The Solution: The Gospel of Jesus Christ

The Remedy for our Insanity"Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and

the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.”

Matt. 7:13

Creation Fall

Redemption

Consummation

“Gospel from the air”

Isa. 52:13—53:12

Redeemer Prophesied…

“The consummation of all things includes the visible,personal, physical, future and glorious return ofJesus Christ, the resurrection of the dead and thetranslation of those alive in Christ, the judgment ofthe just and the unjust, and the fulfillment of Christ’skingdom in the New Heavens and the New Earth. Inthe consummation, Satan with his hosts and all thoseoutside Christ are finally separated from the benevolentpresence of God, enduring eternal punishment, but therighteous, in glorious bodies, shall live and reign withHim forever, serving Him and giving Him unendingpraise and glory. Then shall the eager expectation ofcreation be fulfilled and the whole earth shall proclaimthe glory of God who makes all things new.”

Consummation

The Village Church Statement of Faith

“Reformission”

Physicalallergy

“craving”

Spiritual malady

Mental obsession

Three-part disease model taught in treatment settings

and AA

PhysicalAllergy

Spiritual Malady

Mental Obsession

Three-part disease model taught in treatment settings

and AA

Physicalallergy

Spiritual malady

Mental obsession

Three-part disease model taught in treatment settings

and AA

Physicalallergy

Spiritual malady

Mental obsession

Three-part disease model taught in treatment settings

and AA

False gospel – promising recovery from the spiritual malady apart from the redemptive work of Christ (God’s plan).

Spiritual Malady Irritable,

restless and discontent

Spiritual Malady Irritable,

restless and discontent

Desire for Relief

Spiritual Malady

See others

Irritable, restless and discontent

Desire for relief

Spiritual Malady

See others

Think/Obsess

Irritable, restless and discontent

Desire for Relief

Spiritual Malady

See others

Think/Obsess

1st drink

Irritable, restless and discontent

Desire for Relief

Spiritual Malady

See others

Think/Obsess

1st drink

Spree

Irritable, restless and discontent

Desire for Relief

Spiritual Malady

See others

Think/Obsess

1st drink

SpreeInjuries (pain)

Irritable, restless and discontent

Desire for Relief

Spiritual Malady

See others

Think/Obsess

1st drink

SpreeInjuries (pain)

DEATH

Irritable, restless and discontent

Desire for Relief

Spiritual Malady

See others

Think/Obsess

1st drink

SpreeInjuries (pain)

DEATH

Remorse“sorrow”

Irritable, restless and discontent

Desire for Relief

Spiritual Malady

See others

Think/Obsess

1st drink

SpreeInjuries (pain)

DEATH

Remorse

Resolutions“promises”

Irritable, restless and discontent

Desire for Relief

Spiritual Malady

See others

Think/Obsess

1st drink

SpreeInjuries (pain)

DEATH

Remorse

ResolutionsIrritable,

restless and discontent

Desire for Relief

Spiritual Malady

Desire for Relief

See others

Think/Obsess

1st drink

SpreeInjuries (pain)

DEATH

Remorse

Resolutions

Insanity Cycle

Irritable, restless and discontent

Spiritual Malady

Desire for Relief

See others

Think/Obsess

1st drink

SpreeInjuries (pain)

DEATH

Remorse

Resolutions

Insanity Cycle

Irritable, restless and discontent

“Self-knowledge alone avails us nothing”

as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

2 Cor. 4:18

Observation apart from revelation leads to speculation

At every point we need God’s revelation for a correct interpretation.

Spiritual Malady Desire for

Relief (or for Pleasure)

Temptation

Think/Obsess

Action

SpreeInjuries (pain)

DEATH

Remorse

Resolutions

Insanity Cycle

Rom. 5:12

Spiritual malady– “spiritual problem”

Rom 5:12

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—

“Restless, irritable and discontent”

“Sin is the marring of Shalom (peace).”Mark Driscoll

Spiritual Malady Desire for

Relief (or for Pleasure)

Temptation

Think/Obsess

Action

SpreeInjuries (pain)

DEATH

Remorse

Resolutions

Insanity Cycle of Sin

Spiritual Malady Desire for

Relief Rom. 8:22

Temptation

Think/Obsess

Action

SpreeInjuries (pain)

DEATH

Remorse

Resolutions

Insanity Cycle of Sin

We groan…

For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.

