God’s Amazing Grace

Genesis 3:10

He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”

The story of Adam and Eve is a story – in part – of God’s love and humanities’ sinful nature.

I believe God’s love is seen in the creation story because I believe that God foreknew that humanity would sin and fall.  The plan of the Godhead was to send the Son to die for our sin long before Adam or Eve ever sinned. John 3:16 was written in the heart of God long before Jesus spoke it on earth or John penned it in his gospel: 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.  God’s love provided a way for a sinful humanity to reunite with Him before we fell from His presence.

I believe God was not caught off guard by humanities’ sin.  When Eve and then Adam disobeyed God by eating the fruit that He had forbidden them to eat – they displayed what we call the sin nature.  This is that part of humanity that wants to please self.  This is the part of humanity that will rationalize sin to be acceptable.  This is the part that will even sin to keep from revealing sin.

Adam and Even had sinned.  They were found in their guilt and shame and tried to hide from God.  A friend recently mentioned that when he sins he runs from God.  He didn’t elaborate but I assume it is because he knows that in the face of God his sin will be revealed.  When we should be running toward God and His grace – we tend to run away and try to hide.

Adam and Even hid.  When God saw Adam and Even hiding He called out to them.  Can we imagine how silly we are to try to hide from God?  Can we remember the story of Jonah and how he tried to run from God?  How futile it is to try and hide from God?  So God called out to them and Adam answered: Genesis 1:10 – He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”

We think of them being without clothing – because when they ate from the fruit they noticed they were naked and took fig leafs to make clothes.  But I think their physical nakedness wasn’t the biggest issue.  They soon found out that they were naked before God – that God could see them wherever they were and whatever they did.  A truth we should remember.  We may get away with sin on earth – but the one who sees us naked before Him – sees it all and sees our hearts as well.

Many times in my life – far more than I wish to share – I have learned the lesson that sin is not something to harbor or hide.  Recently a sin in my life – painfully – was brought to the surface.  I must admit it is not fun to have your sin revealed before God or before others!  But we all know – I believe – the great feeling that comes from the release of sin and guilt – God’s amazing grace.  It is there for you today if you would confess and repent of your sin.  It was there from the beginning of creation in God’s plan and provided by the babe in the manger that died on the cross for our sin!

Just something to think about today as you go on your way.

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Forgiveness is Essential – How Do We Get It?

Psalm 51:1

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.

We preached from this text on Sunday past.  The Psalmist – David – was a man of God who still allowed his sinful nature to control him from time to time (none of us can identify – right?).  When David sinned – he would bring his sin before God.  When he brought his sin before God – he felt confident that his sin would be forgiven.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could come with confidence – and feel God’s forgiveness?

Forgiveness is essential.  That was what we said Sunday.  Satan likes to play on the guilt of our unforgiven sin.  Satan likes to make us feel terrible about our sin – about our failures.  We often ask God to forgive us – but are we experiencing forgiveness?

Until we experience forgiveness – we will not feel the release from sin – and Satan will have a field day with us.  Sunday we talked about several points – several things we might try – in order for us to find/feel forgiveness.  They were talking points so to speak – 1) knowing we are sinners, 2) knowing that our sin was mainly against  God, 3) coming to a place where we grieved sinning – felt the pain of our sin, 4) repented – turned away from our sin, 5) asked God for forgiveness, and 6) experienced His forgiveness – deep down inside.

When we sincerely walk through this process or something like it – we can come with confidence and know that God will forgive us and cleanse us.  The Psalmist wrote: Psalms 51:2 – Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

Do we know that we are a sinner – that we have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory?  Do we know that when we sin we sin mainly against God – placing something above Him?  Do we feel the pain of our sins or have we learned to live with our sins?  Do we sincerely plan to turn away from our sin or are we simply trying to cover our tails – eternally speaking?  Do we come before God in a humble yet confident way – seeking His mercy and forgiveness?  When forgiven – do we allow His grace to come over us and remove sin from our lives?

Just something to think about today as you go on your way.

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Being Dead to Sin – Is This an Eternal or Temporal State?

