Over everything, remember the words of John 3:16-17:
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."
Jesus came to free us. To save us. To redeem us. To reclaim us. All for God's glory. Not to condemn us.
Ephesians 2:1-10
We need to talk about God's greatness. Why? Because we forget about him.
Romans 3:10, Psalms 14:1-3, 53:1-3, Ecclesiastes 7:20 all tell us that no one is good on their own. Only God is good. We need to put God on the throne and ourselves in the proper perspective.
Ephesians 2:1-10
We need to talk about God's greatness. Why? Because we forget about him.
Romans 3:10, Psalms 14:1-3, 53:1-3, Ecclesiastes 7:20 all tell us that no one is good on their own. Only God is good. We need to put God on the throne and ourselves in the proper perspective.
Romans 11:33-36
Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
“Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?”
“Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay them?”
For from him and through him and for him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.
…God’s riches are beyond depth.
Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
“Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?”
“Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay them?”
For from him and through him and for him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.
…God’s riches are beyond depth.
Ditto with his knowledge. Both are limitless. Everything there is to know, God knows. Every star, every cell, every animal, every grain of sand, every event, every language, every person, place, thing, every cause and effect, every result. God knows and is in control of everything…without strain.
I work with a six-year old who knows everything. “Hey Jeff, who knows more about this?….Nope, it’s me…” After a few hours of this in a row, it’s tempting to remind him that he doesn’t know the whole alphabet.
The story is about God. It’s not about us. Everything rolls up to God. It’s not about our salvation, it’s about God’s glory. He’s perfect and he’s worthy of that claim.
We need to talk about the cross. Why? Because we forget about it.
Psalm 42
Psalm 63
There is no indifference. There is no complacency. Most of us don’t completely walk away from God. We just ignore him or are indifferent.
Legend says John gets boiled in tar, we know he’s exiled. Paul gets imprisoned. All of the men who walked closest with Jesus get killed. All in, no indifference.
The first two chapters of the Bible are about man’s perfect walk with God. The rest of the book and everything that’s followed is trying to get that back and the restoration of that.
Jeremiah 2 tells us the universe is appalled by how we treat God.
Be appalled at this, you heavens,
and shudder with great horror,”
declares the LORD.
“My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me,
the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns,
broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
In the Hebrew, the concept being portrayed is that God is going to snap and tear everything to shreds.
We don’t feel bothered by our sin. Luke 18.
A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone.
Our definition of good and God’s differ. In Isaiah 6, “Woe is me!” In Luke 5, Simon Peter, “Get away from me!” Men who heard from God, who walked with God, realized how unfit they were on the scale of 1-to-God. Isaiah 64:6 says our good deeds look like filthy rags to him. Imagine what our sin and disobedience looks like.
Look at Paul. In Philippians he lists off all of his qualifications for why he should have confidence in himself….and then he proceeds to call it all rubbish in comparison to God, in comparison to knowing Jesus.
We justify ourselves. We look at others and compare: But I’m not that bad. I’m a good person. What about other good people? There’s no such thing as a good Muslim, a good Mormon, a good Hindu or a good Christian. We all fall short of the glory of God.
God has two responses to our treason:
I work with a six-year old who knows everything. “Hey Jeff, who knows more about this?….Nope, it’s me…” After a few hours of this in a row, it’s tempting to remind him that he doesn’t know the whole alphabet.
This what it's like for me towards God. Only the scale is more lopsided. God reveals things to us through his word and revelation, but we would be foolish to think we can advise God.
We are wise. Then someone wiser comes along. We are strong. Then someone stronger comes along. We are rich. Then someone with more comes along.
Deuteronomy 10:14
To the LORD your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.
…Everything belongs to God
We’re limited by material and knowledge. I cannot buy a house. I am confined by lack of resources and money. I need stuff to build or buy stuff. Can you make something out of nothing? God creates from nothing. As much as he wants. Of anything. Whenever he wants. God is limitless. I am limited.
If everything is God’s, that means we have nothing. That means we can’t put God into our debt. That means he owes us nothing. That means we exist because of his grace. Every second of every day. Every bit of food we eat. Every laugh we share. We have nothing to bargain with. We can’t bribe or bargain or barter with God. Everything is his.
We are wise. Then someone wiser comes along. We are strong. Then someone stronger comes along. We are rich. Then someone with more comes along.
Deuteronomy 10:14
To the LORD your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.
…Everything belongs to God
We’re limited by material and knowledge. I cannot buy a house. I am confined by lack of resources and money. I need stuff to build or buy stuff. Can you make something out of nothing? God creates from nothing. As much as he wants. Of anything. Whenever he wants. God is limitless. I am limited.
