Session 2 Review of Session 1??? Why did Jesus die?

What’s The Problem? God made the world and designed us to be in relationship with him. What He really wants is to have a friendship, a relationship with us But we can only be friends with God if we manage to live up to the standards he sets for us. He is perfect so He cannot look at sin It’s pretty obvious if you watch the news that this world isn’t perfect. There’s plenty of bad stuff going on around us Humans have a problem, we have all done wrong. God calls this sin (Romans 3:23) Sin is going against God’s will

What’s The Solution?

We were separated from God by sin We couldn’t live in sin and still be in relationship with God Jesus came to reunite us through his death He took all our sin upon Himself and died in our place, so we may know God Small groups

What are the Results?

Because God is perfectly just, someone had to pay the price for our wrong-doing Only someone who was completely perfect and blameless could pay the price for the sin of the whole world Jesus was this perfect sacrifice and His death on the cross took away our sin and made us clean again We are now no longer separated from God because Jesus’ death makes us clean, free from sin Small groups

Conclusion – Romans Road To Salvation Everyone has sinned – Romans 3:23 Wages of sin is death (spiritual death, separation from God) – Romans 6:23 But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus – Romans 6:23 While we were sinners, Jesus died for us to take away our sin – Romans 5:8 If you confess ‘Jesus is Lord’ and believe in your heart that he was raised from the dead, you will be saved! – Romans 10:9

Response

How Can We Have Faith?

Coke Taste

So, what does it mean to be a Christian So, what does it mean to be a Christian? Is it about being a good person? Hopefully – but that’s not enough on its own. There are plenty of nice atheists! Having Christian parents doesn’t cut it either. Even believing in God doesn’t cut it… Demons believed in God (James 2:19) Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going to McDonalds makes you a Big Mac!

Being a Christian (CHRIST-ian) means you are a follower of Jesus and have a relationship with God. Without CHRIST, all that’s left is Ian, and he can’t save you! 2 Corinthians 5:17 says that when someone becomes a Christian they become new people. They’re not the same anymore; the old life is gone and a new life has begun. This happens differently for each people. Some people have an exact moment they became a Christian, whereas for some it is more of a process with no definite ‘moment’ of change. So what can we base this ‘faith’ on?

1. What The Father Promises Our feelings go up and down all the time depending on the day and your circumstances. Our faith is not based on our feelings, although it is important. We can base our faith on what God promises us in the Bible.

Indiana Jones trusted that the map is right and there is a path there even though he couldn’t see it. Faith is taking God’s promises and daring to believe them even when you can’t see them at the time. God promises us that He will always be with us (Matt 28:30) God promises to give us eternal life with Him in heaven (John 10:28)

2. What Jesus Did As discussed in the previous session, Jesus saved us when we couldn’t save ourselves, he made a relationship with God possible. We can never earn forgiveness, but Jesus dies to destroy the barrier between us and God. God loves us and Jesus dies to prove that!

It may not be so wise putting your faith in a tight rope walker… But it is the wisest thing you could ever do to put your trust in Jesus. He will never let you down. Never has, never will

3. What The Spirit Does Whenever someone becomes a Christian, God’s Holy Spirit comes to live within them (Romans 8:9) Trust exercise!!!

When you experience being caught, you are more likely to build trust in these friends. In the same way, as we experience God’s Spirit living within us, we find it easier to trust God.

When Holy Spirit lives in us, we begin to live and act more like Jesus. The ‘fruit’ of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22) These happen over time, but Holy Spirit helps bring these out of us. Having God’s Spirit inside us helps us know for certain that He loves us (Romans 8:16)

Conclusion Becoming a Christian does involve faith, but not blind faith. Faith is taking the promises of God and choosing to Believe them. We can trust in the promises of God in the Bible, we can look to the cross and see His love for us, and we can know god through his Holy Spirit living in us.

Dear Jesus, thank you for dying for me on the cross Dear Jesus, thank you for dying for me on the cross. I’m sorry for the things in my life that I have done wrong. I now turn away from everything that I know is wrong and now receive your forgiveness. I put my trust in what you did on the cross for me. Please come and fill me with your Holy Spirit and give me the strength to live the kind of life that pleases you. Thank you Lord Jesus. Amen