Romans 4:4-8

● I could get swallowed up in my own unworthiness…but for the Grace of God.

● Satan is the Great Accuser and he loves to see me neutralized by guilt and shame.

● Above all the voices of condemnation I need to hear the message from the Cross…forgiven!

● My own life (lived freely, lovingly, generously and radiantly)may be the best curriculum pre-Believers can study.

The Certainties of Life:Death, Taxes, Sin

THE PREDICTABILITY OF SIN…EVERYBODY DOES IT

• Abraham …tossed his wife to a pagan king to save his own life

• Moses…Killed a man and failed when his leadership was sorely needed.

• David…We’d expect more of our King than this---Adultery and Murder!

• Solomon…His testimony and legacy went down the toilet when he started marrying pagan women.

• Peter…Failed Jesus big time, denying he even knew Him!

THE BIBLE GIANTS ALL HAD GLARING SIN INFESTATIONS

SIN IS EPIDEMIC, THE CURE IS OUT OF OUR REACH AND THE CONSEQUENCES ARE LONG AND HOT!

All

All

have

sin

ned

hav

e si

nned

All

All

fall

shor

t of

fall

shor

t of

the

glor

y of

God

the

glor

y of

God

Ther

e is

Ther

e is

non

e ri

ghte

ous

none

rig

hteo

us

…no

t eve

n on

e!

…no

t eve

n on

e!Th

ere

is a

pla

ce p

repa

red

Ther

e is

a p

lace

pre

pare

d

for

peop

le li

ke u

s

for

peop

le li

ke u

s …

and

…an

d

it is

n’t n

ice.

it is

n’t n

ice.

But But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead Christ has indeed been raised from the dead --I Corinthians 15:20--I Corinthians 15:20

(But) (But) on the first day of the week…they found the stone on the first day of the week…they found the stone rolled away rolled away --Luke 24:1,2--Luke 24:1,2

But But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.--Romans 5:8--Romans 5:8

BUT…OH WHAT A PRETTY WORDTHE BIG BUTS OF THE BIBLE:

(Drumroll….!!)

Remembering that Jesus Christ washed away our sins

I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. I have chosen to follow Jesus as my Lord and trust Him as my Savior.

God does better God does better at doing good than I do at at doing good than I do at being bad.being bad.

God’s mercy exceeds God’s mercy exceeds my ability to mess up.my ability to mess up.

It is Amazing GraceIt is Amazing Grace, Matchless Grace and , Matchless Grace and Wonderful Grace…no wonder so many Wonderful Grace…no wonder so many songs celebrate it!songs celebrate it!

If those who crucified Jesus If those who crucified Jesus were offered a were offered a pardon, what makes me think I’ve gone pardon, what makes me think I’ve gone beyond the reach of God’s generosity?beyond the reach of God’s generosity?

GOD’S GRACE IS GREATER THAN MY DISGRACE (Hurrah for the Love of God!)

NO MORE ANIMAL NO MORE ANIMAL SACRIFICES. SACRIFICES. ENOUGH OF ENOUGH OF TRYING TO EARN MY WAY TO TRYING TO EARN MY WAY TO HEAVEN…HEAVEN…

JESUS HAS COMPOSED A JESUS HAS COMPOSED A NEW SONG NEW SONG AND INVITES ME AND INVITES ME TO DANCE FOR THE REST OF TO DANCE FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE!MY LIFE!

HE HAS PAID MY DUES, HE HAS PAID MY DUES, ABSORBED THE PENALTY ABSORBED THE PENALTY THAT WAS RIGHTFULLY MINETHAT WAS RIGHTFULLY MINE

IT’S TIME TO CAST OFF THE BALL AND CHAIN, THE GLOOMY LOOK AND FEAR OF THE FUTURE

WITH SINS FORGIVEN, WITH SINS FORGIVEN, HIS HIS SPIRIT INSIDE ME AND THE SPIRIT INSIDE ME AND THE FUTURE BECKONING… HEY, FUTURE BECKONING… HEY, I’M AIRBORNE!!I’M AIRBORNE!!

WITH SINS FORGIVEN, WITH SINS FORGIVEN, HIS HIS SPIRIT INSIDE ME AND THE SPIRIT INSIDE ME AND THE FUTURE BECKONING… HEY, FUTURE BECKONING… HEY, I’M AIRBORNE!!I’M AIRBORNE!!

IT IS NO LONGER IT IS NO LONGER ‘ONE FOOT ‘ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE AND THE IN THE GRAVE AND THE OTHER ON A BANANA PEEL’…OTHER ON A BANANA PEEL’…NOW IT IS ‘ONE FOOT ON THE NOW IT IS ‘ONE FOOT ON THE GROUND AND THE OTHER IN GROUND AND THE OTHER IN THE AIR’!THE AIR’!

IT’S TIME TO CAST OFF THE BALL AND CHAIN, THE GLOOMY LOOK AND FEAR OF THE FUTURE

PRAYER & PRAISE

● I will not get swallowed up in my own feelings of unworthiness .

● I will not cave in to the Great Accuser by allowing myself to be neutralized by guilt and shame.

● Above all the voices of condemnation I will hear the message from the Cross …forgiven!

● I will live my own life lovingly, generously and radiantly. In so doing I will help other through a Christ-like example.