Romans 6:11

In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

At times I sure wish this passage were a one and done deal.  I wish I could count myself dead to sin once – and always be alive in Christ and never struggle with sin again.  I am not talking about my salvation folks – this is not a discussion of once saved always saved or falling from grace.  It is a discussion about the ongoing process called Sanctification being made holy.  Being done with sin – not on the eternal stage – but on the temporal right now stage of life.  Is this only a hope for eternity or is there a place in this life where our sin nature is completely destroyed?

Just before this verse – Paul is writing about grace – and how grace covers our sins (I’m so thankful for grace).  He writes about grace being BIG enough to cover all of our sins – but that we shouldn’t go out and sin all we can to let grace show off (paraphrase).  Here is the actual:

Romans 5:20b-6:2 – 5:20b But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 6:1 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?

I understand that Christ died once to pay for sin – past – present – future.  I understand that His death paid for my sins – and the sins of the world – for those who would accept Him.  I just get caught up in day-to-day living!  Am I alone?  The sin nature – defeated on the cross – still raises it head from time to time – at times too often for sure (even once is too often).  I am caught somewhere between these two passages of Scripture:

2 Corinthians 5:17 – Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Romans 7:19 – For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do — this I keep on doing.

Am I alone – or do other Christians experience day-to-day struggles with sin?  Or even moment-to-moment?

I know I have victory in Christ.  I know I do not have to sin.  I know God will not allow me to be tempted beyond the place where He can give me a way out.

1 Corinthians 10:13 – No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

Yet – like Paul – the evil I do not want to do — this I keep on doing.  Not always – but once is too often!

Lord – my prayer for myself – and for any others who struggle with sin in their lives – is that more and more we would grow into the grace You have given us.  I pray that we will be a brighter light with each passing day – as You give us victory over the temptations of life.  Looking forward to the eternal blessing while living in it even now!

Just something to think about today as you go on your way.

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Temptation Leads to Sin which Leads to Death

James 1:13-15

13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

Today we will conclude our study of James 1:13-15 by covering then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

I like the way James puts it – then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin. It is not a sin to be tempted – we will all be tempted.  It is a sin when we allow temptations to dwell in us – to be nurtured in us – so that sin is conceived.  We give birth to sin when we harbor temptations within us.

We have all heard or read this passage many times I bet – Romans 6:23a – For the wages of sin is death. We earn death when we sin.  That smacks me hard – because I have been working since I very young – cutting grass – officiating sports – working as a Soda Jerk (no puns) – etc. – earning a wage.  Apparently – I have been working since before I can remember – to earn death!  I was born with a sin nature and that nature has been working overtime – and the wage for my sin – is death.  To read it as James puts it – sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

I don’t want to leave us here – with sin and death – so I have to give us some Good News.  Let’s go back to Romans 6:23 and read the whole verse. Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Thank you Jesus – for paying my debt of sin – the wage I earned.  Your death on the cross has paid my debt in full!

Just something to think about today as you go on your way.

Monday we will begin to look at 1 Corinthians 1:25 – For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.

We Are Tempted By Our Own Evil Desires

James 1:13-15

13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

Today we will continue to look at the above passage zeroing in on but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.

We’ve already read that our righteousness is like filthy rages.  Isaiah 64:6 – All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.

I remember a comedian from my youth – Flip Wilson – who had a character (Geraldine) who had a line that she repeated often – The Devil made me do it! The good news today is that the devil can’t make us doing anything.  The bad news is that it is our own evil desires that cause us to yield to temptations and fall to sin.

Remember – God has promised us a way out of every temptation – 1 Corinthians 10:13 – No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

Remember – God has not only promised we can avoid sin – God has given us protection – the armor of God – Ephesians 6:10-18 – 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

I know these are repeat Scriptures – but they need to be driven home.  We do not need to sin – we are not forced to sin – we sin because we put something before God in our lives.

We are called to love Jesus more than anything – Mark 12:30 – Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’

Just something to think about today as you go on your way.

Tomorrow we will finish the study of James 1:13-15 by looking at Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

So I Won’t Sin!

Psalm 119:11

¹¹ I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

Recently we wrote about memorizing Scripture.  Not easy for most of us for sure.  The Psalmist knew that being familiar with the Word of God was one way to keep from sinning.

