ONE DEFENSE
We Have A Problem
Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
1.) All means - everyone/everybody
2.) Everyone has the same problem
3.) Everyone includes you
Romans 3:10 - as it is written, "There is none righteous, Not even one.
1.) No one is right with God apart from what God has provided
1 John 1:8 - If we say we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1.) Don't trick and/or lie to yourself, you have this sin problem
2.) As sure as you are alive you are a sinner
3.) Illustration : The Ten Commandments - Have they ever lied?
ONE DEFENSE
The Consequences for Your Sin
Isaiah 59:2 - But your iniquities (crookedness) have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.
1.) Your sin is between you and God
2.) If sin is not dealt with, God will not hear and you will be separated from Him.
Romans 6:23a - For the wages of sin is death,
1.) We earn, work for and deserve death
2.) God doesn't owe you anything - if He had everyone go to hell He would be right and just in doing so
3.) Sin has a pay day and on that day the pay is death
ONE DEFENSE
Our Powerlessness/Inability
Proverbs 14:12 - There is a way which seems right to man, But its end is the way to death.
1.) Going your own way gets you nowhere
2.) Even when you do what you believe is right and good, you still are going the wrong way and ending up where you do not want to be
3.) Your best efforts cannot help you
Romans 3:23 - for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God,
1.) We have missed the mark of God's standard and failed to reach HIM or be right with HIM.
ONE DEFENSE
How God Provides
Romans 5:8 - But God demonstates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinner, Christ died for us.
1.) He did this when you were guilty and deserving of death
2.) Him being innocent and not owing us anything - He chose to die for you - in your place
John 14:6 - Jesus said to Him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.
1.) It is only through Jesus that you can have a relationship with God
2.) He can because of who He is and what He did for you
3.) He is the way - without Him you cannot go
4.) He is the truth - without Him you cannot know
5.) He is the life - without Him you cannot live
John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.
1.) The promise is to those who believe (trust, rely on) HIM.
ONE DEFENSE
He Is LORD - Choosing Surrender
Acts 20:21 - solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our LORD Jesus Christ.
1.) To repent is to turn away from your sins
2.) Turning from sin in any other direction is not enough but turning toward God by placing your faith in Jesus Christ
John 1:12 - But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.
1.) What He has done for you is available - receive it
2.) He is holding it out but you must take it
John 5:24 - Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.
1.) What Jesus says is not made up - it is absolutely crucial for your life.
2.) Your punishment was taken by Jesus so that you can pass from death to life.
ONE DEFENSE
Your New Life and Adventure
2 Corinthians 5:17-18 - Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature, the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,
1.) When you are in Christ you are born again - you have a new origin
2.) A new beginning and a new purpose and a new destination is yours
Galatians 2:20 - I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who lives, but Christ who lives in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me.
1.) New power and new purpose and new passion is yours to be connected with
2.) Jesus Christ is to live His life through you
ONE DEFENSE
You Are HIS
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 - Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.
1.) In you is where He dwells by the Holy Spirit and this makes you the most sacred of places on earth
2.) Your only hope was for Him to by you/ransom you and He did indeed purchase you with His blood
3.) Now you are His so honor Him with your body
ONE DEFENSE
Chosen
John 15:16 - You did not chose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask of the Father in my name, He may give to you.
1.) You were the one that no one wanted and yet He chose you
2.) You are chosen by Him not for yourself but for Him and what He desires
1 Peter 2:9 - But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of Him who has called you out of the darkness into His marvelous light.
1.) As a believer you are chosen to be and do things that are beyond your natural ability
2.) His purposes becomes your purpose
3.) Be willing and He does these things in and through you
ONE DEFENSE
Growth and Obedience
2 Peter 3:18 - but grow in the grace and knowledge of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
1.) He commands you to grow, and grow you must
2.) If you are not doing what He commands - you are sinning and hindering your relationship with Him
3.) He is worthy and deserves all
John 14:25 - If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
1.) Talk is cheap
2.) You show Him love by doing what He asks of you and He empowers (supernatural strength) you to do it
3.) If you do whatever you feel like and it is not what He wants and you say that you love Him - you are lying
ONE DEFENSE
Needing The WORD
Psalm 119:105 - Your word is a lamp to m feet and a light to my path.
1.) His word is necessary if you want to see where you are stepping and where you are to be heading in life
Ezra 7:10 - For Ezra had set his heart to the study of the law of the LORD and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel.
1.) Study the Word and let it master you so you can effectively build others
John 8:31 - Jesus therefore was saying to those Jews wo had believed Him, If you abide in My Word, then you are truly disciples of mine.
1.) To be His student and apprentice you must hold to His Word
2.) If the Word of God does not change you, the world will, and you are always moving in one of those two directions
Psalm 119:11 - Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against you.
1.) His word is to be precious to you (guarded and protected)
2.) This will help keep you from sin
