Sin: The Impact

Intro:

Take a listen to some of todays biggest news headlines:

Magnitude 5.5 Earthquake Strikes Bolivia,

US General Warns Time Running Out for Ukraine Without US Aid,

Magnitude 5.4 Earthquake hits China,

Israel threatens to strike Iran directly if Iran launches attack from its territory,

Magnitude 6.0 earthquake hits Indonesia.

Mass shooting in Philadelphia after the end of Ramadan event.

UN Climate Chief Says Humans Have 2 Years Left 'To Save the World’

That is just a glimpse of what pops up if you search world news headlines recently. It doesn’t matter if you are christian or not, it doesn’t matter your views on politics or anything else. One look at the things happening in our world and it’s obvious! Our world is broken and hurting!

When the first people sinned, they sent the good world God made into a tailspin of destruction and death. The Bible says that the world was subjected to futility, which means that brokenness is the default setting of everything in the world. And we see the evidence of this all around us:

The fact that the light from the sun can cause us cancer in our bodies that could kill us.

That rivers, lakes, and oceans turn chaotic and deadly when a storm begins.

That earthquakes level homes and occasionally move entire nations. Droughts, tornadoes, wildfires…

All of this is the result of sin’s presence in the world.

Last week we talked about how sin is serious because it leads to death. It leads to death in our relationship with God and people.

This week, we are going to look at the idea that sin doesn’t just distort our relationships, but literally every other area of creation and life as we experience it too!

But even though the distorting effects of sin are visible all around us, there is hope: the gospel is the answer to the world’s longing for redemption. On the day that Jesus returns, He will make all things new, and sin’s effects on the world will be removed forever.

All of creation is broken by sin now, but redemption is coming through Jesus.

So, bottom line tonight- There is brokenness today, but the best is yet to come.

Let’s get into our passage for tonight.

Turn with me back to the book of Romans again, this time we will be in chapter 8.

Again, this is Paul writing to the Christians in Rome. He is writing to give them a thorough explanation of salvation and having a right relationship with God through Jesus. With that comes a lot of deep descriptions on the problem of sin for humanity. As a reminder, last week we said sin is anything contrary to God’s law and character.

With that in mind, let’s read what Paul says is the impact of sin on creation and how we can live in the midst of a broken world around us.

Romans 8:18–25 CSB

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us. For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation for God’s sons to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to futility—not willingly, but because of him who subjected it—in the hope that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage to decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now. Not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits—we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. Now in this hope we were saved, but hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? Now if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience.

We see so much in this passage. We have three big takeaways from this passage tonight.

First,

All creation is broken because of sin.

Paul keeps using that word creation. Creation eagerly waits, creation was subjected to futility, creation will be set free, creation has been groaning.

That word creation is referring to everything that exists. All of life and matter in the universe. Specifically Paul is likely referencing the world around us, but that word refers to everything that exists.

So, literally everything is broken because of sin. Paul says all of creation was subjected to futility because of sin. What does that mean? This is referring back to creation.

Remember in the Garden, God told humans if they chose to sin, death would enter the world. They did choose to sin and God told them they now lost their place in his presence. God’s space and humans space could no longer be in one place. What God had created as good, humans had turned bad by their sin. When God’s presence is removed from creation, creation begins to deteriorate and decay.

Paul even says, creation is in bondage to decay in verse 21.

Think about it this way. God created everything that exists. He brought order to chaos and his perfect presence lived in the order with humans. But when humans sin, they lose access to God’s presence. His presence is removed from humans’ presence. Then chaos begins to unfold again out of what God had ordered. Things fall apart, things die, disease and corruption creep in and begin to grow.

And we as humans experience this. We see it in every aspect of our lives from sickness, to world pandemics, to tragedies and evil in our world on a large or small scale.

All of creation is broken because of sin!

Thankfully, that’s not the end of the story though.

This isn’t a pessimistic story of depression over the state of things in the world. We all long for more.

Second, Paul says:

2.All of creation longs for redemption.

Look back at verse 22 with me.

Romans 8:22 “For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now.”

That may seem like a weird phrase and that’s intentional. It’s weird because it’s an analogy. Paul is using child birth as an illustration for where we are right now.

OK, I know I have shared both of the stories of our children being born. Both were unique in so many ways. But you know what was the same? The pain and struggle of labor. It’s crazy to watch, but I saw Jenna endure agonizing, painful, hours of labor. What is labor? It’s insane to think about and obviously, I won’t go into detail with you all about it. Labor isn’t the time of the baby arriving, it’s all the time leading up to the baby arriving. But, it’s a painful time because the body starts contracting, tightening and tensing up to prepare to push the baby out into the world. And of course in pain you groan and even scream at times. It’s honestly insane to be in the room and witness because you aren’t really scared like you think you’d be.Doctors and nurses are all calm and just try to help the mom get comfortable and work through the laboring process. But I mean if you’re walking down the street and someone started screaming and groaning in pain and rolling around on the ground- there would be panic right? Call 911, get them immediate attention, make sure they are ok right?

Why is it different with labor? Those pains and groans will al lend with the beautiful and amazing birth of a baby! There is life at the end of the labor!

