Defined by Sin.

Ben Fuqua gave an awesome message at the Aardvark service yesterday morning talking about sin, and then Kyler Right talked about sin tonight at Ignite so I thought it was a perfect topic to discuss. Ben focused on Exodus 34, so that's where we'll start. In this chapter Moses is asking God to show Himself and reveal Himself to him. Who does God say He is? He is a God that is merciful and gracious. Mercy is not getting something that you do deserve, and Grace is getting something you don't deserve. We are shown kindness when we shouldn't be shown it.

He is slow to anger, keeping steadfast love for the billions, forgiving inequity, transgressions, and sin. Inequity is that thing in your life that you find yourself wandering towards. Transgressions are our willful sin. God lays down boundaries and we press forward anyways. Sin is us missing the mark and coming up short. He forgives all three. He is forgiving, but doesn't take it lightly. We like to minimize our sin, but that's an insult to God's Grace. It's minimizing the Cross.

Your sin affects those close to you. There is spiritual weight to keeping sin present and to yourself. We are products of sinful people. Our God is in the business of redeeming people. Moses responds to God, bowing before Him…"take us for Your inheritance." Moses humbles himself. When we encounter God, does it bring humility to us? Humility is what an encounter with Him should bring. We are called to be a constant worshiper, a living sacrifice. Die to yourself, constantly worshiping. What makes us distinct is the presence of God in our lives. Give Him everything so we can operate and live life to the fullest. The things we are drawn to, sin, are present so that we may give everything over to Him.

How often do we fixate on something that we want God to be? Maybe you think Jesus is for your happiness, not holiness. We misconceive who Jesus is. What does having a clear conception of who He is have to do with why He gave Himself at the Cross? Everything. We might be following the wrong Jesus if we don't understand that He went to the Cross for us. The sin that defined your life is no longer who you are. The weight of our sin, who we once were is no more. There is no such thing as casual sin. Do we judge others, compare ourselves to them, covet what they have? How casual is lust a part of your life? What are you chasing, what are your ambitions? Maybe it's fearing man and not God. Caring what others think about you is a way of thinking you are higher than God. There is great weight in our sin. If we don't recognize our sin, we don't understand why He had to die on the cross. He didn't have to do this for us. His love won't stop, no matter what.

While we were still in the midst of our filth, Jesus died for us so that we may enter into a relationship with Him. This is the plan of God, for you, since the beginning of time. Exchanging your filth for cleanliness in Christ. The joy that was set before Jesus was you and me, that's why He went to the Cross. Chasing us down, despite our sin because He wants us.

Good Friday is coming up this week, celebrate that our weight dies at the Cross,
Courtney