Restoring a Broken World.

Steve Gentry

[0:00] If this is your first time with us or if you’ve missed a couple of weeks [0:03] We’re going through the first 11 chapters of the book of Genesis and we’re going to find ourselves in Genesis chapter 3 this morning [0:10] But for the first two weeks we talked about the glory of God’s creation [0:16] How God is bringing himself glory and intends to bring himself glory [0:20] Through the power and the wisdom that he has put on display in [0:25] Creation and then last week we talked about the image of God in us what it means to be a human being to bear the

[0:32] image of God and [0:34] Sometimes I’ve got to be honest with you. Those two things are very hard to see in this world [0:40] When we look around the world around us and when sometimes we look in the mirror at ourselves [0:45] It is hard to see the glory of God on display [0:48] It is hard to see oftentimes the image of God in other people as well as in ourselves [0:55] And the reality this morning is because we live in a broken world

[1:00] We live in a world that is consumed with sin [1:04] And I want to give a little example for you this morning in my yard [1:07] I have a fence have a fence going around the whole yard. It serves one purpose and that is the imprisonment of my dog [1:13] That’s the only purpose that my fence serves. It’s all I ask it to do [1:17] But I didn’t build this fence [1:19] It was there when I moved into the house and it’s not the greatest fence when they built it

[1:24] They didn’t weatherproof it they didn’t do any of that stuff [1:26] So it’s just the the pressure treated lumber out there and my dog has this nose [1:32] It’s just amazing and and after a period of years [1:36] However long that fence has been there the boards in it just give way as it’s been weathered and weathered and and it’s it’s expanded [1:44] It’s just shrunk because of the heat and the cold and it’s been rained on it’s had ice on it. It’s been weed-whacked [1:51] I mean it’s had it’s gone through the ringer and my dog can sniff out the rotten planks

[1:57] I mean she’s a mate. She’s half beagle and man the nose on that dog [2:01] So she’ll sniff them out and then she will commit [2:05] fully and be consumed in her life of I’m getting through this plank and [2:09] She will spend time and she will claw at it and she will push on it [2:15] And then after a period of time she will not just push the plank out. She destroys it [2:20] I am amazed that my dog has the capacity

[2:24] To destroy these planks and then when she destroys the planks [2:27] I got to run all over the neighborhood because I’ve got an escaped convict out and I mean my dog could break out of Alcatraz [2:33] She’s that good and sometimes people have been at my house [2:36] And they’ve seen the pain that I go through trying to get this disobedient dog back into her cage [2:43] Which is my backyard [2:45] Well the reality is this morning is that our lives oftentimes in this world

[2:51] That’s all around us are a lot like the planks on my fence [2:54] I’m not trying to minimize it, but I want you to get that picture in your mind that we live in a world that [3:00] Weathers us [3:02] We live in a world that we see where things just don’t appear to be as God made them in Genesis chapter 1 & 2 [3:11] But over time we’re weathered over time we experience sickness [3:15] I mean you’ve probably had an occasion this week where your boss got mad at you for doing something wrong

[3:22] You got mad at your boss for doing something wrong a co-worker stabbed you in the back [3:26] You got pulled over because you were speeding you have a teenage child that sassed you that disrespected you your spouse and yourself [3:33] You had some type of argument [3:35] You have a friend that has some type of debilitating disease or terminal illness [3:39] Your car started making a noise that you just do not it came out of left field and you’re just like what is happening [3:46] I mean I look on the news and people’s houses are burning down

[3:49] I mean this this world that is all around us is just [3:53] falling apart [3:56] And oftentimes we feel that that weather of the world come over us [4:01] And we feel like the rotting wood on the fence that we are breaking apart [4:06] And we just don’t know if we can endure a world that does not seem to measure up to the glory of God that we read about at the beginning of Genesis [4:21] And quite often when these things happen our first response is how could you do this God?

