Sermon: Salvation is a Liferaft (3/5/23)

Sunday, March 5th, 2023 (Lent 2)

Genesis 12:1-9; Psalm 33:12-21; Romans 4:1-12; Romans 4:13-17; John 3:1-16

SERMON  

Introduction: Last week: Temptation

This week, sin.

Lent is about recognizing, exposing, and removing sin. 

1. Sin is about disconnect from God, and is therefore a brokenness in our BEING.
   1. The stories of Salvation from our texts (Romans 4, John 3) describe a process that is not centered in what we DO but who we ARE.
      1. Romans 4: 
         1. Sin as a debt / blemish

7 “Blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered; 8 blessed is the one against whom the Lord will not reckon sin.

1. This language of reckoning describes a debt mark.
2. John 3: 
   1. what is born of flesh is flesh, what is born of spirit is spirit
   2. Jesus says that in order to be part of heaven, you have to BE in God. 
      1. We are not just born connected to God, we need to be re-born.
3. Salvation is about FINDING GOD again, staying in sin is living separated from God.
   1. Proverbs 8:35-36

35 For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord, 36 but those who miss me injure themselves; all who hate me love death.”

1. John 3: The bronze serpent
   1. Belief for the people in Exodus was about standing near the cast-serpent. Believing in Jesus is about BEING with him. 
2. Psalm 33:17
   1. Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon those who fear him, * and upon those who put their trust in his mercy,
3. Salvation is deliverance from death, sin is letting the (s)infection spread
   1.  Romans  4:17 “God gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist”
   2. God uses us to bless (Gen 12:2) 
      1. As people and nations
   3. John 3:16
      1. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
         1. The sending of the son is a cascading effect. Eternal life begins to spring out of our love for God and one another.

Conclusion:

Lent: recognizing our sin and our need for salvation. 

Opportunity to BE in god’s presence.

AMEN

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Thank you for listening!
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Transcript

