What is Sin?

Sin is literally to “miss the mark” that God has set for us, which is perfection. The reality is that sin is in the very nature of man and cannot be changed by good deeds or attitude. The statement that sin is a failure to let God be God is not true completely, in the essence of the definition of sin. Sin is the breaking of God’s law and the very reason Jesus went to the cross. The relationship between man and God is severed because of Adam and Eve’s sin in the Garden of Eden. We are hopeless and separated from Christ. When a person sees their sin in light of the cross, they will realize why they need to be saved by Christ.

Many people today do not like to think of themselves as bad or sinful. Postmodern relativism is running rampant in today’s culture. Truth is based upon feelings, opinions and comparison. I have dealt with many students that have a hard time grasping the depth of sin and the need for salvation. Many compare themselves to each other and base their spiritual lives upon man’s standards. The truth is to always measure our lives to God and His word. The Bible is clear that we are to “be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope you have” (1 Peter 3:15), but at times we do not finish the verse, “but do this with gentleness and reverence.” It is our job to explain the gospel, need for salvation because of our sin and let the Holy Spirit draw them under conviction. When this happens, God’s grace becomes real and lives are changed. It will continue to get harder to share the truth of sin with this generation, but the focus must always stay on the finished work of Jesus on the cross! The only way to be in right standing with God is through a relationship with Jesus Christ!

Martin Luther on the Lord's Supper

(just a few thoughts from one of my former classes at Liberty University) Martin Luther was the great leader of the Reformation. He was born November 10, 1483 in Eisleben Germany.  He was baptized as a Roman Catholic at birth. Martin Luther was the eldest of seven children in a middle-class German peasant family. At 21, Luther earned a Master of Arts degree from the University of Erfurt. Hans Luther was determined that his son be well-educated, and his hard work in the copper mines financed the younger Luther's education. Through Luther’s hard work he began to understand the need to know scripture and what it meant. Luther understood righteousness as a gift of God’s grace. He has discovered or (recovered) the doctrine of justification by grace alone. This discovery set him on fire. In 1517, he posted a sheet of theses for discussion on the University’s chapel door. These ninety-five theses set out a devastating critique of the church’s sale of indulgences and explained the fundamentals of justification by grace alone. Luther’s work left a huge impact on Christianity today.

The Lord’s Supper is an important aspect of Christianity that needs to be clearly communicated to today’s culture. Luther’s article begins explaining the papacy changing the mode and meaning of the Lord’s Supper from the early church. In relation to the papists, they believed they had the right to change what the Lord’s Supper meant. The reality of man-made tradition was seen in the time of Luther. Men felt they had the ability to do a better job than God and create their own commandments. Luther vehemently opposes the papacy to be elevated to the point of being equal to God’s authority.

Luther mentions the importance of the time the Lord Supper is being given. He comments, “although they may be understood as fulfilled on the cross; it matter not that Christ says: "Which is given for you.” He speaks to the truth of Christ accomplishing salvation for man, past, present and future. We are not bound to laws for salvation, but by grace through faith alone. Luther calls what the papists refer to as transubstantiation, to be incorrect and not biblical. He points to it be idolatry to point to the bread and wine as being the actual body and blood of Jesus Christ. Jesus died once and for all for the sins of mankind.

The great message that Luther preached was that Christ is the only avenue to God. No longer did people have to confess to a priest, but go straight to God through Christ. This teaching and revolution that Luther began was one of the most monumental parts of Christian History. Luther believed in the authority of scripture and his legacy has helped us today in elevating what God thinks over man’s ideas.

What does it mean to be "In Christ?"

Paul’s background reveals that he had many degrees and training in Jewish law. Understanding his background of being a top Pharisee speaks of his undying devotion to the Torah and living it out.

Knowing that, it is important to note that Paul’s conversion and his writings of Jesus fulfilling the law and being the sacrifice for all mankind is a great example of what it means to be “in Christ.” Paul’s reminder of being “in Christ” speaks of the forgiveness he found in his relationship with Christ from all of the persecution and pain that he caused the early church before his conversion. Paul’s example of being in Christ also points to all men being in unity through a relationship with Christ. We are a spiritual family through the death and resurrection of Christ over sin. Every person who believes in Christ alone for salvation is brought near (Acts. 2:39) to God.

The atoning death of Christ on the cross washes away the penalty of sin and leads us into a pure relationship with God. Not only our lives spiritually but on the outward when it comes to different people (race, background). Reconciliation is the key that Paul reminds believers in Ephesians 2:13-16.  The barrier has been broken down points to the temple wall that was partitioned off the gentiles from the area that was only exclusively accessible by the Jews. Paul refers to the “wall as symbolic of social, religious, and spiritual separation that the Gentiles and Jews were a part of in the early church days."

Paul was able to find his theology through knowing and growing closer to the Jesus. Paul was able to see God change him through the “Damascus road experience” and to see God’s provision and deliverance and grace was greatly seen in Paul’s ministry. He was truly a “new creation” and was used greatly by God.

3 Promises of being in Christ:

1.   Unconditionally loved by God

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1a)

2. Absolutely accepted through Christ.

 “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2:9

3.    Made whole through a relationship with Christ. (v.17b)

The term “In Christ” refers also to “Christ in us” and the transformation that He does in a believer’s life.

The way that a non-believer would understand being “in Christ” would be that Jesus is the complete “boss” of your life and all of who you are is found in a relationship with Him. The person needs to know that faith in Christ alone for salvation is how a person comes into beginning a relationship with God. A relationship with Christ pictures a person coming “home” and is made a son/daughter of God through the forgiveness they find in Christ.