[4:30] How dare you God how could you do this to me but the reality [4:36] That I think we’re gonna come face to face with this morning is is that [4:40] It’s because of us [4:43] Because of choices that we have made it’s because of decisions that have come into our lives [4:47] And it’s ultimately because of what happened with the first man and the first woman in the Garden of Eden [4:52] So look in Genesis chapter 2 verses 15 through 17

[4:59] This is what we read [5:02] The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and keep it [5:10] Now what you see right there last week we talked about this and it’s the reality that [5:16] We were put in this world before sin ever entered the world and we were told to work it [5:21] We were given the responsibility to steward this world to cultivate a culture that points glory to God [5:27] He put glory into the world and he tells us that you need to return that glory you have dominion over it

[5:32] You have my authority over it steward it so that it shows me my ultimate glory and this is what happens in this text [5:37] But then keep reading in verse 16 in verse 16 and the Lord God commanded the man [5:43] Saying you may surely eat of every tree of the garden [5:49] But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat [5:55] For in the day that you eat you shall surely die [6:00] So in giving us our

[6:04] Mandate divine mandate to steward this world our responsibility to oversee this world and cultivate it God also then puts limitations on us [6:14] The reality is is that we are not the creator God we are limited in our scope [6:20] We are limited in our mindset and so God immediately puts limitations on us [6:25] And he tells us you can eat of any tree in the garden except for that one tree [6:30] And it’s so fitting that it’s called the tree of the knowledge of good and evil [6:35] God’s telling us that there are limitations to what we should and can be capable of in our lives

[6:42] So he tells us don’t eat of that tree and then Genesis chapter 3 verse 1 if you skip down a few verses [6:49] Now the serpent and I’m going to get back to him [6:52] Okay, but we’re going to go past him and then we’re going to come back to him [6:55] Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made he said to the woman [7:02] Did God actually say you shall not eat of any tree in the garden and the woman said to the serpent [7:08] We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden

[7:11] But God said you shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden [7:16] Neither shall you touch it lest you die [7:19] But the serpent said to the woman you will not surely die for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened [7:26] And you will be like God knowing good and evil [7:30] So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food and that it was a delight to the eyes [7:35] And that the tree was to be desired to make one wise she took of its fruit and ate

[7:39] And she also gave some to her husband who was with her and he ate [7:44] Now guys that part who was with her that’s very important don’t blame the woman [7:48] We were there too [7:50] Alright the man was standing right there

[7:53] So the reality is this morning is that Adam and Eve were given this mandate [7:58] They were given this limitation they were told do not eat of the tree [8:03] And immediately the serpent comes and he tempts them [8:08] But what are Adam and Eve tempted with? [8:10] Well they’re tempted with two things [8:12] They’re not tempted with man I’m telling you you have never had anything that tastes good as the fruit from that tree

[8:17] They’re not tempted with how delicious the fruit is going to be [8:21] They’re tempted on two levels the first level is that they’re tempted with what is true

[8:29] God or human judgment

[8:33] See Satan goes to her and immediately says did God really say? [8:38] He says you’re not going to die [8:41] God knows that when you eat it you will be equal to him [8:48] So Adam and Eve are tempted they’re in this conundrum that should they believe the word of God [8:53] Should they believe that creation exists as he created it as he said it was to be [8:58] Or should we believe in our own judgment that we can be as wise as God

[9:04] That we can take God’s place whereas direction in our lives are concerned [9:08] Can we be as God is basically can we be God [9:15] So they’re tempted on what is true and then secondly they’re tempted on what is right [9:19] God’s commands are their own experience [9:22] God’s command says don’t eat [9:25] But in Eve’s experience you see that she says that she saw that the fruit was a delight to the eyes

[9:32] She’s tempted she’s drawn to the fruit because she wants to be like God and so does Adam [9:40] I mean they’re headed straight forward into this position where they’re saying is God holding out on us [9:50] Is there more good that he could have given us that he’s holding out on us [9:54] Could we have more of this world could we have authority that he has could we be in his place [10:00] And so they ultimately make the decision to eat of the fruit of the tree [10:03] They completely disobey God they completely go against his commands and sin now enters the world

