Why Are We Here Why Are We Here Today?Today?

The Only Hope of The Only Hope of MankindMankindIs Jesus Christ!Is Jesus Christ!

John 14:6John 14:6Acts 4:12Acts 4:12

In the Beginning…In the Beginning… Genesis 1Genesis 1

There was God – Father, Son, & There was God – Father, Son, & H.S.H.S.

God created all we see & know.God created all we see & know. God created many things we don’t God created many things we don’t

know about as well!know about as well! God God lovedloved His creation from the His creation from the

start.start.

A Paradise for MankindA Paradise for Mankind

Genesis 1-2Genesis 1-2

God created Adam & EveGod created Adam & Eve He placed them in a paradise called He placed them in a paradise called

the Garden of Edenthe Garden of Eden He put two trees in the middle of itHe put two trees in the middle of it Their sole duty was to live there in Their sole duty was to live there in

peace and in obedience to Godpeace and in obedience to God The world seems perfect!The world seems perfect!

Enter the TempterEnter the Tempter Genesis 3Genesis 3

God gives directions to Adam & EveGod gives directions to Adam & Eve Satan appears as a snake and lies Satan appears as a snake and lies

to Eve. to Eve. Eve believes Satan’s lie.Eve believes Satan’s lie. She disobeys GodShe disobeys God She shares her sin with AdamShe shares her sin with Adam

No Wonder God Hates Lies!No Wonder God Hates Lies!

Sin Enters the WorldSin Enters the World Genesis 3-4Genesis 3-4

Adam & Eve are banished from EdenAdam & Eve are banished from Eden The snake is cursed by GodThe snake is cursed by God Adam & Eve are condemned to a life Adam & Eve are condemned to a life

of toil and painof toil and pain The Tree of Life is taken to HeavenThe Tree of Life is taken to Heaven Cain murders his brother AbelCain murders his brother Abel

What is Sin?What is Sin? Sin is breaking God’s Word – 1 John Sin is breaking God’s Word – 1 John

5:175:17 “ “all unrighteousness is sin”all unrighteousness is sin”

Sin is our choice – James 1:14Sin is our choice – James 1:14“…“…each one is tempted when he is carried each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. When lust away and enticed by his own lust. When lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished it brings forth death.”sin is accomplished it brings forth death.”

All have sinned – Romans 5:12 All have sinned – Romans 5:12 ““……through one man sin entered into the through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, for all have sinned.”spread to all men, for all have sinned.”

Sin SpreadsSin Spreads Genesis 6Genesis 6

In just a few generations, all kinds of In just a few generations, all kinds of sinful behavior spread into the sinful behavior spread into the minds and hearts of all people.minds and hearts of all people.

Violence fills the world. The intent of Violence fills the world. The intent of every man’s heart is always evil.every man’s heart is always evil.

God can no longer accept even the God can no longer accept even the existence of mankind.existence of mankind.

The FloodThe FloodGenesis 7-9Genesis 7-9

God destroys all life on the face of the God destroys all life on the face of the earth by sending rains to make a earth by sending rains to make a floodflood

God directs the one righteous man God directs the one righteous man living to make a large boat (ark) and living to make a large boat (ark) and fill it with living thingsfill it with living things

From the ark, God restores life and From the ark, God restores life and living things to the world after the living things to the world after the floodflood

Mankind Starts OverMankind Starts Over Genesis 10Genesis 10

Noah’s descendants repopulate earthNoah’s descendants repopulate earth One people, one languageOne people, one language Again, they become willful and evilAgain, they become willful and evil They build the Tower of BabelThey build the Tower of Babel God confuses their languageGod confuses their language God scatters them across the earthGod scatters them across the earth

AbrahamAbraham Genesis 12-25Genesis 12-25

Of all mankind, God chooses Abraham Of all mankind, God chooses Abraham and makes a covenant with himand makes a covenant with him

If Abraham would serve Him, God would If Abraham would serve Him, God would make a great nation from his make a great nation from his descendants, & bless the whole worlddescendants, & bless the whole world

This is the beginning of the promise of This is the beginning of the promise of the Messiah and the nation of Israelthe Messiah and the nation of Israel

Sin in Sodom & Sin in Sodom & GomorrahGomorrah

Genesis 19Genesis 19

Meanwhile, mankind’s sin increasesMeanwhile, mankind’s sin increases These two cities are filled with These two cities are filled with

sexual perversion to the extent that sexual perversion to the extent that the men of Sodom try to assault the men of Sodom try to assault angelsangels

God destroys these cities and their God destroys these cities and their lands with fire from Heavenlands with fire from Heaven

The Rise of IsraelThe Rise of Israel Genesis 26 – Exodus Genesis 26 – Exodus

11

The descendants of Abraham’s The descendants of Abraham’s grandson Jacob become the nation grandson Jacob become the nation of Israel .of Israel .

