Four essential parts of the Gospel:
1. God - Who made us and to whom are we accountable? God, the righteous creator.
2. Man - What is our problem?
3. Christ - What is God's solution to that problem?
4. Response - How do I come to be included in that salvation?

What is sin?

Harmartia = “missing the mark” (Greek ἁμαρτία)
· - to miss or wander from the path of uprightness and honor, to do or go wrong
· - to wander from the law of God, violate God's law or commands.

What are the results of sin?

· Separation - Isaiah 59:2
· Rebellion and hostility - Romans 8:7–8
· Slavery - Romans 6:16, John 8:34
· Leads to further sin - Ephesians 4:19
· Consequences - Galatians 6:7
· Destruction - Galatians 6:8
· Death - Romans 6:23, James 1:15

Am I a sinner?

· None is righteous, no, not one – Romans 3:10
· All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. – Romans 3:23
· If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves – I John 1:8
· The Scripture has shut up everyone under sin. – Galatians 3:22

What is the cause of sin? (Why do I sin? Why do I continue to sin?)

Imputed sin – “when Adam first sinned, that sin (and its blame) was rightly regarded by God to be our sin as well.” (John Piper)

What is the cause of sin? (Why do I sin? Why do I continue to sin?)

Imputed righteousness – “when Christ perfectly obeyed, that obedience (and its acquittal) was graciously regarded by God to be our righteousness as well.”

Our problem

We are all, every one of us …
· worthy of judgment and condemnation from God because of our sin.
· in rebellion against God, as demonstrated by our sins.
· without excuse as we stand before the Righteous Creator who we are accountable to.

What is our problem?

· Our problem is that we are accountable to a holy, sinless, perfect, righteous God, and we are unholy, unrighteous, imperfect sinners.
· And yet…

This week I will consider …

· Have I asked Jesus to be my Savior and apply all of His righteousness and perfection against my condemnation and judgment?
· Do I manage my life to accommodate my sin? Or do I ruthlessly search for the sources of sin and root them out? (Matthew 5:29-30; Colossians 3:5; Romans 6:13)
· Do I call sin “sin,” or do I lessen its effect by calling it something less condemning, less evil, more acceptable?? (Romans 6:12-14)
· When I sin, do I quickly take it to God in confession, and receive His cleansing? (John 1:9)