Problem/Solution A Theology of Sin and Salvation
Are We Sick of Sin? No One is Righteous before God Romans 3:9-20
But God! Romans 3:21-24 Ephesians 2:1-5
Salvation! God Rescues and Restores The righteousness of God! Romans 1:16-17! 3:21-22
God s Great Story:! Creation! Sin! Rescue! New Creation
Rescue Bible uses many terms
Rescue Propitiation, Redemption, Justification, Reconciliation, Adoption, Regeneration, Forgiveness, Calling, Union with Christ, Freedom, New Creation,...! Inheriting Eternal Life, Entering the Kingdom of God
Rescue Many terms, but one reality: we enter into a relationship with the living God!
Benefits of Salvation Benefit #1 - Redemption! Buying back of sinners from their slavery to sin by the payment of a ransom (Christ s death)
Redemption Without Christ, people are enslaved: - To fear (Rom. 8:15; Heb. 2:14-15) - To the law (Gal. 5:1) - To false gods (Gal. 4:8-10) - To passions & pleasures (Titus 3:3) - To sin (Rom. 6:17)
Redemption Jesus Christ has paid the price to buy our freedom. It cost Christ his life.! For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many -Mark 10:45
Redemption Jesus death bought our freedom: - No longer under the law - No more fear of death - No longer enslaved to our passions - No longer in bondage to Satan - Sin is no longer our master!
Redemption Don t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. You have been set free from sine and have become slaves to righteousness. (Romans 6:16-18)
Play Back to God clip here
Benefits of Salvation Benefit #2 - Reconciliation! The removal of enmity and the restoration of fellowship between two parties.
Reconciliation Sin created a barrier of hostility between us and God. We were God s enemies.! So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden. After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life. Gen. 3:23-24
Reconciliation Remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. - Eph. 2:12! Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. - Col. 1:21
Reconciliation No foreigner [Gentile] is to enter within the fence and enclosure around the Temple. Whoever is caught will have himself to blame for his death which will follow.
Reconciliation Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation Col. 1:21-22!
Reconciliation You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Rom. 5:6-8
Reconciliation But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Eph. 2:13! Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Benefits of Salvation Benefit #3 - Adoption! God adopts us into his covenant family. We are now sons and daughters of God. We belong!
Play I Want Answers clip here stop at 2:03
Adoption For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. - Rom. 8:14-17
Adoption Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure. - 1 John 3:2-3
Redemption we ve been bought with a price; we are free! Reconciliation we have peace with God! Adoption we are members of God s covenant family
God s Great Story:! Creation! Sin! Rescue! New Creation
Salvation is God s work to rescue and restore Conversion is our response to God s salvation
Asking God into My Life or Becoming Part of God s Great Story