"THREE QUESTIONS YOU MUST ANSWER"

                                                 MATTHEW 27:15-16

 INTRODUCTION:

          LIFE IS FULL OF QUESTIONS!  SOME PEOPLE TEND TO TENSE UP WHEN THEY ARE EXPECTED TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.

           IN THIS STUDY WE CAN SEE THREE QUESTIONS THAT PILATE ASKS OF THE PEOPLE GATHERED THERE THAT DAY DURING THE TRIAL OF JESUS.

VERSE 17 "WHOM WILL YE THAT I RELEASE UNTO YOU";

VERSE 21 "WHETHER OF THE TWAIN WILL YE THAT I RELEASE UNTO YOU?":

VERSE 23 "WHY, WHAT EVIL HATH HE DONE?"

           PILATE WAS ASKING THE PEOPLE JUST WHAT THEY DESIRED TO BE DONE WITH JESUS.

           GIVE ME A FEW MINUTES OF YOUR TIME TODAY AS I ASK YOU "THREE QUESTIONS THAT YOU MUST ANSWER".    HOW YOU ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS COULD DETERMINE HOW AND WHERE YOU SPEND THE REST OF YOUR LIFE AS WELL AS YOUR ETERNITY.

           1. A QUESTION OF DESIRES, VERSE 21

           THE QUESTION COULD AS EASILY BE ASKED; "WHAT TYPE OF LIFE DO YOU WANT TO LIVE?"

           WHEN YOU ARE OFFERED A CHOICE BETWEEN JESUS AND ANY OTHER ALTERNATIVE, YOU ARE MAKING A CHOICE THAT WILL AFFECT EVERY DAY OF YOUR LIFE!

           DEPENDING UPON HOW YOU ANSWER, YOU WILL EXPERIENCE ONE OF TWO LIFESTYLES.

      A.  A LIFE OF SIN AND REBELLION TOWARD GOD.

            THE LIFE STYLE OF ONE OUTSIDE OF JESUS:

      1. A LIFE OUT OF CONTROL

 EPHESIANS 2:1-3, (1) "AND YOU HATH HE QUICKENED, WHO WERE DEAD IN TRESPASSES AND SINS;"

 (2) "WHEREIN IN TIME PAST YE WALKED ACCORDING TO THE COURSE OF THIS WORLD, ACCORDING TO THE PRINCE OF THE POWER OF THE AIR, THE SPIRIT THAT NOW WORKETH IN THE CHILDREN OF DISOBEDIENCE:"

 (3) "AMONG WHOM ALSO WE ALL HAD OUR CONVERSATION IN TIMES PAST IN THE LUSTS OF OUR FLESH, FULFILLING THE DESIRES OF THE FLESH AND OF THE MIND; AND WERE BY NATURE THE CHILDREN OF WRATH, EVEN AS OTHERS."

           SCRIPTURE PAINTS MAN AS HE REALLY IS.   LOST MEN ARE SPIRITUALLY DEAD, NOT MERELY WEAKENED, INCAPACITATED, DISABLE, OR SICK!

           SIN LEADS TO GUILT, AND MAN'S NEED OF FORGIVENESS; THEY LEAD TO DEATH, AND MAN'S NEED FOR NEW LIFE.

           THE ONLY HOPE FOR MEN AND WOMEN IN THIS CONDITION DESCRIBED IN THESE VERSE'S IS TO EXPERIENCE THE GRACE OF GOD IN CHRIST.

     2. A LIFE OF NO PEACE.  

ISAIAH 48:22 "THERE IS NO PEACE, SAITH THE LORD, UNTO THE WICKED."

           TO THOSE WHO TURN THEIR BACK AND REFUSE GOD, THERE IS ONLY WORRY AND VEXATION.

           TRUE PEACE COMES ONLY FROM ONE SOURCE: GOD HIMSELF, THE LORD OF PEACE!

     3. A LIFE OF NO LASTING JOY

           SOME PLEASURES, BUT NONE LAST.

      4. A LIFE OF CONDEMNATION

 JOHN 3:18 "HE THAT BELIEVETH ON HIM IS NOT CONDEMNED: BUT HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT IS CONDEMNED ALREADY, BECAUSE HE HATH NOT BELIEVED IN THE NAME OF THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD."

          CONDEMNATION IS RESERVED FOR THE ONE THAT "BELIEVETH NOT".

           THERE ARE ONLY TWO KINDS OF PEOPLE IN THE WORLD:

 (1) THOSE WHO HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE AS A RESULT OF FAITH IN CHRIST;

 (2) THOSE WHO HAVE NOT BELIEVED AND AS A RESULT STAND "CONDEMNED ALREADY."

