Saved From What?Saved From What?

Chapter 2Chapter 2The Shattered Self ImageThe Shattered Self Image

ControversyControversy

• What was the greatest sports moment in What was the greatest sports moment in the last 10 years?the last 10 years?

This?This?

Or maybe Or maybe this?this?

Of course the answer is obvious!Of course the answer is obvious!

ControversyControversy

•It is in our livesIt is in our lives•How do you react to it?How do you react to it?

Recap – Chapter 1, Saved From Recap – Chapter 1, Saved From What?What?

• Do you understand the Gospel?Do you understand the Gospel?– A personal relationship?A personal relationship?– Asking Jesus into your heart?Asking Jesus into your heart?

• The meaning of SalvationThe meaning of Salvation– Many senses, many tensesMany senses, many tenses– Saved from the wrath to come (Zeph 1:14-18)Saved from the wrath to come (Zeph 1:14-18)

• Bitter, trouble, alarm, distress, blood, devastation, Bitter, trouble, alarm, distress, blood, devastation, refuse, desolation, wrath, darkness, devoured, refuse, desolation, wrath, darkness, devoured, gloominess, firegloominess, fire

Recap-ContinuedRecap-Continued

• Salvation is of _______Salvation is of _______– We do not have the necessary resourcesWe do not have the necessary resources– This is why Christ cameThis is why Christ came

• Salvation is from _______Salvation is from _______• Christ covers us and protects us from our Christ covers us and protects us from our

DESERVED wrathDESERVED wrath

Saved from God??Saved from God??

• Is that controversial?Is that controversial?• What does that controversy tell us?What does that controversy tell us?

Our Self ImageOur Self Image

• What is the size of our ego?What is the size of our ego?• How does our image of ourselves affect How does our image of ourselves affect

our image of God? our image of God? • Our relationship?Our relationship?

Self Esteem and the Holiness of GodSelf Esteem and the Holiness of God

• Isaiah 6:1-5Isaiah 6:1-5• Daniel 5:1-7Daniel 5:1-7• Others?Others?• What’s the point?What’s the point?

Sin and God’s HolinessSin and God’s Holiness

• Who are we?Who are we?– God’s ChildrenGod’s Children– Made in His imageMade in His image– Endowed with many of His attributesEndowed with many of His attributes– Life is sacredLife is sacred

• The effect of sin – the image is tarnished The effect of sin – the image is tarnished and desecratedand desecrated

Our Ego and SinOur Ego and Sin

• How does our ego affect our sin?How does our ego affect our sin?• Luke 18:18-23Luke 18:18-23

– Why is only God “good?”Why is only God “good?”– Why the 10 Commandments?Why the 10 Commandments?– Why only some?Why only some?– Why did Jesus give him the command to sell all he Why did Jesus give him the command to sell all he

had?had?

• Galatians 2:16Galatians 2:16• If we live by the Law, we will die by the Law.If we live by the Law, we will die by the Law.

So what is the standard?So what is the standard?

• So the rich young ruler didn’t quite So the rich young ruler didn’t quite measure up, but what about us?measure up, but what about us?

• Are we close? Almost there? Just about?Are we close? Almost there? Just about?• Where do I stack up next to you?Where do I stack up next to you?• How far can you jump?How far can you jump?

Our Ego and FearOur Ego and Fear

• Do we really understand what that Do we really understand what that standard means?standard means?

• How deep does our tarnish go?How deep does our tarnish go?• Romans 3:10-20Romans 3:10-20• Do we fear God? Why or why not?Do we fear God? Why or why not?• In fact, because of what we have done, In fact, because of what we have done,

we are God’s ENEMIESwe are God’s ENEMIES

Original SinOriginal Sin

• How did we get here?How did we get here?• We are born as sinnersWe are born as sinners• We do not become sinners because we We do not become sinners because we

first sin – we sin because we are first first sin – we sin because we are first sinners.sinners.

• Psalm 51:5Psalm 51:5

Augustine and Pelagius - controversyAugustine and Pelagius - controversy

The PrayerThe Prayer

““God grant what Thou God grant what Thou commandest, and command commandest, and command

what Thou dost desire.”what Thou dost desire.”

What did Augustine mean?What did Augustine mean?

• ““Grant what you command of us”Grant what you command of us”• Augustine understood our status, our Augustine understood our status, our

conditioncondition• He also understood God’s expectationsHe also understood God’s expectations• Finally, Augustine understood our ability to Finally, Augustine understood our ability to

do what God commandeddo what God commanded

Pelagius RespondsPelagius Responds

• ““God never commands the impossible.”God never commands the impossible.”• If God requires it, then we have the ability If God requires it, then we have the ability

to perform it – i.e. we must have the to perform it – i.e. we must have the ability to perform with perfect ability to perform with perfect righteousness. righteousness.

The Bottom Line – Poised to be The Bottom Line – Poised to be ShatteredShattered

• The orthodox church emphatically rejected The orthodox church emphatically rejected PelagiusPelagius

• Our best does not meet God’s standards Our best does not meet God’s standards of righteousnessof righteousness

• We flatter ourselves because we grade on We flatter ourselves because we grade on a curve (2 Corinthians 10:12-13)a curve (2 Corinthians 10:12-13)

• But what happens when we truly see God?But what happens when we truly see God?

What we needWhat we need

• It has to be better than all the King’s It has to be better than all the King’s horses and men!!horses and men!!

• It is something that we simply are unable It is something that we simply are unable to doto do

• Our salvation is completely, utterly, Our salvation is completely, utterly, dependent on Goddependent on God

• The whole purpose of the cross!The whole purpose of the cross!

Questions? Concerns?Questions? Concerns?