00:00Act II Revolt If you've ever felt like you're too sinful
00:09to be loved by God, then spend some time reading the Bible.
00:13The Bible is a record book of some epic sinning.
00:17In just the fourth chapter, one brother murders another in a jealous rage.
00:23The Egyptians brutally enslaved the Israelites and committed infanticide.
00:28The Pharisees and Sadducees distorted God's law and exploited their positions of power.
00:34Even David, a man whom God appointed as king over Israel, raped and murdered.
00:40So Act II in God's story is called Revolt, because it's about how sin creates a separation
00:47between humanity and God that we cannot repair.
00:51God's image-bearing creation, humans, revolted against their loving Creator, condemning ourselves
00:57to eternity without Him.
00:59It started in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve deliberately disobeyed God's command.
01:05As Romans 5.12 says, Sin entered the world, through them and death came to all people,
01:12because all sinned.
01:14But this Act in God's story contains some good news, too.
01:18As soon as Adam and Eve committed that first sin, God began to pursue them.
01:24He immediately set a plan in motion for their redemption, promising that one day, a Savior
01:29would come.
01:31God still pursues and redeems sinners.
01:34If you take a minute to honestly, quietly reflect upon your life, you can probably think
01:39of sinful things you've done.
01:42Lies you've told.
01:43Things you've stolen.
01:45Times when you've treated others cruelly.
01:48Scripture is clear, all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
01:53But just as God provided for Adam and Eve, just as He freed the Israelites and forgave
01:58King David, so God will free, forgive, and provide for you, too.
02:04While we revolt, God redeems.
02:06Reflection.
02:08When has sin made it feel like God was far away?
02:11What did you do?
02:13Can you think of something you want to confess to God right now?
02:17Based on 1 John 1 verse 9, take a minute and meditate on how God has forgiven you of
02:23your sin.
02:24Prayer.
02:25Dear God, thank you for forgiving me.
02:28You know what I've done.
02:30You know how far I can stray sometimes, yet you love me and forgive me.
02:35Thank you for seeking me out when I'm hiding in shame.
02:38Thank you for being a God who frees and forgives.
02:42Amen.