      5. A LIFE OF HOPELESSNESS

 EPHESIANS 2:12 "THAT AT THAT TIME YE WERE WITHOUT CHRIST, BEING ALIENS FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OF ISRAEL, AND STRANGERS FROM THE COVENANTS OF PROMISE, HAVING NO HOPE, AND WITHOUT GOD IN THE WORLD:"

            PAUL SPEAKS OF THE DESTITUTION AND DESOLATION OF THE UNREGENERATE, LOST AND UNDONE.

           NOTHING WAITING FOR YOU BUT AN ETERNITY IN HELL!

           BEING WITHOUT CHRIST YOU ARE:

            *  WITHOUT REST, MATTHEW 11:28

            *  WITHOUT LIFE, JOHN 14:6

            *  WITHOUT LIGHT, JOHN 8:12

            *  WITHOUT SALVATION, ACTS 4:12

            *  WITHOUT PEACE, COLOSSIANS 1:20

      B. A LIFE OF SALVATION AND THE BLESSING OF GOD.
         THE LIFESTYLE OF A PERSON WHO CHOOSES JESUS:

      1. A LIFE UNDER CONTROL

GALATIANS 5:16 "THIS I SAY THEN, WALK IN THE SPIRIT, AND YE SHALL NOT FULFILL THE LUST OF THE FLESH."

           WITH GOD IN CHARGE, THE BELIEVER CAN CONQUER THE SELF-LIFE AND HAVE CONTINUAL VICTORY BY WALKING BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.

      2. A LIFE OF PEACE

 JOHN 14:27 "PEACE I LEAVE WITH YOU, MY PEACE I GIVE UNTO YOU: NOT AS THE WORLD GIVETH, GIVE I UNTO YOU. LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED, NEITHER LET IT BE AFRAID."

           CHRIST PROMISED A UNIQUE KIND OF "PEACE" THAT IS DIFFERENT FROM THE WORLD'S PEACE: "MY PEACE".

           THIS PEACE WOULD CALM TROUBLED AND FEARFUL HEARTS.

 PHILIPPIANS 4:7 "AND THE PEACE OF GOD, WHICH PASSETH ALL UNDERSTANDING, SHALL KEEP YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS THROUGH CHRIST JESUS."

           THIS MORE THAN PEACE WITH GOD (ROMANS 5:1); IT IS A PEACE WHICH GOD HAS AND WHICH CHRIST GIVES.     THE PEACE OF GOD COMES TO A CHILD OF GOD WHO TRUSTS AND PRAYS.

          ALL CHRISTIANS HAVE PEACE WITH GOD, AND ALL CHRISTIANS MAY HAVE THE PEACE OF GOD!

      3. A LIFE OF ABSOLUTE JOY

           NOT PERFECTION, BUT CONTENTMENT.

 PHILIPPIANS 4:11 "NOT THAT I SPEAK IN RESPECT OF WANT: FOR I HAVE LEARNED, IN WHATSOEVER STATE I AM , THEREWITH TO BE CONTENT."

           JOY IS NOT DEPENDENT ON OUTWARD CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT ON THE INDWELLING CHRIST.

      4. A LIFE FREE FROM CONDEMNATION

 ROMANS 8:1 "THERE IS THEREFORE NOW NO CONDEMNATION TO THEM WHICH ARE IN CHRIST JESUS, WHO WALK NOT AFTER THE FLESH, BUT AFTER THE SPIRIT."

            THE WORD "CONDEMNATION" INDICATES THAT WE ARE NOT SERVANTS TO THE PENALTY FOR OUR SIN, BUT THAT GUILT AND PENALTY HAVE BEEN REMOVED AT THE CROSS.

           THEREFORE, FOR THOSE WHO ARE "IN CHRIST JESUS", WE DO NOT LIVE UNDER THE CONSTANT THREAT OF JUDICIAL PUNISHMENT BY GOD.

      5. A LIFE OF HOPE

           THERE IS A BETTER PLACE WAITING ON THE BELIEVER.

 1st PETER 1:3-5, (3) "BLESSED BE THE GOD AND FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, WHICH ACCORDING TO HIS ABUNDANT MERCY HATH BEGOTTEN US AGAIN UNTO A LIVELY HOPE BY THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST FROM THE DEAD."

 (4) "TO AN INHERITANCE INCORRUPTIBLE, AND UNDEFILED, AND THAT FADETH NOT AWAY, RESERVED IN HEAVEN FOR YOU."

 (5) "WHO ARE KEPT BY THE POWER OF GOD THROUGH FAITH UNTO SALVATION READY TO BE REVEALED IN THE LAST TIME."

           IF FOR NO OTHER REASON, EVERY BELIEVER SHOULD PRAISE GOD FOR BEING BORN AGAIN.    IT IS ENTIRELY OF GOD'S INITIATIVE THAT WE HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN HIS FAMILY.

