Developing a Christian Worldview - The Reality of sin and Opportunity of Redemption

—This short journey that we have been on for the last three weeks

— Is an introduction to the Christian life

— If you sit here today as a believer in Jesus you already have a Christian Worldview.

— Your Worldview is your own.

Let’s Pray

— God we are grateful for your presence in our lives and with us today.

— God was enter into this conversation today

— Let us remember where we have come from and where you want us to go.

— God continue to help us identify sin in our own lives and embrace the continuing redemption that happens in a relationship with you.

— In your name we pray… Amen!

A Journey to Understand Christian Worldview

— We will focus on two pivotal themes

— The reality of sin and the opportunity to embrace redemption.

— We are going to be looking at both the Old and New Testament

— Revealing the consistent and unchanging nature of God’s message to humanity.

The Reality of Sin

— Today we turn our hearts and minds to a profound and sobering truth central to our faith—the reality of sin.

— Understanding sin is crucial for grasping the need for salvation and appreciating the magnitude of God's grace in Christ.

— Well let’s get started

The Nature of Sin

“The Christian stands in the tension of a double reality. Basically freed from sin, redeemed, and reconciled … he is actually at war with sin, threatened, attacked and placed in jeopardy by it.”

Timothy George

— We first see the sin of humanity in Genesis 3. .

— Read along with me if you will.

— In your own bible, bible app or in the bibles in the rack in front of you beginning on page 3.

The Origin of Sin: Genesis and the Fall

— look for these elements as i read the passage

— #1 The nature of sin is shown by the the deceitfulness of it.

—#2The disobedience of Adam and Eve, leading them to sin.

— #3 The immediate awareness of guilt and shame.

Genesis 3:1–7 (ESV)

1 Now the serpent was more CRAFTY than any other beast of the field that the THE LORD GOD HAD MADE. He said to the WOMAN, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”

2 And the woman said to the SERPENT, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden,

3 but GOD said, ‘You shall NOT eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you TOUCH IT, lest you die.’ ”

4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.

5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be LIKE GOD, knowing good and evil.”

6 So when the woman saw that the TREE WAS GOOD FOR FOOD, and that it was a DELIGHT TO THE EYES, and that the TREE WAS DESIRED TO MAKE ONE WISE, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband WHO WAS WITH HERE, and he ate.

7 Then the eyes of BOTH were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

Application — Acknowledge that we have a sin problem in our lives. Our sin changes our Christian Worldview.

— Let’s move to the New Testament to an all to familiar verse as we look at the…

The Universality of Sin

— How universal is sin?

— The Old Testament uses the example of “leaven” or “yeast” to show how sin is in incorporated into every part of our being.

#1 Sin is a universal condition affecting us all.

#2 The standard of God’s glory highlights our shortfall.

— Listen to this familiar verse

Romans 3:23 ESV

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

— These 11 words… changed everything for this lost guy in his 20’s

— I realized that I was not living the way that God or anyone else wanted me to live

Application - As we fall short, understand that we DON’T have to embrace the “fallen” nature and can instead live beyond our sin.

— I learned early on in my life that nothing is for free… a payback to always required

— We do at times sin, unknowingly, but usually we know when we are doing, where we were going

— And all the time I’m walking down that dark alley of sin

— I know it is wrong and I know there will be consequences.

The Consequences of Sin

— I have come to discover that the consequences of sin in my life are heart stopping. I rail against sin.

— I draw as close as a I can to God… But sin separates us.

Separation from God

— listen for these points in the next verse

#1 Sin creates a barrier between humanity and God.

#2 There is broken fellowship with God from sin.

#3 GOD IS HOLY, WE ARE NOT!

Isaiah 59:2 ESV

2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.

— When we finally get it, when we see our sin for what it is, it separates from the person that created us.

— When we are living, continually in a sinful condition, GOD DOES NOT HEAR US!

Application - Listen carefully, The Holy Spirit will make us aware of how our “sin” has separated us from God.

— Our continual rejection of God and his ways leads to God turning us loose on our desires

— With love the freedom to do what we want; but that freedom used incorrectly, abusively, will lead to…

Spiritual Death

— listen for these 3 key points in the scripture.

— In both the Old and New Testaments

#1 Sin leads to spiritual death—separation from the source of life.

#2 There is an inevitability of death as a consequence of sin.

#3 The contrast is between the wages of sin and the gift of God.

Romans 6:23 ESV

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

— and the wickedness that infests our world

Genesis 6:5–6 ESV

5 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.

