Sins of Relationships: A Right Relationship with God

Many struggle with sinful relationships and the root of this struggle is because they are not in a right relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ.

Notes

Transcript

Sermon Tone Analysis

Emotion

Language

Social

View more →

Introduction

We are surrounded by relationships. We find relationships with in our families, our careers, our neighborhoods, our schools, and the list could go on. Some of those relationships are strong and others just there. Some of those relationships are good, while others not so much. Most all, if not all of our relationships, can be categorized into three categories: our relationship with God, our relationship within our family, and finally our relationship with others.

Over the next three weeks we’ll continue our current series, A Return to Holiness, and more specifically about sins of relationships. Where I could begin with our relationships with others or the home, but I believe the most important relationship that any of us will ever have is with the Lord. If we do not get our relationship with God in order first, the other relationships within our life, family or others, will never be in right alignment. So begin there. We begin with the question, Am I in a right relationship with God or are there areas that need to be addressed?

Opening Passage

Deuteronomy 6:4–6 KJV

4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: 5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. 6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:

Outline

How do you know if you are in a right relationship with God? There are several questions that one needs to ask themselves and then honestly answer the questions for themselves. So, what are these questions that one must ask to see whether they are in a right relationship with God?

Our relationship with God begins with a relationship with Jesus. We must ask questions that deal with our relationship with Jesus first.

A right relationship with God begins with a personal relationship with Jesus Christ

1. You must ask the question, do I know Jesus or do I know of Jesus?

a. You can believe in God (Jm 2:19)

James 2:19 KJV

19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

b. You can acknowledge who Jesus is (Mt. 8:28-29)

Matthew 8:28–29 KJV

28 And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way. 29 And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?

c. But do you believe in Jesus

Many within and without the church find themselves calling themselves, “Christian,” but in reality they are lost. They have fallen into the trap, I was born Christian. Or I have been to church my whole life and of course I’m saved. However, what we find within the Scripture, as we just read, that you can believe in God and acknowledge Jesus and who He is, but this does not equate salvation. It is more than just believing about or acknowledging Jesus, but it is when you believe in and trust in Jesus Christ through faith (abandonment of self and surrendering of self to Jesus).

2. You must ask the question, if I only know of Jesus, then how do I get to know Jesus?

a. For one to know Jesus, they must first acknowledge they are a sinner (Rm 3:10, 23)

Romans 3:10 KJV

10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Romans 3:23 KJV

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

b. For one to know Jesus, they must second confess and repent of their sin (1 Jn 1:9; Lk 24:47)

1 John 1:9 KJV

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Luke 24:47 KJV

47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

c. For one to know Jesus, they must place their faith in Jesus for the remission of sin by calling on His holy name (Jn 1:12-13; 1 Ti 2:5; Rm 10:13; Ac 4:12)

John 1:12–13 KJV

12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

1 Timothy 2:5 KJV

5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

Romans 10:13 KJV

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Acts 4:12 KJV

12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

3. You must ask the question, if I know Jesus, am I public about my faith in Jesus?

a. Have I been public through the obedience of believer’s baptism (Mt 28:19; Ac 8:36-37)

Matthew 28:19 KJV

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Acts 8:36–37 KJV

36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

b. Have I been public through sharing my relationship with Christ to others (Mt 10:32-33)

Matthew 10:32–33 KJV

32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

Not only must we be sure of our relationship with Jesus Christ to be in a right relationship with God, we must understand...

A right relationship with God is continued through faithfulness

For one to be in a right relationship with God, they must be obedient to the Word of God. They must be a faithful to God. They must be faithful in all areas. As we look through Scriptures, we must ask the question, Am I faithful?

1. Am I faithful in bible study (Ps 119:11; Jsh 1:8)

One cannot truly call themselves faithful to God, nor claim a right relationship with God, without a consistent dose of God’s Word being in their life. Without us knowing the Word of God and allowing that word to penetrate our heart, how do we know when we have sinned. The Word of God teaches what is right and what is wrong.

Psalm 119:11 KJV

11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

We should be committed to a daily practice of studying the Word of God. How often do you spend reading the Word. As God told Joshua as He was giving Him His charge to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land, This book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it (Jos 1:8 NASB).

Can it truly be said of you, of me, that our delight is in the Law of the LORD, and on His Law he meditates day and night (Ps 1:2 NASB), or that the Law of our God is in our hearts that we shall not stumble in our daily walk with Him (Ps 37:31). Do we love and allow our minds to fixate on the Word as the Psalmist write, How I love Your Law! It is my meditation all the day (Ps 119:97 NASB).