           OBSERVE THE WORDS "LIVELY HOPE" IN VERSE 3; "INHERITANCE" IN VERSE 4; AND "SALVATION" IN VERSE 5.

           BECAUSE OF THE NEW BIRTH WE HAVE A "LIVELY HOPE" WHICH SHOULD BE UNDERSTOOD AS THE HOPE OF THE RESURRECTION.    THE RESURRECTION IS NOT ONLY THE CENTRAL HOPE WE WANT TO HAPPEN, BUT AN ASSURANCE WE HAVE.   WE KNOW WE SHALL RISE.

           BECAUSE OF THE NEW BIRTH, WE SHOULD PRAISE GOD FOR OUR "INHERITANCE".

THIS SPIRITUAL INHERITANCE IS DESCRIBED AS "INCORRUPTIBLE, UNDEFILED AND UNFADING".     THIS INHERITANCE IS "RESERVED IN HEAVEN FOR YOU".

           THE THIRD RESULT OF GOD'S GRACE IN GIVING US NEW LIFE IN CHRIST IS CALLED "SALVATION".     THIS, OF COURSE DOES NOT REFER TO THE INITIAL EXPERIENCE OF ACCEPTING JESUS CHRIST AS SAVIOUR, BUT TO THE FINAL, INCLUSIVE RESULT OF SALVATION;

(GLORIFICATION); ETERNITY WITH HIM IN HEAVEN.

           2. A QUESTION OF DESTINIES, VERSE 22

           WHAT YOU DO WITH JESUS DETERMINES WHERE YOU SPEND YOUR ETERNITY!     THE CHOICE IS ABSOLUTELY AND TOTALLY YOURS!

      A. TO REFUSE JESUS IS TO BE LOST AND DOOMED TO HELL

 2nd THESSALONIANS 1:8-9, (8) "IN FLAMING FIRE TAKING VENGEANCE ON THEM THAT KNOW NOT GOD, AND THAT OBEY NOT THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST:"

 (9) "WHO SHALL BE PUNISHED WITH EVERLASTING DESTRUCTION FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD, AND FROM THE GLORY OF HIS POWER;"

           HELL IS A VERY REAL PLACE OF ETERNAL PUNISHMENT FOR THE UNRIGHTEOUS, LOST SINNER.     IN MARK 9:46, 48, HELL IS DESCRIBED AS A PLACE WHERE "THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED."

           REPEATEDLY JESUS SPOKE OF "OUTER DARKNESS AND A FURNACE OF FIRE,WHERE THERE WILL BE WAILING, WEEPING, AND GNASHING OF TEETH", MATTHEW 8:12; MATTHEW 13:42, 50; MATTHEW 22:13; MATTHEW 24:51; MATTHEW 25:30; LUKE 13:28.

           THE REALITY IS GREATER THAN THE SYMBOL.     THE BIBLE EXHAUSTS HUMAN LANGUAGE IN DESCRIBING HEAVEN AND HELL.     HEAVEN IS MORE GLORIOUS THAN WORDS CAN DESCRIBE, AND HELL IS MORE TERRIBLE THAN LANGUAGE CAN EXPRESS.

          GOD IS TOO GOOD TO SEND ANYONE TO HELL!

        GOD IS GOOD; BUT IF YOU GO THERE, YOU WILL SEND YOURSELF!

       B. TO RECEIVE JESUS IS TO BE SAVED AND HEADED FOR HEAVEN

 REVELATION 21:1-2, 4, (1) "AND I SAW A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH: FOR THE FIRST HEAVEN AND THE FIRST EARTH WERE PASSED AWAY; AND THERE WAS NO MORE SEA."

 (2) "AND I JOHN SAW THE HOLY CITY, NEW JERUSALEM, COMING DOWN FROM GOD OUT OF HEAVEN, PREPARED AS A BRIDE ADORNED FOR HER HUSBAND."

 (4) "AND GOD SHALL WIPE AWAY ALL TEARS FROM THEIR EYES; AND THERE SHALL BE NO MORE DEATH, NEITHER SORROW, NOR CRYING, NEITHER SHALL THERE BE ANY MORE PAIN: FOR THE FORMER THINGS ARE PASSED AWAY."

           THE HEAVENLY CITY IS THE CITY PREPARED AND BUILT BY GOD FOR THOSE WHO ARE FAITHFUL TO HIM.     KNOWN AS THE HEAVENLY JERUSALEM (HEBREWS 12:22), THIS IS THE CITY THAT IS TO COME.

           THE NEW JERUSALEM IS ILLUMINATED BY THE GLORY OF GOD.     IT SERVES AS THE DWELLING PLACE OF GOD AMONG HIS REDEEMED FOREVER.

