"Standing on Holy Ground"

Scripture: Colossians 3:16-17

C.I.: "God’s Story is Our Song!"

I. "You are the Song that We Sing"

A. The Creation and the Fall of Man

1. God created man so He could bestow His love on someone outside of Himself.

a. Yet in order for man to exist – God had to create a place in which man could dwell.

b. Thus, the entire universe was created – for our existence

1) (Gen. 1:1-3; 27), "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…."

2) (Gen. 1:28-31), ""

c. Since the universe was an act of creation – it also declares the glory of the Creator.

1) (Rom. 1:20), "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes…."

2) (Psa. 97:6), "The heavens declare the glory of God & the firmament the work of His fingers."

2. Yet in order for God to be loved – He had to imbue us with the power – to choose to love Him.

a. Love = "The decision to do what is in another’s best interest without considering the cost."

b. The power to choose – gives us the option to either love or sin!

1) (Gen. 2:16-17), "The Lord commanded man, saying, ‘From any tree of the Garden you may freely eat; - but not from the tree of knowledge of good & evil, for in the day that you eat of it, you shall surely die.’"

2) Sadly, he & his wife made the wrong choice – and in so doing died (Eph. 2:1; Rom. 6:23)!

c. This legacy of sin - has continued unto today.

1) (Rom. 5:12), "Just as through one man sin entered into the world, - and death through sin, - so death spread to all men, because all sinned."

2) Bottom line; SIN IS SELFISHNESS! – It was so for Adam & it is also true of us.

B. Redemption Planned & Provided

1. In spite of mankind’s sin – God does not turn away from His creation.

a. This period of time we find in the O.T. – is filled with the heart of God – still reaching out to us.

1) God gave His laws to His people – so they might learn the holy behavior God requires.

2) In His love - God still allowed us to choose to walk in His ways

3) (Deut. 30:19), "I call heaven and earth to witness today, - that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. – So choose life that you may live, you & your descendants"

b. Two distinct things characterized this time in the story of God working through His people:

1) The great victories God gave His people when they lived in obedience to Him – SONG #63

2) The great longing in the souls of His people – to be returned to fellowship with Him - #71

2. Indeed, God had made a promise – to one day provide a Savior for all people.

a. (Gen. 3:15), "I will put enmity between you and the woman, between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, and you will bruise His heal."

b. This promise is the one His people had been clinging to throughout the centuries.

1) (Psa. 27:13-14), "I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. – Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord."

c. Knowing from the beginning what He was going to do – God finally sent His Son

1) (Gal. 4:4-5), "But when the fullness of time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, in order that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons." - SONG #s 995-998, v. 1

3. Yet from the beginning – the Savior of mankind – faced the wrath of hell and the anger of man!

a. (Matt. 2:13b, 16), "An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, ‘Arise, and take the Child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him … Herod became very enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and all its environs."

b. Centuries earlier – Isaiah had foretold that the life of our Lord would be one of difficulty…

1) (Isa. 53:3), "He was despised and forsaken of men; - a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; - and like one from whom men hide their face, He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. - SONG # 337, verse 1

4. At the end of His ministry – thousands had been fed – hundreds had been healed – yet the plan of God was reaching its inevitable conclusion – the SAVIOR MUST DIE.

a. On the night of His betrayal – Jesus inaugurated a memorial meal – to remind us of His purpose.

1) (I Cor. 11:23-26), "For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; - and when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said, ‘This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’ In the same way He took the cup also, after supper, saying, ‘This is My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes."

b. After the meal – Jesus went to Gethsemane – to Pilate – and ultimately to the cross.

1) The love which caused God to create us in the 1st place – is the same love which sent His Son

2) (Rom. 5:6-8), "While we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. – For one will hardly die for a righteous man, though perhaps for a good man someone would dare even to die. – But God demonstrates His own love for us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." - SONG #337, verses 2-4

5. If this was the end of our song – it would be a very sad song– BUT THERE IS ANOTHER VERSE.

a. It is the verse which gives us hope – the hope that takes us from this life to the next.

1) (Rom. 5:10), "For while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son; much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved BY HIS LIFE!."

2) If you want for the story of God – to be the song which you can joyfully sing – come now…Ou

b. SONG #345, verses 1-4

6. The story of God is about His love & gifts to us – He allows us to participate in this giving.

a. (Lk. 12:48), "From everyone who has been given much shall much be required."

b. SONG #464, verse 1

7. There is one last verse to our song – for the story is not yet over – For one day Jesus will come again.

a. (II Pt. 3:9-11) – SONG #712, verse 3