0:21

THE HOLY GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST ACCORDING TO SAINT JOHN LORD YOU LORD CHRIST NOW THERE WAS A PHARACY NAMED NIKADEMUS A LEADER OF THE JEWS HE CAME TO JESUS BY NIGHT AND SAID TO HIM RABBI WE KNOW THAT YOU ARE A TEACHER WHO HAS COME FROM GOD FOR NO ONE CAN DO THESE SIGNS THAT YOU DO APART FROM THE PRESENCE OF GOD JESUS ANSWERED HIM VERY TRULY I TELL YOU NO ONE CAN SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD WITHOUT BEING BORN FROM ABOVE NIKADEMA SAID TO HIM HOW CAN ANYONE BE BORN AFTER HAVING GROWN OLD CAN ONE ENTER THE SECOND TIME INTO THE MOTHER'S WOMB AND BE BORN JESUS ANSWERED VERY TRULY I TELL YOU NO ONE CAN ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD WITHOUT BEING BORN OF WATER AND SPIRIT WHAT IS BORN OF THE FLESH IS FLESH WHAT IS BORN OF THE SPIRIT IS SPIRIT DO NOT BE ASTONISHED THAT I SAID TO YOU YOU MUST BE BORN FROM ABOVE THE WIND BLOWS WHERE IT WISHES AND YOU HEAR THE SOUND OF IT BUT YOU DO NOT KNOW WHERE IT COMES FROM OR WHERE IT GOES SO IT IS WITH EVERYONE WHO IS BORN OF THE SPIRIT NIKADEMUS SAID TO HIM HOW CAN THESE THINGS BE JESUS ANSWERED HIM ARE YOU A TEACHER OF ISRAEL AND YET YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND THESE THINGS VERY TRULY I TELL YOU WE SPEAK OF WHAT WE KNOW AND TESTIFY TO WHAT WE HAVE SEEN YET YOU DO NOT RECEIVE OUR TESTIMONY IF I HAVE TOLD YOU ABOUT EARTHLY THINGS AND YOU DO NOT BELIEVE HOW CAN YOU BELIEVE IF I TELL YOU ABOUT HEAVENLY THINGS NO ONE IS ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN EXCEPT THE ONE WHO DESCENDED FROM HEAVEN THE SON OF MAN AND JUST AS MOSES LIFTED UP THE SERPENT IN THE WILDERNESS SO MUST THE SON OF MAN BE LIFTED UP THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM MAY HAVE ETERNAL LIFE FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY SON SO THAT EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM MAY NOT PERISH BUT MAY HAVE ETERNAL LIFE THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD PRAISE YOU LORD CHRIST LET'S PRAY COME HOLY SPIRIT COME NOW AS WE CONSIDER YOUR WORD FOR OUR LIVES AMEN PLEASE BE SEATED GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY MORNING I'M GONNA TALK TO Y'ALL THIS MORNING ABOUT EVERYBODY'S FAVORITE SUBJECT SIN I KNOW WHAT YOU WERE THINKING YOU WERE THINKING JIM YOU WOKE UP THIS MORNING THAT'S SOME NICE PANCAKES JUST TO HEAR ABOUT SIN THIS MORNING I'M I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I DON'T IMAGINE HOW MANY OF YOU GUYS HAVE HEARD A SERMON ABOUT SIN BEFORE LET ME SAY IT DIFFERENTLY HOW DO YOU HURT HER SERMON ABOUT SIN BEFORE FROM SOMEONE OTHER THAN ME OKAY EXCELLENT PRAISE GOD HERE'S WHY I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT SIN BECAUSE I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN BUMMING YOU OUT MAYBE DOT A LITTLE BIT BUT THE REST OF YOU NOT AT ALL THE HERE'S WHY I THINK WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT SIN NO. 1 IT'S BECAUSE GOD LOVES YOU GOD LOVES YOU GOD CREATED THIS WHOLE MESS OF A UNIVERSE CAUSE HE WANTS TO BE WITH YOU AND UNITE EVERYTHING TO HIMSELF AND THE REASON IN NO. 2 SINCE THAT THING THAT'S GETTING IN THE WAY IT'S THE THING THAT'S GETTING IN THE WAY SO WHAT I WANNA DO IS I WANNA TALK ABOUT SIN AND I'M GONNA I'M GONNA RIFF ON THE SIN SUBJECTS THROUGHOUT THE SEASON OF LANT AS OFTEN AS I'M PREACHING THROUGHOUT THE SEASON OF LANT WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT BE NEXT WEEK OR WHO KNOWS AT THIS POINT IN TIME FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW THE CONTEXT OF THAT STATEMENT MY WIFE IS GONNA GO INTO LABOR LIKE ANY MOMENT AND SO ONCE THAT HAPPENS WE'RE GONNA HUNK HER DOWN IN THE SHOE MAKE HOUSEHOLD AND HOPEFULLY CELEBRATE OF A FIFTH CHILD OR IT'LL BE LIKE THE OTHER ONES AND WE'LL MOURN IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARD ANYWAY BACK TO THE SIN SUBJECT WHICH CLEARLY I HAVE MY OWN REPENTING TO DO HERE HERE'S WHY SIN IS SO CRUCIAL IT'S BECAUSE YOU ARE MADE TO BE WITH GOD I THINK THAT STANDS IN THE WAY OF YOU AND GOD BEING UNITED IS SIN NOW IT'S A BIT MORE COMPLICATED THAN THAT SO WHAT I WANNA DO IS JUST UNPACK THIS A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S ONE THING IN THE WORLD THAT WE HAVE A HUGE MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT IT'S SIN BUT IT ALL STARTS WITH AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION I WANT YOU AND I TO SORT OF LIVE INTO AND UNDERSTAND IN IT IN IT IS THIS SIN IS NOT AN ACTION RIGHTEOUSNESS