Justin Clark: We Are Church - Church Together, March 2017

Sermon Summary

Main Message

This message emphasizes the incredible gift of God bringing humanity to Himself, not just delivering us from sin or giving us eternal life, but making us His own children, allowing us to know Him intimately. We've been brought near to God through the blood of Christ, and now we have access to His presence, where we can experience the fullness of joy.

Key Scripture References

• Exodus 19:3-6 - This passage shows that God's greatest gift to Israel was not just delivering them from Egypt but bringing them near to Himself. He led them with a cloud by day and fire by night, promising to meet with them in the Tabernacle.
• Exodus 33:12-17 - Moses' plea for God's presence to be with Israel demonstrates that even the greatest leaders recognize that God's presence is the greatest gift. Without it, they wouldn't want any other blessings.
• 1 Peter 3:18 - Christ suffered and died on our behalf so we might become the righteousness of God, allowing us to come near to Him. This passage highlights the incredible sacrifice made by Jesus to bring us to God.
• 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 - Paul emphasizes that through Christ, we've been brought near to God and have access to His presence. The blood of Christ has reconciled us to God, and now we can come into His presence with confidence.
• Ephesians 2:13-22 - This passage explains how Christ broke down the wall of hostility between us and God, making peace through His flesh. We've been brought near to God by the blood of Christ, and now we can come into His presence with joy.
• Hebrews 11:6 - If anyone wants to draw near to God, they must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him. This verse emphasizes the importance of faith in seeking a relationship with God.

Main Points

The main points of this message are:

• God's greatest gift is not just delivering us from sin but bringing us near to Himself.
• We've been brought near to God through the blood of Christ, and now we have access to His presence.
• Christ suffered and died on our behalf so we might become the righteousness of God, allowing us to come near to Him.
• We must believe that God exists and rewards those who seek Him if we want to draw near to Him.
• The blood of Christ has reconciled us to God, and now we can come into His presence with confidence.

Application

This message challenges us to recognize the incredible gift of God bringing us near to Himself. We must respond by:

• Becoming aware of our access to God's presence through the blood of Christ.
• Believing that God exists and rewards those who seek Him, as emphasized in Hebrews 11:6.
• Diligently seeking a relationship with God, knowing that He will reward us with His presence.
• Not being distracted by the things of this world but prioritizing our relationship with God.

Conclusion

This message emphasizes the incredible gift of God bringing humanity to Himself. We've been brought near to God through the blood of Christ, and now we have access to His presence. Let us respond by believing in God's existence and rewards for those who seek Him, and diligently seeking a relationship with Him.