Partnership Meeting this Sunday

This Sunday is a great moment for us a church.  It’s partnership Sunday.  We have a lot of great things in store for us as a church.  I believe many of you are called to be a part of it.  This is going to be a great time to hear what we are all about, meet some of the crew and to ask me any question that you’ve always wanted to ask.  It should be fun.  Even if you feel like you are already connected with the church in a significant way, this is an important moment.  I want us all to take a new, fresh step together.  There is something very important about being connected to a local family of believers.  Don’t miss out!

Coming this Easter

I’m so excited about this series that we are going to start this Easter!  It’s going to be a lot of fun!  Stay tuned for more details!

Don’t Miss Your Opportunities

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain

 

I think this is a great thought! Researchers say that as we look back on our lives with a long term lens 84% of our regrets will be “inaction” regrets vs. “action” regrets. In other words, we will regret our missed opportunities far more than the times we screwed up! To me this is very sad. Not because of where our focus will be years from now as we look back on our lives but rather that right now our focus seems to be on “not screwing up” rather than seizing the moments that God brings our way.

 

Following God is supposed to be a dangerous proposition. Too many times it seems like we spend our prayers asking God to lower the odds in our lives rather than accepting that where there is faith, there must be risk.

 

What opportunities have already passed you by this week? They may not all look big at first, but they all are important! I know that God is challenging me in a much deeper way to “Sail away from the safe harbor”. What about you?

Sin – Part 5 of 7

By Tom Buckle
The Transgression of Adam
 
In reading the story of creation we realize that sin was present before Adam and Eve succumbed to it.  We know that Satan was already in the world, having sinned against God before man was created and cast out of heaven (See Luke 10:18Luke 10:18
English: World English Bible - WEB
18 He said to them, “I saw Satan having fallen like lightning from heaven.

WP-Bible plugin). But it is the subject of the origin of sin into the human race that is paramount in our present subject.
 
In Scripture we read that the Lord created man in His own image and placed man in the Garden of Eden to tend to it.  God instructed Adam. “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (Genesis 2: 16-17Genesis 2: 16-17
English: World English Bible - WEB
16 Yahweh God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat: ¹⁷ but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat of it: for in the day that you eat of it you will surely die.”

WP-Bible plugin NKJV).  This instruction was given to Adam before God created Eve. 
 
Why did God forbid Adam to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil?  Biblical scholars rightly suggest that this forbidden tree was to remind them of their dependence on God and that they were His creation.  Another interpretation is that God had reserved for Himself the knowledge of good and evil and wanted Adam and Eve to stay innocence and enjoy His provisions.  God had created man in His image with the freedom to choose and Satan went straight to the jugular to tempt them to disobey what God had said.
 
Sin always begins with speculation, questioning God’s word and man’s accountability to Him.  Satan approached Eve in the garden to start a conversation.  What better way to begin a dialogue then to ask her a key question about what God had said concerning the trees in the garden?  “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”  Eve responds by correctly quoting what God had warned Adam that he was not to eat of the forbidden tree; “You shall not eat it, nor shall touch it, lest you die” (Genesis 3:3Genesis 3:3
English: World English Bible - WEB
3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat of it, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’”

WP-Bible plugin NKJV).  Satan now contradicts the veracity of God word, “You will not surely die” (Genesis 3:4Genesis 3:4
English: World English Bible - WEB
4 The serpent said to the woman, “You won’t surely die,

WP-Bible plugin NKJV).   He continues, that God surely didn’t mean they would die if they ate of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, for they would surely become like God.  God is benevolent and He can’t possibly mean that they would die.  Satan declared the opposite in saying they would only become like God. 
 
We can clearly see the true origin of sin and understand its true character.  It does not originate in overt actions but in the thoughts and desires that come out of the heart of man.  In the Garden of Eden Satan sowed the thoughts of doubt by challenging the veracity of God’s Word.  God had placed a severe penalty on disobeying His word, but with Satan’s help to mollify God’s command Adam and Eve fell into grievous sin.
 
It is this desire to be as God, knowing good and evil, which brought the fall of all mankind into sin. 
 
Contrary to macho talk about Eve taking the first bite out of the fruit of the forbidden tree, the blame for the Fall of the race is never placed on her in Scripture.  The Apostle Paul writes, “For since by man came death . . . For as in Adam all die” (I Corinthians 15:21-22 NKJV).  “Just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin . . . By one man’s offense death reigned through the one . . . By one man’s disobedience many were made sinners” (Romans 5:12, 17, 19Romans 5:12, 17, 19
English: World English Bible - WEB
12 Therefore, as sin entered into the world through one man, and death through sin; and so death passed to all men, because all sinned. ¹⁷ For if by the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; so much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ. ¹⁹ For as through the one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one will many be made righteous.

WP-Bible plugin NKJV).
 
The transgression of Adam was a repudiation of God’s authority, faithfulness, wisdom, justice, goodness and grace.  Created for the presence of God and His fellowship, Adam and Eve now sought to hide from God’s presence, indicating a breach in their relationship had taken place.  Fear and shame now enveloped them when God comes looking for them in the garden.
 
The prophet Jeremiah wrote, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9Jeremiah 17:9
English: World English Bible - WEB
9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly corrupt: who can know it?

WP-Bible plugin NKJV).  The prophet of the Lord realized how far man had fallen from the holiness of God and His plan for life.
 
Writing to the church in Rome, the Apostle Paul says, “ . . . as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—” (Romans 5:12Romans 5:12
English: World English Bible - WEB
12 Therefore, as sin entered into the world through one man, and death through sin; and so death passed to all men, because all sinned.

