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MATTHEW 27:22

"THE GREAT DECISION"

I. THE DIFFICULTY OF THE DECISION.
        A. The pressure from within.
                1. He knew what was right.
                2. He knew Jesus was innocent.
        B. The pressure from without.
                1. The crowd was pushing him to do what he knew to be
                   wrong.
        C. Hard position to be in.
                1. When the crowd around you is urging you to do something
                   you know is wrong.

II. HIS ENDEAVOR TO AVOID THE DECISION.
        A. He sought to force the crowd to make the decision.
                1. He offered the choice; Jesus or Barabas.
                2. The crowd chose Barabas.
        B. He then sought ,to wash his hands of the matter.
                1. You cannot be neutral toward Jesus.
                        a. His claims were too radical.
                                1. He is the Son of God or He isn't.
                                2. He died for you or He didn't.
                2. He said, "He who is not for Me is against Me."
                        a. No decision is a "no" decision.

III. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE DECISION.
        A. It was a life and death decision.

IV. YOU MUST MAKE THE SAME DECISION, "WHAT SHALL I DO WITH JESUS?"
        A. In your heart you know what's right.
                1. The Spirit of God has planted the truth deep within.
                2. There is great pressure pushing toward wrong decision.
        B. Some of you have been trying to avoid the issue.
                1. Procrastination:  "Some day..." No decision is..."
        C. To you it is a life and death decision.
                1. Russia's new nerve gas.
                2. What you decide will determine your future.
                        a. How you will live.
                                1. Whether you live for God or self.
                                2. Whether your life will be fulfilling or
                                   frustrating.
                3. What you decide determines your eternal destiny.
                        a. "It is appointed unto man once..."
                        b. You will spend eternity in heaven or hell.
                        c. Where is determined by you.
        D. What can you do with Jesus?
                1. Receive Him as Lord or reject Him.
                        a. "But as many as received Him, to them."
                2. Confess Him or deny Him.
                        a. "He that confesses Me..."
                3. Believe Him or not.
                        a. John 3:16.
                        b. "The unbelieving shall have their part in the
                           lake that burneth with..."
                4. You can give Him a part of your life or all of you
                   life.

V. STRANGE PARADOX THOUGH PILATE WAS JUDGE,. HIS DECISION DETERMINED HIS
   OWN DESTINY.
        A. You today stand as a judge of Jesus Christ.
                1. You determine if \\e was Son of God or a liar.
                2. You are judging Him and His claims.
                3. Some of you are making snap judgments without examining
                   all the evidence.
                        a. You have only heard His enemies present their
                           case against Him.
                        b. How much truth can you know about a person by
                           hearing only His enemies who have never met
                           Him?