Israel comes to Egypt while Jacob’s Israel comes to Egypt while Jacob’s son Joseph rules under Pharaoh.son Joseph rules under Pharaoh.

Israel remains in Egypt for 430 Israel remains in Egypt for 430 years. The Egyptians enslave them. years. The Egyptians enslave them.

Moses Leads IsraelMoses Leads IsraelExodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers,

DeuteronomyDeuteronomy

God appoints Moses to be Israel’s God appoints Moses to be Israel’s first prophet and leaderfirst prophet and leader

By the hand of Moses, God leads By the hand of Moses, God leads Israel out of EgyptIsrael out of Egypt

On Mt. Sinai, Moses gave the Old On Mt. Sinai, Moses gave the Old Law to Israel as he was directed Law to Israel as he was directed to by Godto by God

The Law of MosesThe Law of MosesExodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers,

DeuteronomyDeuteronomy

Governed the moral conduct and Governed the moral conduct and worship of Israelworship of Israel

Centered on animal blood Centered on animal blood sacrificesacrifice

Sacrifices had to be done on their Sacrifices had to be done on their appointed days to cover the sins appointed days to cover the sins of Israelof Israel

Israel SinsIsrael Sins

In the desert, on the way to Canaan, In the desert, on the way to Canaan, the land promised by God to the land promised by God to Abraham’s descendants:Abraham’s descendants:The Israelites complain against GodThe Israelites complain against GodThey make an idol and worship itThey make an idol and worship itThey fail to trust and to glorify GodThey fail to trust and to glorify God

God punishes Israel: 40 years of God punishes Israel: 40 years of wanderingwandering

The Kingdom of IsraelThe Kingdom of IsraelJoshua - 2 Joshua - 2

ChroniclesChronicles

Time passes, God’s blessings flowTime passes, God’s blessings flow Israel conquers Canaan and Israel conquers Canaan and

becomes a glorious kingdombecomes a glorious kingdom Israel is made strong – not by its Israel is made strong – not by its

wealth or its armies…wealth or its armies… But by God’s powerful & glorious But by God’s powerful & glorious

hand!hand!

The Prophets of IsraelThe Prophets of Israel Exodus – 2 Chronicles, Isaiah - Exodus – 2 Chronicles, Isaiah -

MalachiMalachi

God also gave Israel the prophets to God also gave Israel the prophets to warn and remind them of God’s willwarn and remind them of God’s will

The prophets spoke of the Messiah – The prophets spoke of the Messiah – God’s God’s anointed oneanointed one

The Messiah would bring a new Way The Messiah would bring a new Way for all nations to become God’s peoplefor all nations to become God’s people

Even the Law of Moses could not fully Even the Law of Moses could not fully take away sin from a human soultake away sin from a human soul

The Pagan NationsThe Pagan Nations The Law & prophets were for The Law & prophets were for

IsraelIsrael God still held the pagan nations God still held the pagan nations

to the same moral law as He to the same moral law as He always hadalways had

God did send prophets to the God did send prophets to the pagans to warn them as wellpagans to warn them as well

Sin in the KingdomSin in the KingdomJoshua - 2 Joshua - 2

ChroniclesChronicles

Satan does not rest, disobedience & Satan does not rest, disobedience & idolatry spread in Israelidolatry spread in Israel

The prophets come & go. They warn The prophets come & go. They warn Israel that God will destroy them if Israel that God will destroy them if the nation is not faithful to Himthe nation is not faithful to Him