IS NOT AN ACTION YOU CAN ACT BECAUSE OF SIN AND YOU CAN ACT BECAUSE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS BUT IT WOULD BE WRONG FOR US TO UNDERSTAND THE WORLD SIMPLY IN TERMS OF SIN ACTIONS AND RIGHTEOUSNESS ACTIONS THAT WOULD BE WRONG AND HERE'S HERE'S THE REASON WHY THAT'S WRONG IS BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T EARN YOUR WAY OUT OF HEAVEN AND YOU CAN'T EARN YOUR WAY INTO HEAVEN GOD IS INTENDED ALL OF HIS HEAVENLY CREATURES TO BE UNITED WITH HIM NOT BECAUSE OF ANYTHING THAT THEY DO BUT BECAUSE OF WHAT HE DOES WE'RE UNITED WITH GOD OR SEPARATED WITH GOD NOT BECAUSE OF WHAT WE DO BUT BECAUSE OF WHO WE ARE AND I THINK THIS IS TO ME ONE OF THE CATEGORICAL MISUNDERSTANDINGS ABOUT THE WORLD IN THE 21ST CENTURY IS WE DON'T KNOW WHO WE ARE RIGHT WHICH IS WHY WE SEE I SEE SO MANY PEOPLE ON SOCIAL MEDIA ON THE NEWS WHO ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE WRITING BOOKS THAT ARE ALL ABOUT FINDING THEMSELVES LIKE YOU WOULD THINK BY THE 21ST CENTURY WE WOULD HAVE FIGURED THIS OUT RIGHT THAT WHEN YOU'RE BORN AND YOU LIVE IN YOU JUST KNOW WHO YOU ARE CAUSE I'M A SHOE MAKE I MAKE SHOES FOR A LIVING THAT'S JUST WHO I AM NO WE'RE STILL IN THIS ISSUE OF TRYING TO FIND OURSELVES AND I I HAVE THIS PERCEPTION MAYBE YOU DON'T HAVE THIS PERCEPTION THE MORE SOMEONE IS STUCK IN A MENTALITY OF TRYING TO FIND THEMSELVES THE MORE THEY JUST START TO EXCUSE ALL OF THEIR BEHAVIORS WELL I CAN'T HELP THAT I DID THIS BECAUSE I WAS TOO BUSY FINDING MYSELF AND WHAT I WANNA JUST DO IS I WANNA TALK ABOUT SIN IN RELATIONSHIP TO IDENTITY AND I WANNA TALK ABOUT SALVATION IN RELATIONSHIP TO IDENTITY CAUSE I I THINK WE HAVE THIS HUGE MISUNDERSTANDING WITHIN CHRISTIANITY IN THE WEST WHICH IS IF IF I UM IF I DO A AND B AND C THEN I GO TO HEAVEN RIGHT IF YOU GUYS HEARD SOMEONE TALK IF YOU PRAY THIS ONE PRAYER OR YOU GO TO THE MASS THIS NUMBER OF TIMES THEN I GET TO GO TO HEAVEN AT THE END OF MY LIFE AS A REWARD THIS IS A TOTAL MISUNDERSTANDING OF WHAT GOD INTENDED HIS KINGDOM TO BE HEAVEN IS HERE NOW HEAVEN IS BEING REVEALED TO US AND OPEN TO US IN THIS LIFE RIGHT NOW AND IF YOU'RE NOT EXPERIENCING IT IT'S BECAUSE SIN HAS GOT A HOLD OF YOUR LIFE NOW FOR SOME OF YOU WHEN I SAY HEAVEN'S HERE RIGHT NOW YOU GO I KNOW I KNOW I EXPERIENCED IT ON TUESDAY DURING THE SOAKING PRAYER SERVICE OH MY GOODNESS WE HAD THE LORD JUST TOOK OVER HERE ON TUESDAY NIGHT IN HEAVEN IS HEAVEN IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD BE ENCOUNTERING IN OUR DAILY LIFE AND WORK HERE IN THE MASS THAT EVEN IN THE JUMBLE OF WORDS THAT I WILL SAY TO YOU THE LORD THROUGH THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL BRING DOWN HEAVEN HERE IT IS BECAUSE OF THAT REALITY THAT HEAVEN IS HERE NOW THAT WE DO SILLY THINGS LIKE PLANT A CHURCH IN SUGAR HILL LIKE YOU GUYS KNOW WE'RE NOT EVEN IN A CHURCH BUILDING WE'RE IN A SOME STOREFRONT PROPERTY THAT WE'VE CHURCHIFIED WHY WOULD WE DO THAT UNLESS WE THINK HEAVEN CAN BREAK THROUGH TO EARTH TODAY OKAY SO I HEATED UP JIM HERE'S THE SERMON OKAY HERE'S MY FIRST POINT SIN IS ABOUT BEING DISCONNECTED FROM GOD SO THEREFORE OUR SIN IS A BROKENNESS OF OUR VERY BEINGS I'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE AND SERMONS I THINK ONE OF THE MOST CATEGORABLE MISUNDERSTANDINGS I HAD EARLY ON WHEN I WAS TRYING TO EXAMINE WHAT IT MEANT TO BE HUMAN WHAT IT MEANT FOR GOD TO COME DOWN TO EARTH WAS JUST THE TACIT ASSUMPTION THAT TO BE HUMAN IS TO SIN THAT'S A LIE TO BE HUMAN MEANS TO BE UNITED WITH GOD IT MEANS TO BE MADE IN GOD'S IMAGE ACTUALLY YOU AND I THE REASON WHY WE'RE SO BROKEN IS BECAUSE WE HAVE BECOME LESS HUMAN AND THE MORE YOU SEND YOU'LL DISCOVER SOMETHING THE LESS HUMAN YOU BECOME GOD'S LAW GOD'S CHURCH THE GARDEN OF EDEN WAS MADE FOR HUMAN AND EARTHLY FLOURISHING THAT WAS WHAT THE WHOLE DESIGN WAS FOR THAT YOU AND I IN OUR UNITY WITH GOD AND WITH GOD'S CREATION WOULD BE TRULY HUMAN AND WHEN WE MESSED ALL THAT UP IN THE READING WE HAD LAST WEEK STARTING AT GENESIS CHAPTER THREE WE BROKE THE VERY BEINGNESS OF OUR HUMANITY NOW THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT WHEN WE GO THROUGH OUR SCRIPTURE READINGS TODAY IT'S BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT PAUL IN THE BOOK OF ROMANS AND JOHN IN THE BOOK OF JOHN THROUGH THE MOUTH OF JESUS DESCRIBE WHAT SIN IS FOR US OKAY SO I WANNA TALK ABOUT SIN IN TWO WAYS FIRST IN THE BOOK OF ROMANS CHAPTER 4 IF YOU'RE TAKING NOTES SIN IS CALLED A DEBT OR YOU COULD SAY A