[10:11] The reality that I want you to deal with on this is that the world is broken because of man’s sin [10:19] Sin finds its source in believing there’s wisdom available apart from God that can make us God [10:26] Or give us more than God can [10:29] Adam and Eve believe that God could have given them more and better than he already had given them [10:36] And they choose to disobey this is rebellion [10:41] The reality is is that Adam and Eve just immediately went into sin against God

[10:48] But everything was affected by that [10:52] It wasn’t just a singular place in time where they did it and it didn’t affect anything else [10:57] Romans chapter 5 verse 12 puts it this way [11:01] Therefore just as sin came into the world through one man and death through sin [11:05] And so death spread to all men because all sin [11:12] So in this position Adam and Eve represented everyone that would ever exist

[11:19] Genesis 5 says that when Adam and Eve came together and produced a son [11:24] That that son was made in the image of Adam and Eve [11:27] That means that anything that was in them and anything that had consumed their lives [11:32] Was then passed on to their child and on and on and on [11:37] Because sin was in their lives sin was in their children’s lives [11:40] And because sin existed with them we can all trace our roots back to Adam and Eve

[11:44] Sin is also in your life [11:47] Sin is not something that we do and then we are sinful [11:51] Instead it is a condition that we are born with [11:56] We are born with an inclination and a default mode [12:01] To rebel against God’s authority [12:04] But that sin is real and it affects everything around us

[12:11] Look down in Genesis chapter 3 verse 17

[12:16] When God came and judged them for their sin he says this [12:19] Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you [12:23] You shall not eat of it [12:26] Cursed is the ground because of you [12:28] In pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life [12:30] Thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you

[12:33] And you shall eat the plants of the field [12:35] By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread [12:37] Till you return to the ground [12:39] For out of it you were taken [12:41] For you are dust and to dust you shall return [12:44] Notice that their sin did not just affect them

[12:47] It affected everything around them in the world [12:52] So when you are driving this week and you start hearing that humming in your car [12:56] That screeching in your brakes and things seem to start breaking down [13:00] Understand that the reality that the world starts to break down over time is because of our sin [13:07] Our sin affected every part of creation because who was responsible for stewarding it? [13:15] We were

[13:16] Who was responsible to have dominion over creation? [13:20] Humanity [13:21] And so if humanity is broken, the centerpiece of God’s creation [13:25] Everything else follows suit and nothing works quite as it should from there on out [13:33] Man is the source of the world’s corruption [13:35] Both directly as well as indirectly

[13:39] Friends sometimes we have pain in our lives because of personal sin [13:44] Sometimes things go wrong in your life because of personal sin [13:47] I know I’ve experienced that and so have you [13:49] But there are often many times in our lives and often many times in every life [13:54] Where there is pain and suffering simply because sin exists [13:58] That is the indirect cause of much pain

[14:01] Sometimes it’s because of nothing that we have done [14:04] Sometimes it’s simply because of the decision that Adam and Eve made [14:07] That we experience the pain and suffering of sin indirectly [14:13] So sometimes the reality is that when you try to repent your way out of pain [14:18] And you’re like, man I can’t find a personal sin, I can’t find any struggle that I’ve had that is causing this [14:23] Well friends it’s not because often times of sin in your life

[14:26] It’s because of sin just existing [14:28] It’s the umbrella of sin that casts a dark shadow over this entire world that this world is broken [14:34] Secondly this morning the human condition is broken because of sin [14:40] Look in Genesis chapter 3 verse 7 [14:43] Verse 7 we read [14:44] Then the eyes of both were opened and they knew that they were naked

[14:47] And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths [14:51] Here’s a reality [14:52] If I am taken and I somehow find myself I black out one night and I wake up [14:57] And I’m in the middle of the mall or something and I’m completely naked [14:59] That’s going to be an awkward experience for all of us [15:02] I’m going to run and hide and so is everyone else, trust me

[15:06] The reality is that you and I are all wearing clothes this morning for a reason [15:11] You know what that reason is? [15:12] That reason is from the moment of Adam and Eve’s sin and onward [15:16] All of our innocence has been lost, all of our purity has been lost [15:20] And so we cover ourselves out of a lack of purity [15:25] Because we know that something is wrong and we separate ourselves from one another

