Basic

Coming out of Identity I began to pray about what would be the next step and as I thought and prayed the word Basic kept coming back to mind.

At first it was more in the slang term of basic because it’s a term thrown around a lot, but I believe God wants to point us into a direction of owning what we believe.

In today’s world Christians have a tendency of gaining what they know about God through worship music. At one point in history that was possible. Most hymns have a theological base to them, however, some of our most beloved hymns. Like Mansion over the hill top isn’t very biblical. Christ says he goes to make a room for you not a mansion. And if we derive what we know about God from modern worship songs than what happens to our faith when we lose a job, get diagnosed with cancer, someone we prayed for dies, or any other tragedy hits home. Or worse yet, what if someone says that the bible says something we don’t agree with?

In most cases Christians with a limited idea of who God is and what they believe in will drift apart from God. They will ultimately blame God or they will curse God.

If our understanding of God is shallow we will never survive the dry times when the scorching heat drys up our kiddie pool.

In these times, when persecution or the possibility of persecution knocks on our door how are we going to remain faith if adversity isn’t supported in our idea of Who God is?

So the first Idea we need to understand is Salvation: I am going to do this sermon series kind of like how we do our Wednesday nights. We are smaller church so we afford to be interactive.

So who here can explain Salvation to me:

Typically the answer I get is forgiveness of sins. Which is true, but incomplete. What is sin? Who determines what constitutes sin in your life? Are all sins the same? Can sin be different for different people?

First we need to understand Sin: is anything that separates you from God.

1 John 5:17 ESV

All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death.

I used to tell teenagers that anything you cannot do in front of your mother or grandmother is probably a sin—However, people are getting bold and parents don’t care so that’s no longer applicable.So for this I have to use examples.

Drinking-Is drinking a sin? This is a grey area. The bible says do not get drunk. Today’s liquor is different from liquor back then, but for some having a beer with dinner may not be sinful. For me—the Assemblies states that they want their pastor’s to be above reproach so they tells us not to drink. So for me it is sinful. For someone who struggles with alcoholism it’s sinful. If Alcohol leads to other sinful behavior its sinful.

Now a tough one: homosexuality. Some will tell you Jesus never said anything about it. I replied once said that Jesus never said I couldn’t throat punch you either, but I know its a sin. Jesus’s words were never meant to be all inclusive. We have to remember that Jesus spent 3 years teaching. You can’t teach everything in 3 years which is why there are so many other books of the bible.

There are things like lying that are sinful. Obeying your parents- its part of the ten commandments, but did you know you could sin and obey your parents? If your parents tell you to renounce God walk away from your faith it is biblical in that instance to ignore your parents request.

Since sin separates us from God-Jesus came down to die for the forgiveness of our sins.

Time does not sperate us from our sin-It may separate us from when the act took place, but it doesn’t remove the sin from our soul.

Proverbs 28:13 ESV

Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.

We cannot wash our soul clean

Ephesians 2:8–9 ESV

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

You cannot work hard enough to be forgiven. It is simply a debt we cannot pay.

Acts 4:12 ESV

And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Jesus Christ is the only way to receive forgiveness for our sins. But forgiveness is two fold.

Asking to be forgiven

1 John 1:9 ESV

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Confession is a big part of the forgiveness of sins. Have you ever tried to forgive someone who hadn’t ever acknowledged the wrong they have done. Or worst yet, still believes they were right by doing what they did?

Jesus cannot forgive us of our wrongs if we don’t admit that we are in the wrong.

The second part forgiveness is Repentance

Acts 3:19–20 ESV

Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus,

Repentance is huge part of seeking forgiveness of sins. Now notice between the commas is says turn back—this is the definition of repentance. Right—the attempt to not do it again. Repentance is a turning away from the action you were doing.

Colossians 3:5 The Message

And that means killing off everything connected with that way of death: sexual promiscuity, impurity, lust, doing whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it, and grabbing whatever attracts your fancy. That’s a life shaped by things and feelings instead of by God.

We must put sin to death by repenting of it.

If we don’t understand the length Christ goes so that we can have a relationship with him it’s easy to gloss over the effect of sin in our life. Jesus broke down every barrier that stood between us and him when he died on the cross, but we must be willing to activate that in our lives daily.