God excuses Israel many timesGod excuses Israel many times But the sin continues, more & But the sin continues, more &

more…more…

God judges IsraelGod judges Israel 2 Kings & 2 2 Kings & 2

ChroniclesChronicles

God ends His protection of Israel God ends His protection of Israel just as the prophets warnedjust as the prophets warned

Israel is taken captive by pagan Israel is taken captive by pagan nations and suffer as slavesnations and suffer as slaves

God also destroys the pagan God also destroys the pagan nations around Israel because of nations around Israel because of their idolatrytheir idolatry

Do You See A Pattern?Do You See A Pattern? To those who serve Him faithfully –To those who serve Him faithfully –

favor, promise, and salvationfavor, promise, and salvation To the sinful and ungodly -To the sinful and ungodly -

punishment and deathpunishment and deathGod does not tolerate sin!God does not tolerate sin!

Mankind will not stop sinning!Mankind will not stop sinning!

A Remnant ReturnsA Remnant ReturnsEzra & NehemiahEzra & Nehemiah

Even after such sin & in slavery, Even after such sin & in slavery, God does not forget His people and God does not forget His people and the promise He made to Abrahamthe promise He made to Abraham

After 70 years, about 50,000 Jews After 70 years, about 50,000 Jews are freed by Cyrus king of Persia to are freed by Cyrus king of Persia to return to Jerusalemreturn to Jerusalem

They rebuild the city and restore They rebuild the city and restore the temple worship & Law of Mosesthe temple worship & Law of Moses

400 Silent Years400 Silent Years Israel never again finds its old gloryIsrael never again finds its old glory The prophets fall silentThe prophets fall silent The Jews, ignored by the rest of the The Jews, ignored by the rest of the

world, split into sects & squabbleworld, split into sects & squabble One empire after another rules the One empire after another rules the

area of Palestinearea of Palestine

Where is the Messiah?Where is the Messiah? The world pursues its course of The world pursues its course of

lust and self-indulgencelust and self-indulgence The Jews become both sinful and The Jews become both sinful and

self-righteousself-righteous They expect the Messiah to They expect the Messiah to

restore the glory of the old restore the glory of the old kingdom of Israelkingdom of Israel

BethlehemBethlehem Matthew, LukeMatthew, Luke

About 4 BC, Jesus of Nazareth is bornAbout 4 BC, Jesus of Nazareth is born Angels announce His birth to mere Angels announce His birth to mere

shepherds in the fieldsshepherds in the fields Satan, using King Herod, tries to kill Satan, using King Herod, tries to kill

Jesus, but fails to find HimJesus, but fails to find Him

The Messiah has come at last!The Messiah has come at last!Matthew 1:21Matthew 1:21

The Gospel of PeaceThe Gospel of PeaceMatthew, Mark, Luke & Matthew, Mark, Luke &

JohnJohn Jesus grows up & begins to preachJesus grows up & begins to preach He is baptized by John the BaptizerHe is baptized by John the Baptizer He does many, many public miraclesHe does many, many public miracles He preaches the Gospel to all the peopleHe preaches the Gospel to all the people The Gospel is The Gospel is Good NewsGood News for all of us for all of us God has solved the problem of sinGod has solved the problem of sin Salvation from sin is Salvation from sin is freefree to all to allIndeed, the Messiah has come at last!Indeed, the Messiah has come at last!

Satan opposes JesusSatan opposes Jesus Jesus is not who the Jews expectedJesus is not who the Jews expected They refuse His TruthThey refuse His Truth Jews become jealous of his Jews become jealous of his

popularitypopularity They plot His death in secretThey plot His death in secret Jesus continues to teachJesus continues to teach Satan cannot stop the GospelSatan cannot stop the Gospel

The Power of the The Power of the GospelGospel

““For I am not ashamed of the For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who for salvation to everyone who believes…for in it the believes…for in it the righteousness of God is righteousness of God is revealed…”revealed…”

Romans 1:16-17Romans 1:16-17

The Ultimate SacrificeThe Ultimate SacrificeMatthew, Mark, Luke & Matthew, Mark, Luke &

JohnJohn Jesus is seized by the Jews in the Jesus is seized by the Jews in the

dead of nightdead of night He is “tried” before dawnHe is “tried” before dawn He is convicted of blasphemy!He is convicted of blasphemy! The Jews manipulate the RomansThe Jews manipulate the Romans Jesus is crucified at JerusalemJesus is crucified at Jerusalem