[15:29] Because we are not innocent any longer [15:32] We are inclined to sin [15:34] Our default mode is to make what God made good [15:38] Take it disconnected from God and make it dirty [15:42] That’s the reality that we all live in this morning [15:45] Sin then is transforming

[15:49] We have this inclination that any type of restraint or any type of authority that is over us [15:56] Sometimes we just shirk at it [15:58] We’re just like, I don’t want to be under that authority [16:00] I’ve always had a problem with authority my entire life [16:04] I just don’t like being told what to do [16:06] I thought I was smarter than all my teachers

[16:07] I mean in college the second week I am there [16:11] I went to a college that had rules [16:13] Some of you know what that’s like, some of you don’t know what that’s like [16:15] A guy that’s on my hall and I, it’s raining outside but we wanted to play catch [16:20] So what do we play catch? In the hallway [16:21] Were we supposed to do that? Absolutely not

[16:24] That’s one of the first things they covered day one [16:26] No playing with balls in the hallway [16:28] And so we’re playing catch and what happens on the second throw [16:31] We hit the fire, the smoke detector [16:33] But the smoke detector in my dorm was not like the smoke detector in my house [16:37] Where it just goes off until I take the battery out

[16:40] No, no, no, this one was connected to the police department, to the fire department [16:44] And so immediately alarms start going off [16:47] The police show up at our dorm [16:48] We go and we hide the ball, we hide the gloves, we walk out [16:51] I don’t know, I was taking a nap, I don’t know what was going on out there [16:54] But there is something inside of us that says

[16:57] You know what, I don’t have to follow these rules [17:01] Not every rule really applies to me [17:04] So we just kind of disconnect ourselves from authority [17:06] And we just do whatever we want to [17:08] But the reality is that rebelling against God’s design [17:12] Never changes you for the better

[17:16] But we believe the lie [17:19] That when we have this illusion of control [17:23] When we’re in control of our lives [17:25] When we take our lives into our own hands [17:27] When we have ultimate power and ultimate control over ourselves [17:30] We believe that we can do better by ourselves

[17:34] Than we can do under God’s control [17:36] Because He’s trying to keep us from something that is better [17:40] And what that does to us is that it transforms us

[17:45] Into sin and into pain and into suffering [17:49] It never makes us better to take the world [17:54] The way that God designed it [17:56] The way that He purposed for it to be [17:58] And attempt to change it to something else [18:01] We will always be left with a less than reality in our lives

[18:06] Than with a full reality that God intends for us to have [18:10] Because you were not created to be fulfilled by the world [18:16] Look at 1 John chapter 2 [18:18] 1 John chapter 2 starting in verse 15 we read this

[18:36] And the world is passing away along with its desires [18:40] But whoever does the will of God abides forever [18:46] Look at Romans chapter 1 verse 22-25

[19:16] The truth of sin is that it is the exchange of God’s glory [19:22] For false gods that are created and less than God [19:27] The reality is this morning that we were created to be fulfilled by God [19:33] To find our satisfaction in God [19:35] To be completely contented with God [19:36]

[19:36] [19:36] To be connected to God [19:37] To find our hope in Him [19:38] And to spend our lives cultivating the culture to point to Him [19:41] But what we often do is we attempt foolishly [19:47] To get enough of this world in order that we will be fulfilled

[19:55] It’s like the old Rockefeller quote [19:57] It was completely rich and one of the richest men in America [20:00] And they said how much money is going to be enough? [20:02] One more dollar [20:04] You will never be satisfied with this world [20:10] The reality is that when we attempt to get the control from God

[20:15] And get it into our own hands [20:17] Romans chapter 1 indicates that God ultimately gives us over into that [20:22] So what is the destination of us controlling ourselves? [20:26] What is the destination of sin? [20:28] Well if God gives us the control that we have [20:31] The reality is that we get the same thing Satan gets