WP-Bible plugin NKJV).  He is expressly pointing to Adam’s sin.  Not a single person is excluded when he says, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans3:23 NKJV).  These and other Scriptures teach that the results of Adam’s fall into rebellion and sin affected all of mankind after him. 
 
We are all prone to rebel against God’s plan for our lives, but nonetheless there is hope for us in Christ.  (17) “For if by one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. (18) Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. (19) For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous” (Romans 5:17-19Romans 5:17-19
English: World English Bible - WEB
17 For if by the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; so much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ. ¹⁸ So then as through one trespass, all men were condemned; even so through one act of righteousness, all men were justified to life. ¹⁹ For as through the one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one will many be made righteous.

WP-Bible plugin NKJV).
 
The debate of how all mankind has been infected with sin has been entertained by scholars for centuries.  Passages like Psalm 51:5Psalm 51:5
English: World English Bible - WEB
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity. In sin my mother conceived me.

WP-Bible plugin, Ephesians 2:3Ephesians 2:3
English: World English Bible - WEB
3 among whom we also all once lived in the lust of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.

WP-Bible plugin suggest that sinful nature is inherited.  Other Scriptures teach that sin is due to human choice (Ezekiel 18:4, 19-20Ezekiel 18:4, 19-20
English: World English Bible - WEB
4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins, he shall die. ¹⁹ Yet say you, Why does not the son bear the iniquity of the father? when the son has done that which is lawful and right, and has kept all my statutes, and has done them, he shall surely live. ²⁰ The soul who sins, he shall die: the son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son; the righteousness of the righteous shall be on him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be on him.

WP-Bible plugin; Romans 1:18-20; 5:12Romans 1:18-20; 5:12
English: World English Bible - WEB
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, ¹⁹ because that which is known of God is revealed in them, for God revealed it to them. ²⁰ For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse. ¹²Â Therefore, as sin entered into the world through one man, and death through sin; and so death passed to all men, because all sinned.

WP-Bible plugin NKJV).
 
The possible answer to this supposed conflict between sin being transmitted from Adam and Eve and sin being the result of choice is to understand that in the Jewish belief system there is no problem in including two mutually exclusive ideas into the same thought system.  The sinful nature that mankind inherits needs to be joined with the consequence that each person is responsible for their choice to sin.
 
 (22)  “Having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.  (23) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:22-23Romans 6:22-23
English: World English Bible - WEB
22 But now, being made free from sin, and having become servants of God, you have your fruit of sanctification, and the result of eternal life. ²³Â For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

WP-Bible plugin NKJV).

Sin – Part 4 of 7

By Tom Buckle

Sin Is Ultimately Against God

All attempts to define sin are inadequate because the main ingredients of sin in all of its different word forms are directed against God. We can rightly teach that all sins are directed towards the first commandment and are ultimately traced to it. “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3Exodus 20:3
English: World English Bible - WEB
3 You shall have no other gods before me.

WP-Bible plugin NKJV). Deuteronomy’s quote of the commandment is more definitive and later used by Jesus: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” (Deuteronomy 6:5Deuteronomy 6:5
English: World English Bible - WEB
5 and you shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.

WP-Bible plugin NKJV).

Sin is a disruption of a relationship between persons. Theologian C. E Brown’s writing on this subject illustrates this commandment. Brown writes, “If there were only one man in the entire world it would be impossible for that man to commit nearly every sin one could name. He could not steal, he could not lie and he could not be guilty of murder. The only sins he could commit would be sins against God because there would still be a relation between him and God. Such thoughts as this will show us that the soul of man comes first before human law, and the being of God comes first before any law regulating the relation of his creatures to him. The relation of man to God comes before any other law. It is the basis of all law.”

God insists on being number one in your life. He does not want anything to come in-between Him and you. He wants your devotion, your trust and companionship. He is your “frame of reference” in values and in the way you live.

Jesus repeats two commandments to show how loving God is connected to loving your neighbor. (37)“’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ (38) “This is the first and great commandment. (39) “And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Matthew 22:37-39Matthew 22:37-39
English: World English Bible - WEB
37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and great commandment. ³⁹ A second likewise is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

WP-Bible plugin NKJV). This second commandment is a hard one to put into practice. Invariably, someone will disturb your peace and the flesh will want to rise up and assert feelings of contempt to the offender. It is in these instances of being offended that you will call upon God and refocus on His mercy and forgiveness offered to you. You will extend forgiveness to the offender, remembering God’s merciful forgiveness offered to you. Because of God’s forgiveness to you, it is important for you to try and see others as God sees them, lest you fall into conflict and sin.

One of the best examples to show that sin is really against God is found in David, King of Israel. After the prophet Nathan confronted David about his adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband to cover up his sin, David acknowledges his sin and cries out in repentance to God. In his plea for forgiveness he says, “Against you only, have I sinned and done this evil in Your sight . . .” (Psalm 51:4Psalm 51:4
English: World English Bible - WEB
4 Against you, and you only, have I sinned, And done that which is evil in your sight; That you may be proved right when you speak, And justified when you judge.

WP-Bible plugin NKJV). As with other passages in the Bible clarifies that whatever our sin, it is ultimately against God.

The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia’s definition of sin is one that King David fully understood. “Sin is to be defined primarily in relation to God. It is disobedience, unbelief, ignorance, the positive assertion of usurped autonomy, and the wicked deviation from, or violation of, God’s righteous will and law. The breach of a right relationship with God carries with it the disruption of a right relationship with others and the disintegration of self. But this is the derivative, for it is because of sin against God that there is sin against others and oneself.” (Vol. 4, p. 456). David acknowledges that his sin was against God and pleaded for God’s mercy and forgiveness.

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8Romans 5:8
English: World English Bible - WEB
8 But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

WP-Bible plugin NKJV).

« Previous Entries