I’m pretty simple at times – and word pictures help me understand (I loved the picture Bibles).  The word picture that helps me often in my faith journey is that of a glass of water.  I picture a glass half filled (any amount filled) with water.  The water represents the things of God.  The air in the glass represents the things of the world – the things of sin.  Displacing the air with more water is one way of getting more of God and less of sin in our life.  We do that by increasing our time in the Word – in prayer – in fellowship with other Christians – listening to Christian music and podcasts – and anything else that is pleasing to God.  The more time we spend in relationship with God – the more we displace the sins of our life.

So the Psalmist reminds us this morning – that the more we hide the Word of God in our heart – the less we will sin.  Again I say – starting your day off with devotions – putting on the whole armor of God – is the best way to protect yourself from sin.

Just something to think about today as you go on your way.

Homosexuality: For Some Reason The Debate Rages On

A hot topic in our society today is same sex marriages which is an extension of the debate about homosexuality that has raged for decades.  The District of Columbia recently approved same sex marriage in the District.  Recently the Attorney General of Maryland said Maryland would recognize same sex marriages done legally in other jurisdictions.  Today – Wednesday, March 3, 2010 – the courts In DC will be open to start performing same sex marriages.  Read a news article here.  How this will impact the churches in the District is yet to be seen.  More and more we will see secular law and church law in conflict.  How men and women of faith react to this difference will be interesting.

Let me suggest that the question that is before us is not whether homosexuality is a bigger sin than any other sin – because it is not.  We all have sin in our lives and through God’s grace, we must repent of them and strive to live without those sins.  This is an ongoing battle for each of us. The question at hand in society and in the church is whether homosexuality – and acting upon those sexual desires – is sinful?

This has been debated in the United Methodist Church since the 1970′s at our General Conference.  Through legislation in our Book of Discipline the subject of Homosexuality and functions of that lifestyle have been dealt with extensively.  The current 2008 Discipline says this about marriage and homosexuality.

BOD 2008 – ¶161.B: Marriage—We affirm the sanctity of the marriage covenant that is expressed in love, mutual support, personal commitment, and shared fidelity between a man and a woman. We believe that God’s blessing rests upon such marriage, whether or not there are children of the union. We reject social norms that assume different standards for women than for men in marriage. We support laws in civil society that define marriage as the union of one man and one woman.

BOD 2008 – ¶161.F: The United Methodist Church does not condone the practice of homosexuality and consider this practice incompatible with Christian teaching.

I believe the Bible is clear as well in this discussion/debate.  In describing the sin nature of humanity, we read that same sex behavior is part of the sinful desires of the heart. (I include some extra verses to show context)

Romans 1:18-27 – 18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities — his eternal power and divine nature — have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. 24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator — who is forever praised. Amen. 26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.

In telling us that sin, unrepented sin, will keep us from the kingdom of God, homosexuality is listed among these sins:

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 – 9 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Even with such statements, the debate rages on.  There are those in the church today that suggest that being homosexual is akin to being male or female, or being a person of color.  They suggest that as women and people of color were wrongly oppressed in our society at one time, so homosexuals are being wrongly oppressed.  This assumes that being homosexual is normal and natural and not a deviation from God’s plan.  Those who believe this way will continue to make this an issue in our denomination and in the wider church (see what has happened in the Episcopal Church).

As mentioned earlier, same sex marriages has been made lawful in the District of Columbia.  It is not out of the question that some United Methodist pastors will challenge church law and the Scriptures and perform same sex marriages in the District.  This will be a chargeable offense in our denomination.  It will be a sad day in the church that will further divide us.  I pray that the conference leadership will prayerfully stand by the Discipline of our church if such a blatant act occurs.

I believe that Scripture and the United Methodist Church have sided with the truth that homosexuality is not compatible with Christian teaching and is a deviation from God’s plan and order.  Having said this, I also believe that the church should minister to those caught in the sin of homosexuality as we strive to reach out to others caught in other sins.

