Sin (Part 3)

Turn to the Savior

🎯 Big Idea: Sin began with rebellion, but it ends with redemption when we turn to Jesus. 💬 Key Takeaway: You can’t save yourself from sin — but Jesus can. And He already made the first move.

INTRO

Connect the series:

Week 1: Sin began in rebellion

Week 2: Sin leads you like a master

Week 3: But Jesus steps in, breaks the power of sin, and invites you into a new relationship with God.

“This is where the story turns from brokenness to hope.”

Romans 5:8–11 NLT

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.

1. God Loved Us When We Were at Our Worst

Romans 5:8 NLT

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

Notice the phrase “while we were still sinners” STILL. What does that imply?

A. God didn’t wait for us to get better

Didn’t wait for us to fix ourselves

Didn’t wait for us to clean up

Didn’t wait for us to “earn” it

I’ve heard it said over and over again, “I’m gonna go to church eventually, I’ve just got to clean some stuff up in my life first.” or “I’m going to make things right with God one day, I just need to get some stuff sorted out first.” But that isn’t how Jesus works. He died for you while you were still a sinner. In the current state you may be in right now.

B. Jesus didn’t die for the righteous — He died for the rebels

He died for people who ignored Him

He died for people running from Him

He died for the people who are choosing sin over God

He died for the people who are ashamed, broken, messy

Illustration:

When I think of God and His mercy, I’m reminded of my Dad a lot. See, I’ve made plenty of mistakes in my life, especially when I was a teenager. Things I’m ashamed of, and I remember as a teen being deathly afraid of my parents figuring out certain things I was hiding from them. There were times where they caught me in the middle of my sin, and trouble doesn’t describe what I was in. Running from them and hiding my mistakes always ended worse. However, my Dad was the most gracious person when I would come to Him first. No anger, no judgement, no tension between us… If I chose to come to him with no prompting, with the mindset of “Dad, I’ve messed up bad,” he accepted me just as I was. I don’t know his reasoning… It could have been out of understanding because he’s made mistakes too. But you know what my assumption is? He enjoyed when I relied on him. He loved me and wanted me to confide in him. He was there to help. That was his job. At my worst moments, he didn’t care about my faults, he cared about me.

Application: Jesus didn’t save the future, improved version of you — He loved you right now. So, you’re not too far gone to be saved, you’re not too broken to be mended, you’re not too wrong to be made right. He died for us while we were still sinners.

2. Jesus Saves Us From Sin and To God

Romans 5:9–10 NLT

And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.

LIVING WATERS VIDEO

A. Sin doesn’t JUST make us bad — it makes us enemies of God

We weren’t neutral. We weren’t “kinda good, kinda bad.” We were separated.

If you ask someone on the street, when you die, where are you going? Most will say heaven. But when you follow up with the question, “now why do you say that?” They will say because they’re a good person. However, the sin separates us from God, and we’re all guilty of sin. Therefore, we can’t be good enough.

B. Jesus changes our position

Two major phrases here:

Made Right → Declared righteous → Not guilty → Completely forgiven

Restored → Relationship reconciled → Brought close → Adopted into His family

Application: Jesus doesn’t just get rid of the guilt — He restores the relationship.

3. Jesus Gave Us a New Life and a New Future

Romans 5:11 NLT

So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.

A. Salvation isn’t JUST about avoiding hell

It’s about:

New life

New identity

New joy

New purpose

A real relationship with God

B. Turning to Jesus changes everything

When you turn to Jesus, you turn...

From sin → to the Savior

From shame → to forgiveness

From slavery → to freedom

From fear → to hope

From death → to life

Application: Sin writes a depressing story — Jesus rewrites the ending.

4. What Does It Mean to “Turn to the Savior”?

This is the call to action for the whole series.

Turning means 3 things

A. Turn = Repent

A change of direction. Not perfection — a new direction. Bro. Matt said it perfectly this past Sunday. Not a 360 degree turn, a 180 degree turn.

B. Turn = Trust

Not trusting:

yourself

your goodness

your feelings

your strength

Turning means trusting Jesus fully.

C. Turn = Trade

Trade your old life for His new one. Trade your sin for His righteousness. Trade your shame for His forgiveness. Trade your slavery for His freedom.

CONCLUSION

Bring the whole series together:

“Sin began with rebellion in the Garden. Sin tries to lead and enslave us. But Jesus came, not to condemn you, but to save you. And today, you can turn to the Savior.”

Give a clear, simple gospel invitation:

Turn from sin

Trust in Jesus

Receive forgiveness

Begin a new life