My name is Rob Hines, and I am a sinner. Just in case you didn’t know it, you are all sinners as well! Oh, I can see what the majority of you are thinking right now, it’s written all over your faces.

“Who is this young wiper snapper coming in here and telling me I’m a sinner. Hear that southern accent! must be one of them hell fire and brimstone teachers. Well, I’m here to tell you that I don’t sin! I’m a Christian!”

Or perhaps there are some of you who are sitting there thinking, “I’m not into this “Christian” movement, I’m a good person, I don’t really have anything to do with this whole sin thing. Just ask around, there’s no one to accuse me of sinning!”

Well, bear with me a second and lets look at the position, that says “I’m a good person! I haven’t anything to do with Gods rules! you aren’t talking about me! I’m not a sinner.” We have made some great advances in technology and some really amazing things are possible these days. Imagine that when you were born, they had an extremely tiny recording device that they assigned to you and it followed you around your whole life. Then, finally, you pass on and get your opportunity to stand before God.

God takes one look at you and say’s, “You are a sinner.” and you say “Whoa God! Those are harsh words. I didn’t have anything to do with your rules and regulations, I was enlightened, I was a good person by all accounts, what do your rules have to do with me, why would I be judged by what you say is right and wrong?”

Now lets imagine at this point that God abdicates, which is just a fancy way to say sets aside, His divine right as creator and say’s, “You know, you are right. I’ve decided that I’m not going to judge you by my rules! I’m going to judge you by your rules!” Whoot, you are thinking “Yes! My rules are the best! I’m good for paradise now!”

Then God reaches out and calls to the stand exhibit A, that little recorder that followed you through life. And He reaches out and hits the play button, and you hear yourself at two years old screaming, “Mine! Mine! You can’t take my stuff!” and God looks at you and says “Your made your first commandment ‘Thou shall not steal’! oh I like that one.” Then He fast forwards a little bit and you hear yourself at age seven saying, “You can’t lie to people, that’s wrong!”. . .

I suppose now you can see how this is going to play out. You have, of your own volition, painted yourself in a corner. Even if you don’t like to subscribe to God’s rules you can’t contradict the fact that you fail to even live by the standards you set for yourself and others around you, how much less the standards set by your Creator!

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Today we are going to review a passage from First Corinthians, but before we do so we will quickly review why Paul wrote this letter.

The city of Corinth was at the heart of a primary trade route in the ancient world. Like many cities that thrive on trade, Corinth had a reputation for sexual immorality, religious diversity, and corruption. The church that Paul planted there (Acts 18) floundered under all of these influences and began to divide over various issues. First Corinthians addresses many of the practical questions dividing the church—questions concerning such things as spiritual gifts, marriage, food offered to idols, and the resurrection. Paul urged the Corinthians to be unified and to give themselves fully to "the work of the Lord" (15:58). Chapter 13 includes a well-known passage on the nature and importance of love. Paul wrote this letter to the Corinthians from Ephesus in the spring of a.d. 55.

Now, Chapter Seven begins with a focus on the principles of marriage and ends with a treatise on the unmarried and widowed. Right in the middle we find a section, 1 Corinthians 7: 17-24, separating these two that discusses the way we are to live as we are called. This will be our focus today.

This scripture admonishes us to "lead the life that the Lord has assigned" us. We are to lead this life by keeping the "commands of God" regardless of what condition we were called. In a society where the vast majority of people buy into the philosophy that "the grass is always greener on the other side", it is important for those in God’s flock to pay attention to where He leads. Let me read this scripture and then make a few observations about it.

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There is a humorous old tale that speaks of a man who died and upon arriving in heaven faced the angel Gabriel at heaven’s gates. The angel said, "Here’s how it works. You need a hundred points to make it into heaven. You tell me all the good things you have done, and I will give a certain number of points for each of them. The more good there is in the work that you cite, the more points you will get for it. When you get to a hundred points, you get in."

"Okay," the man said, "I was married to the same woman for fifty years and never cheated on her, even in my heart."

Gabriel replied, "That’s wonderful. That’s worth three points."

"Three points?" said the man incredulously. "Well, I attended church all my life and supported its ministry with my money and service."

"Terrific!" said Gabriel, "that’s certainly worth a point."

"One point?" said the man with his eyes beginning to show a bit of panic. "Well, how about this: I opened a shelter for the homeless in my city, and fed needy people by the hundred during the holidays."

"Fantastic, that’s good for two more points," said the angel.

"TWO POINTS!" cried the man in desperation. "At this rate the only way I will get into heaven is by the grace of God."

"Come on in," said Gabriel.

Read this first Ephesians 2:1-10.

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Today we are going to take a quick peek at the book of Jude, weighing in with but one chapter of twenty four versus, it is one of the shortest books in the Bible, yet carries all of the weight of God’s word.

This letter warns against those who have infiltrated our church, perverting the grace of God and denying Christ. Jude provides us with a number of biblical examples, and then urges those true men of faith to persevere in Godliness and love.

Let’s read Jude quickly and then I will make some observations on this text. I will be reading from the English Standard Version, so please bear with me if your translation does not follow word for word.

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