Churches should support groups like Exodus International. This group is striving to minister to homosexuals, helping them to leave their deviant lifestyles.  Local churches should develop ministries like Exodus International on their local level to minister to the gay and lesbian community.

Using another social sin as an example, it is not enough to say we are opposed to abortion.  We must be active in helping unwed mothers and other mothers who find themselves in unwanted pregnancies.  We must be willing to step up and help society see that abortion is not the answer, there are other solutions.  We need to be active in loving and ministering to those caught in sin in whatever form we find it – in our lives and in the lives of those God has placed in our path.

Our discipline also says that homosexuals are people of sacred worth – they are loved by God as are we all – so we need to step up and stop simply naming sin.  We need to step up and minister to those caught in sin.  That is what the church is called to do!

I would like to open a dialogue around the subject of ministry to the gay and lesbian community.  Is anyone interested?

The Sin Stairway

The sin stairway is an illustration I used in today’s message.  I have used it in Bible studies for 30 plus years.  I know that sin is sin when we think of what separates us from God.  Any sin separates us from God.  Yet there is a difference in our lives when it comes to sin.  A deeper level of depravity must exist to murder someone than to have a hateful thought.

Jesus suggests that if we controlled our thought life (possibly on a lower step than the action), we might never have to deal with the outward sin.  More on this later.

Today we asked people to imagine their struggle with sin and what they considered first step sins, second step sins, and right on up the stairway of sin, in their lives.  The idea was not the exercise of labeling our sins, but rather to ask if we were living in sin, standing on a step of the sin stairway, and feeling good about not being higher.  Were we living with little sins, thinking we were OK because we weren’t higher up on the stairway?  Had we learned to live in sin, because we didn’t think our sins were all that big?

Example – if we are living – comfortably on step 4 on our sin stairway, then sins on step 5 do not appear as step 5 sins, but rather as step 1 sins, because those sins are only 1 step away from where we are living.  From ground zero, they look like step 5 sins, but not from step 4.

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said -

Matthew 5:21-22a – 21 You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder,  and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22a But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother  will be subject to judgment.

Normally you would think that a person would have to live on the step of anger, revenge, judgment, etc., before taking the step to murder. If we refuse to live on the steps of our emotions, our feelings, we might never step onto the step of murder.  Our efforts should not be to find a step of comfort, a step where we think we will be acceptable, but rather to allow God’s grace to work on us and in us to move down the stairway of sin until we reach the goal of ground zero in our lives.

Repentance is turning from sin and turning toward God.  We are all called to confess our sins and repent of them and turn away from sin and turn to God.  Repentance would imply moving down the stairway of sin, not holding our ground or moving sideways.

If you heard the message Sunday, what were your thoughts about this illustration and how it was presented?  If you didn’t hear the sermon and would like to hear it – go to our sermon page and click the sermon (it should be up Monday morning).  If you simply want to make comments about this illustration from what I have written here – please feel free to do so.

Sin and Repentance

This Sunday we will start a new sermon series.  This series is titled Laser Focus.

Sin and repentance are not popular subjects these days.  We all thing we are doing OK – really!

Repentance is a change of direction – and reversal of our thoughts and attitudes – turning away from sin and turning toward God.  Would you say you are headed straight toward God in your life?  Or like many, are you meandering your way – sort of – in that direction?

When John the Baptist came preaching the Word of God he said these words – recorded by the Apostle Matthew in his Gospel.

Matthew 3:1-2 – 1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

Repentance is not a new subject.  But in this day and age – some think of it as an archaic term.  There is no effect from Grace without confession and repentance.

When Peter was asked what must be done to be saved – he replied.

Acts 2:37-38 – 37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Repentance is required – we must confess and repent – turn from our sins and turn to God.

Acts 3:19-20 – 19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 20 and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you — even Jesus.

The only thing I can do for you is to make sure you have heard the Word of Truth.  I cannot confess or repent for you.  If I preach the truth then you have been and will be forewarned.

Too many Christians today rationalize their sin as minor – their transgressions small – and they live in and with sin.

Revelation 3:14-16 – 14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm — neither hot nor cold — I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

Come Sunday prepared to hear words that are from the Bible – from the Lord.  God will make a change in your life if you let Him!