Introduction
Genesis chapter 1 tells us that God created the heavens, the universe, and our world in which we live. 1 Peter 1:17-20, “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.” Christ’s sacrifice for our sins was not an afterthought, not something God decided to do when the world spun out of control. The all-knowing, eternal God set this plan in motion long before the world was created. What a comfort it must have been to the Jewish believers to know that God planned Christ’s coming and His work of salvation long before the world began. This assured them that the law was not being scrapped because it didn’t work, but that both the law and the coming of Christ were part of God’s eternal plan, and its our assurance now.
The way of salvation: [1] Rom 3:33, everyone has
sinned. [2] Rom 6:23, sin brings death. [3] Rom 5:28, Jesus died for us. [4] Rom
10:8-10, to be forgiven we must confess Jesus as Lord. God’s plan of salvation
is not just found in 1 Peter or Romans, but also throughout the Bible.
The enormity of our sin
“For God so loved the world, that he gave His
only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have
everlasting life” (John 3:16). Sin was so serious to God that He gave His son
for all, to finally conquer sin for good. Sin was defeated on the cross. Sin is
abounding today; people are so sinful they don’t know that they are sinning.
We are born sin, “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5).
Extract from LWBC.co.uk:
Many of us think that God cannot use us. Some past
sin has hindered our faith. Let's look at David and his sin:
a) Laziness caused him to sin.
b) Lusted after Bathsheba.
c) Committed adultery.
d) He tried to cover his sin.
e) He arranged the murder of Uriah.
f) He did not repent for over nine months.
It could not get much worse than this could it? But God restored him (Psalm 32). He made plans for the Temple. The Messiah came through his line. If God can restore and use someone like David! If we want revival we must get beyond guilt and condemnation. It may involve repentance of unconfessed sin. But repent and take God at His word. Have you sinned like David sinned? Then David's God can revive you. David's God can still use you.
Proverbs
6:16-19, “There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to Him: haughty eyes, a
lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked
schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out
lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers. “ According to Pope
Gregory the Great in the 6th century, the seven deadly sins are as follows:
pride, envy, gluttony, lust, anger, greed, and sloth. Although these are
undeniably sins, they are never given the description of "the seven deadly
sins" in the Bible. So how do we get salvation from sin?
The enormity of Gods love for us
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I
live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the
flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for
me” (Galatians 2:20.)
So how do we receive Gods love? One way is
believing that Jesus died for you? By repenting of your sins and asking Jesus to
be your personal Saviour. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and
that not of yourselves:
it is the gift of God" (Ephesians 2:8). Romans 10:9, "That if thou
shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart
that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." 1
Thessalonians 5:9, “God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive
salvation through our Lord Jesus.” Acts 4:12, “Salvation is found in no one
else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be
saved.” Romans 5:10, “For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were
reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been
reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!” Ephesians 1:7, “In
Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance
with the riches of God’s grace.”
Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. He who
comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be
thirsty” (John
6:35). “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never
walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John
8:12). “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He
will come in and go out, and find pasture” (John 10:9). “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my
sheep know me” (John 10:11, 14).
“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even
though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die” (John
11:25-26). “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes
to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
Eternally saved
Romans 8:30, “And those He
predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He
justified, He also glorified." This verse tells us that from the
moment God chooses us, it is as if we are glorified in His presence in heaven.
There is nothing that can prevent a believer from one day being glorified
because God has already purposed it in heaven. Once a person is justified, his
salvation is guaranteed - he is as secure as if he is already glorified in
heaven. Our names are written in the ‘book of life’. It is God’s
guarantee. They don’t come better than that.
Eph 6:13-19, “Wherefore take unto you the whole
armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done
all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and
having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the
preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith,
wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take
the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching
thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me,
that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make
known the mystery of the gospel. These verses state that as Christians we will
be under attack, but we can take hold of them and be reassured that we can
overcome the spiritual forces, and that if Jesus were tested, and He was the
Lord, then we will be too.
Conclusion
He created the earth for His pleasure and did it
all for us to have a relationship with. So we should praise God constantly for
what He has done for us and give thanks always. We must build the churches and
encourage Christians to help others. Bind our people and church together. Be
filled with joy. Share the gospel because it is a command from Jesus in Matthew
28:19, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of
the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” Jesus simply said
‘follow me’ and people dropped their nets and went after Him, but here he
said, “Go.” This is His command to us all.