2004-06-27 - All Have Sinned

Open The Door, Part 1

I want to speak to you today on a matter of utmost importance concerning your life here today.

You know, the price of fuel is skyrocketing. In theory, this means we have to work even more to survive, because it drives the price of everything else up.

I have a friend in Las Vegas Nevada, who works for the Department of Energy. I was talking to him one day a while back, and told him that fuel prices here were running about $1.25 cents a gallon for premium unleaded fuel. He said they haven't seen fuel prices below $2.00 a gallon in some time. I was shocked, because I thought it was bad here.

Do you know how the rising price of fuel affects you? First you have to pay more of your hard-earned money at the gas pump. Next, it raises the price of everything else, because the manufacturer has to pay more money to ship it to you, so they raise the price. The retailer raises his price to you, to recoup the profit.

Let me ask you this. If you know that one fuel station has fuel for $2.00 and another has the same fuel for $1.75, are you going to go buy the fuel for $2.00? No, you're going to buy the fuel for $1.75. I know I would. It's like shopping for the best price in the store.

This seems like the most important thing that affects your life today, but my friend, I'm here to tell you it's not. The most important thing that affects your life today, and for all eternity, is who Jesus Christ is to you today.

Some people believe and would say he was a good man and moral teacher. But Jesus didn't leave that open for debate. As C.S. Lewis has pointed out (and after him, Josh McDowell), some would say Jesus is a liar, and some would say he was a lunatic.

And finally what I want to say to you today in this series, is that Jesus Lord. I pray that you will be able to say that of your life today.

The title of my Series is: Open the Door

Point Number One

1. Sin

   Open your Bible with me to the book of Romans, Chapter 3. As we read, we will recognize sin. Read with me verse 23 of Romans, Chapter 3.

   Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

   What happened here? Someone has sinned, and because someone sinned, that someone fell short of the glory of God.

   Who does it say sinned? All have sinned. Does that say just your neighbor? No. Does it say 1 out of every 10 people, or maybe 2 out of 3 people?

   No, it says all. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. This means you and me.

   Psalm 14:3 says All have turned away; they have all become corrupt. There is no one who does good, not even one.

   What does the word "sin" mean? Some would say it was to commit a moral fault or to break God's law. However, this is only the work or fruit of sin. No, my friend, it means to turn away from God's will and believe in our own way.

We will continue with Part Two next week, my friend.

God Bless You,
Rob

I want my life just to be for the Glory of God.

rob@cfdevotionals.org
http://www.cfdevotionals.org