What An United Methodist Believes About Salvation and Sin

A young boy was petting his kitten. Now most cats like to be stroked. They become calm and purr in appreciation. But this particular cat was hissing and scratching the ground. You see, the boy was stroking the fur of the kitten from back to front, sort of “against the grain,” you might say. But if you had come up close to the boy you would have heard him saying, “Turn around little kitty, turn around.”

My sermon topic is along the same lines as the story. You may not like what you hear. So if at first you want to hiss at me or scratch at the floor, I guess that’s okay. But I hope you will eventually TURN AROUND and see the Biblical truth in what I am saying.

Recognize the Darkness of Sin.

Romans 3:23 ESV

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Notice what Paul says. All have sinned. The word “All” is inclusive. So all incluses you and me. It also inclused everyone everywhere.

John puts it is way.

Illustration: Billy Graham, who has often played the 20th century role of John the Baptizer, had these comments about the disease running rampant in our world: "We're suffering from only one disease in the world. Our basic problem is not a race problem. Our basic problem is not a poverty problem. Our basic problem is not a war problem. Our basic problem is a heart problem. We need to get the heart changed, the heart transformed."

Recognize the Greatness of Grace.

Romans 3:24 ESV

and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

Titus 2:11 NASB95

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men,

Romans 11:6 NASB95

But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.

Rom 3:25

whom God jput forward as ka propitiation lby his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in mhis divine forbearance he had passed over nformer sins. 2

Recognize your need for Justification.

Romans 3:28 ESV

For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.

Romans 3:24 NASB95

being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;