God is Greater

Greater than Sin

Bite of a forbidden fruit

Seeming insignificant by those who partook

The immediate repercussions -Separation from God, disharmony between the two of them, death of an animal for sacrifice

But, results were exponential, beyond their comprehension

The effects - detrimental

a. Brother killing brother

b. Mass rebellion against God leading to a world wide flood, judgment of sin

c. Rebellion of God’s own chosen people

d. Wars and rumors of war

e. Gross Pain and suffering

We don’t have to look very long, even just in our local area, and we can see the effects of sin and a fallen world.

The effects of sin are great and there was a high price to be paid...

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death...

In the Bible, death does not mean an end of one’s existence. Instead, it is referring to an estranged relationship between the Creator and the created. Sin caused that close harmony between God and us to be severed. The relationship had been cut off.

BUT GOD IS GREATER THAN IT ALL...

Let’s pray

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

Our heavenly Father sent forth His only Son, Jesus Christ

Christ came with one mission: TO SAVE THE WORLD

We read:

There was a plot to kill Jesus. It was said, “That it would be better for one man to die than the whole nation perish” (John 11:50).

We find Jesus praying in the garden. Praying with such intensity that His sweat became like drops of blood (Luke 22:44).

They came and arrested Him there in the garden as a criminal (Matt 26: 47-56).

Matthew 26:57 “And those who had laid hold of Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.”

Matt 26:59-68

 Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, 60 but found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward 61 and said, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.’ ” 62 And the high priest arose and said to Him, “Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?” 63 But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him, “I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!” 64 Jesus said to him, “It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 65 Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard His blasphemy! 66 What do you think?” They answered and said, “He is deserving of death.” 67 Then they spat in His face and beat Him; and others struck Him with the palms of their hands, 68 saying, “Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is the one who struck You?”

When asked directly by the high priest Jesus acknowledged He was the Christ, the Son of God.

The high priest responded with an emphatic accusation against Christ of “ BLASPHEMY!!”

The rage intensified causing them to spit in His face and beat Him with the palm of their hands.

There was no retaliation or defensive action taken by Jesus.

Just to remind: this is the Son of God. This is the depravity of sin.

Jesus was falsely accused before Pontius Pilate and Herod (Luke 23). The leaders finding no valid accusation to condemn Him, but a false claim of blasphemy. That didn’t stop the crowd. They continued yelling, “Crucify Him, Crucify Him!!” (Luke 23:21)

Matthew 27:25–26 “And all the people answered and said, “His blood be on us and on our children.” Then Barabbas, a known criminal, was released to them instead of Jesus...

All this is just consumed in lies and evil intent through and through

Matthew 27:27–31 “Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole garrison around Him. And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” Then they spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him on the head. And when they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to be crucified.”

Luke 23:33–37 “And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots. And the people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God.” The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine, and saying, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself.””

All of the heavenly hosts looking upon with expectant eyes

Satan seeking to destroy

Christ’s own people mocking Him and with intense passion wanting to see Him crucified

The situation seeming so grim, even more so with the sun being darkened for a time while God’s only son hung on that rugged cross

As intense and dramatic this all is, none of this took our God by surprise. He didn’t have to readjust His plan for an unexpected turn of events. Even as grim and as dark all this is, it was all according to God’s plan.

Isaiah 53:4–5 “Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.”

Jesus bore our grief

Jesus carried our sorrow

Jesus was wounded for our transgressions

Jesus was bruised for our iniquities.

Jesus was chastised to bring us peace with God

The stripes Jesus endured made healing available.

Jesus took it upon Himself to carry the load or burden of sin, because He is the only one that could; the requirement is a perfect sacrifice without any blemish.

Longing to see sin paid for, in order to bring forgiveness...

Through His suffering; His sacrifice...

God is greater than all the sin and evil

His love is greater. His love prevails and overcomes.

John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”

Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Proverbs 10:12 “Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins.”

James 5:20 “let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.”

1 Peter 4:8 “And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.””

Greater is God’s love than the sin of the world.

God in His infinite love conquered the world’s sin.

