"Disaster Averted"

These are notes from the sermon at Apex this am
We sang the song "Cannons" by Phil Wickham which I LOVE...especially when Phil and Issac sing together.
We also had a baptism which always is a great celebration at our church

1 John 2:1-2

Paul writes this with an investment in the people he's talking to
Key Question..What is the relationship of sin in the life of the believer?

With/Without Christ
a Without Christ...sin dominates you and your life
b With Christ..sin distracts you but it doesn't dominate

a Without Christ...sin is inevitable
b With Christ..sin is avoidable

a Without Christ...sin is natural
b With Christ...sin is unnatural

a Without Christ...you are enslaved to it
b With Christ...youare a slave to righteous

BUT when sin creeps into your life we make choices that mess up our lives

Revelation 12:10 Day and night Satan's goal is to accuse you
The bad news is that most of the time the info he accuses us with is true..he manages to twist it to an accusation. It leads to despair and we run back to ourselves or to things that were comfortable.

When you sin and you are on the verge of despair, run to these truths.....

1. Jesus is your appointed defender
1 Timothy 2:5
Hebrews 7: 24-25

2. He is your evidence for acquittal
Pure..innocence no sin
He has given us his righteousness

3. He is your justified punishment
atoning sacrifice God's wrath had to be turned away
His wrath is justified punishment for breaking his laws

John Piper wrote a book giving 50 reasons Jesus died on the cross
God sent Christ to be our wrath absorber

At the concentration camp Auschwitz...the gate above it read "Work Makes Free"
It was a lie..it ended in suffering and death
That's the lie many nonbelievers believe today
"If I do these deeds.."

WE ARE FREE ONLY THROUGH CHRIST