Speakers: Pastor James Melton

Gen. 1:26-28

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. 28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

To Whom Do We Belong?

Gen. 3:1-7

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

Adam should have taken out the serpent, but was afraid. How many times have you known what the right thing was in a situation, but remained silent instead?

Gen. 3:15

I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

Ending the lies

What are the lies we believe? The lies are about God, and because they attack His identity, cause us to question our own identity.

• God’s words cannot be trusted (so I will be truthful)
• God does not really love us (so I'll love others)
• God did not make us to be like Him - we’re lesser (so I'll make everyone equal)
• God rules over us as if we’re slaves, keeping us from being free (so I'll tear down hierarchy)

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. Romans 16:20a

The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:8b

Trading Places

Because Jesus was hung on a tree of death, we can have the tree of life.

Once we had nothing to hide from God’s sight or anyone else’s. When we lost our original righteousness, we had to cover ourselves and hide from the eyes of others (Genesis 2:24–3:24).

Now our shame and guilt need to be covered with God’s grace. Because Jesus was stripped naked on the cross, we can be clothed in a robe of righteousness (Isaiah 61:10).

Who is Christ to you?

Rom. 5:12 (NLT)

When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.

Rom. 3:23 (NLT)

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

Rom. 6:23

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Who is God to you?

• Is He savior?
• Then what is He saving you from? Hell? The consequences of your actions? Or is He saving you from being someone you’re not supposed to be?
• Is He Lord?
• Is God who you obey so that you get what you want? Or is God worthy to love and to trust, and He’s all you want?
• Is He trustworthy?
• Does God have our best interest at heart, or His own? Will I really find joy in obeying Him, or will I be miserable? 
• Is He loving?
• Are there conditions for God’s love that I either embrace Him or go to Hell? Or is God’s love unconditional, that Jesus traded places with me?

You must decide for yourself about Jesus. The Bible has worked hard to show us that for all our experiences as humans, Christ can relate. And He wants a relationship. He seeks to redeem us.

We are loved sinners in Christ—so loved that we don’t have to despair when we do wrong, so sinful that we have no right to be arrogant when we do what is good.

1 Cor. 15:47-49 says “The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven. 48 As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man.”

He made a way to fix our mess by bringing us to the tree of life. Yes, a cross, but through it like a gate to where a city without blemish awaits. A place of perfection where you’re meant to be if you would choose Jesus. Jesus was stripped naked so that you could wear His robes.

Isa. 61:10 (NLT)

I am overwhelmed with joy in the LORD my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. I am like a bridegroom dressed for his wedding or a bride with her jewels.

Rev. 22:14 (NLT)

Blessed are those who wash their robes. They will be permitted to enter through the gates of the city [of Heaven] and eat the fruit from the tree of life.

Matt. 18:2-4

Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. 3 Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. 4 So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.

It's time to let go of your fears, your failures, and your pride. It's time to trust the Father and jump in.