Rev. John W. Gerald

I. Your Lost Condition

Psalms 53:3 Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Rom. 3:9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;

10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

From the Psalms and Romans we find that we are all concluded under sin. If your own conscience does not condemn you, the word of God does. No one will miss hell except those who are covered by the blood of Jesus.

13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:

14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:

15 Their feet are swift to shed blood:

16 Destruction and misery are in their ways:

17 And the way of peace have they not known:

18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.

This represents the slanderer, the gossip, the profane and the murderer. God is not pleased with any of them. They do not know the peace of God.

Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

The nature of man is inclined to evil continually. It is the carnal nature, it is given to sin.

1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

We were born in sin. No one is fit for heaven as he is. Everyone needs the savior.

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

We must admit that we are a sinner before we can be saved. If we confess our need, he will save us. Jesus died to save sinners.

10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

We must agree with God that we are headed for hell because of our sins. Confession is required.

Galatians 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

The sacrifice of Christ would not have been necessary if anyone could be saved without it.

II. What Is a Sin?

Romans 14:23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

Doubt is sin. We must believe what God says in His word!

1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

Transgression of the law is a sin. But Jesus said that we must do better than just keep the law.

III. The Wages of Sin

Ezekiel 18:4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

The wages of sin is death. While we are sinning, we are earning a wage. It will be paid.

Ezekiel 18:20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

We will be held accountable for our own sins. We can not blame our parents or anyone else for our sins.

Ezekiel 33:12 Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth.

When the righteous sins, he is then accounted as a sinner.

When the wicked repents, and turns from his wicked ways, he is then accounted as righteous. We must keep the faith unto the end.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

IV. The Remedy for Sin

Isaiah 45:22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.

There is no other source of salvation. Only God can save us through Jesus Christ because of the atonement.

Isaiah 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

Jesus Christ suffered a most horrible and cruel death to atone for our sins. If we do not respect that, we deserve to be cast out into hell! Whatever you do with Christ will determine your destiny.

Isaiah 55:3 Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

Ezekiel 18:31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

We must leave our sins behind! We must seek a new heart and spirit. We must humble ourselves in repentance before God.

Ezekiel 33:11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

Our God demands repentance. He does not want anyone to die, but if we want to live we must repent and return to God.

Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

God has proven his love for us in that, though we were still rebels, he gave his only begotten son for our salvation.

Romans 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

John 6:65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

We must not put it off while he is calling. We cannot come anytime we choose, but only when the Spirit draws us. We must respond at the time of His drawing us.

John 7:37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

V. Admit Your Sin

Numbers 5:7a Then they shall confess their sin which they have done:

Psalms 32:5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

God demands that we admit to our sins and transgressions.

Proverbs 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Fallen man is sinful. We must admit it, and ask for forgiveness!

VI. Ask for Forgiveness

Matthew 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

We must ask for forgiveness, but we must remember that God will forgive us in the same manner that we forgive others.

2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

This is indeed the formula for revival! Repent, Pray, Seek God and turn from sin.

Psalms 25:18 Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins.

VII. Believe That He Forgives

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Forgiveness depends upon our confession! But God will forgive without fail, because the price, or wages, of our sin has been paid by Christ Jesus on the cross. He will cleanse as well as forgive.

Acts 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

VIII. Acknowledge Christ as Savior

Matthew 10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

If we are ashamed of Christ, He will be ashamed of us. If we own him as our savior, he will own us as his child before the Father and the holy angels in heaven.

Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Proclaim His name before a lost and dying world. Claim Him as your LORD and Saviour.

Revelation 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

IX. Thank Him for Salvation

1 Chronicles 29:11 Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.

It should not be hard to give praise to Our God. He is Lord of all. He has saved us at an awful price and with a mighty salvation.

Psalms 26:7 That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.

Psalms 100:4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Revelation 7:12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.