[20:35] And see Satan one of God’s angels he fell into the world [20:38] And his ultimate destination is hell for eternity [20:41] Well if we control ourselves our ultimate destination will be hell as well [20:46] Because the ultimate destination of a world that gives God ultimate glory is heaven [20:52] And heaven is his realm [20:54] And if we continue on the path for ourselves where we are finding what we want in this world

[20:59] We are seeking satisfaction in this world [21:01] We are trying to control our own lives [21:03] We are trying to control our own world [21:05] The destination will ultimately be hell [21:08] In the end that is what condemns us to hell [21:11] Because that is what it is for us to be in control of our own destiny

[21:17] A world under our control does not hold together [21:20] A world under our control falls apart [21:23] A world under our control ultimately ends up chaotic [21:28] A world under our control ultimately ends up in anarchy [21:32] Philosopher G.K. Chesterton said [21:34] Original sin is the only thing that has thousands of years to prove that it exists

[21:41] Look at the world around us, look at the wars, look at the sickness, look at the crime, look at the pain [21:46] And we believe that we can control ourselves enough to create a heaven?

[21:53] No [21:53] Our destiny under our control when we find our satisfaction in this world [21:58] Is that God gives us exactly what we want [22:02] He says fine, you take control [22:04] But the end is hell [22:06] And the world today proves that reality

[22:11] So where is the hope?

[22:15] It’s a pretty dark picture [22:16] It’s pretty bleak [22:18] Well the reality is that in this text of Genesis chapter 3 we see that God’s plan is not diminished by man’s sin [22:27] Look at Genesis 3.15 [22:31] Between verses 15 and 19 what we have is after God has come down, after they have disobeyed God [22:37] After they have covered themselves, after they have hidden from God

[22:41] After they come face to face with God and they admit their sin, they admit what they have done wrong [22:46] They play the blame game for a moment and then ultimately God says I am going to judge your sin [22:51] Here’s what happens in Genesis chapter 3 verse 15 [22:54] I will put enmity between you, speaking of the serpent, and the woman [23:00] And between your offspring and her offspring [23:03] He shall bruise your head and you shall bruise your heel

[23:10] In that text what you see is the first verse in the entire scripture that proclaims the gospel [23:16] God looks to Satan, Satan one of God’s angels [23:20] Satan was created by God [23:22] The book of Ezekiel talks about him as the one who protected the throne of God’s holiness [23:28] The book of Isaiah calls him Lucifer the day star [23:31] He’s one of God’s most beautiful angels in all of creation

[23:35] He rebels against God for the exact same thing that he tempts Adam and Eve with [23:40] He wants to be equal to God according to scripture [23:44] So he rebels and in his judgment he is cast out of God’s kingdom [23:48] Satan was condemned forever and Satan attempts to get back at God [23:54] By tempting Adam and Eve with the same thing that he was tempted with [23:59] Satan does not want to give them anything good

[24:02] But rather Satan knows with this temptation that it will bring their destruction [24:07] And Satan knows that through man, God wants to bring himself glory [24:11] So he goes to man and he says, if I can destroy man, I will destroy God’s glory [24:17] But notice what God does, God’s plan is not diminished one bit [24:22] He looks to Eve and he says, out of the man born to the woman, I will defeat you [24:29] He says, you will bruise his heel but he will ultimately, in the Hebrew it says, crush your head

[24:38] What he’s doing there is he’s prophesying of the gospel of Jesus Christ [24:42] That Satan will ultimately again attempt to destroy Jesus through Judas on the cross [24:47] But what Satan doesn’t realize is that he cannot ever outwit God [24:54] And the reality is neither can you [24:59] It is only through a submission to God’s wisdom and power [25:04] That you will ever experience the glory of being human

[25:09] You will ever experience the glory of knowing the world as God designed it [25:13] But look again, Satan will ultimately be defeated and he did not destroy the plan of God [25:20] But also God’s judgment is a means of grace for man [25:25] Now I want you to consider verses 16 through 19 in a new way [25:29] To the woman he said, I will surely multiply your pain and child bearing [25:33] In pain you shall bring forth children

