"You Are Accepted. ” August 24, 2003

* Outline: (1) Sin (2) Grace (3) Cross (4) Restoring Broken Relationship with God.

- Eden: Adam and Eve enjoyed an intimate friendship with God - The Fall: relationship broken - Old Testament: 1) Moses and Abraham = "friends of God" 2) David = "a man after God's own heart"(하나님 마음에 합한 사람) 3) Job, Enoch, and Noah 4) the Fear of God, not friendship

(1) Sin: - sIn = I ex) Paul: "I do not understand my own actions.... For I do not do the good I want, but I do the very thing I hate. “ (Romans 7:15) (내가 원하는 바 선은 행하지 아니하고, 도리어 미워하는 바 악은 행하도다) - Sin = Separation (분리), Alienation (소외) - Sin = "asunder "(분리된, 떨어진)

(2) Cross: - Jesus = Calvary - The Veil of the Temple (성소 휘장, 위에서 아래로 찢 어짐) We can make direct access to God.

(3) Friendship with God - The Grace of God - The Sacrifice of Jesus. ex) hymn = “ What a friend we have in Jesus" (죄짐 맡은 우리 구주 어찌 좋은 친 군지 “ 찬송 487장).

- Jesus: "I no longer call you servants... Instead, I have called you friends." (John 15:15). - God wants to make efforts to foster an intimate relationship with us.

How To Foster a Relationship: by Rick Warren 1) Talk to God before talking to the person! (사람에게 이야기하기 전에 하나님께 이야 기하라) 2) Always take the initiative! (항상 먼저 다가가라!) 3) Sympathize with their feelings! (그들의 감정에 공감하라!)

4) Confess your part of the conflict! (나에게도 잘못이 있음을 고백하라!) 5) Attack the problem, not the person! (사람을 공격하지 말고 문제를 공격하라!) 6) Cooperate as much as possible. (할 수 있는 한 협력하라!) 7) Emphasize reconciliation, not resolution! (해결이 아닌 화해를 강조하라!)

(4) Grace: - Understanding the nature of Sin - Understand the nature of Grace - Forgiveness is a central tenet of grace. - "Grace" comes to us in the hopeless moments of darkness or great fear.

ex) Paul: "For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved by his life! “ (Romans 5:20) "But where sin is increased, grace increased all the time. “ (Romans 5:20b)

* Short Prayers:. ① Lord, you are with me. ② I receive your grace. ③ Have mercy on me. ④ I am depending on you. ⑤ I want to know you. ⑥ I belong to you. ⑦ Help me trust you. ⑧ For me to live is Christ. ⑨ You will never leave me. ⑩ You are my God. Cf. Worry & Meditation:

Conclusion: Have you ever been rejected? If so, simply accept the fact that you are accepted! If that happens to you, you will experience grace. Grace is an unconditional acceptance by God as revealed through the teachings and death of Jesus Christ. God is the only One who can meet that need completely and meaningfully.

"But where Sin is increased, Grace increased all the time. ” (Romans 5:20b) ☞ YOU ARE ACCEPTED!