We Believe

The Book of ACTS• Sequel to Luke• Written by Luke- to “Theophilus”• Telling the story of how Jesus’

followers were empowered & guided by the Holy Spirit to take the Gospel from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth

• 2 major sections of the book

Key Themes in ACTS• The Great Commission (1:8)• The coming of the Holy Spirit• God’s purpose & plan• The unstoppable Gospel• The geographic movement• The ethnic movement• The legitimacy of the Gentile mission• Paul- God’s Apostle to the Gentiles

The purpose of ACTS is to demonstrate Christianity’s expanding influence despite the execution of its founder and the persecution of its followers. Philip and the Ethiopian

Luther on Romans

“…the most important part of the New Testament and the very purest Gospel… It is well worth a Christian's while not only to memorize it word for word but also to occupy himself with it daily, as though it were the daily bread of the soul it can never be read or meditated on too much or too well, and the more it is handled the more delightful it becomes, and the better it tastes”

From his “Preface to the Book of Romans”

Romans

• Written by Paul• AD 57- from Corinth• To the church in Rome• Dictated to a secretary• Carried by Phoebe

Rome

Nero

Timeline of Romans & Paul

The Key Theme in Romans

The righteousness of God (1:16-17)… people are made right with God by faith alone apart from human effort, a salvation available to all regardless of ethnic identity

The purpose of ROMANS is to summarize for the church at Rome Paul’s teaching about salvation.

Paul by Rembrandt

Ranking Sin • Lie to your friend about your weight• Gossip about the pastor• Overeat• Murder your high school French teacher• Kidnap a missionary• Rape a girl• Hold onto bitterness towards someone• Have selfish motivation to serve at church

What is Sin?Why is it difficult to talk about

sin?Culture… we see environmental

causes mostly… we don’t want to see personal blame… we see acts as sin only- not nature

Roman Catholic doctrine distinguishes between personal sin and original sin.

Personal sins are either mortal or venial.Mortal sins are sins of grave (serious) matter, where the sinner is aware that the act (or omission) is both a sin and a grave matter, and performs the act (or omission) with deliberate consent.

Venial sins are sins which do not meet the conditions for mortal sins. The act of committing a venial sin does not cut off the sinner from God's grace.

Pesha or Mered - An intentional sin; an action committed in deliberate defiance of God; According - from the root of rebellion, transgression, trespass.

Avon - This is a sin of lust or uncontrollable emotion. It is a sin done knowingly, but not done to defy God; from the root meaning perversity, moral evil:--fault, iniquity, mischief.

Cheit - This is an unintentional sin, crime or fault- comes from the root khaw-taw meaning "to miss, to err from the mark (speaking of an archer), to sin, to stumble."

Judaism’s View of Sin

Islam sees sin as anything that goes against the will of Allah (God). Islam teaches that sin is an act and not a state of being.

The Qur'an teaches that the (human) soul is prone to evil

Muhammad advised: "Do good deeds properly, sincerely and moderately, and rejoice, for no one's good deeds will put him in Paradise." … "Not even me unless Allah bestows His pardon and mercy on me".

Islam’s View of Sin

Several gradations of sin:• sayyia, khatia: mistakes (Suras 7:168; 17:31; 47:19 48:2) • itada, junah, dhanb: immorality (Suras 17:17 33:55) • haram: transgressions (Suras 5:4; 6:146) • ithm, dhulam, fujur, su, fasad, fisk, kufr: wickedness and depravity (Suras 2:99, 205; 4:50, 112, 123, 136) • shirk: ascribing a partner to God (Suras 4:48)

Islam’s View of Sin

Hinduism, the term sin or pāpa is often used to describe actions that create negative karma.

Sin, in Hinduism, besides creating negative karma, is violating moral and ethical codes as in the religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

Hindu View of Sin

Buddhism doesn't recognize the idea behind Sin because in Buddhism, instead, there is a Cause-Effect Theory, known as Karma, or action. In General, Buddhism illustrates intentions as the cause of Karma, either good or bad.

Buddhist View of Sin

Pañcasīla (Pāli) is the fundamental code of Buddhist ethics, willingly undertaken by lay followers. Pancasila

• I undertake the training rule to refrain from destroying living creatures.

• I undertake the training rule to refrain from taking that which is not given.

• I undertake the training rule to refrain from sexual misconduct. • I undertake the training rule to refrain from incorrect speech. • I undertake the training rule to refrain from intoxicants

which lead to carelessness.

Buddhist View of Sin

Romans on Sin• The Apostle Paul says in Romans 3:23: "All have

sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

• Paul, however, puts this in perspective in Romans 3:20, when he says, "Therefore no one will be declared righteous in His sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin."

What Is Sin - The Big Question

The Greek word hamartia (ἁμαρτία) is usually translated as sin in the New Testament; it means "to miss the mark" or "to miss the target" which was also used in Old English archery.

What is a Sin Nature?

1. an inward inclination- an inherent inner disposition inclining me towards wrong acts

What is a Sin Nature?

2. Rebelliousness and disobedience against God

What is a Sin Nature?

3. Spiritual disability- altering the inner condition or character

What is a Sin Nature?

4. Incomplete fulfillment of God’s standards

What is a Sin Nature?

5. Displacement of God- placing anything in the place of God

What is Sin?• Not just breaking laws or rules• Actions- thoughts- attitudes• What is NOT done• Honesty or integrity one does

NOT have• NOT related to feelings about

the act

What Makes Us Sin?

• Pursuit of pleasure (I John 2:14)

• Pursuit of possessions (I John 2:16)

• Pursuit of achievement(I John 2:16)

Effects on the Sinner

• Enslavement• Flight from

reality• Denial of sin

• Self-deceit• Insensitivity• Self-

Centeredness• Restlessness

Effects on Relationships

• Competition• Inability to empathize• Rejection of authority• Inability to love

Can Anybody Be Saved?

• Matthew 20:1-6• Luke 23:32-43