Right now, Paul says creation is groaning, all of of us are groaning in pain. We feel the sin around us and in us.

We groan in pain and distress and frustration and exhaustion. ]

We groan because we don’t want to keep struggling with

our laziness,

or our lust,

or our pride.

We groan because we are sick and tired of hearing about people committing suicide, or going on a killing spree, or dying of diseases.

All of creation is groaning because it is broken and longs to be healed and restored.

That’s what that idea of redemption means.

One day Jesus promised to return and restore all things. To redeem all of creation. Give it back its full value, status and quality for all of eternity forward!

Yes, all of creation is broken but the pain and longing we feel in us now is a desire to be made whole by Jesus! It’s a desire to see all things made right by Jesus!

This is the final thing that Paul makes clear:

3. All of creation has a future hope.

Look at verses 23-25 with me:

Romans 8:23–25 “Not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits—we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. Now in this hope we were saved, but hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? Now if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience.”

As Christians we have been given the Spirit of God to live within us. If you have turned from your sins and decided to follow Jesus as Lord and Savior of your life- he gave you his personal spirit to live in you. His spirit is empowering you to no longer walk in the brokenness of sin, but rather to live a holy and complete life in Christ. But we know that we are still in a broken world and we still have a long way to grow.

We have a future hope we look forward to.

But the hard part is that its not here yet.

We fall short, we sin, we are regularly sinned against. And it’s in those moments that we groan and get upset and frustrated. Because we have received the firstfruits, a taste of what is to come, when Jesus returns.

And when you have tasted the goodness of God’s kingdom that is to come you live with hope, hunger, and eagerness for more.

What’s worse than not having food when you are starving? Smelling food and not being able to get any!

This is the state we live in, we can live holy lives, we can grow to be more like Jesus and walk as citizens of the Kingdom of God. But, our experience of creation as good and holy is severely limited due to the brokenness of creation itself around us. This shouldn’t discourage us, but rather inspire us.

We have hope in what is to come! There is brokenness today, but the best is yet to come!

Remember, Biblical hope isn’t something uncertain, but certain. The hope we have is the knowledge that Jesus will return, he will rid the world of all sin and brokenness, and He will bring his Children into a new creation that is no longer broken in any way! Free from sin, death, and hell forever and ever Amen!

There is brokenness today, but the best is yet to come!

So, what do we do for now?

We cannot escape the sin of the world, but we can confront it

with the power of the gospel.

That starts in our lives individually. Repent of sin, follow Jesus and begin to experience life free from sin! Walk in the foretaste of new creation that the Holy Spirit allows us to have today! You don’t have to continue to be a slave to sin and death. Let Jesus make you alive and set you free!

Then, share the hope you have in Jesus with the world around you.

When you see people struggling in the brokenness of this world, share your hope with them.

Every thing wrong in this world and everything people are hurting and struggling with can be healed and redeemed by Jesus. And his method for reaching them is YOU! You have the powerful presence of God in you, let Him heal those around you through your life being fully obedient to him!

Yes, all of creation is broken, but the best is yet to come.

We can’t escape the sin of this world, be we can confront it with the power of the Gospel.

Let’s lead others into the redeeming power of Jesus!

Let’s respond together.

Bow your heads and close your eyes with me now.

First,

I believe some people may be here tonight that are groaning in their sin and struggle. You feel the weight of your sin bearing down on you every day. You know something is missing, something is wrong. Can I just tell you that you have a sin problem and Jesus came to help you. The Bible tells us that we have all sinned and we are separated from God because of our sin. But God loved us so much that even though we were still sinning he sent His one and only son Jesus into this world. Jesus lived a perfect life so he could be the perfect sacrifice for our sins. He was killed on the cross as that sacrifice and paid for our sins, your sins, with his blood. And then on the 3rd day he rose from the dead to offer us victory over sin and death forever. Jesus invites everyone to follow Him and be saved. Salvation means forgiveness for our sins, a personal relationship with God and a brand new life in His kingdom now and forever.

Is there anyone here tonight who would say that’s me! I need to turn away from my sins today and follow Jesus as Lord. I want the forgiveness, and new life that Jesus offers! No one is looking around but me- if that’s you would you just life your hand so I can see you and pray for you tonight?

Pray for salvation.

For all the christians here tonight let’s pray and respond to God’s word: 1. Pray for God to reveal any sin that is in your life, and confess that to him now.

2. Pray and ask God to remind you of the hope you have in Jesus and thank Him for that hope!

3. Ask God to show you who you can share that hope with this week and lead you to love them and share the Gospel message of hope with them.

Pray.

Stand with me and in just a moment we will sing to close out tonight.

But During this series every week we will be really trying to practice confession of sins together. That is one massive way we can confront the brokenness of this world, is by openly confessing our sins with other believers so that we can pray together and invite Jesus to heal the brokenness in each of us.

So, as we sing, I will be in the back with our other leaders and anyone who needs to can come and talk with one of us. WE love you and we just want to listen to you, pray for you and let you know we are HERE for you! There’s no judgement or embarrassment in this. The Bible literally commands to confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed! Let’s do that together tonight.

As we sing, come as you feel led!