BUILDING A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

IN THE BEGINNING Purpose: To outline how God created us to be in relationship with him and how we fell from that ideal design. We need to have a realistic view of our “standing” before God. In the beginning we were designed to be in constant relationship with God with nothing in between us and him. It is important to understand what lengths God had to go through so that we could be restored to that privilege. We need to look at how God originally created us, what happened to our relationship, the cost that had to be paid, and where we stand now in relation to God.

IN THE BEGINNING We were created to have a _______________________ with God PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord called to the man “where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” Genesis 3:8-10

IN THE BEGINNING Because of Adam’s choice we lost ______________of having a personal relationship with God THE PRIVLEDGE So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life. Genesis 3:23-24

IN THE BEGINNING SIN ALL This separation that we have inherited is ____and we ____ are born with it For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God… Romans 3:23 All have turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. Psalm 14:3

SIN, WHAT SIN? TRANSGRESSIONS Types of Sin: __________________- Ephesians 2:1-5 TRANSGRESSIONS A Transgression is a “willful act of rebellion”. As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the Kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us have lived among them at one time gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive in Christ even when we were dead in Transgressions- it is by grace you have been saved. Ephesians 2:1-5

SIN, WHAT SIN? INIQUITES Types of Sin: ___________- Isaiah 53:5 Iniquity is a “deviation from a path” but can also be considered a “Perversion” Iniquity can be thought of as “Unrighteousness” But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5

SIN, WHAT SIN? SIN Types of Sin: ____- Romans 6:23, 7:7-8, 7:15-20 Sin is “Missing The Mark”-Making an effort to do what is right, and failing. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate to do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. Romans 7:15-17 …Indeed I would not know what sin was except through the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “Do not covet.” But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire. For apart from the law sin is dead. Romans 7:7b-8 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23

SIN, WHAT SIN? OVERCOME SIN ON OUR OWN God knew that we could not _____________________________ We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I do I do not want to do, but what I hate to do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. Romans 7:14-18

RESTORE OUR RELATIONSHIP SIN, WHAT SIN? God also knew that something had to be done to _____________________________ RESTORE OUR RELATIONSHIP The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpasses me because he was before me.’ John 1:29-30

SIN, WHAT SIN? AFTER THOUGHT God’s plan is not an _________________ And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” Genesis 3:15

PAID TO RESTORE OUR RELATIONSHIP SIN, WHAT SIN? PAID TO RESTORE OUR RELATIONSHIP The price has been ____________________________________ That everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:15-17 When he finished his drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19:30

PUT INTO PERSPECTIVE RIGHTEOUSNESS Our __________________ is worthless compared to God’s All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. Isaiah 64:6

THE BIG QUESTION Have you chosen to _____________________ ACCEPT CHRISTS OFFER? Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me; you would know my Father as well. From now on, you know him and have seen him. John 14:6-7

SO WHAT DOES ALL THIS MEAN TO ME? Have you ever thought about the idea that God originally intended man to have an intimate relationship with him? Do you recognize the different “types” of sin in your life? (Transgressions, Iniquities, and Sin) When you think of the idea of “standing before God” someday and being asked to answer for the things you did in life how do you feel?