Sunday, March 5th, 2023 (Lent 2)

Genesis 12:1-9; Psalm 33:12-21; Romans 4:1-12; Romans 4:13-17; John 3:1-16

SERMON

Introduction: Last week: Temptation

This week, sin.

Lent is about recognizing, exposing, and removing sin.

1. Sin is about disconnect from God, and is therefore a brokenness in our BEING.
   1. The stories of Salvation from our texts (Romans 4, John 3) describe a process that is not centered in what we DO but who we ARE.
      1. Romans 4:
         1. Sin as a debt / blemish

7 “Blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered; 8 blessed is the one against whom the Lord will not reckon sin.

1. This language of reckoning describes a debt mark.
2. John 3:
   1. what is born of flesh is flesh, what is born of spirit is spirit
   2. Jesus says that in order to be part of heaven, you have to BE in God.
      1. We are not just born connected to God, we need to be re-born.
3. Salvation is about FINDING GOD again, staying in sin is living separated from God.
   1. Proverbs 8:35-36

35 For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord, 36 but those who miss me injure themselves; all who hate me love death.”

1. John 3: The bronze serpent
   1. Belief for the people in Exodus was about standing near the cast-serpent. Believing in Jesus is about BEING with him.
2. Psalm 33:17
   1. Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon those who fear him, * and upon those who put their trust in his mercy,
3. Salvation is deliverance from death, sin is letting the (s)infection spread
   1. Romans 4:17 “God gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist”
   2. God uses us to bless (Gen 12:2)
      1. As people and nations
   3. John 3:16
      1. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
         1. The sending of the son is a cascading effect. Eternal life begins to spring out of our love for God and one another.

Conclusion:

Lent: recognizing our sin and our need for salvation.

Opportunity to BE in god’s presence.

AMEN

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