I. Introduction
A. Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge
1. The highest bridge in the world opened last year. It stands 2050 feet above the Beipan River. The entire Empire State Building could fit underneath it with 600 feet to spare. It cuts the travel time across the canyon from 2 hours to 2 minutes!
2. Bridges are architectural and structural wonders; however, this morning I’d like for us to think about the bridge that allows us to cross another valley—one that is much more important for us find a way across: the valley of sin.
B. Background on the Text
1. Paul’s message calls both converts from Judaism and paganism to understand their need for Jesus and what He has achieved for all who obey His will.
2. In chapter three, his focus is on how we become righteous before God. It’s not through the Law or Prophets—it’s through Jesus.
3. In our passage, Paul shares some troubling news: ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
4. Paul doesn’t leave us with no hope, though. He provides reassurance that there is a way to find God, no matter how deep into the valley of sin we find ourselves.
II. Bridging the Valley of Sin
A. Sin Creates a
1. When we sin, we become from God. (Isaiah 59:1-2)
a. We are not born sinful; we to sin and fall to personal temptation. (Ezekiel 18:1-24).
b. Sin has been a since the beginning (Genesis 31-24).
c. Sin results in spiritual (Romans 6:23).
d. Sin everything good, and yet, sin is enticing because it promises to make us feel good or look good. The problem is, it can’t deliver on the promises it makes to you (1 John 2:15-17).
2. Illustration: Satan loves to catfish you. Catfishing has been popular for several years, but technology has driven it to new heights. You don’t have to look far to find some pretty outrageous catfishing accounts where people have been tricked into thinking they are in love with someone who isn’t even real (e.g., Notre Dame football star Manti Te’O in 20212). Often, victims of catfishing are scammed out of money, leaving people devastated in their wake.
3. Here’s more bad news about sin: we cannot reconcile our sins on our own; we’re .
4. But God has made a way. God has built a bridge.
B. Jesus is the
1. Reconciliation with God is possible through Jesus. Jesus is the bridge that allows us to rise above the valley of sin and with God.
a. John 14:6
b. Romans 6:23
2. Jesus is our .
a. In our passage, many of our translations include a word that we don’t use in our everyday communication, propitiation.
b. The Greek word translated as “propitiation” (ἱλαστήριον) is explained by Greek scholars such as Bill Mounce as an atoning sacrifice.
c. The Greek word ἱλαστήριον includes the idea that Jesus is offered as a sacrifice to appease God’s wrath against our sin.
d. Jesus became the atoning sacrifice that removed the wrath of God for my sin. (Romans 1:18)
3. & Redeemed
a. Because of this sacrifice, we can be found not guilty of our sins before God.
b. This isn’t the same thing as being innocent; we are guilty because we sin, but God has allowed someone else to pay the debt for our sin. That is the redeeming act of Christ on the cross (Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24).
c. In verse 26, Paul reminds us that God is both just and the justifier. What does that mean? MacArthur summarizes it well as he states, “Because of [God’s] justice, no sin will ever go unpunished; yet because of His grace, no sin is beyond forgiveness.”
d. Jesus has paid the ransom set against our lives by the master of sin (Romans 3:9). Jesus is the sacrifice that paid the debt for the sin in my life (redemption).
4. Because of Him, we can stand before God and receive the blessing of having our sins forgiven so that we don’t stay in the valley of sin.
C. is the Destination
1. Bridges make it possible for us to traverse valleys, gorges, and rivers so that we can arrive at a destination we could not before.
2. We often talk about heaven being our destination, which is true, but we have to back up a little.
3. The real destination is our because it impacts us now, not just in eternity.
a. If we have salvation for our sins, it means we have a restored relationship with God right now, not just in eternity.
b. The of living the saved life makes all the difference in this life, not just the next.
c. 1 John 5:13
d. While John is writing to assure us of our eternal salvation, he is writing to people who need to hear it while they are journeying through this life.
e. Hebrews 10:19-22
f. 1 Thessalonians 5:9
4. God has given us in salvation, allowing us to face each day with hope and certainty.
III. Conclusion
A. Valleys
1. There are highs and lows to all our lives.
2. At some point, all of us will personally walk through the valley of the shadow of death, or we’ll walk through it with someone we love deeply in our lives.
3. God made a way for us to rise above the valleys in life; that way is Jesus.
B. The Way
1. I mentioned a moment ago that just because a bridge has been built, doesn’t mean everyone will use it. The same is true with Jesus as the bridge.
2. God has provided a way to salvation; our role is to follow His will and way so that we reach the destination that leads to Him.
a. Galatians 3:27 tells us, “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
b. Peter also challenges us to consider that baptism is essential for our salvation when he is inspired to write, “Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a clean conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 3:21)
3. If you have not been baptized into Christ, it means you are outside of Christ. It means you are stuck in the valley of sin.
a. It doesn’t mean you don’t believe in God. It doesn’t mean you’re a horrible person.
b. It means you are trying to build your own bridge and make your own way instead of trusting God’s Word and His will.
4. This morning, do you need to make Jesus your bridge?