Stonebridge Bible Church Sermons

Jesus’ death was no accident. The details of His crucifixion unfolded according to God’s plan and fulfilled His Word.
In this episode, we examine John 19:19–29 alongside Psalm 22 to see Jesus as King, High Priest, loving Son, and suffering Savior. Through the dividing of His garments, His care for His mother, and His thirst, we discover the depth of His love and the sacrifice He offered for sinners.
Listen as we consider how the cross strengthens our confidence in Scripture and calls us to respond to Jesus with faith and a life turned from sin.

In this sermon, we come to the cross - the climax of history and the heart of the Christian faith. Jesus willingly goes to Golgotha as our substitute, bearing the penalty of sin and accomplishing the work of salvation on behalf of sinners.

As Jesus hangs on the cross in agony and shame, we see the heart of God displayed in His prayer, “Father, forgive them.” Even one of the criminals who had mocked Him begins to see the truth: he recognizes his guilt, acknowledges that he deserves judgment, and looks to Jesus as his only Savior.

The thief has nothing to offer - no good works to perform and no opportunity to make up for his past. He simply comes to Christ in humble, dependent faith, and Jesus promises him, “Today you will be with Me in paradise.” His story is a powerful picture of the gospel: salvation is entirely by grace, and that grace is offered to sinners who recognize their need and cling to Christ alone.

In John 19:1–15, Jesus stands before Pilate beaten, mocked, and crowned with thorns. Yet in the midst of His humiliation, we see His glory revealed. The innocent Son of God willingly bears the curse, shame, and suffering that sinners deserve, fulfilling the plan of God and preparing to become the blameless sacrifice in our place.

As Pilate wrestles with what to do with Jesus, the passage confronts us with the same question: What will we do with Jesus? Pilate knew Jesus was innocent, yet ultimately chose his position and reputation over Christ. The crowds rejected their true King, but Jesus continued toward the cross—the King who exchanged His crown of glory for a crown of thorns and bore our shame so that we might be clothed in His righteousness.

At the heart of it all is the love of God: He sent His Son into the world so that we might live through Him.

In John 18:28–40, Jesus stands before Pilate as the innocent King while the world around Him rejects the truth standing right in front of them. As Pilate wrestles with the question, “What is truth?” Jesus reveals that His kingdom is not of this world and that He came to testify to the truth. The truth is not merely something to understand—it is found in the person of Jesus Christ.

The passage culminates in a striking picture of the gospel as the crowd chooses Barabbas, a guilty man, to go free while the sinless Christ is condemned. Barabbas walks away because another man takes his place—a picture of what Christ would accomplish for sinners at the cross. The guilty are set free because the innocent Son of God willingly takes their place.

What does it mean to truly live as a child of God?

In Romans 8:14–17, Paul points us to the work of the Holy Spirit, who assures believers that they have been adopted into the family of God. Those who belong to Christ are no longer slaves living in fear, but sons and daughters who can confidently cry out, “Abba! Father!” We have been given a new relationship with God, a new identity, and the promise of an inheritance that is secure in Christ.

The Spirit’s work in our lives gives us assurance of our adoption as He leads us to put sin to death, frees us from the fear of condemnation, draws us into intimate fellowship with our Father, and gives us confidence in the glory that is still to come. Our hope is not wishful thinking, but a settled certainty rooted in the promises and character of God.

In this sermon, we’ll see how the Holy Spirit leads the children of God:
1. Into Holiness — the Character of Sonship
2. Into Freedom — the Confidence of Sonship
3. Into Intimacy — the Communion of Sonship
4. Into Hope — the Certainty of Sonship

Because of Christ, believers can know that they are loved, accepted, and secure in the family of God. We are His children, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, looking forward with certainty to the day when we will be glorified with Him.