BLEMISH IF YOU LIVED IN THE ANCIENT WORLD AND YOU OWED SOMEONE A DEBT ESPECIALLY IF IT WAS A VERY GREAT DEBT YOU WOULD GET TATTOOED ON EITHER YOUR FOREHEAD OR ON YOUR HANDS WHAT THE COST OF YOUR DEBT MET SO LIKE LET'S SAY YOU KNOW I SOLD I OWED DEBBIE WOKE YOU KNOW A VOLKSWAGEN GOLF'S €1 LET'S PICK A EUROVAN A VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN'S WORTH OF DEBT OKAY WHAT SHE WOULD DO IS THEN BECAUSE I OWED HER THAT WE WOULD TATTOO THE DEBT ON MY HAND UNTIL I HAD IT PAID OFF YES TRACKING WITH THIS LINE OF THOUGHT OKAY SO WHEN WHEN WHEN PAUL WRITES THESE WORDS IN ROMANS CHAPTER 4 VERSE 7 HE SAYS THIS PHRASE BLESSED ARE THESE QUOTING ABRAHAM HERE AND DAVID BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE INIQUITIES ARE FORGIVEN AND WHOSE SINS ARE COVERED WELL THE EQUITY IS A FORGIVE IS NEEDS TO BE FORGIVEN IT MEANS IT RACKED UP A DEBT IF SOMEONE SIN IS COVERED IT MEANS THE VERY MARK OR THE BLEMISH THAT SIN LEFT IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE COVERED OVER MEANING IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS LEAVES A SCAR ON US AND HE GOES FURTHER BLESSED IS THE ONE AGAINST WHOM THE LORD WILL NOT RECKON SIN SO I THINK THIS MATTERS FOR US SIN IS A COST IT'S A DEBT IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S OWED I THINK THIS MAKES SENSE TO US IN TERMS OF THE CONCEPT OF BEING BECAUSE YOU AND I ASSOCIATE VALUE WITH WEALTH NOTICE THIS WHEN YOU AND I MEASURE WEALTH WE DON'T THINK OF HOURS WORKED RIGHT WE DON'T SAY WOW THEY MADE ALL THAT MONEY THEY MUST WORK REALLY HARD ACTUALLY IN SOCIETY WE VALUE PEOPLE AS GREATER AND LESSER BECAUSE OF THE MONEY THAT THEY HAVE YES WE CAN TRACK WITH THIS THAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE MORE MONEY ARE CONSIDERED MORE RELIABLE MORE VALUABLE THEY HAVE MORE EQUITY IF I GO INTO TO TO GET A HOME LOAN RIGHT EVEN IF I HAVE AN EQUAL AMOUNT OF DEBT WITH SOMEONE AS SOMEONE ELSE HAS DEBT BECAUSE THEY HAVE HIGHER UM VALUE MONEY YOU KNOW CAPITAL EARNING OR THERE'S SOME PHRASE THAT WHERE'S A LAWYER I COULD TALK TO ABOUT BECAUSE THEY HAVE HIGHER CAPITAL COMING IN THEY ARE MORE RELIABLE AND TRUSTWORTHY TO PAY DOWN DEBT WHY BECAUSE WE ASSOCIATE VALUE WITH MONEY THIS TRACK WITH THIS ACTUALLY THE SORT OF THE SAME MEANING IN ENGLISH OKAY WHEN YOU AND I HAVE A SIN DEBT AGAINST GOD IT MEANS WE HAVE BEEN DEVALUED THINK ABOUT THIS IT MEANS WE RACK UP GREATER AND GREATER NUMBERS OF EURO VANS THAT WE OWE TO TO THE LORD I'M GETTING LOTS OF CONFUSED LOOKS YOU GUYS TRACKING WITH THIS LINE THE MORE WE GET INTO DEBT THE MORE OUR HUMAN VALUE IS ITS STAKE HERE YES OKAY THANK YOU FOR THE HEAD NODS OKAY NOW BECAUSE OF THIS WE CAN UNDERSTAND THAT ALL THE DEBT THAT WE RACK UP IS AFFECTING OUR VERY BEING OUR VALUE ITSELF IS AT STAKE AND THERE'S NOTHING THAT YOU CAN DO TO PAY OFF THIS DEBT WOULD BE LIKE ME GIVING DEBBIE I'M TRYING TO THINK OF A LIKE S'MORES OTHER S'MORES ARE PRETTY GOOD IT WOULD BE LIKE ME GIVING DEBBIE STICKS TO PAY OFF YOUR ADVANCE IT DOESN'T FIT YOU SEEN A EURO VAN BEFORE YEAH OKAY I FIGURED YOU WOULD BE THE GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT WOULD KNOW EURO VAN OKAY THAT'S LIKE THAT'S THE CAR I WANT FATHER DAN NOW DIFFERENTLY FROM THIS JOHN IN THIS CONVERSATION THAT JESUS HAS WITH THICK ADAMUS TALKS ABOUT SIN AS SOMETHING THAT IS CONTRARY TO GOD'S VERY BEING THIS AND HE SAYS IT WITH THIS INCREDIBLE PHRASE HE SAYS WHAT IS BORN OF FLESH IS FLESH AND WHAT IS BORN OF THE SPIRIT IS SPIRIT NOW JOHN USES CODE HERE HE USES THIS WORD FLESH TO DESCRIBE THE WAY THAT THE WORLD WORKS YOU AND I HAVE BORN WITHIN US EVIL DESIRE AND WHEN WE GIVE IN TO THAT EVIL DESIRE WHAT HAPPENS WELL IT PRODUCES MORE EVIL DESIRE AND HE HAS THIS ONE CODE WORD HE USES FOR THIS GIVE YOU A GREEK WORD SO YOU CAN TELL YOUR FRIENDS AT THE COCKTAIL PARTY SARKS TRY IT SHARKS OKAY THIS IS THIS WORD FLESH THAT JOHN USES TO DESCRIBE THE OPPOSITE OF THE HEAVENLY NATURE SO HE SAYS THIS WHEN WHATEVER IS BORN OF FLESH IS FLESH BUT WHAT IS BORN OF THE SPIRIT IS SPIRIT AND HE USES THIS IN THIS LONGER DIALOGUE TO TALK ABOUT HOW IF YOU AND I ARE EVER TO LIVE INTO THE HEAVENLY WAY THAT JESUS LIVES WE HAVE TO BE BORN AGAIN OF WATER AND THE SPIRIT NOW SOON AS HE SAYS THIS UM DICKADEMUS RESPONDS BY SAYING I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW WHAT BREAK THIS DOWN FOR ME BASICALLY IN A NUTSHELL JESUS COMMUNICATES TO HIM IN ORDER FOR YOU TO REMOVE THIS SIN NATURE FROM YOU YOU HAVE TO BE BORN ANEW IN GOD LIKE YOU KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO BE HUMAN RIGHT YOU KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO HUNGER FOR FOOD YOU KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO PLAY THE THE THE RAT RACE RIGHT YOU GO TO YOUR 40 HOUR A WEEK JOB NIKADEMUS PROBABLY HAD DIFFERENT HOURS THAN WE DO BUT JUST FOR FOR YOU KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE TO DRIVE TO WORK TO PUT YOUR KIDS IN DAYCARE YOU KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO PLAY THAT GAME NOW I'M GONNA GIVE YOU A WHOLE NEW GAME OKAY FORGET THE GAME OF THE FLESH I WANNA GIVE YOU A WHOLE NEW GAME WHERE YOU REORIENT YOUR IDENTITY AND WHO YOU ARE BASED ON WHO GOD WANTS YOU TO BE INSTEAD THIS IS WHAT IT MEANS TO BE BORN AGAIN OF THE SPIRIT IT'S NOT ENOUGH EXCUSE ME IT'S NOT ENOUGH FOR US TO JUST GO THROUGH THE MOTIONS OF RELIGIOUS IDENTITY WE HAVE TO ACTUALLY KNOW AND BE WITH GOD OKAY I WANNA SET SOME CONTEXT FOR JOHN CHAPTER 3 FOR A SECOND BECAUSE I THINK WE CAN MISUNDERSTAND IT I GREW UP IN A WORLD WHERE IN THE CHARISMATIC PENTECOSTAL CHURCH I WAS PART OF WE THOUGHT OF RELIGIOUS PEOPLE WHO WORE SILLY CLOTHES AND WENT THROUGH THESE RITUAL ACTIONS AS COMPLETELY LOST RIGHT I HAD THIS JUDGMENT THAT WAS GIVEN TO ME AND I PLACE ON OTHERS THAT BECAUSE YOU WENT THROUGH ALL THESE RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES YOU COMPLETELY MISS SIGHT OF WHAT THE PURPOSE OF THE GOSPELS WERE OKAY AND THERE'S A REALLY GOOD REASON WHY I BELIEVE THAT IT'S CAUSE WE HAVE THE STORY OF PEOPLE LIKE NIKADEMUS OKAY YOU KNOW WHAT NIKADEMUS DID FOR A LIVING HE WAS HE WAS PRIEST LIKE ME YOU KNOW HOW MUCH BIBLE HE KNEW YEAH A LITTLE BIT WAY MORE THAN ME HE WAS A TOTAL NERD AND SO WHEN HE WALKS UP TO JESUS AND HE SAYS YOU GET HEAVEN SOMEHOW AND I DON'T WHAT DOES JESUS SAY TO HIM CAUSE YOU DON'T YOU'RE NOT ACTUALLY YOU DON'T LOVE GOD YOU HAVEN'T BEEN BORN IN GOD WHICH TELLS US WHAT YOU CAN GO THROUGH ALL THESE RELIGIOUS MOTIONS YOU CAN TAKE THIS BREAD TILL YOU'RE BLUE IN THE FACE AND STILL NOT GET IT AND I THINK THERE'S A CATEGORY PROBLEM FOR US FATHER DAN I THINK I DID ALL THE RIGHT THINGS I WENT TO MASS EVERY SUNDAY RIGHT I PAID JUST THE RIGHT AMOUNT FOR FOR US TO CALL IT A TIE RIGHT AND I TOLD ALL MY KIDS THAT JESUS CHRIST WAS LORD AND THEN I DIED BUT I DIDN'T INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE IT'S CAUSE WE THINK THAT THIS THAT GETTING OURSELVES OUT OF SIN IS ABOUT OUR DEEDS IT'S NOT IT'S ABOUT WHO YOU ARE LIKE JUST IMAGINE BEING MARRIED TO YOUR WIFE BUT NOT LOVING THEM RIGHT I BOUGHT YOU FLOWERS AGAIN WHY CAUSE YOU SAID YOU LIKE THEM IMAGINE HAVING CHILDREN RIGHT AND AND AND KNOWING THAT THEY LIKE BASEBALL AND BASKETBALL AND ALL THOSE SORTS OF THINGS BUT YOU DON'T REALLY CARE RIGHT THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM WE HAVE IN RELIGIOUS FAITH Y'ALL WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO GO THROUGH THE MOTIONS OF CHRISTIANITY BUT THEY'VE NEVER MET JESUS FIRST OF ALL MY FIRST POINT SIN IS ABOUT US BEING DISCONNECTED WITH GOD AND THEREFORE THERE'S A BROKENNESS IN OUR BEING IF WE'RE GOING TO BREAK THE BOND OF SIN IT MEANS IN EVERYTHING THAT WE DO WE NEED TO BE CONNECTED WITH GOD UNITED WITH GOD LET ME JUST LET ME SAY IT IN A SILLY WAY WE'RE GONNA DO COMMUNION JUST A LITTLE BIT OKAY WHEN WE DO COMMUNION I HAVE AN IDEA DON'T JUST EAT BREAD BUT PRAY AND WHEN YOU WHEN YOU PUT WHEN I PUT THE BREAD IN YOUR HANDS THINK THIS IS JESUS IN MY HANDS RIGHT NOW AND WHEN YOU PUT HIM IN YOUR MOUTH DON'T JUST UH JUST GOT HOW MANY TIMES I GOTTA CHEW THIS BEFORE I CAN SWALLOW IT THINK JESUS IS ENTERING INTO ME BODILY AND TRANSFORMING CAN YOU SEE THE DIFFERENCE ONE IS A SERIES OF RITUAL ACTIONS BY WHICH YOU CAN EARN YOUR WAY TO SALVATION ONE IS EMBODYING RELIGIOUS IDENTITY WHERE GOD COMES INTO YOU ONE IS GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS ONE IS BEING UNITED WITH GOD OKAY SORRY HERE'S MY SECOND POINT SALVATION IS ABOUT FINDING GOD STAYING IN SIN IS ABOUT LIVING SEPARATED FROM GOD I GOT A GREAT PASSAGE FROM THE PROVERBS IF YOU NEVER READ THE PROVERBS BEFORE PROVERBS CHAPTER 8 35 AND 36 LISTEN TO THIS FOR WHOEVER FINDS ME FINDS LIFE AND OBTAINS FAVOR FROM THE LORD BUT THOSE WHO MISS ME INJURE THEMSELVES AND ALL WHO HATE ME LOVE DEATH THIS IS LADY WISDOM TALKING ABOUT HOW YOU CAN DISCOVER THE LORD WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO DO YOU HAVE TO SEEK GOD IN ORDER TO FIND HIM YOU HAVE TO KNOCK IN ORDER FOR THE DOOR