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Sin defined… • To be without a share in • To miss the mark Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear. (Isaiah 59:1-2 ESV)
For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, (Hebrews 6:4-5 ESV)
Enlightenment So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. (John 12:35 ESV) Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12 ESV)
He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, (Colossians 1:13 ESV) for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (Ephesians 5:8 ESV)
Enlightenment • Tasting the heavenly gift But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. (Hebrews 2:9 ESV)
Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” (John 4:10 ESV) Jesus represents the “gift of God”
But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. (Romans 5:15-16 ESV) The free gift is Jesus/justification
and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, (Romans 3:24 ESV) The free gift is Jesus/redemption For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23 ESV) The free gift is Jesus/eternal life
By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift! (2 Corinthians 9:13-15) Fellowship in the gospel of Christ
Enlightenment • Tasting the heavenly gift • Partaking of the Holy Spirit Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. (John 7:38-39 ESV)
The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, (Romans 8:16) The Spirit testifies Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. (Romans 8:26 ESV) The Spirit intercedes
and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, (Ephesians 6:17 ESV) The Spirit arms us with the word For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12 ESV) The Spirit’s weapon has no equal
For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. (Galatians 6:8 ESV) The Spirit leads, guides, directs when followed I know, O LORD, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps. (Jeremiah 10:23 ESV)
Enlightenment • Tasting the heavenly gift • Partaking of the Holy Spirit • Have tasted the good word of God
The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. (Psalm 19:7-10 ESV)
Enlightenment • Tasting the heavenly gift • Partaking of the Holy Spirit • Have tasted the good word of God • Have tasted the powers of the age to come What power of the age to come?
What power of the age to come? • The Spirit’s power, converting power, transforming power • In the kingdom age of peace, boldness, welcome, and hope • God’s people would be redeemed, justified, sanctified… all in the power of a resurrected life
For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (Galatians 3:27 ESV) What do you have a share in?