If everything is God’s, that means we have nothing. That means we can’t put God into our debt. That means he owes us nothing. That means we exist because of his grace. Every second of every day. Every bit of food we eat. Every laugh we share. We have nothing to bargain with. We can’t bribe or bargain or barter with God. Everything is his.
Acts 17:24-25.
“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else."
“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else."
It's essentially an echo of Ephesians 2:1-10. We were alienated from God by our own actions and choices. Jesus offers redemption. This passage also emphasizes that Jesus is over all of creation.
The story is about God. It’s not about us. Everything rolls up to God. It’s not about our salvation, it’s about God’s glory. He’s perfect and he’s worthy of that claim.
We need to talk about the cross. Why? Because we forget about it.
Psalm 42
Psalm 63
There is no indifference. There is no complacency. Most of us don’t completely walk away from God. We just ignore him or are indifferent.
Legend says John gets boiled in tar, we know he’s exiled. Paul gets imprisoned. All of the men who walked closest with Jesus get killed. All in, no indifference.
The first two chapters of the Bible are about man’s perfect walk with God. The rest of the book and everything that’s followed is trying to get that back and the restoration of that.
Jeremiah 2 tells us the universe is appalled by how we treat God.
Be appalled at this, you heavens,
and shudder with great horror,”
declares the LORD.
“My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me,
the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns,
broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
In the Hebrew, the concept being portrayed is that God is going to snap and tear everything to shreds.
We don’t feel bothered by our sin. Luke 18.
A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone.
Our definition of good and God’s differ. In Isaiah 6, “Woe is me!” In Luke 5, Simon Peter, “Get away from me!” Men who heard from God, who walked with God, realized how unfit they were on the scale of 1-to-God. Isaiah 64:6 says our good deeds look like filthy rags to him. Imagine what our sin and disobedience looks like.
Look at Paul. In Philippians he lists off all of his qualifications for why he should have confidence in himself….and then he proceeds to call it all rubbish in comparison to God, in comparison to knowing Jesus.
We justify ourselves. We look at others and compare: But I’m not that bad. I’m a good person. What about other good people? There’s no such thing as a good Muslim, a good Mormon, a good Hindu or a good Christian. We all fall short of the glory of God.
God has two responses to our treason:
One is Hell. The other is the cross. I’m going to focus on the cross.
Men can inspire, they can do some things, but they can’t transform hearts. That’s up to the power of God. That’s more than a show. This has got to be more than just trying to modify behavior. This is bigger than some of our New Year’s resolutions. We think changing what we’re doing is enough. But we need God to change who we are.
When we modify behavior, we don’t change the heart. We deal with the consequences of sin. Only the Holy Spirit can handle the cause of sin.
The cross was God’s wrath on our sin, put on his son. This is great news for us. When we accept that atoning sacrifice, it frees us. It allows us to shift the focus off of us doing anything to save ourselves. Instead, our lives change into a response to what God’s done for us through loving obedience. We should live our lives mindful of this. It frees us to live with joy.
We need to talk about the return of Jesus. Why? Because we often live like we forget he’s returning.
Matthew 24:36-39
Matthew 25
We don't know when Jesus is returning. It's critical to live like he is.
Men can inspire, they can do some things, but they can’t transform hearts. That’s up to the power of God. That’s more than a show. This has got to be more than just trying to modify behavior. This is bigger than some of our New Year’s resolutions. We think changing what we’re doing is enough. But we need God to change who we are.
When we modify behavior, we don’t change the heart. We deal with the consequences of sin. Only the Holy Spirit can handle the cause of sin.
The cross was God’s wrath on our sin, put on his son. This is great news for us. When we accept that atoning sacrifice, it frees us. It allows us to shift the focus off of us doing anything to save ourselves. Instead, our lives change into a response to what God’s done for us through loving obedience. We should live our lives mindful of this. It frees us to live with joy.
We need to talk about the return of Jesus. Why? Because we often live like we forget he’s returning.
Matthew 24:36-39
Matthew 25
We don't know when Jesus is returning. It's critical to live like he is.
Are we doing anything with our lives right now? How are we preparing? Are we just digging holes, hiding our talents? Get what you can, can what you get, sit on the lid.
Will we make excuses to God? Will we not have any idea who our Master is? Most of us know God expects something from us, but we don’t live like he does.
Will we make excuses to God? Will we not have any idea who our Master is? Most of us know God expects something from us, but we don’t live like he does.
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