why life doesnt often work. jan 9, 2011

“Fic it, Daddy. Fic it”

We live in a broken world.

Why is it that life doesn’t often work?

Rediscovering the Good News that We Dare Not Forget!

‘11

129 questions and answers

52 Lord’s Day Readings

The Heidelberg Catechism (1563)

The Good News We Almost Forgot: Rediscovering the Gospel in a 16th Century Catechism by Kevin DeYoung.

The Structure of the Catechism

Q3 – Q11 Man’s Misery(Guilt)

Q12 – Q85 Man’s Deliverance(Grace)

Q86 – Q129 Man’s Response(Gratitude)

“We desperately needto understand something of the

magnitude of sin, of evil, and of gross wickedness in this world if we are to appreciate our redemption.

God's love, grace, andmercy shine all thebrighter against the awful reality of evil.”

The better we understand our misery – the more thankful we

will be for our deliverance!

Man is uniquely created(Man’s dignity)

Genesis 1:26-27Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness . . .So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

God is a personal being –so is man!

God is a moral being –so is man!

God is a spiritual being –so is man!

Made in God’s image

Man is uniquely created(Man’s dignity)

Man is radically corrupted(Man’s depravity)

Genesis 2:16-17And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”

Genesis 3:6When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

Radical corruption

radix = root (heart)

Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?

Ephesians 2:3Like the rest (of humanity), we were by nature objects of wrath.

Radical corruption:

1. Though it terribly distorts and twists the image of God, it does not destroy it.

Genesis 9:6Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man.

Beit-Shean, Israel

Radical corruption:

1. Though it terribly mars the image of God, it does not destroy it.

2. It is a universal condition effecting all, no exceptions!

Romans 3:10-12 There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.

“Our fundamentalproblem is not badparents, bad schools, badfriends or bad

circumstances. Our fundamental problem is a bad heart. And every single one of us is born into the world with it.” (DeYoung)

Romans 5:12Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man. . .

AdamWhen Adam sinned we all

sinned!“original sin”

Thomas Jefferson

“As Adam’s children and

heirs, we think his

thoughts and imitate his

actions by instinct, without

even having met him.”

(Michael Horton)

Man is uniquely created(Man’s dignity)

Man is radically corrupted(Man’s depravity)

Man is eternally condemned(Man’s destiny)

Q10. Will God permit such disobedience and rebellion to go unpunished?

A. Certainly not. He isterribly angry about the

sin we are born with as well as the sins we personally commit. As a just judge He punishes them now and in eternity. He has declared:

A. “Cursed is everyonewho does not continue to

do everything written in the Book of the Law.”

(Galatians 3:10; Deuteronomy 27:26)

Hebrews 9:27Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.

Q11. But isn’t God also merciful?

A. God is certainly merciful, but he is alsojust. His justice demands

that sin, committed against His supreme majesty, be punished with the supreme penalty –eternal punishment of body and soul.

2 Thessalonians 1:6-7God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels.

2 Thessalonians 1:8He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

2 Thessalonians 1:9-10aThey will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might on the day he comes to be glorified.

Isaiah 53:5But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.

Isaiah 53:6We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Man is uniquely created(Man’s dignity)

Man is radically corrupted(Man’s depravity)

Man is eternally condemned(Man’s destiny)

One Substitute is all who is needed!

Lord’s Day Readings # 5-6(Questions #12-19)

‘11

1. Examine your soul. Is Jesus Christ your savior? There is no one else who can save you from the judgment we all deserve!

2. In light of the coming judgment of God, what are you doing to show others God’s mercy in Christ?