God Knows Our Sin…Yet There Is Forgiveness

Story: Daisy and the Invisible Fence

Didn’t want her to be run over and also didn’t want to build a fence

Installed invisible fence around property

Tried to train her…didn’t work…got frustrated…removed flags…good luck

Walked out to the line…got shocked…jumped straight up…repeat

“Pogo Stick Of Doom”

Once chased a rabbit through the fence…froze and whimpered till I went to get her

She knew — inside the barrier was safe // outside was unsafe

When we consider the Kingdom of Heaven, far too often we think of it in terms of right/wrong … black/white … good/bad … in/out

I want to propose that we should think of the Kingdom of Heaven - and the Word of God - less as a checklist that allows us to get into God’s family and more as a set of boundaries that guide us into the life that God prepared for us.

Story: Compass - I get to talk to JH & HS students all the time

Boundaries don’t eliminate your fun, they limit your regret.

John 10:10 (NIV)

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

This evening, we’re going to lean into the book of Exodus one more time. And as we do so, we’ll recognize that not only does God know our SUFFERING and our ATTITUDE, He also knows our SIN.

BUT……in knowing our SIN, He provides a path to forgiveness…and guides us to His way of living the fullest life we could possibly imagine.

PRAY

Exodus 19:1–8 (NIV)

On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt—on that very day—they came to the Desert of Sinai. After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain.

Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”

So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all the words the Lord had commanded him to speak. The people all responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has said.” So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord.

God promises EVERYTHING to His people, if they will obey. They promise to obey…of course.

But they would quickly discover that

Words are easy but follow through is hard.

Story: Wedding Day

Beautiful day … great memories

Said vows to each other…

Take you to be my wife…to have and to hold from this day forward…

For better…for worse

For richer…for poorer

In sickness…in health

To love and to cherish

Till death do us part

In my mind, I made another promise…

I won’t be like all those other lazy husbands who make their wives mad…I will live in a way that always pleases her!

Fast forward to that very night … our very first night married...

It was time to go to sleep…I turned off the lights…and Grace turned on the tv

I had never slept with a tv on…she had never slept without a tv on

We argued…and I broke my promise to never make her mad

To help the people live the life He had promised them, God gave the people an incredible set of guide rails in the 10 Commandments.

Exodus 20:1–17 (NIV)

And God spoke all these words:

“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

1 - “You shall have no other gods before me.

2 - “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

3 - “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

4 - “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

5 - “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

6 - “You shall not murder.

7 - “You shall not commit adultery.

8 - “You shall not steal.

9 - “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

10 - “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

Tub Illustration - TUB REPRESENTS YOU

Write various things on paper and toss them into the tub

“It can seem like the Law of God just wants to take away all the fun things in our lives.”

But remember…you’ll do better thinking of the commands of God -NOT- as a checklist to pass or fail but as a set of boundaries that will guide you to the life you were created for.

Tub Illustration

If it’s a checklist to pass or fail….it would seem that we’ve all accumulated a lot of failing grades

Psalm 119:105 (NIV)

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

God’s Word is a guide for our path…

Jesus even taught us how to pray…

Matthew 6:9–13 (NIV)

“This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’

When we begin to think of God’s commands as boundaries and guides for our life —

NOTE: This doesn’t mean God’s Commands are mere suggestions…or add-on’s to customize your chosen lifestyle…

— we recognize that God has actually built a path for us that began in Genesis, extended through Exodus, reached into the Gospels, was revealed in Jesus’ death/burial/resurrection, and has been offered as a gift to you and me.

Share the Three Circles

God made everything perfect

We were broken in sin and ran from God

We found ourselves living in a broken world, hoping for a solution but nothing we try makes it any better…in fact, our attempts often make it worse

The only solution was that Jesus came down from heaven, died on cross, buried in tomb, resurrected

When we recognize our sin, surrender to Jesus as King, we get remade into the life we were originally intended to live…as Jesus said, “life to the full”

Understanding the Word of God in that way, listen to how David phrased Psalm 16…

Psalm 16:4–8 (NIV)

Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more. I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods or take up their names on my lips. Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

Did you catch that???

“Those who run after other gods will suffer” - but God is faithful to you in covenant.

“I keep my eyes on the Lord” - and when my focus is on Him, my attitude aligns with His Kingdom

“With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken” - God WILL BE faithful to rescue you

And right in the middle of that Psalm…

“The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places”

When we allow the Word of God to set protective boundaries in our life, we discover it’s pleasant…refreshing…renewing…life-giving…

“Surely I have a delightful inheritance.”

When we allow the Word of God to set protective boundaries in our life, we discover the path God has built for us leads right up to the most incredible inheritance imaginable…eternity in the very presence of God.

Boundaries don’t eliminate your fun, they limit your regret.

Tub Illustration

A first step in following Jesus is recognizing that this tub doesn’t hold failing grades…

And it doesn’t hold missed opportunities…

It actually holds regrets that come from my sin

But that’s not all…

Ephesians 1:13–14 (NIV)

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

Tub Illustration

When we surrender to the Will of God, we realize He didn’t want to limit our fun at all…He actually just wanted to limit the regrets that come from sin

When we are sealed with the Holy Spirit, we begin to let temptation bounce off of us

John 10:10 (NIV)

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

The question is not, “Will God think you’re good enough?”

HIS CROSS AND RESURRECTION MAKE YOU GOOD ENOUGH.

The question is, “Will you submit to the BOUNDARIES God has graciously offered to you?”

He has given you a path to follow out of the wilderness and into your promised inheritance. Your pride is the only thing keeping you in the wilderness.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

What does it mean to see God's commands as boundaries rather than restrictions?

How can this perspective change our understanding of living a good life?

Can you think of a time when you followed a boundary or rule that ended up protecting you from regret? How did that make you feel?

In Exodus 19:1–8, God promises the Israelites that if they obey Him, they will be His treasured possession. What do you think it means to be a 'treasured possession' of God?

How can understanding yourself as a treasured possession of God impact your self-worth and how you treat others?

What are some boundaries or rules in your life that you might need to reevaluate to prevent future regrets?

If you were giving encouragement to someone else, what boundary would you encourage them to put in place?

How does recognizing our sin and surrendering to Jesus help us live the 'full life' that He promises in John 10:10?

What steps can you take this week to recognize areas of sin in your life and seek a fuller life through Jesus?

What role does the Holy Spirit play in helping us live within the boundaries God provides?

How can you cultivate a greater awareness of the Holy Spirit's presence in your choices and actions daily?