Being Broken Series

Being Broken

Genesis 1, 16-21

Online Sermon: http://www.mckeesfamily.com/?page_id=3567

Is it a challenge for you to let go of your possessions, even when they've aged, broken, and lost their value? When we explore our garages, basements, and hidden corners filled with our "forgotten" treasures, we often encounter heaps of broken tools, stained lawn chairs, and various items that are rusted, scratched, and outdated. Despite their deteriorated state, we tend to hoard these items due to the sentimental memories attached to them and the consideration of their original cost. It takes courage to confront the clutter in the recesses of our lives. And even when we muster the strength to recognize them for what they are, junk, we sadly decide to purge them from our lives. How many times have we organized yard sales, attempting to present our perceived treasures, only to part with them for a few pennies as we witness them finding new homes in the hands of others? The more our stuff loses intrinsic value to us the greater the likelihood we will purge!

Have you ever contemplated how God treats us in our brokenness? In our previous discussion, we found that we are all truly blessed for God is our portion! However, what is God's perspective on believers who have become "nominal" Christians, lacking the desire to serve Him in His kingdom? How does He assess those who, despite having spiritual gifts and incredible potential, remain lukewarm in the church pews, never realizing their full calling? Moreover, what must God think when His own succumb to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16)? Are not those broken through sin at best considered by Him to be stale and at worst vile in His sight? But not all brokenness stems from personal failures; some are the result of living in a fallen world. We've all heard the resounding echoes of creation spiraling into decay (Romans 8:19-21), marked by sickness, death, financial crises, marital dissolution, diseases, and conflicts running rampant. In the face of such atrocities, who among us can claim to be untouched or unaffected by these daily struggles? With pain and brokenness ravaging our souls, how does God respond to our cries, Abba, Father, save me (Romans 8:15)? In today's sermon, we will delve into the answers to how God deals with us, the broken.

God’s Response to our Brokenness of Sin

God’s response to our brokenness of sin is a loving offer of atonement. In 1 John 1:5, it is proclaimed that God is pure light, devoid of any darkness. However, this divine purity does not lead to an absolute rejection of us in response to our sins. Throughout history, God has consistently provided a means of atonement and forgiveness for His sinful image-bearers. One significant illustration of dealing with sin is found in the Old Testament, specifically during the Day of Atonement as detailed in Leviticus 16. On Yom Kippur, the high priest undertook a solemn ritual within the Holy of Holies of the tabernacle to atone for the sins of Israel. During this sacred occasion, the high priest symbolically expressed repentance by changing into white linen after removing his official garments. He initiated the atonement process by offering a bull calf as a sin offering for himself and the other priests. Entering the Holy of Holies with a censer of live coals from the altar of incense, the high priest then sprinkled the bullock's blood on the mercy seat and the floor before the ark of the covenant. Lots were cast over two goats presented by the people. One goat was sacrificed as a sin offering for the nation, and its blood was sprinkled inside the Holy of Holies. On the other goat, the high priest confessed the sins of Israel, and it was released into the wilderness, symbolically carrying away their sins.

This intricate ritual exemplifies God's mercy and the provision of a mechanism for reconciliation, foreshadowing the ultimate atonement brought about through the sacrificial work of Jesus Christ. When we transgress, we not only fall short of God’s glory, as stated in Romans 3:23, but also incur His righteous wrath. Numerous instances in the Old Testament, such as the Flood (Genesis 6-9), the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19), and the defeat of the Egyptians (Exodus 15), among others, illustrate God's response to sin. However, the most profound manifestation of God's wrath is the inevitable consequence of sin—the dual reality of physical and spiritual death, as articulated in Genesis 3:19 and Romans 6:23. Despite this, God, desiring none to perish (2 Peter 3:9), sent His only son, Jesus, who was without sin, to bear the full weight of God's wrath as the atonement for our sins (John 3:16; 2 Corinthians 5:21). The significance of Christ's sacrifice surpasses the temporal atonement achieved by the blood of a goat, as emphasized in Hebrews 9:13-14. Although Christ's sacrifice is once and for all, this doesn't grant humanity a license to sin (Romans 6). Those who reject Christ's atonement remain under the wages of sin—death. Conversely, those who believe in Christ have been liberated from the bondage of sin and are called to live a life of holiness, mirroring the holiness of God (1 Peter 1:15-216). Despite our brokenness and sin, God's love perseveres, offering a pathway for us, the sinful, to cultivate a relationship with Him who is pure light.