[25:35] I experienced this four weeks ago with my wife and it looked pretty painful

[25:40] In pain you shall bring forth children, your desire shall be for your husband and he shall rule over you [25:46] And Adam he said, because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree [25:49] Of which I have commanded you, you shall not eat of it [25:52] Cursed is the ground because of you, in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life [25:56] Thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you [25:59] And you shall eat of the plants of the field, by the sweat of your face you shall eat bread

[26:03] Till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken [26:06] For you are dust and the dust you shall return [26:10] I want you to notice something very interesting about this, that’s all pretty bad [26:13] I mean there is nothing untouched by that right? [26:16] I mean our children give us pain in childbirth and they give us pain for a lot more years after that [26:21] Our relationships are never perfect, our marriages are never without strife

[26:26] We have to work in order to eat and work is not fun, work sucks [26:31] And in order to survive we’ve got to eat but in order to eat we’ve got to work for it [26:35] And then ultimately we’re going to die anyway even if we eat and to stay alive [26:39] So nothing in life is untouched by this but I want you to understand [26:43] That this is not just a judgment for our negative but it is also a judgment of grace for our positive [26:49] The first reason for that is that God did not just kill us right then and there and say I’m done

[26:54] It’s a means of grace that God judges us and allowed us to endure [26:58] But secondly I want you to understand the reality is that he, excuse me [27:02] Because every time we rebel further against God he has placed an initiator for pain [27:08] To remind us that we exist for more than this world [27:13] Notice that, what are the things that tempt us in this world that become like God to us [27:18] That we will give our lives over to in worship

[27:22] Our children can become our God so what does God do? [27:27] He puts an initiator of pain [27:29] Our spouse, our significant other can become like God [27:34] So he gives us strife as an initiator that your spouse was not meant to fulfill you [27:38] Spouses are a terrible God

[27:42] Then thirdly, work [27:44] Some of us are consumed with our careers [27:46] What does a career produce? It produces money [27:49] Some of us are consumed by money [27:51] What else does it do? It produces material gains [27:53] Some of us are consumed with having the biggest house, the best cars, the best everything

[27:57] We think that if we can just have one more material possession we’ll be better off [28:02] Some of us are consumed with vanity [28:04] We try to stay young forever [28:06] But God says, from dust you came and from dust you shall return [28:11] Every judgment of God for sin is also a judgment of grace [28:18] To inform us that we do not exist to be fulfilled by the things that we chase with our lives

[28:26] They exist as a revelation [28:29] That you exist for the glory of God and not the glory of this world or the glory of yourself [28:36] That we need God [28:40] So in those moments of pain they’re meant to turn us away from sin and back to God

[28:51] You exist for God and not this world, friends [28:55] But there’s a second, greater grace [29:00] Because I don’t know about you [29:03] No matter how many times I feel that pain [29:05] The grace that lets me know that I don’t exist for this world [29:09] I seem to be like a mouse in the tube that shocks someone

[29:14] I just go right back to the electroshock [29:16] Over and over again [29:19] God and His grace had a greater plan that He proclaimed in Genesis chapter 3 verse 15 [29:24] And that is that even though this world is broken because of man’s sin [29:28] The world will be restored through Jesus [29:33] Romans chapter 5 that same text in verse 12 that said

[29:37] Through one man sin entered the world goes on to say this

[29:43] Verses 17 through 19 [29:45] For if because of one man’s trespass death reigned through the one man [29:49] Much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness [29:53] Reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ [29:57] Therefore as one trespass led to condemnation for all people [30:01] So one act of righteousness leads to the justification and life for all men

[30:06] For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners [30:10] So by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous

[30:16] Adam failed as a representative for all of mankind [30:21] But in his love and in his grace [30:26] God became human and said I will be the better representative for all of mankind [30:34] And He came in the person and work of Jesus Christ [30:37] And He lived an obedient life where He never rebelled against the plan of God the Father [30:42] He died an obedient death where He died for the penalty for our sins