TO BE OPENED JESUS USES ANOTHER STORY FROM THE SCRIPTURES TO ASSOCIATE THIS WITH HIMSELF IN JOHN CHAPTER 3 WHILE TALKING WITH NIKADEMUS HE TALKS ABOUT THE STORY OF THE ISRAELITES STUCK IN THE WILDERNESS STARTING TO GET BIT BY POISONOUS SNAKES YOU GUYS REMEMBER THE STORY IT'S A LESSER KNOWN STORY UNLESS YOU'RE A REAL NERD ABOUT THE OLD TESTAMENT BUT THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS THE ISRAELITES ARE IN WILDERNESS THEY'VE LEFT EGYPT THEY'RE ON THEIR WAY TO THE PROMISED LAND AND THINGS ARE ALREADY TOUGH THEY'RE ALREADY HUNGRY AND THIRSTY THEY'RE NOT SURE ABOUT THIS MOSES GUY ANYMORE AND THEN YOU THINK THAT WAS BAD ENOUGH ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY START GETTING BIT BY SNAKES START GETTING BIT BY SNAKES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WILDERNESS SO WHAT HAPPENS THEY'RE TERRIFIED THEY GO TO MOSES THEY SAY WE SHOULD HAVE STAYED IN EGYPT HE'S LIKE I'M STARTING TO THINK THAT WAY TOO NO NEVER MIND I'M GOING TO MAKE A BRONZE SERPENT I'M GONNA PUT IT ON THE TOP OF A BIG STICK AND YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT IT ANYTIME YOU GET BIT BY A SNAKE AND ANYTIME YOU GET BIT BY A SNAKE WHILE THE POISON STARTS TO GET INTO YOUR SYSTEM LOOK AT THAT BRONZE SERPENT AND THEN YOU'LL BE HEALED THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENS YOU GUYS MIGHT KNOW THIS THE SYMBOL FOR MEDICINE IS WHAT IT'S A YEAH IT'S A BRONZE SERPENT ON A STICK IT MAY IT MAY OR MAY NOT BE POISONOUS THANK YOU USHER I THINK THE WORDS VENOMOUS THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR BY THE WAY ANYWAY TEENAGERS NOW THIS ANALOGY IS REALLY INTERESTING WHEN JESUS LIFTED UP FOR US BECAUSE HE SAYS IT IN THE SAME WAY THAT THE SERPENT WAS LIFTED UP BEFORE THE ISRAELITES SO THE SON OF MAN WILL BE LIFTED UP BEFORE ALL MANKIND OKAY NOW THERE'S TWO TAKEAWAYS FOR THIS NO. 1 JESUS SEES HIMSELF AS THE SOURCE OF HEALING AND RESURRECTION FOR A BROKEN PEOPLE IN EXILE WHICH DESCRIBES PERFECTLY NOT ONLY THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL STUCK IN CAPTIVE BY ROME BUT ALSO THIS DESCRIBES US RIGHT THE CHURCH IN WAITING OF THE DAY OF RESURRECTION THAT'S US WE ARE WAITING FOR OUR SAVIOR TO COME AND RESCUE US AND SAVE US FROM UNABIT COVID LONG SERVANTS FIVE CHILDREN I MEAN THERE'S SO MANY THINGS THAT GOD IS SAVING US FROM OKAY BUT THERE'S A SECOND IMPLICATION OF THIS THAT WE HAVE TO SEE IF IT'S TRUE THAT YOU HAVE TO SEE THE SERPENT WHERE DO YOU HAVE TO BE IN RELATIONSHIP TO THE SERPENT YOU GOTTA BE IT NEARBY IT NOW THAT SOUNDS SO SIMPLE BUT THIS IS THE WHOLE THING THAT JESUS IS TRYING TO GET AT YOU SHOULD LIVE YOUR LIFE WHERE JESUS IS ALWAYS NEARBY NOW SOME PEOPLE I HEAR I'LL SAY THAT AND THEY'LL SAY WELL LORD YOU KNOW LORD JESUS LIVES IN MY HEART NO HE DOESN'T DO YOU THINK HE LIVES IN YOUR HEART BECAUSE YOU SAID A PRAYER A COUPLE DAYS AGO BY THE WAY THE FAIREST THE JEWS DID THE EXACT SAME THING THEY GOT CIRCUMCISED RIGHT SO ARE THEY FOREVER JEWS BECAUSE THEY GOT CIRCUMCISED OF COURSE NOT YOU HAVE TO BE IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD CONSTANTLY IN ORDER FOR GOD TO SAVE YOU FROM THE SICKNESS AND DEATH THAT IS SIN THAT IS THE DEVIL'S ATTACK ON OUR LIVES SO THIS THIS IS WHERE WE HAVE TO RE UNDERSTAND RIGHTEOUSNESS NOT IN TERMS OF DEEDS BUT IN TERMS OF NEARNESS TO SAFETY BUT I USE THE LIFE RAFT ANALOGY SO I WENT FROM ONE STORY I'M GOING TO RIGHT LIFE RAFT ANALOGY RIGHT DO YOU HAVE TO BE A GOOD SWIMMER TO BE SAVED BY THE LIFE RAFT NO BUT YOU HAVE TO GET IN THE LIFE RAFT YOU HAVE TO GET IN THE LIFE RAFT IF YOU SEE THE LIFE RAFT YOU SAY OH I BELIEVE IN THE LIFE RAFT IS IT GOING TO SAVE YOU THIS IS OUR PROBLEM WITH THE CHURCH RIGHT WE THINK THAT BECAUSE WE SAID A PRAYER ONE TIME BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IN LIFE RAFTS BECAUSE WE GOT IT AT ONE POINT IN TIME AND LATER GOT OUT WE'RE STILL NOT GONNA DROWN NO IN THE SAME WAY THAT YOU HAVE TO BE NEAR THAT SERPENT YOU GOT TO SIT IN THE LIFE RAFT THAT IS THE SANCTUARY OF GOD THAT IS THE PRESENCE OF GOD'S SAVING POWER IN ORDER TO BE SAVED FROM THE SERPENT'S VENOM IN ORDER TO BE SAVED FROM THE BITE OF SIN PSALM 33 17 SAYS IT LIKE THIS BEHOLD THE EYE OF THE LORD IS UPON THOSE WHO FEAR HIM AND UPON THOSE WHO PUT THEIR TRUST IN HIS MERCY GOD'S WATCHING YOU WHEN YOU FEAR HIM GOD'S WATCHING YOU WHEN YOU SURRENDER TO HIM IF YOU DRAW NEAR TO THE LORD GUESS WHAT HE'LL DO HE'LL DRAW NEAR TO YOU IT REQUIRES US TO CONSTANTLY COMBAT THE SICKNESS OF SIN MY