“The Cross and Soul Winning!” Romans 3:9-20

I have read that tours there emphasize the faith of early settlers… Absenteeism was not tolerated. The penalty for missing a worship time was the loss of food rations for a day…

The very word “sin” at one time was an ominous/serious word; however, today the word along with the notion has all but disappeared…

As students of God’s Word, we are under constraint to re-emphasize the Biblical doctrine of sin…

Purpose: understanding the drastic consequences of sin will lead to a great urgency for soul winning

1 Corinthians 1:18 “For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

I Sin’s SERIOUSNESS A. Familiarity Minimizes Sin’s Seriousness

…we all have grown accustom to living in a sin sick world we have become desensitized to evil to the point it doesn’t seem all that bad.

I Sin’s SERIOUSNESS A. Familiarity Minimizes Sin’s Seriousness B. Euphemisms Minimizes Sin’s Seriousness

“The wages of sin is death…” Romans 6:23 “The wages of sin is death…”

I Sin’s SERIOUSNESS A. Familiarity Minimizes Sin’s Seriousness B. Euphemisms Minimizes Sin’s Seriousness Humor Minimizes Sin’s Seriousness

“A joyful heart is good medicine…” Proverbs 17:22 “A joyful heart is good medicine…”

Romans 12:9 “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.”

I Sin’s SERIOUSNESS A. Familiarity Minimizes Sin’s Seriousness B. Euphemisms Minimizes Sin’s Seriousness Humor Minimizes Sin’s Seriousness D. Comparisons Minimizes Sin’s Seriousness

2 Corinthians 10:12 “For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves, and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding.”

II God’s GRACIOUSNESS A. Jesus Could Have Stopped It All B. Jesus Chose to Give His Life

John 10:17-18 “For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.”

John 19:10-11 “Don’t you realize I have power to free you or to crucify you?” Jesus responded, ‘You would have no power over Me if it were not given to you from above…”

“Father, forgiven them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34 “Father, forgiven them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

III Salvation’s EXCLUSIVENESS A. World’s Concept of Salvation B. Bible’s Teaching on Salvation

Acts 4:12 “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”

John 14:6 “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.’”

Three Key Words: 1. JUSTICE (deserved punishment) 2. MERCY (exemption from punishment) 3. GRACE (favor when punishment is deserved)

Hershiser was led to Christ by another player, Butch Wickensheimer Hershiser was led to Christ by another player, Butch Wickensheimer. Butch asked Orel if he believed in heaven and Orel said, “Yes, I guess so. If people are good, they’ll go there when they die.” Butch responded, “Orel, good people…

Summary and Conclusion: It doesn’t matter how good our family members, neighbors, friends and working associates are – they can’t possibly be good enough to earn, merit or deserve heaven. They need Christ. They must acknowledge their need for the cross of Christ… We who view the cross of Christ as the point in history when the punishment for out sins were paid, how can we not be used of God to…