Why the Cross?Why the Cross? Remission of sins requires a price Remission of sins requires a price Matt Matt

20:2820:28 Animal blood will not satisfy Animal blood will not satisfy Heb 9:12Heb 9:12 God sent His Son to shed His blood – the God sent His Son to shed His blood – the

perfect sacrifice for sin perfect sacrifice for sin John 3:14-17John 3:14-17 Jesus gave Himself Jesus gave Himself Ephesians 1:7, Col 1:14Ephesians 1:7, Col 1:14 Jesus died once for all mankind Jesus died once for all mankind Hebrews Hebrews

2:92:9

Resurrection!Resurrection! Three days later, on Sunday, God Three days later, on Sunday, God

raised Jesus from the dead.raised Jesus from the dead. He walked out of His grave alive!He walked out of His grave alive! His disciples came to the grave and His disciples came to the grave and

found it open & empty.found it open & empty. For the next 50 days, Jesus For the next 50 days, Jesus

appeared alive to His disciples appeared alive to His disciples many times.many times.

Why the Resurrection?Why the Resurrection? Because Jesus lives, so shall all Because Jesus lives, so shall all

Christians live eternallyChristians live eternally John 11:25John 11:25 To show that He is Christ To show that He is Christ Acts 17:3Acts 17:3 God will raise us, too! God will raise us, too! 2 Cor. 4:142 Cor. 4:14 To make us dead to sinTo make us dead to sin

& alive to God & alive to God Romans 6:8-11Romans 6:8-11

Salvation is for You, Salvation is for You, TodayToday Hear & Believe – Hear & Believe – Romans 10:13-15, 17Romans 10:13-15, 17

Acts 16:31Acts 16:31 Confess Christ – Confess Christ – Romans 10:9-10Romans 10:9-10 Repent of your sins – Repent of your sins – Acts 2:38Acts 2:38 Be baptized to have your sins erasedBe baptized to have your sins erased

Mark 16:15-16, Acts 2:38Mark 16:15-16, Acts 2:38

Now is the Time!Now is the Time!

You Can Choose!You Can Choose!Right here, Right nowRight here, Right nowThe Chance for Salvation has The Chance for Salvation has

come come to each of us as to each of us as well.well.

Do You Believe?Do You Believe? That Jesus was born the Messiah, That Jesus was born the Messiah,

the Christ, the Son of God?the Christ, the Son of God? That He lived and died and was That He lived and died and was

raised to life again by God the raised to life again by God the Father?Father?

That He lives in heaven today?That He lives in heaven today?

Do You Understand?Do You Understand? That SIN is disobedience to God – That SIN is disobedience to God –

the violation of His laws for all the violation of His laws for all mankind?mankind?

That ALL people have sinned and That ALL people have sinned and are therefore sinners in need of are therefore sinners in need of salvation?salvation?

And that this means you too, friend?And that this means you too, friend?

Are You Ready?Are You Ready? To To REPENTREPENT of your sins? of your sins? To openly To openly CONFESSCONFESS Jesus the Jesus the

Christ as your Lord and Savior?Christ as your Lord and Savior? To live a life of peace in To live a life of peace in

OBEDIENCEOBEDIENCE to the Gospel of Jesus to the Gospel of Jesus Christ?Christ?

You are Ready to be You are Ready to be Baptized!Baptized! What can keep you from being What can keep you from being

baptized?baptized? Acts 8:26-Acts 8:26-3939

Even after 2000 years, the saving Even after 2000 years, the saving power of the blood of Jesus Christ power of the blood of Jesus Christ is just as strong as ever.is just as strong as ever.

Live Forever in Live Forever in Heaven!Heaven!““This is the promise that He hasThis is the promise that He haspromised us: eternal life!” promised us: eternal life!” 1 John 1 John

2:252:25

““And this is the record, that God hasAnd this is the record, that God hasgiven to us eternal life, and this life is given to us eternal life, and this life is

ininHis Son.”His Son.” 1 John 5:111 John 5:11

Is there any other Is there any other choice?choice?““How shall we escape if we How shall we escape if we

neglect so great a neglect so great a salvation?”salvation?”

Hebrews 2:3Hebrews 2:3