FIRST POINT SIN IS ABOUT BEING DISCONNECTED FROM GOD AND THEREFORE BEING BROKEN IN OUR BEING SALVATION IS ABOUT FINDING GOD SECOND POINT WE'RE STAYING IN SIN IS LIVING SEPARATED FROM GOD AND HERE'S MY THIRD POINT SALVATION IS DELIVERANCE FROM DEATH WHERE A SIN IS LETTING THE SINFECTION SPREAD TOLD MY WIFE THIS MORNING I WAS GONNA COIN A NEW WORD IT'S INFECTION AND SHE WASN'T SHE WASN'T IMPRESSED I THINK IT'S THE PREGNANCY I THINK THE WORDS GENIUS IT'S JUST I'M THROWING OUT A WORD CAUSE CAUSE YOU AND I ARE ARE VERY AWARE OF CONTAGION RIGHT NOW RIGHT LIKE LIKE MAYBE YOU'RE HAVING THIS EXPERIENCE MAYBE YOU'RE NOT HAVING THIS EXPERIENCE WHEN I DON'T WEAR MY MASK ANYMORE I THINK THANK GOD I DON'T WEAR THAT MASK TODAY RIGHT OR WHEN I WHEN WHEN MY HANDS ARE NOT RECENTLY WASHED I'M THINKING I I I GOTTA DO SOMETHING RIGHT IT IS VERY AWARE I AM VERY AWARE NOW OF ALL THE WAYS IN WHICH I HAD THE CAPACITY TO SPREAD CAN TAKE ESPECIALLY BECAUSE SO MANY OF YOU HAVE GOTTEN SICK FOR ME AND I'VE GOTTEN YOU KNOW WE WERE SORT OF LIKE OUR OWN GROUND ZERO HERE DEBBIE IF I'M GONNA BE HONEST SO THIS IS THE CASE FOR US WHEN IT COMES TO SIN OKAY IF WE LIVE INTO A LIFE WHERE WE ARE DELIVERED FROM DEATH WE ARE NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF SPREADING SIN ANYMORE BUT IF WE INSTEAD LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE WE JUST GIVE IN TO SIN WHAT HAPPENS THAT SIN BECOMES CONTAGIOUS IN US AND STARTS TO AFFECT AND INFECT OTHERS LET ME UNPACK THIS A LITTLE BIT FURTHER ROMANS CHAPTER 4 I'M GONNA READ HERE AT VERSE SEVENTEEN PAUL QUOTES THE LORD SPEAKING TO ABRAHAM WHEN HE SAYS I HAVE MADE YOU THE FATHER OF MANY NATIONS IN THE PRESENCE OF THE GOD AND WHOM HE BELIEVED HE GIVES LIFE TO THE DEAD AND CALLS INTO EXISTENCE THE THINGS THAT DO NOT EXIST I'M GONNA ASK YOU TO RECALL ANOTHER BIBLE STORY I APOLOGIZE ABRAHAM GOD CALLED HIM FROM HIS FAMILY FROM THE LAND OF ORE OF THE CALDEANS TO MOVE DOWN TO SOME CITY WHERE HE'D NEVER BEEN TO A PLACE THAT HE DIDN'T EVEN OWN HIS WHOLE ABRAHAMS WHOLE LIFE HE NEVER OWNED I GUESS HE BOUGHT ONE LITTLE PROPERTY BUT THE WHOLE TIME GOD SAID ONE DAY THIS WILL BE YOUR LAND IT'S NOT GONNA BE YOUR LAND WHY DID GOD CALL HIM TO DO THAT IT WAS VERY CLEAR HE GOES I WANNA BLESS YOU SO THAT YOU WILL BLESS THE WORLD OR WE KNOW IT THROUGH THIS THROUGH THE LENS OF SALVATION HISTORY THROUGH THE PEOPLE OF ABRAHAM I WANNA SAVE THE WORLD I WANNA PROVIDE A LIFE RAFT SO THAT EVERYBODY CAN BE SAVED OKAY WHAT IS YOUR LIFE ABOUT WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF YOUR LIFE IF YOU FOLLOW THE TEACHINGS OF THE SCRIPTURES THE PURPOSE OF YOUR LIFE IS TO SAVE THE WORLD AND I LIKE AND I'M INTO SUPERHERO SO THAT REALLY JIVES WITH ME BUT I THINK THAT THIS IS A CATEGORICAL MISUNDERSTANDING THAT WE HAVE I THINK THAT MY LIFE IS ABOUT BEING AS COMFORTABLE AS POSSIBLE THAT'S WHY WE HAVE CINNAMON BROWN SUGAR POP TARTS IN MY PANTRY IF MY LIFE IS TRULY ABOUT ME THEN WE SHOULD TURN UP THE VOLUME ON THE VIDEO GAMES TURN UP THE EXPERIENCE OF INCREASING MY PLEASURE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE BUT GOD TELLS US THAT THE PURPOSE OF OUR LIVES IS ACTUALLY WHAT TO BE SALVATION FOR THE WORLD YOU AND I USE THE WORD CHRISTIAN RIGHT HOW MANY CALL HOW MANY IN THIS ROOM CALL THEMSELVES A CHRISTIAN JUST BY SHOW OF HANDS OKAY NOT AVERY BUT THE REST OF YOU OKAY LET ME YOU THAT YOU KNOW WHAT CHRISTIAN MEANS YOU ARE CHRIST TO THE WORLD THAT'S WHAT THAT WORD MEANS SO IF WE LIVE INTO THIS IDENTITY WHERE GOD IS GIVING LIFE TO THE DEAD AND HE'S CALLING PEOPLE LIKE ABRAHAM AND AND HIS DESCENDANTS TO BE A BLESSING TO THE WORLD THAT TOTALLY REORIENTS HOW WE UNDERSTAND OUR LIFE OF SIN SAID THIS IN BIBLE STUDY ON TUESDAY I THINK THERE'S A BIG MISUNDERSTANDING THAT WE HAVE WHEN IT COMES TO COMBATING SIN IN THE 21ST CENTURY FOR US AS CHRISTIANS IS WE'RE TOO BUSY FIXATED ON STUFF LIKE I'M NOT GONNA EAT CHOCOLATE RIGHT ESPECIALLY DURING LUNCH OR I'M NOT GONNA PLAY VIDEO GAMES WHAT IF INSTEAD WE SAID TODAY I'M GOING TO SERVE THE POOR OR TODAY I'M GOING TO LAY MY HANDS AND PRAY ON SOME STRANGE I DON'T KNOW IN THE GROCERY STORE LIKE I'M INSTEAD OF NOT DOING A NEGATIVE ADD IN A POSITIVE IF OUR LIFE IS IS TO JUST NOT BE A BUMMER WE'VE ALREADY LOST IT RIGHT BUT OUR LIFE ACTUALLY IS OUR PURPOSE OF OUR LIFE IS TO BE A BLESSING TO THE WORLD GOD GAVE US ABRAHAM AND HIS OFFSPRING TO BE A BLESSING TO THE WORLD AND THIS IS MOST PROFOUNDLY BROUGHT TO US IN THE PERSON OF JESUS GOD COULD HAVE DONE ANYTHING

