Because our beliefs impact our lives and how we live is determined by what we believe, we are teaching through the core doctrines of our church. We are digging deep into our faith to live it fully.
This Sunday, I taught the Doctrine of Man and Eternity. These are both weighty topics but needed understanding for our lives as Christ followers. They determine how we see ourselves and what we chase in life. As you consider your life with eternity in mind, remember these things.
27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. GENESIS 1:27
We were created in the image of God which gives us great value and great responsibility. We have great value because we were created to know God and to be like Him. We have great value because we are His highest, most valuable creation. But with great value comes great responsibility. In the Garden of Eden, God gave Adam and Eve the responsibility of obeying Him and ruling over all creation. The responsibility to live a God-honoring life and to live wisely in this broken world extends to you and to me even today.
6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. GENESIS 3:6
When sin entered the world in the Garden, it was passed down to us by our nature and through our choices. Without a Savior, we are separated from God forever. With Jesus, our Savior, we have forgiveness of sin and are freed from the power and penalty of sin. While this is 100% true, don't miss the fact that Christians are free from the penalty of sin (death), but not free from the consequences of sin (troubles here and now). That's why, believers wage war on their sins to live a God-honoring life. We know that all sins are equal, but some sins are worse (because of the consequences that come with them) so we pay attention to even the smallest struggles so that we don't allow worse sins to creep in.
Given who we are and the holiness that God desires, where do we turn to hope as we follow Jesus today? Only the Biblical story of creation, fall, and redemption supplies real hope:
What are you going to do with your guilt and shame today? Turn to Jesus. What are you going to do to have confidence beyond the grave? Trust Jesus alone.
If sin is a real problem and it is, turn to Jesus.
If hell is a real place and it is, turn to Jesus.
If heaven is a real place and it is, worship Jesus.
This Sunday, I taught the Doctrine of Man and Eternity. These are both weighty topics but needed understanding for our lives as Christ followers. They determine how we see ourselves and what we chase in life. As you consider your life with eternity in mind, remember these things.
27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. GENESIS 1:27
We were created in the image of God which gives us great value and great responsibility. We have great value because we were created to know God and to be like Him. We have great value because we are His highest, most valuable creation. But with great value comes great responsibility. In the Garden of Eden, God gave Adam and Eve the responsibility of obeying Him and ruling over all creation. The responsibility to live a God-honoring life and to live wisely in this broken world extends to you and to me even today.
6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. GENESIS 3:6
When sin entered the world in the Garden, it was passed down to us by our nature and through our choices. Without a Savior, we are separated from God forever. With Jesus, our Savior, we have forgiveness of sin and are freed from the power and penalty of sin. While this is 100% true, don't miss the fact that Christians are free from the penalty of sin (death), but not free from the consequences of sin (troubles here and now). That's why, believers wage war on their sins to live a God-honoring life. We know that all sins are equal, but some sins are worse (because of the consequences that come with them) so we pay attention to even the smallest struggles so that we don't allow worse sins to creep in.
Given who we are and the holiness that God desires, where do we turn to hope as we follow Jesus today? Only the Biblical story of creation, fall, and redemption supplies real hope:
- Creation: I am not a mistake. I am God’s noble and valuable creation.
- Fall: I have made more than mistakes. I deserve guilt, shame, and separation from God for my sins.
- Redemption: I give my guilt and shame to Jesus who bore them on the cross. His spirit transforms me into a new creation in Christ.
What are you going to do with your guilt and shame today? Turn to Jesus. What are you going to do to have confidence beyond the grave? Trust Jesus alone.
If sin is a real problem and it is, turn to Jesus.
If hell is a real place and it is, turn to Jesus.
If heaven is a real place and it is, worship Jesus.