Introduction

• Acts 2

All of us have become guilty of sin.

• Acts 2:22-23, 36-37
• Romans 3:23
• Romans 8:1
• Romans 1:20, 29
• Romans 2:1-3, 17-20 – Beware of hypocrisy. No matter who you are, a sin is a sin!
• If you know better, but don’t do better, it is sin.
• Romans 1:18

Jesus Christ died so we can be forgiven!

• Luke 23:33-38, 44-49
• Luke 24:1-9 – Jesus rose from the dead!
• Luke 24:44-53 – Jesus ascended to heaven.
• Acts 2:1-4, 14-17 – The Holy Spirit gave the apostles the message to speak, as was prophesied.
• Acts 2:38-42 – The first people react to the gospel.

I need to do something!

• Acts 2:41
• We need to recognize our shortcomings and be prepared to deal with them.

Develop a heart that’s ready to learn and submit to God’s truth.

Develop a faith based on God’s word.

• Acts 2:42
• Acts 17:2, 11

Identify the sins in my life and repent.

• Acts 2:38
• Acts 17:30

Put my faith into action.

• Acts 26:19-20
• Romans 10:9-10

Be baptized into Christ.

• Acts 2:38 – Baptism is for forgiveness of sins.
• Romans 6:3-4
• I Corinthians 12:13
• I Peter 3:21
• Galatians 3:27

Continually learn and grow and repent when necessary.

Introduction

• Galatians 5:13-24
• Flesh vs. spirit
  • Romans 6:11-13
  • Whose slave will I be?

Sexual immorality; impurity; indecent behavior (Galatians 5:19)

• II Corinthians 12:21
• Porneia – sexual immorality, fornication, immorality
  • I Corinthians 5:1
  • Mark 7:14-23 – The body is involved, but the sin starts in the mind.
• Akatharsia – impurity, uncleanness, moral impurity
  • Matthew 23:27
  • Ephesians 5:1-6
• Aselgeia – sensuality, lasciviousness, licentiousness, depravity, promiscuity, debauchery
  • Lack of restraint
  • Romans 13:13-14 – Make no provision for the flesh.
  • Ephesians 4:17-19
  • Pornography works like a drug addiction – more and more is needed to get the same effect.

Show others how to persevere through heartache

• Ruth 1:1-3 – Naomi endured famine and the loss of her husband.
• Ruth 1:4-5 – Naomi lost her two sons.
• Ruth 1:6-13 – Naomi felt that God’s hand was against her.
• Job 19:6, 19
• Ruth 1:19-21 – Don’t call me “pleasant.” Call me “bitter.”
• Ruth 2:19-20 – Naomi’s attitude toward the Lord begins to change.
• I Timothy 5:5-6

Advise and teach the next generation

• Ruth 1:8-9 – Despite her hesitation, Naomi dealt kindly with her daughters-in-law.
• Ruth 1:14
• Ruth 2:2, 19, 20; 3:1-5, 16 – Naomi advises Ruth.
• Ruth 4:16-17
• Titus 2:3
• Luke 2:36-38 – God had an important job for Anna the prophetess!

Glorify God with what you have

• Ruth 1:21, 16-17 – Naomi was not empty. She still had blessings in her life (Ruth).
• Ruth 4:13-17
• Ruth 2:10
• The key to being productive in later years is attitude.

• Hebrews 10:26-39
• Hebrews 10:26 – One may get the idea from this verse that after we have knowledge of the truth and sin, we can never be forgiven. That is not what this verse is saying. It is simply saying that you cannot be forgiven while you are willfully sinning.
• Hebrews 10:27-31 – Those who had heard the gospel and turned back to the Law of Moses had no way to be forgiven of their sin.
  • Hebrews 10:29 – The “spirit of grace” here could refer to the Holy Spirit, but it may also refer to the disposition of grace, which would apply to God the Father and Jesus also.
  • Hebrews 10:31 – For Christians, it will be a wonderful thing to fall into the hands of God.
• Hebrews 10:32-36 – This passage refutes the idea of “once saved, always saved.”
  • Hebrews 10:36 – “What a great admonition for all of us! This passage would make no sense if “once saved, always saved” was a true doctrine. This verse appears to be the bookend of the section started in Hebrews 10:19, referring to our confidence as Christians.
• Hebrews 10:37-39 – This is referring to Jesus coming in judgment (possibly on Jerusalem since the time is indicated as being near). This is a quote from Habakkuk 2:3-4.

Introduction

• I Timothy 6:13-16
• Hebrews 9:28 – Jesus is coming back not for sin, but for salvation!

Rest – “By the grace of God, I made it!”

• Hebrews 3:4; 4:1
• Hebrews 4:8-10
• I Corinthians 15:58

Comfort – “No more sickness and death!”

• I Corinthians 15:35-49
• Luke 16:19-31 – The rich man and Lazarus
• Philippians 3:20

Awe – “This is God in His glory!”

• Revelation 4:1-11
• Revelation 20:11
• Matthew 25:31-32
• I Thessalonians 4:17
• I Thessalonians 5:10
• I John 3:2

Vindication – “Finally, Lord!”

• Revelation 6:9-11
• II Thessalonians 1:6
• Romans 14:11
• Our choices in life to serve God will finally be validated.

Gratitude – “Thank you, God!”

• I Corinthians 15:55-57
• Revelation 5:11-14

Conclusion

• II Thessalonians 1:8-10