BUT LOOK WHAT HE DID JOHN 3: 30:52

16 UNARGUABLY THE MOST FAMOUS PASSAGE IN THE BIBLE GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE WHAT DID HE GIVE A NICE BMW NO EVEN BETTER THAN THAT RIGHT YOU'RE A FAN GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE JESUS HE GAVE HIS SON WHY SO THAT ANYONE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WON'T DIE BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE NOW THERE'S AN IMPORTANT CONCLUSION TO THIS RIGHT WHICH IS IF PEOPLE DON'T BELIEVE IN JESUS OR IF GOD HADN'T SENT JESUS WHAT WOULD THE END RESULT BE DEATH ETERNAL DEATH BUT THE PICTURE THAT WE GET IS THAT BECAUSE OF JESUS AND BECAUSE OF US THE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE NOW I DON'T KNOW IF WE WRAPPED OUR HEADS AROUND THIS BUT THIS MEANS YOU ARE TO BE A LIFE RAFT TO THE WORLD IN THE SENDING OF THE SON OF GOD IS A CASCADING EFFECT IN THE SAME WAY THAT SIN RESULTS IN ETERNAL SINFECTIONS THE WORLD SO LIKEWISE IF WE LIVE INTO THE ETERNAL LIFE THAT WE'VE GIVEN IN JESUS WE BECOME AN OUTPOURING OF INFECTIOUS BLESSING OR PEOPLE EVERYWHERE WANT TO BE IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD THEY WANNA BE SAVED THEY WANNA LIVE A LIFE OF WHOLENESS AND HEALING AND NOT OF BROKENNESS THIS IS WHY WE HAVE THE SEASON OF LENT BECAUSE IF GOD IS TRULY IN WHOM WE FIND OUR WHOLENESS IN OUR BEING AND OUR TRUE IDENTITY AND SIN IS THE THING STANDING IN THE WAY OF BEING TRULY HUMAN WE GOTTA GO THROUGH A PRACTICE TO PERIOD A PROCESS OF IDENTIFYING SIN AND REPENTING OF IT AND THESE TWO IMAGES CAME TO MIND FOR ME AS I WAS WRITING THE SERMON ONE WAS THE PICTURE OF LIKE A ROOT FROM A BIG LIKE RODDY VEGETABLE THAT YOU CAN'T GET OUT OF THE GROUND AND YOU PULL UP THE ROOT A LITTLE BIT SO THAT IT WOULD BE COOKED IN THE SUN AND IT WOULD DIE IN WITHER SO YOU COULD GET A LITTLE BIT MORE I HAD THIS IMAGE THIS WHEN I WROTE THE SERMON IS FOR SOME OF US THE PROCESS OF LENT IS SLOWLY PULLING THESE ROOTS OUT OF THE SOIL OF OUR HEARTS SO THAT THEY GET BAKED BY THE SUN AND WE CAN PULL THEM OUT LET ME JUST BE THAT'S HARD THAT IS PAINFUL THAT REQUIRES YOU TO SAY I GOT STUFF I GOTTA DIG OUT HERE'S THE OTHER IMAGE THAT CAME TO MIND FOR ME THAT THE PROCESS OF IDENTIFYING OUR SIN IS A PROCESS OF BATHING IN THE OCEAN OF RESTING IN GOD OF LETTING GOD IN HIS GLORY IN HIS WARMTH IN HIS FULLNESS IN HIS ROCKING RHYTHM OF HEAVEN TO LET US REST IN HIM NOW LENT IS GOT TO BE BOTH OF THOSE IT'S GOT TO BE THIS COMBINATION OF THE UPROOTING PAIN IN THE MINISTRY AND HEALING OF THE OCEAN THAT IS GOD'S MERCY TO COUPLE ACTION ITEMS IN THE MIDST OF THAT DURING THE SEASON OF LAND WE HAVE A FEW OPPORTUNITIES TO CHANGE THE WAY THAT WE INHABIT THE WORLD SO THAT GOD'S HOLINESS MIGHT FLOW INTO US ONE OF THESE WAYS IS THROUGH FASTING AND I'VE LIFTED UP FASTING TO Y'ALL A COUPLE TIMES ONE WAY THAT I WOULD JUST SUGGEST IS IF YOU ARE ABLE TO FAST FOOD AT ALL IN ANY CAPACITY WEDNESDAYS AND FRIDAYS THAT'S THE DAY SKIP A MEAL DON'T EAT FOR A DAY DON'T EAT YOUR FAVORITE I DON'T KNOW TURKEY SUBS FROM SUBWAY I DON'T LIKE THOSE BUT MAYBE SOMEONE HERE DOES FIND SOMETHING TO TO TO FAST SO THAT YOU CAN TELL THE LORD I'M WILLING TO GIVE UP SOMETHING I WANT BECAUSE I LOVE YOU MORE AND I WANNA THROW IN A NEW ONE THAT I HAVEN'T TALKED TO YOU ALL ABOUT UM LORD WILLING UNLESS SOMETHING ELSE GETS IN THE WAY I'LL BE BACK IN SOME FORM OF OPERATION UM EASTER WEEK EASTER WEEK UM AND WE I WANNA HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR Y'ALL TO DO CONFESSION AND SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS CONFESSION IS NOT A VERY UM IT IS AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY FOR A PRIVATE TIME TO CONFESS TO A PRIEST THE SINS THAT HAVE GOT A HOLD OF YOUR LIFE AND I WANNA INVITE YOU TO DO THAT TO DO THAT PROCESS AS I'LL SET UP A SCHEDULE WHERE THERE'LL BE SOME TIME WHERE YOU AND I CAN SIT IN PRIVATE IN COMPLETE CONFIDENTIALITY AND CONFESS YOUR SINS THAT THOSE WEEDS THAT ARE A LITTLE BIT THICKER THEY'VE GOT A STRANGLE HOLDED THE SOIL YOU CAN PULL THEM OUT AND GIVE THE CHANCE FOR THE SOIL OF YOUR HEART LOW FREE AMEN AMEN AMEN