1. We Have All Sinned
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23 "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one” Romans 3:10 This is an interesting thing. I've never done a survey and I don't plan on doing one anytime soon. But fifty years ago, I almost believe by far and away the majority of people if asked, "are you a sinner?", would respond affirmatively. Today, I don't think as many people are willing to make that concession. Friend, if you aren't willing to admit that you've sinned against God, you have no place to start. You have sinned. And so have I. And if we can come to grips with that fact, we're just the kind of candidate God is looking for to give his Gift of Salvation.
2. The Penalty For Sin Is Death (not just physical death, but Death of the Soul).
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” Romans 6:23
3. Sin Costs.. in this life, and in the life to come.
For the non-Christian, Sin ultimately costs the Soul. God requires sinlessness (yes, perfection!). You and I are sinners both by birth (because we were born with what theologians would call the “Adamic nature”) and by choice. When Adam and Eve sinned, that sin nature fell upon all of their descendants. We are born with a tendency toward evil. We don’t have to “try” even, it comes naturally..
And then we’re sinners by choice. We have all sinned deliberately. We sin when we lie, when we carry hate in our hearts and in all sorts of other ways.
The Bible tells us in I Peter 5:8 to “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” Isn’t that a startling word picture? As a lion prowls through a thicket looking for its prey, Satan prowls about the earth looking for a person (that’s you - - that’s me!) to devour.. that is to consume.. to kill.. He's looking for the death of the soul.
As the late, great Dr. Adrian Rogers said (and I don’t know if he coined the expression), “Sin will always take you farther than you wanted to go, keep you longer than you wanted to stay and cost you more than you wanted to pay...”
Christian beware, there's a price for you, too. Born-Again Believers are not exempt from sin. There is a price to be paid by the Believer, too. We pay for sin in this life in all kinds of ways. But sin also has a pricetag in the life to come.
4. Sin Can Be Forgiven
Before our sins can be forgiven, we must acknowledge that we are, indeed, Sinners - that we have broken God’s laws. If we'll do that, the scripture says God will forgive us:
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” I John 1:9
Pay close attention to the words of this song to sum up this short lesson:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8RfKNC0f4w&safe=active
In holy pages this truth can be found
A promise to stand on when darkness abounds
Oh, right never loses and wrong never wins
And grace will always be greater than sin
Grace will always be greater than sin
Calvary has proven it time and again
Whatever you’ve done
Wherever you’ve been
God’s grace will always be greater than sin
Broken and bruised from the choices you’ve made
Sin has a price and so often you’ve paid
Oh, but Jesus is waiting
New hope is in Him
And grace will always be greater than sin
Grace will always be greater than sin
Calvary has proven it time and again
Whatever you’ve done
Wherever you’ve been
God’s grace will always be greater than sin
Grace, grace God’s grace
Grace that is greater than all my sin
Whatever you’ve done
Wherever you’ve been
God’s grace will always be greater than sin
Rudy