[30:47] Ultimately fulfilling that mandate that we see in Genesis chapter 3 verse 15 [30:53] That is proclaimed also in Romans the wages of sin is death [30:56] Jesus took our sin and went to the cross and in doing that [30:59] Jesus not only is the better Adam but Jesus is also the final judgment [31:05] In John chapter 12 verse 31 Jesus says this [31:08] He says now is the judgment of this world

[31:10] Now will the ruler of this world be cast out [31:13] If you read the end of Genesis chapter 3 [31:16] Adam and Eve were kicked out of the Garden of Eden [31:18] A cherubim was placed at the east side of the garden [31:20] So that man can never enter back into it [31:23] And so man is expelled from the garden

[31:25] But Jesus comes and He comes and He says [31:28] Now I will ultimately and for eternity I will banish Satan from my kingdom through my judgment [31:38] That is why Jesus came but look more [31:40] In John chapter 9 verse 39 Jesus said [31:42] For judgment I came into this world [31:44] And that those who do not see may see and those who see may become blind

[31:50] This reveals that we can be released from any final condemnation in death [31:55] Through the judgment that Jesus came to endure for us [32:00] Jesus comes and He says I am the judgment [32:03] I came to bring it and you might say to yourself [32:05] But back in Genesis it feels pretty much like He brought it [32:08] And He’s been bringing it for a long time

[32:10] I’m feeling the judgment [32:11] No, Jesus came to satisfy that judgment [32:16] Jesus came to say there is coming a day [32:19] Where you will not feel the pain of sin, the pain of death anymore [32:22] If you will trust in Me [32:27] So Jesus comes, He endures the judgment that we deserve to endure

[32:32] But then He also promises that He will ultimately restore this world [32:38] To the way it was before sin existed [32:40] Before sin came and entered into it [32:43] Look in Colossians chapter 2 verse 13 [32:47] And you who were dead in your trespasses and the circumcision of your flesh [32:51] God made alive together with Him having forgiven us all our trespasses

[32:56] By canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands [33:00] This He set aside, nailing it to the cross [33:03] He disarmed the rulers and authorities [33:06] And put them to open shame by triumphing over them in Him [33:11] Jesus ultimately undoes every attempt Satan ever had [33:16] To destroy the glory of God

[33:18] He sets aside our sin, He nails it to the cross [33:22] He brings justice [33:23] Jesus is the better Adam, Jesus is the better judgment [33:26] Jesus is the better Restorer [33:28] Jesus is our obedience, Jesus is our righteousness [33:31] Jesus is our hope

[33:34] Friends this morning no matter where it is in your life that you are feeling pain [33:39] No matter where it is in life that you are feeling the suffering [33:41] That each and every one of us endure simply because we live in a broken world [33:47] The reality is that you have no hope of ever coming out from under that suffering [33:52] Apart from Jesus Christ [33:56] Without Jesus in your life you will do nothing but rehearse the effects of the fall

[34:01] For the rest of your life and then ultimately right into eternity in hell

[34:08] But Jesus is better [34:12] Jesus is unstained by sin [34:15] Jesus is unstained by everything that we could ever endure [34:20] In Matthew chapter 4 it says that Satan himself even came [34:23] And attempted to tempt Jesus three different occasions [34:28] And Jesus said you shall not tempt the Lord your God

[34:33] Jesus is our hope

[34:38] God is renovating the world through His gospel

[34:43] He is building a better world and ultimately He will build a world that will reflect His glory for eternity [34:51] But just as sin is transforming so also must Jesus be transforming for your life [34:59] Jesus seeks to change you [35:02] He will take you where you are but He will not leave you that way [35:05] Look at Genesis, excuse me, John chapter 3 verse 3 [35:08] Nicodemus comes to Jesus and he says God how can I enter your kingdom

[35:12] And he looks to Jesus and then Jesus looks to him and says truly truly [35:16] I say to you unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God [35:23] So the reality is that Jesus is restoring lives [35:27] Jesus is taking people from the blindness of sin and He is transforming them to the beauty of His resurrection [35:35] He is giving them life, He is forgiving their sins [35:37] And then He desires to use us as a sign to this world of the coming kingdom of God