 1st CORINTHIANS 2:9 "BUT AS IT IS WRITTEN, EYE HATH NOT SEEN, NOR EAR HEARD, NEITHER HAVE ENTERED INTO THE HEART OF MAN, THE THINGS WHICH GOD HATH PREPARED FOR THEM THAT LOVE HIM."

           THERE ARE THINGS WHICH GOD HATH PREPARED FOR THOSE THAT LOVE HIM AND WAIT FOR HIM.     THERE ARE SUCH THINGS PREPARED IN A FUTURE LIFE FOR THE BELIEVER WHICH THEY CANNOT DISCOVER, NO PRESENT INFORMATION CAN CONVEY TO OUR EARS, NOR CAN YET ENTER OUR HEARTS.

           THE GREAT TRUTHS OF THE GOSPEL ARE THINGS LYING OUT OF THE SPHERE OF HUMAN DISCOVERY.    THESE THINGS LYING OUT OF THE SPHERE OF NATURE, WE CANNOT DISCOVER THEM BUT BY THE LIGHT OF REVELATION.

           THEREFORE WE MUST TAKE THEM AS THEY ARE IN THE SCRIPTURES, AND AS GOD HAS BEEN PLEASED TO REVEAL THEM.

 JOHN 14:2 "IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE ARE MANY MANSIONS: IF IT WERE NOT SO, I WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU. I GO TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU"

           BELIEVERS SHOULD BE COMFORTED WITH THE FACT THAT CHRIST IS GOING TO "PREPARE" A HOME FOR THEM IN HEAVEN "(MY FATHER'S HOUSE)".

           THE WAY TO HEAVEN IS THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.     YES, YOU CAN BE CERTAIN OF HEAVEN IF YOU WILL RECEIVE JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND SAVIOR.

           3. A QUESTION OF DECISIONS, VERSE 23

           THIS QUESTION APPLIES BOTH TO THE PERSON WHO REJECTS CHRIST AND THE RECEIVER OF CHRIST AS SAVIOR.

      A. WHAT BAD THING DID JESUS DO TO YOU THAT HAS CAUSED YOU TO TELL HIM NO?

          HE LOVES YOU, HE DIED FOR YOU; HE LONGS TO BE WITH YOU; HE CALLS YOU TO COME TO HIM!

 ROMANS 6:23 "FOR THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH; BUT THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD."

           THE OUTCOME OF ENSLAVEMENT TO SIN IS QUITE DIFFERENT FROM THAT OF

OBEDIENCE TO CHRIST.     SIN ALWAYS PAYS A WAGE AND THAT WAGE IS A DRASTIC ONE, DEATH.

           THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST, THE BELIEVER RECEIVES SALVATION WITH THE PURELY GRATUITOUS GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE.

 ROMANS 5:8 "BUT GOD COMMENDETH HIS LOVE TOWARD US, IN THAT, WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US."

           THE LOST MAN OR WOMEN ARE UTTERLY HELPLESS IN THE FACE OF THEIR ENCOMPASSING SIN.

           BUT, IN DUE TIME CHRIST DIED FOR THE UNGODLY, HIS PRECIOUS BLOOD WOULD PAY THE PRICE OF MAN'S SIN.

           JESUS HAS PROVIDED FOR YOU, IF YOU WILL ONLY CALL ON HIM, PLACE YOUR FAITH IN HIM FOR SALVATION.

      B. CHRISTIAN, WHAT HAS JESUS DONE TO YOU THAT HAS CAUSED YOU TO WALK AWAY FROM HIM?

           WHAT HE DID FOR YOU-----HE SAVED YOU WHEN YOU DESERVED HELL!

 HE HAS NEVER LEFT YOU!     HE HAS PROVIDED EVERYTHING YOU NEED!     HE LOVES YOU CONSTANTLY!

          CAN YOU GIVE ONE GOOD REASON WHY YOU HAVE STOPPED WALKING WITH HIM?

          WHY DON'T YOU COME HOME TO HIM TODAY AND START WALKING WITH HIM?

           CONCLUSION:

     DO YOU WANT THE BEST LIFE YOU CAN HAVE HERE?

     DO YOU WANT THE BEST ETERNITY YOU CAN HAVE?

     THE ONLY WAY TO HAVE THE BEST IN BOTH WORLDS IS TO CHOOSE JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR PERSONAL SAVIOR.

     LOST PERSON,WON'T YOU RECEIVE JESUS CHRIST AS YOU SAVIOR TODAY?

     CHRISTIAN FRIEND, WON'T YOU COME HOME TO JESUS CHRIST TODAY.

          AMEN!