— AND the Lord God, the creator of the Cosmos, the giver of life, the sustainer of all that is everything

— Regretted that he made mankind

— What a devastating thing that was recorded here

Application - Sin is only and always met with death. Redeem your souls and be in communion with God.

— The Grace and Mercy that we so desire in our lives was delivered on the shoulders of Christ at Calvary as he died a prisoners death.

— By sending Christ to the Cross we understand that we must go to the Cross.

— For Mercy, Grace for REDEMPTION!

The Response to Sin: Redemption through Christ

The ultimate concern and plan of God is redemption. Redemption is not a peripheral matter, rather it cuts to the very core of Divine activity. From the foundation of the world God has determined to bring about redemption in Christ.

R. C. Sproul

— God sent His only begotten Son to die for my sin.

— That I can live differently, live for Him and show others the way of the Cross and the way of Redemption.

God’s Promise of Redemption

— Redemption is free; but it was EXTREMELY expensive

— But it has to be given as a gift

— It’s to expensive to buy at any price; but is available to everyone.

— This

#1 This is the classic “proto-Evangelion.” The first try at redemption.

#2 There is the promise of a Savior.

#3 This HOPE of Redemption is embedded in God’s response to the fall

Genesis 3:15 (ESV)

15 I will put enmity [war] between you [satan] and the woman [Mary], and between your [satan’s] offspring and her [Mary’s] offspring [Jesus]. He [satan] shall bruise your head, and you [Jesus] shall bruise his heel.”

— Redemption is won through sacrifice; the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross

— Wisdom is gained, wisdom is grown by practice, with patience, and with Holy Spirit’s power

— Practice the elements of living the Christian Life; it’s pleasing to God and beneficial to others.

Application - Be willing to go to “war” for your Redemption from sin.

Application - Realize that Jesus, His ways, His truths, and His life all point to REDEMPTION!

—This redemption is found only…

Through the Blood of Christ

#1 The concept of redemption is being bought back from the bondage of sin.

#2 The significance of Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross cannot be minimized. It is the one time event that made an eternal difference.

Ephesians 1:7 (ESV)

7 In him we have redemption through his [Jesus] blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his [God’s] grace,

Application - Know what you have, don’t neglect your redemption it was VERY costly

— As a result of this gift from God

— As a result of seeing what this relationship with Christ offers, it compels us to share with the world what Christ has done

— Our work, wasn’t really work, but yet it was a more difficult thing than we have ever done.

— The reward is GREAT…

The New Life in Christ

— This is what we ALL are waiting for

— Our sin pushed, pulled and used every method to draw us away from Christ.

— But satan is defeated when we say

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Application - Put off the old self; the new self has come. Live like you mean it.

What shapes our Christian Worldview?

— Our CWV must be shaped by His expression for love for us.

— Those CWV glasses that we wear; must not be distorted by sin; even though we know they are.

— As we reflect on our own Redemption; the payment that Christ made on the Cross… Marked paid-in-full

— There is a clarity there. We can see beyond the “smudges” in our CWV glasses.

— To see clearly how God designed Redemption and freely makes it available to everyone who asks.

Application - Live like there is no tomorrow… but live in the GRACE and MERCY of God.

Application - Understand, apply and use the elements of “Necessity of Redemption.” To win others to Christ

Let’s Pray

— Heavenly Father, we thank You for revealing to us the reality of sin and the opportunity of redemption through Your Word.

— Help us to grasp the depth of our need for a Savior and the boundless love You have shown us through Jesus Christ.

— Empower us by Your Holy Spirit to live lives that reflect Your grace and truth, and to share this message of hope with those around us. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

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Discussion/Discipleship/Devotional Questions

1. How does the concept of redemption through Christ impact your daily life and interactions with others?

2. What does it mean to live in the grace and mercy of God.

3. How can reflecting on the payment Christ made on the Cross impact your perspective on redemption?

4. How does acknowledging our sin problem impact our Christian Worldview?

5. What does it mean to live beyond our sin?

6. How does sin create a barrier between humanity and God?

7. How can acknowledging our sin problem lead to a deeper understanding of our need for redemption?

8. In what ways can we live beyond our sinful nature and embrace the redemption offered through Christ?

9.What practical steps can you take to overcome the separation caused by sin in your relationship with God?

10. Why is it important to recognize the high cost of redemption and not neglect the gift offered through Jesus' sacrificial death?