Introduction

Good morning, dear friends. It is indeed a joy to gather with you today, in this house of worship, united under the banner of our risen Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We are here today, not by accident, but by divine appointment. God has a message for us today, a message that will speak into our hearts, and transform our lives.

We are going to talk about something that we all have in common. It's something that we don't often like to talk about, but it's something that's very real and very present in our lives. It's something that we all struggle with, no matter who we are or where we come from. It's something that affects us all, regardless of our age, our race, our gender, or our social status. That something is sin.

Now, I know that sin is not a popular topic. It's not something that we like to admit or acknowledge. But it's something that we all have to deal with. It's part of our human condition. It's part of our reality. But the good news is that we don't have to face this reality alone. We have a Savior who has overcome sin and death, and who offers us cleansing and forgiveness.

As we turn to the Scriptures, let's listen to what God's Word has to say about this.

[Read passages]

As we read these passages, we are reminded of the reality of sin, the cleansing offered through Christ, and the joy of the risen Lord.

Tim Keller once said, "The Christian Gospel is that I am so flawed that Jesus had to die for me, yet I am so loved and valued that Jesus was glad to die for me. This leads to deep humility and deep confidence at the same time. It undermines both swaggering and sniveling. I cannot feel superior to anyone, and yet I have nothing to prove to anyone. I do not think more of myself or less of myself. Instead, I think of myself less." My friends, we serve a God who is greater than our sin, who offers us cleansing through Christ, and who fills us with the joy of the risen Lord.

Let us pray.

Heavenly Father, we thank you for your Word, which is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. As we reflect on the reality of sin, the cleansing offered through Christ, and the joy of the risen Lord, we pray that you would open our hearts and minds to receive your truth. May your Word transform us, and may your Spirit guide us, as we seek to live in a way that is pleasing to you. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.

Let’s get started!

Recognizing Our Reality of Sin

The reality that we live in is tainted by sin. It's a fact that we can't escape. It's like a stain on a white shirt that we can't wash out, no matter how hard we try. It's there, and it's not going away. We can try to ignore it, we can try to cover it up, but it's still there. It's still a part of us. It's still a part of our reality. Sin is not just a word. It's not just a concept. It's a reality. It's a part of our lives. It's a part of who we are. It's a part of our human condition. It's a part of our reality. And it's something that we all have to deal with.

It's not something that we can avoid: It's not something that we can escape. It's not something that we can ignore. It's something that we have to face. It's something that we have to deal with. It's something that we have to confront. And it's something that we have to acknowledge.

It's not something that we can overcome on our own: We can't just will it away. We can't just wish it away. We can't just pretend it away. We need help. We need a Savior. We need someone who can cleanse us from our sin and set us free.

It's not something that we can hide: It's not something that we can keep secret. It's not something that we can sweep under the rug. It's something that's out in the open. It's something that's exposed. It's something that's revealed. And it's something that we have to confess.

It's not something that we can take lightly: It's not something that we can dismiss. It's not something that we can trivialize. It's something that's serious. It's something that's grave. It's something that's deadly. And it's something that we have to repent of.

Acts 4:32-35: As we look at the Scriptures, we see that sin is a reality that we all have to deal with. In the book of Acts, we see that the believers were one in heart and mind. They shared everything they had. They testified to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was powerfully at work in them all. But they also had to deal with the reality of sin. They had to confess their sins. They had to repent of their sins. And they had to seek forgiveness for their sins.

1 John 1:1-2:2: Here, we see that the life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. But we also have to deal with the reality of sin. We have to confess our sins. We have to repent of our sins. And we have to seek forgiveness for our sins.

John 20:19-31: Here, we see that on the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you!' After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. But they also had to deal with the reality of sin. They had to confess their sins. They had to repent of their sins. And they had to seek forgiveness for their sins.

Receiving Cleansing through Christ

As we immerse ourselves in the truth of God's Word, we find ourselves standing at the foot of the cross ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO