in a Hopeless situation:

1. Realize the hopeless situation was God’s plan. (1-4)

Reminded of Joseph – you meant it for evil but God meant it for good.  God has a purpose for every trial.

2. Silence words of doubt and speak in faith what you believe God will do. (13-14)

Reading Psalms on Wed. nights.  David starts out hopeless constantly but always ends in faith and hope.  He speaks what He knows God will do before He does it.  That’s faith!

3. God expects you to move forward in faith at times of fear. (15-18)

4. If you hope – God will fight for you. (14,19-27)

1. Be constantly thankful. (15)  Read 15:1-2

Exodus 15 is a praise song.  Moses and all of Israel sing out praise and thanksgiving to God.  You want to be someone who avoids punishment – live in perpetual thanksgiving. 

If you are busy praising God for what He has given you then you won’t fall into sin as often – and sin is what leads to punishment.

Why? 2 reasons:

1. Thankfulness for what He’s done will keep you from sinning against Him.
2. Thankfulness for the joy you have been given – makes you less likely to see false pleasure elsewhere.

God will tell Israel to always remember the Exodus and it will keep them from pride and disobedience.  The same is true about our salvation and other gifts from God.

Conclusion: Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa.  The more they apologized the closer they were to amnesty.

Only way to really avoid punishment is to turn yourself in.  “When the will of God crosses the will of man, somebody has to die.” - Addison Leitch