God’s love made a way to restore the broken fellowship with Him that was the result of sin

God in His great love restores the relationship that was originally intended

This shows forth God’s abundant mercy, because our sin deserves the just penalty of death, separated from Him with no option to restore. In Christ we are not getting what our sin deserves, because the penalty was laid upon Him in our place.

Hebrews 9:28

So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many

Hebrews 7:27 for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself

Jesus offered up His own life as a perfect sacrifice for sin fulfilling the requirements of the law.

And by believing in Him we can experience that mercy through His forgiveness.

While on the cross Jesus says to the Father in heaven, “Forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”

He asks that those (His own brethren) who falsely accused Him and crucified Him to be forgiven.

Only Jesus Christ has the authority and power to forgive sin.

This extends to you and I

All that receive Him by faith experience God’s forgiveness

Colossians 1:14 “in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.”

Because of our sin, we were given over to satan and the world. Through sin we had given up the inheritance God had given us as His children. A price had to be paid. It is the cost of sin. It was necessary in order to buy back that which was lost, humanity. It requires death or shedding of blood. This is redemption.

Through the redemption of Christ’s blood, we can experience His forgiveness. By faith in Christ we are bought, purchased, the ransom has been paid. We are free from sin and death.

Isaiah 1:18 ““Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.”

The blood of Christ washes away all our sin and instead we are now clothed in His righteousness, “white as snow”.

He removes all our sin

Psalm 103:12 “As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.”

Colossians 2:13–14 “And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.”

God is also greater in His grace, by giving us what we don’t deserve.

The Scripture declares:

Exodus 34:6–7 “And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin...

Psalm 86:15 “But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.”

Psalm 103:8 “The Lord is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.”

1 Timothy 1:14 “And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.”

Romans 3:23–24 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,”

His grace brings justification and redemption. We don’t deserve to be justified before God. We don’t deserve to be bought back. But is offered through faith in Jesus Christ, because of the sacrifice He made.

1 Corinthians 15:22 “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.”

God’s grace brings life

Romans 5:12–21 “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—(For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous. Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

God’s grace brings righteousness, His righteousness. His righteousness becomes part of us. It is imputed to us (Rom 4). Righteousness, being in right standing before the Lord.

“To eternal life” - Because of Christ’s redemption we now get to enjoy God’s inheritance once again, joint heirs with Christ. The inheritance is eternal life. Through Christ, a restored relationship with God’s is possible. A restored life and relationship with God for all eternity is the fruit of His grace.

Romans 8:12–17 “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”

Through God’s grace we become His children

By God’s grace we are:

1 Peter 2:9–10 “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.”

V. God is greater than all -OUR RESPONSE

I grew up in very hard home. It was filled with hurt and anger. I could not understand why two people that I loved so much could be so angry and hurtful. It seemed like we lived two different lives. We would play the church thing, but then the family life didn’t match up. But, I didn’t know any different at the time. I didn’t know there was something better. As a result of seeing so much pain and hurt, I became a very angry and immoral man. And, I passed the blame to my father; I was mad at God. And, I didn’t care about the trail of hurt I left behind me. But, despite the hurt, the anger, the immorality, the lack of hope in the midst of a grim situation GOD IS GREATER...

Jesus Christ is the only way, the truth, and the life - John 14:6

There is no other solution for the “sin issue”

There is no other answer for the effects of a “fallen world”

There is no other help for whatever present circumstance you or I may be facing.

The only answer is Jesus Christ.

He is the author and finisher of our faith - Heb 12:2

“Freely you gave it all for us

Surrendered your life upon that cross

Great is the love poured out for all

This is our God

Lifted on high from death to life

Forever our God is glorified

This is our God” - This is our God (Hillsong)

QUESTIONS OF RESPONSE

Have we come to the ONE, Jesus Christ, who is the only ONE, who is bigger and greater than all our sin?

How have we responded to His great love that overcomes our sin?

Are we embracing His grace and mercy?

How are we responding to present situations that seem to be bigger than our God?

Are we relying on God and the truth of His Word?

Are we seeking strength, encouragement, and hope where it truly can be provided?