What the Cross Teaches Us
Part One: Our Biggest Problem
“He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”
1 John 2:2 (NIV)
Icebreaker
A concerned husband went to a doctor to talk about his wife. "Doctor, I think my wife is going deaf. This morning she was cooking on the stove and I was just a few feet from her at the kitchen table. I asked her several times what she was cooking and she didn’t say anything.”
"Well," the doctor replied, "go home and tonight stand about 15 feet from her and say something to her. If she doesn’t reply move about 5 feet closer and say it again. Keep doing this so that we’ll get an idea about the severity of her deafness."
Sure enough, the husband goes home and does exactly as instructed. He starts off about 15 feet from his wife in the kitchen as she is chopping some vegetables and says, "Honey, what’s for dinner?" He hears no response. He moves about 5 feet closer and asks again. No reply. He moves 5 feet closer. Still no reply. He gets fed up and moves right behind her, about an inch away, and asks again, "Honey, what’s for dinner?"
She replies, "For the fourth time, vegetable stew!"
-GCFL.com
Intro
-Sometimes we spend so much time worrying about other peoples’ problems that we don’t even realize that maybe the real problem lies with us.
-So today, I want us to talk about problems. Really, our biggest problem.
(PRAYER)
1. God hates sin
Illustration: Cliff’s story about the church secretary’s husband. “Now you know how God feels when we sin.
Questions: Now, God is loving, right? He calls us his children, right? Chances are we’ve got plenty of parents in this room. Let me ask you something parents...has your child ever broken your trust? How did that make you feel? Did you still love them? Sure, but you were still probably hurt and angry too, right?
Statement: See, parents, on a very small level…that’s how God feels.
-I’d like to suggest to you that we don’t take sin nearly as seriously as we should. And this is our first biggest problem: God hates sin.
-Paul writes in Romans chapter 1:
Scripture
“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness. . .
Romans 1:18 (NIV)
-Until you come to comprehend this fact – that God hates sin – you will never be able to live with a true appreciation of Jesus.
-And Paul doesn’t just stop there. He goes one step further:
Scripture
“They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.”
Romans 1:19-20 (NLT)
-Paul says that none of us have an excuse for our sin, because God has made himself known in His creation.
-So according to Paul, there are some serious consequences for sin. But that’s not a new idea. In fact, in the Old Testament, the prophet Micah said this about sin:
Scripture
“Because I have sinned against Him, I must endure the LORD’s rage…”
Micah 7:9a
-So, wow – sin is a serious problem. But there’s another problem:
We’ve all done it!
2. All of us have sinned.
Questions: Have you ever wondered what is wrong with the world today? When you see things on the news or read about the tragedies occurring all around us, how do you answer that? Why do things like this happen?
Illustration: Quote the editorial that G K Chesterton, a famous and influential English writer at the turn of the 20th century had written. The Times newspaper invited several eminent authors to write essays on the theme "What’s Wrong with the World?" Chesterton’s contribution took the form of a letter:
Dear Sirs,
I am.
Sincerely yours,
G. K. Chesterton
Statement: When we start to ask those hard questions about what is wrong with the world, we have to look no further than our own mirror. Why?
Scripture
“. . . for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. . .”
Romans 3:23 (NIV)
-So, God hates sin and all of us have sinned. And the last problem is the biggest one. It’s so big, that it is seemingly impossible to solve.
3. We cannot overcome sin on our own.
Illustration: Sliding on the ice in my car Friday night. I couldn’t stop the car from sliding because of the ice. In our own power, we can’t stop ourselves from sinning.
Questions: Have you ever watched the news and wondered how people can do such horrible things to one another?
Statement: We don’t like to think of our flaws, do we? But if we pause to think about it, I think we have to admit that there is something deeply, deeply wrong with humanity.
-We are born into this world with a sinful nature…and we cannot overcome it on our own.
-So this is the biggest problem to ever face mankind. And there’s nothing that we can do about. So God has done something for us.
4. THE SOLUTION: An Advocate
Advocate: a person who pleads for or in behalf of another; intercessor
Scripture
“My dear children, I write to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense: Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”
1 John 2:1-2 (NIV)
-Jesus is our only advocate who can speak in our defense. Because we have no excuse. Remember what the prophet Micah said? Let me read the rest of that verse to you:
Scripture
“Because I have sinned against Him, I must endure the LORD’s rage until He argues my case and establishes justice for me. He will bring me into the light; I will see His salvation.”
Micah 7:9 (HCSB)
-You see, God’s hatred of sin does not mean he hates you. In fact, this is further proof that He loves you.
-No one is outside the mercy of God unless they place themselves there deliberately.
Invitation/Conclusion
-So, in conclusion let’s all ask ourselves a question: Where have I placed myself?
-When we consider the way we were, (born into sin) it helps us see in a whole new light the way we can be, by the grace of God.
-Lead in a sinner’s prayer
“Father, I know that I have broken your laws and my sins have separated me from you. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life toward you. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that your son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”