Rom. 8:22

Spiritual Malady Desire for

Relief

Temptation

Think/Obsess

Action

SpreeInjuries (pain)

DEATH

Remorse

Resolutions

Insanity Cycle of Sin

James 1:13-16

Dancing shiny things before our deceitful hearts

Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

James 1:13-14

Spiritual Malady

TemptationJer. 17:9

Think/Obsess

Action

SpreeInjuries (pain)

DEATH

Remorse

Resolutions

Insanity Cycle of Sin

Desire for Relief

Spiritual Malady

TemptationMark7:20-23

Think/Obsess

Action

SpreeInjuries (pain)

DEATH

Remorse

Resolutions

Insanity Cycle of Sin

Desire for Relief

Spiritual Malady

Temptation

Think/Obsess

Action

SpreeInjuries (pain)

DEATH

Remorse

Resolutions

Insanity Cycle of Sin

LIE: Rom. 1:25

Desire for Relief

The Lie…

… because they exchanged the truth about God for

a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

Rom. 1:25

Spiritual Malady

Temptation

Think/Obsess

Action

SpreeInjuries (pain)

DEATH

Remorse

Resolutions

Insanity Cycle of Sin ADDICTION:

Rom. 1:24,26,28 /

Isa. 5:5

Desire for Relief

Given over…

Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves,

Rom. 1:24

Given over…

 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature

Rom. 1:26

Given over…

 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.

Rom. 1:28

Overrun…And now I will tell you  what I will do to my vineyard.I will remove its hedge,  and it shall be devoured;I will break down its wall,  and it shall be trampled down.

Isa. 5:5

Spiritual Malady

Temptation

Think/Obsess

Action

SpreeInjuries (pain)

DEATH

Remorse

Resolutions

Insanity Cycle of Sin

Prov.16:25 & 14:12

Desire for Relief

Spiritual Malady

Temptation

Think/Obsess

Action

SpreeInjuries (pain)

DEATH

Remorse

Resolutions

Insanity Cycle of Sin

HOPERom.

8:20-21

Desire for Relief

For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

Rom. 8:20-21

Spiritual Malady

Temptation

Think/Obsess

Action

SpreeInjuries (pain)

DEATH

Remorse

ResolutionsGOD

Grace

Insanity Cycle of Sin

Desire for Relief

For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness,“ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

2 Cor. 4:6

Our Testimony…

Spiritual Malady

Temptation

Think/Obsess

Action

SpreeInjuries (pain)

DEATH

Remorse

ResolutionsGOD

Grace

Christ

Insanity Cycle of Sin

Desire for Relief

By what means?

Spiritual Malady

Temptation

Think/Obsess

Action

SpreeInjuries (pain)

DEATH

Remorse

ResolutionsGOD

Grace (Romans 5:17)

Christ

Insanity Cycle of Sin

John 1:1-14 Desire for Relief

For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

Rom. 5:17

Spiritual Malady

Temptation

Think/Obsess

Action

SpreeInjuries (pain)

DEATH

Remorse

ResolutionsGOD Grace (Romans 5:17)

Christ

Insanity Cycle of Sin

REPENTANCE 2 Cor. 7:10

Desire for Relief

For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.

2 Cor. 7:10

Spiritual Malady

Temptation

Think/Obsess

Action

SpreeInjuries (pain)

DEATH

Remorse

ResolutionsGOD Grace (Romans 5:17)

Christ

Insanity Cycle of Sin

Desire for Relief

BROKENESSPs. 51:17

Spiritual Malady

Temptation

Think/Obsess

Action

SpreeInjuries (pain)

DEATH

Remorse

ResolutionsGOD Grace (Romans 5:17) Christ

Insanity Cycle of Sin

SpiritEze. 36:26-27

Desire for Relief

And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.

Eze. 36:26-27

Changing affections…

Spiritual Malady

Temptation

Think/Obsess

Action

SpreeInjuries (pain)

DEATH

Remorse

ResolutionsGOD Grace (Romans 5:17) Christ

Insanity Cycle of Sin

SpiritLife and Peace

Desire for Relief

Traditional Step 2:

We came to believe that a power greater that ourselves could restore us to sanity.

Acts 17:16-34

Redeeming Truth of Step 2 God lovingly stepped into human history by taking on flesh in the person and

work of Jesus Christ in order to provide hope and a remedy for the insanity of our sin and a way back into fellowship with Him. He succeeded where we have failed in living a life that we cannot, taking on our sin, dying a death that we deserve and through His resurrection conquered sin and death and shame so that those who believe in Him might live. He promises new life, the forgiveness of sins and the Holy Spirit to those who repent and trust in Him. We came to believe that, by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, we can be restored. Not only do we get a taste of restoration in this life, but upon Christ’s return, we will see the fullness of all that He has promised.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved-- and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Eph. 2:4-9