The Great Rescue(Galatians 1:4; Romans 5:6)
An Amazing Rescue Story – Copiapó, Chile
August 5, 2010 –– collapse of tunnel – trapped 33 miners
The ladders were missing – trapped with no possible means of escape.
After 17 days - received a signal that a rescue plan was in the works
It would take 4-5 months to perform the rescue.
Such a message in the darkness must have given the 33 miners hope.
Miners, asked for Bibles, crucifixes, rosaries, statues of the Virgin Mary and other saints to be sent to them.
Plan to rescue developed – 1 at a time through a special capsule – the only way out.
69 days later all 33 men were brought up and saved from a sure death.
Are We Like These Miners?
Lost and trapped in darkness
Romans 3:23 – all have sinned and fall short
Not able to save ourselves
Eph 2:8-9 NKJV For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, (9) not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Rom 5:6 NLT When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.
Religion will not save us
We cannot come together to save ourselves
A rescue is the only answer
Incident Situation Outcome
The Incident
Carelessness – neglect of instructions given
Our sin – from a single incident – Genesis 3
Adam’s sin – passed to all – Rom. 3:23, 1Cor 15:22
Our Situation and the Inevitable Outcome
Death – miners would die without a rescuer.
Hopeless & lost
Separated from those who loved them
Hungry and thirsty
Rom 6:23 NLT For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
A Rescue from Above!
Helpless
Could not plan their own rescue
Rescue plan had to come from above
Our rescue plan was from above – planned and designed by God
Gal 4:4-5 NLT But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. (5) God sent Him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that He could adopt us as his very own children.
Gal 1:3-4 NASB Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, (4) who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father
Rom 5:6 NLT When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.
Christmas is about God’s rescuer coming to this earth to save us from our hopeless state.
Mat 1:21 NKJV "And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins."
Our Rescue - Well Planned!
Perfect
Planned by our Creator
Jesus Christ – our Rescurer sinless – the impeccable One
Penalty for sin fully paid – “FINISHED”
One payment for all time (Heb. 9-10)
Without cost to us but at great cost to God
No details left out
An empty tomb as proof
A RESCUE FOR YOU – PERSONALLY
The Rescue is for Individuals
Each of the miners had to individually enter the pod and be rescued one at a time
God sent His Son to rescue you - personally
John 3:16 NKJV
Gal 2:20 NASB
A RESCUE THAT REQUIRES TRUST
The Rescue Requires Trust
Each miner had to trust the device to carry them to safety above
They had to decide to enter the open door of the rescue pod
Salvation requires that we trust the Lord Jesus Christ fully to save us
Rom 4:5 NKJV
John 10:9 NKJV
