Romans 12:1-2

“By God’s mercy…offer yourself as a living sacrifice…do not conform but be transformed”
For any of us, we recognize what is being said here, but what does it mean? God has created you to become a man of God…a man of integrity…a man that others want to be like…a man who makes a difference in this world. As a father, mother, coach, athlete, or businessperson, is this you are doing?

We often go through life conforming to ideas of this world. One of those ideas is Justification – we all believe we are entitled to something. When you think you are justified, you think you are okay and require no penalty. You’re innocent. I can think of several examples where I felt justified. As a high schooler, I remember speeding over the Cooper River Bridge. I pulled up alongside aguy, who ended up being a police officer, in a hurry, I slowly started pulling away, and to my amazement, he just kept up with me. He pulled me over at the foot of the bridge and handed me a ticket for 96 in a 45. But I felt justified for speeding – he was the one racing me! As a high school football player, you mayfeel justified holding a defender, because if you didn’t then the quarterback would have been sacked. Lastly, on the football field, you might argue with your coach when he got on you for a bad play. You might holler at him because he was the one that called the play – it wasn’t my fault! You felt justified in yelling back.

What we need to know about Justification is it is when you stand before a judge or court and you want to be blameless. Justification before God is having the ability to stand before God completely pure.

The problem for us…is that there is nothing we can do to stand before God pure. In fact, the exact opposite is true. When we realize how great and amazing God is….we could never even stand before Him. In fact the Bible says this…
Romans 3:10-18As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away; they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” “Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The poison of vipers is on their lips.” “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.” “Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know.” “There is no fear of God before their eyes.

We are all messed up…there is not one of us who is Justified. All of us, when we are born, want to seek God and fear Him. We all have an innate desire to know God, but rarely do people get to a place of reverence and understanding for God.

Instead we have a greater reverence for man, than we do for God. Yet, when we have an opportunity to come before God, many of us come to Him like it’s no big deal. Do you realize that God is here right now? God is in our midst. The Bible promises that. Yet, we, including myself, don’t react to God’s presence. The Bible tells us that we are all messed up and that none of us truly seek after God and respect Him for who He is. Yet there is hope.

God, through sending Jesus Christ to die for us has made us right with Him. He has justified us. You see, if we were to stand before God by ourselves, then none of us can enter into God’s presence. However, God has made a way for us to enter into His presence and ultimately eternity in Heaven. That way is only through a relationship with Jesus Christ. The Bible says that you have been justified freely…but the key is that you must want it. You see, God is offering you a gift…an eternal gift. A gift of freedom, a gift of hope, a gift of life, but it is still a gift that you have to decide if you will choose or not.

In order to become justified, in right standing, with God…you must receive Jesus Christ into your life and begin living for him. Some of you have never received Christ into your life.….Some of you received Christ into your life at one point, but then have turned from Him for one reason or another…

Overtime:
Romans 3:21-24
John 14:6

Ernest Smith I Seacoast Church
Long Point Assistant Campus Pastor
p. 843-881-2100 x 1148
e. ernestsmith@seacoast.org
t. Ernest_Smith

Ernest was born in Charleston, SC, and after a brief period, 11 years, spent in Georgia, he came back to Charleston in 1994. After graduating from Wando High School, he went on to get his Bachelor's degree in Youth Ministry from Charleston Southern University and has since earned a MAR Degree and is continuing to earn his MDIV from Liberty University. Six months after graduating from CSU, Ernest married his lovely bride, Sara. Together they have a son, Wyatt Daniel Smith, and they live in Mt. Pleasant. Ernest was a Student Ministry Pastor for 5 years before moving into his role as a college/20 somethings Pastor. Ernest loves sports (Go Dawgs!), his family and Jesus! He attended FCA Black Mountain camp while in college and has spoken at several state and National FCA camps. He has served as a team chaplain for Wando football, College of Charleston men’s basketball, and shared the Gospel with more than 1000 area students through FCA meetings!