[35:44] He wants us to be a picture of restoration and He has called these people His church [35:50] And He says as my church you will start the long and very difficult process [35:58] Of showing restoration to this world [36:01] It will not happen overnight but it will happen through our lives [36:03] And then ultimately when God has promised in the book of Revelation to completely restore His kingdom [36:09] He says I will restore it and you will be in my kingdom

[36:12] But first you must be born again through Jesus Christ

[36:21] And so the thing I want to confront you with this morning finally [36:25] Is the question of have you been born again [36:29] The question of have you met Jesus [36:31] The question of do you know His life giving power [36:36] I know you know the pain of sin [36:39] I know and understand that you have been under the pain and suffering that this world has because of sin

[36:45] But I want you to know that there is a better hope than you have ever known [36:48] And it is not found in this world but it is only found with God in the person and work of Jesus Christ [36:53] I want you to know that you can be saved [36:56] I want you to know that you can know Him [36:58] But you must at some point in your life come face to face with Jesus [37:03] And decide to whether follow sin into destruction

[37:06] Or whether to repent and turn from your sins [37:08] Turn from that illusion of control that you think of your life [37:11] Turn from those idols that you have built up that are not satisfying you anyway [37:14] And you must follow Jesus

[37:19] He gives you that choice [37:23] And then He ultimately says I will change your life forever [37:26] And then I will show the world my hope through you [37:29] And so this morning

[37:33] You have the choice [37:34] You have the decision to make [37:37] To either trust the God who is powerful enough to speak the world into existence [37:41] And who was wise enough to plan a creation that could never be outwitted and undone by anyone [37:46] But that will ultimately return to His glory [37:48] And He will institute His kingdom forever

[37:50] And you can follow Him or you can turn from Him [37:55] As the band comes this morning [37:59] I want us to understand the reality this morning of Jesus Christ [38:03] We do that every week by reflecting on communion [38:10] What it represents is a meal that has been practiced for thousands of years [38:15] But it has always represented God’s power in delivering His people

[38:22] It shows an absolute dependence on the power of God

[38:29] And the cup is represented the shed blood of Jesus Christ [38:34] And the bread is represented the broken body of Jesus [38:37] And He tells us that when we come together we should reflect on this meal [38:43] Because it shows the life of God entering into our lives and changing us forever [38:50] If you are a follower of Jesus, if you trusted Him as your Savior [38:53] In a few moments I am going to invite you to reflect on the cross of Jesus Christ with me

[38:58] But if you are in here this morning and you don’t know Jesus [39:04] You have never turned from sin in the way that I talked about this morning [39:07] You have never given Him your life completely [39:10] I am going to invite you to do that [39:13] I am going to invite you to know Jesus today [39:16] To trust in Him as your God and Savior

[39:19] To give your life over to Him as your Lord [39:21] And then you can know God not just today, not just tomorrow, but forever [39:28] Not because of your work, not because of anything that you can do [39:31] But because of everything that Jesus has done for you [39:34] He came and He was obedient for you [39:37] And He wants His obedience to be your obedience

[39:40] He wants to give it to you freely this morning no matter what you have done [39:43] No matter how far apart from Him you think you are [39:47] You can know God

[39:51] In a moment I am going to ask if that is you [39:54] That is a place you are in this morning [39:56] You can be born again [39:58] I will be right over here, there will be some in the foyer [40:01] I would love to talk to you today, I would love to pray with you to receive Christ this morning [40:07] Let’s pray

[40:09] Father

[40:11] Lord you have given us life through your Son Jesus Christ [40:16] Because of that there is coming a day where there will be no pain [40:20] Where there will be no suffering [40:21] There will be a world that is untainted by sin [40:28] Lord I pray this morning as we reflect on the cross [40:31] That you will be worshiped

[40:34] And that we will seek your power to change our lives [40:40] When you are ready, come