Easter Means No Fear of Judgment 

The picture above is Chris Paul the New Orleans Hornets star standing next to his grandpa, Papa Chili.  The sermon this week went over the tragic events that surrounded Papa Chili's death.  As you listen to the sermon by clicking here or reading below I want you to consider these discussion questions.  Your comments and questions are welcome.

• If Papa Chili was your grandpa what would justice look like if you determined the fate of the five teens?
• Do you think that Chris Paul is being fair to the five men or is he wrong?
• Fear of judgment can be a powerful motivation.  Describe what gospel motivation means to you.
• What do you love most about your mom?
• What are a few ways we can combat the empty way of life that surrounds us these days?

1 Peter 1:17-21

^17 Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. ^18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, ^19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. ^20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. ^21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

On the evening of November 15, 2002 Nathaniel Jones had closed up shop at his filling station and was taking groceries out of his white van, when something tragic was about to happen. 

But you need to know a few things about Nathaniel.  His friends called him “Papa Chili”.  Papa Chili was the first black man to open, own and run his own gas station in North Carolina.  He was known to let people run tabs when times got tough.  Plenty of times he had handed people money right out of the till so they could get by.

Probably the most important thing about Papa Chili was that he was Chris Paul’s grandpa.  Chris Paul is the point guard for the New Orleans Hornets NBA basket ball team.  Chris Paul played his college ball right here at Wake.  Chris Paul went to the same high school as many of our teens, West Forsyth.  Chris called he grandpa – Papa Chili – his best friend.

On November 14^th Chris Paul signed to play for Wake and guess who was the first person to put that Demon Deacons hat on Chris?  Papa Chili.  The next day five teens bound the 61-year-old’s wrists, duct taped his mouth and beat him with a pipe until his heart stopped beating.

None of the five teen were hardened criminals.  One of them had run away from home and stolen his mother’s car but for the other four this was their first crime.  They decided that evening that they wanted to rob someone and when they saw Papa Chili, one of them said “Let’s go get him.”  According to the judge who sentences them they beat in a "relentless, remorseless, conscienceless" attack.  Nathaniel Jones died in his carport.

Dear friends, Easter Means We Have No Fear of Judgment.  Listen to what the Apostle Peter says, ^17 Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.  What is your judgment on these five?

They didn’t need the money.  They didn’t particularly hate PaPa Chili, who would?  They didn’t have any reason to kill Nathaniel Jones.  They were sitting around with nothing better to do so they robbed someone.  They committed that crime because they could.

Dear friends as you live here as strangers in reverent fear I want you to know, that is terrifying.  While I know that none of you have ever beaten and killed anyone, to my knowledge, the same evil that welled up inside those boys, lurks in your heart.  That scares me.

I’m going to be blunt.  Do you think that God is impressed if you have avoided having sex outside the marriage you are in – or sex outside of marriage in general only because there has been nobody who was willing to break it with you. 

Do you think that God is impressed if you have avoided murder only because you either didn’t have these five thugs to your dirty work, or because you lacked the guts to do it yourself.

There was once a missionary in a remote village in the Third World.  His family, his sending church, and the people whom he served all thought he was the kindest, saintliest man they had ever known.  In his journal he reflected on what a high opinion everybody had of him, and what a farce it all was.  He wrote, “If the children in my village knew the thoughts that sometimes pass through my head, they would have every right to take me out and stone me to death.” 

There are some things about this that are hard to understand and some that are not so hard.  The hard question is not, “How could these five boys do that?”  When you think about it, that’s really not such a difficult question at all.  There is a part of you that understands and is terrifying of the evil.  You know that your Father will judge your sins.

Justice is blind.  But do you understand that your God is blind from one sin to another? “The one who judges each man’s work impartially.” All sins even the ones you hide in your heart are an open book for our God.  Maybe you could call it complete blindness.  God doesn’t care if you did something wrong, thought something wrong, or said something wrong.  All of it is sinful.  Do you understand the depth of your sin?  That bush tribe missionary understood it.

Sadly we know what sin is.  We understand it all too well.  What is hard to understand is this comment from Chris Paul.

I wish I could talk to them and tell them, 'I forgive you. Honestly.' I hate to know that they're going to be in jail for such a long time. I hate it."  How could he?!  They killed Papa Chili!  The defense attorney in the case almost nine years ago called Chris Paul’s comments generous.  I’ll say!  There is no way!  Would I be happy if they had killed my grandpa.  It’s mother’s day.  If they killed my mom?  They should rot in jail.  ^17 Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.  Generous doesn’t quite touch it.  The theme of the sermon is…  Easter Means We Have No Fear of Judgment.  How do we get to that generous place with God?  Peter lays it out so eloquently in the next couple verses. 

^18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, ^19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 

Gold is worth a little under $1500 an once right now.  The lamb is worth less than that in dollars and sense.  The lamb that Peter is talking about is really special.  That lamb gave up his life so that you could be bought back body and soul.  The empty way of life handed down to you could be different for everyone here – I’m talking about your ethnic heritage, your religion – not everyone was Christian even all of this life, your customs.  All of us inherited a sinful nature that was truly empty – sinful.  Those blind scales God’s justice don’t care who you are.  Your redemption is complete.  You are bought body and soul.  Easter takes away the doubts. 

^20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. This had been the plan all along. Those disciples on the road to Emmaus knew the facts, but couldn’t put it together.  If you haven’t watched the dramatized version of the Road to Emmaus video, the actors go deeper than the gospel account and show how Jesus had to die and rise from the dead.  Share it with a friend.  This had been the plan all along.  And so your faith and hope are in God. 

You have no fear.  How could God do that?  The only way is through Jesus, that lamb.

As for the “Why?” You end up at the same place if you talk to Chris Paul or your Heavenly Father who judges each man’s work impartially.  It’s not fuzzy math or a shell game.  By faith in Jesus you are perfect.  That doesn’t mean God’s impartial or blind justice means he has no idea who you are or what you’ve done.  No, when God looks at you he judges his son’s work.  Your sins are forgiven.  Your sins are covered under the blood of the lamb.  There is nothing more for you to do.

That is great place to be.  While Jesus did everything for us, our souls cry what can I do?!  How can I thank you, Jesus?  If Chris Paul used his leverage as an NBA star to go to jail and take their place, what would they owe him?  At least a few years of their lives, right?

What do you owe your God?  Don’t pass down an empty way of life.  Pass down “No Fear.”  Pass down forgiveness.  Pass down redemption so that your kids can hold their heads high.  You don’t bear shame – you can be proud to be God’s child.

I had a friend who finally figured out what life was like.  Life is about family.  He came home and wanted to make amends with all the people he hurt.  Then mom died.  He realized that it is all about family not your family here but your family in heaven.  You are an adopted child of God, your heavenly Father.

You can live as strangers here because heaven is your home.  You can live in reverent fear and say with the psalmist Lord with you there is forgiveness therefore you are feared.  Stand in the awe and mercy of your God.

Easter Means No Fear of Judgment.  Amen.