Adrift

Jesus is Superior

In the 19th century, many people attempted to navigate the mighty Mississippi River on rafts and flatboats. It was an impressive journey, but the river was fraught with danger. The current could snatch away even the most seasoned sailor, pulling them off course before they realized it. Those who drifted too far from the bank often found themselves battling treacherous waters and unforeseen obstacles, like rocks and fallen trees. The tale of the Mississippi River is not only one of adventure but also caution. Many who ventured its waters became familiar with the phrase 'don't drift too far.' The river’s unseen currents can sweep you away, and be caught on a snag or a sand bar. A good captain has his maps and charts. always monitoring his sonar for unseen hazards. We are looking at the dangers of spiritually drifting through life

in chapter 1 we have learned that Jesus is

Creator

Heir of all

One with the Father yet distinct in Person

Upholder of all things by His Word

Purifier from sin

Seated at the Right hand of the Majesty on high

Having a better name than the angels (begotten the Son of God)

God testifying He is His Father fulfilling the Davidic Covenant

Firstborn = His preeminence,

God, Lord, King, Victorious Warrior

Immutable

Eternal

Better than angels who serve Him, worship Him, are created by Him & are sent out to serve believers.

we saw all of this in chapter 1

here in chapter 2 begins with the words “for this reason”

what reason because of what is written on this list

remember I think this one of Pauls sermons when he comes into a new town and preaches to the Jews in the Synagogue on the Sabbath.

the people are religious in Judaism but not in Christ

so Paul is laying down how Jesus is all of the things we see here.

He will go on and further this argument

think of these 4 verses as a parentheses in his argument

he is stopping here and exhorting the people to be saved

to turn to Jesus for salvation

read V 1-4

Missing The Mooring

Lets say you have pulled your boat up to the dock but forget to tie up at the mooring. the wind starts to pick up and your boat drifts away. it grounds itself on rocks where the waves and wind destroy it

this is the warning here in these verses

Jesus is the mooring

without Him you drift onto the rocks and be destroyed

V 1

He is addressing the unbeliever telling him that this might be the closest you might get to the dock tie up to the mooring

Put your faith is Jesus

take your eyes off of yourself and onto Christ.

your life is at a tie up point right now

V 2

He is speaking of the law here. and the commandments

every trespass. each and every time the law was broken results in the penalty of death

the law is Just. the judge will find you guilty

the mooring of Jesus is the only safe place

V 3

how will you tie up if you have slipped passed the mooring?

the wages of sin is death

we were born with the sin gene in us

we have sinned our entire life

We need Jesus who has made an atonement for sin

who has cleansed the sin

He gives to those who come to Him for salvation pure heart

the Judge will declare them not guilty

the opportunity to tie up to keep from drifting through life to a destructive end is right now.

V 3

V 4

this mooring was proved to be true by the sign gifts

prophesying speaking in tongues, healings

these came with the new Christianity

they came to say HEY look here for salvation

this the safe harbor to come in out of the storm

these signs came as to say here is where the power of God is

Peter and John said to the cripple beggar silver and gold we don’t have but in the name of Jesus stand up and walk

these sign accompanied the gospel message to be saved

to not continue to drift along in life being religious with a religion that never saves

but come to the saving power of Jesus

we know that the unsaved is drifting along with the final destination hell

but can the Christian be a

Drifter

normally its called being a backslider

what I don’t want to imply here is that we can drift away and lose our salvation

V 1

drifting away requires no effort just sitting in the boat and letting the sun melt away the stress.

when we drift spiritually we get up in the morning a bit lazy and not spend time with Jesus

or we are rushed and what looses is our intimate time with our Savior

but we can take our eyes off of Jesus and His word

the Holy Spirit is prompting you but you have other things more important

now the winds have picked up a little and you are drifting faster you can still see the mooring and you need to pick up you paddle but…

that one time that you was rushed and chose not to spend time with Jesus turned into 2, 3, 4 days

now you have drifted very far away.

you are not listening to the Holy Spirit

there are more stresses in your life

you have drifted from the Holy Spirits comfort. your boat is rocking you are now out in the middle . vulnerable to the wind and waves that threaten

it does not take much to start this driftin away

when I was a child we as a family were in Chile and we were passing out tracts to people on the street corner

I was helping then I got looking around and could not find my parents…

when we spiritually drift we may find ourselves in the pigpen before we know it