2. Am I faithful in prayer (1 Th 5:17; Php 4:6)

How often do you spend time with God in prayer? Paul wrote to the Thessalonian believers:

1 Thessalonians 5:17 KJV

17 Pray without ceasing.

He again wrote to the church at Philippi, Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let you requests be known to God (Php 4:6 NASB).

3. Am I faithful in service (Eph 2:10)

Are you serving faithfully within the body of Christ? There is an 80/20 rule within the church that is not a good rule. The rule states that 80% of the church rest on the work and giving of the remaining 20% of the church. However, this is not what God wants from His children. He has created us to serve. He has created us to minister. These gifts and talents that God has given and each and everyone of us was purposeful and intentional. It was not for nothing. As the apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesian believers:

Ephesians 2:10 KJV

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

4. Am I faithful in worship attendance (Heb 10:25)

Hebrews 10:25 KJV

25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

5. Am I faithful in giving (Mal 3:8-10)

Malachi 3:8–10 KJV

8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. 9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. 10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

One would naturally know that stealing and robbing is wrong. It would be even more obvious that robbing God would be the utmost wrong. However, we find people do this every day without any conviction. As the prophet Malachi spoke to the Israelites, Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me.

They are like many in the church, maybe even you here today, are asking the question, Wherein have we robbed thee?

God has an answer. They then and many today, are robbing God in the same way, in tithes and offerings. Notice God’s distinction between the tithe and offerings. Many today see them as the same, but as found within the Scripture, God makes it plain, they are not. If one is to be faithful to God, they must faithfully give. They must faithfully give their tithe (1st 10% of their first fruits not the leftovers) and they must faithfully give an offering, anything above and beyond the tithe.

When one withholds their tithes and offerings from God, they rob God, rob themselves of God’s favor (v.10), and worst, find themselves under the judgment of God (v.9)

6. Am I faithful to obey (Jn 14:15; 1 Jn 2:5-6)

John 14:15 KJV

15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

1 John 2:5–6 KJV

5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

7. Am I faithful all the way (Dt 6:4-6; Jm 2:10)

Deuteronomy 6:4–6 KJV

James 2:10 KJV

10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

. Am I faithful all the way (Dt 6:4-6; Jm 2:10)

Conclusion

I conclude with this. I ask that everyone bows their head and closes their eyes and forgets about everyone else within the sanctuary. I want you take every other relationship that you have, family, friends, co-workers, husband, wife, children, grand children, boyfriends, and/or girlfriends and remove them from your mind. I want you to place yourself in a room by yourself. I want you to envision standing in a room and there is no one in that room but you and God. The purpose of this encounter is to discuss your relationship with God. He’s going to answer two questions for you: He will answer the question if you even have a relationship with Him and how well that relationship is going.

How will He answer the first question, the most important question, Do you have a relationship with God? That is answered by the question, do you know of Jesus or know Jesus? Have confessed that you are sinner, repented of your sin, and placed your faith in Christ alone? I’m not asking if you have been good? If you have done the whole church thing? I’m asking if you have a relationship with Jesus Christ. Because this is the will of the Father.

Matthew 7:21–23 KJV

21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

It is of utmost important to make sure your salvation. If you do not know Jesus as Lord and Savior and/or not assured of that, now is time to make sure.

If you move forward and you know you have are saved. God has affirmed this by His Spirit testifying with your spirit of this truth, and next He addresses whether your relationship with Him is right.

He begins to discuss your personal devotional time and prayer time. What does He say? He next moves to address your faithfulness to corporate worship, your serve within the body of Christ, and your financial support through tithes and offerings? What does He say? Finally, God moves forward to address the ultimate test of your love for Him, faithfulness to His Word, faithful in every way, all the way. What does He say?

Let’s be honest this morning! If you have never been honest with yourself, let it be today. The most important relationship you will ever have is your relationship with God. If your relationship with God is not settled now, all your other relationships will never be right. How many of us need to repent of the relationship we have (if we have one at all) with God. Our repentance is not needed because of God, but because of us. Do you need to make a decision in the here and now? Do not let this time pass without being sure. As Paul wrote to the church at Corinth:

2 Corinthians 6:2 NASB 2020

2 for He says, “At a favorable time I listened to you, And on a day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is “a favorable time,” behold, now is “a day of salvation”—

Related Media

Related Sermons