I’M NEW

God created us and built us for a relationship with him. At the very first moments of creation, when God was making the world out of nothing,  he “Created man in his [God’s] own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them” (Gen. 1:26-27). This means that we were made with divine dignity. We were also created for a purpose: to know God forever. Jesus said,  “This is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (Jn. 17:3)  Sometimes you may notice that this world we live in does not quite satisfy you– not even in the best moments, the best concerts, or the best memories. There is a reason: we were made with infinite capacity for happiness, pleasure, and joy, and this present world cannot satisfy us. This astounding capacity displays our real identity as image-bearers of the God who loved and created everything.

Sinners

We have all chosen (and re-affirm daily) to reject God and make our own happiness the highest priority.  We do not want to surrender control of our lives to another, yet because we are made to worship, we worship idols, centering our lives on things (career, relationships, money) that give illusory promises of greater meaning for our lives. When we centre our lives and happiness on anything other than God, we commit what the Bible calls sin. All of us do it, by the way!  “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God,” says the New Testament (Rom. 3:23).

Spiritual slaves

Our choices of self-control and self-gratification have enslaved us to selfish, empty living, where “nothing tastes” (Marie Antoinette). We strive to be free from accountability but end up slaves to our self-dependent nature, unable to seek God or obey him freely. Jesus tells us:  “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin” (Jn. 8:34).

Subject to God’s just judgment

When we reject God, we reject his blueprint for our lives and his moral laws which govern how we interact with him. In effect, we become law-breakers and thereby become subject to his just punishment. It is ironic that when people rail against the seemingly judgmental aspects of Christianity, they themselves behave judgmentally. In fact, when these critics attack the notion of a deity who would allow the premature death of children and the seemingly unchecked spread of evil, they unknowingly assert that a God should be just and holy. By their moral critiques, they reveal an inner yearning for the existence of the holy God of the Bible who is morally flawless and perfectly just. Such a God cannot allow injustice to prevail, including the injustices of human rebellion against him. Indeed, the New Testament explains that “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:23).Description text goes here

Perfect in every way

God is perfect in every way- morally, metaphysically, existentially. he is not dependent upon anyone or anything for his existence; nor is he restrained in any way by any limitations. Morally, he is perfect, and cannot hold any other standard than perfection without being contrary to his own essential being. Therefore the Bible most often describes him as holy, which means perfect, and separated from imperfection or corruption of any kind. The relevance to us is this: God’s standard for us morally is perfection: “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy’” (1 Pet. 1:15-16).

Love and Justice

God has an active concern for our well-being and joy. God loves and seeks the good of people who are his enemies. Yet he cannot tolerate evil, because he loves good. “The more you love your son, the more you hate in him the liar, the drunkard, the traitor” (E. Gifford). God loves us, but his justice demands that he punish our sin some way. Yet God found a way to both extend us mercy, and punish our sin– by taking the punishment upon himself– or more precisely, on himself in the person of his Son.

Jesus Christ, God’s provision

Jesus is God himself coming to earth. He first lived a perfect life, loving God perfectly and obeying everything God expects of humanity.  Then, instead of receiving his perfectly justified reward of God’s pleasure, he gave his life as a sacrifice for our sins, taking the punishment we deserved.

A substitute

Most people see Jesus as a great teacher– and he is that! But he was so much more. He died, as a human being, to take the punishment we deserved for our sin and self- dependence. He took our penalty. He bore our sin on himself.

A redeemer

Jesus not only bore our sins, but by dying as an innocent man, he paid the price of justice forever, so that he could literally redeem us from our self-dependent slavery to ourselves.

In light of the truth of who God is, and who you are, you must:

Repent

Repenting means to change your mindset. It involves acknowledging that you are a sinner, and your sin gives God every right to judge you. It involves a desire to turn from your life of self-centered sin.  Most importantly, it means: stop trusting in your own efforts and morality to meet God’s approval, and trust in the perfect efforts of Christ to earn God’s approval. You must turn from directing your life and allow God to direct it.

Believe

You must consciously rely upon Jesus Christ and what he has done, to be enough to get God’s acceptance. You must believe his sacrifice is sufficient to earn God’s pleasure on your behalf– you add nothing. To “believe” in the Bible, means more than mere intellectual assent. It means a wholehearted trust that involves mind, will, and emotions.

How to express faith and repentance

You may pray this way: “Lord Jesus, I realize that I have sinned, and as a result I am under your sentence of justice and punishment. I turn from my old life of living for myself. I rest in what Christ has done for me on the Cross, and ask to be accepted into your kingdom for his sake. I give You control of my life, my choices, my desires. Make me the kind of person you want me to be. Amen.”

What happens when you repent and have faith

Two things happen simultaneously: first, your “moral record” is wiped clean. Your sins are no longer counted against you. Second, the Holy Spirit enters your heart and begins to change you into the character of Jesus. If you have prayed to express this faith and repentance, tell someone at church about it, or contact the church office and one of our staff will help you with the next step in your spiritual journey.