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Basic Training 1: Sin and Depravity Allen R. Hunt Mount Pisgah
Eph. 2.1-10 2/25/07 (with thanks to Larry Osborne)
I. Basics start at UNC Chapel Hill – friends Mark/Jan Edwards attended there
Apparently, we’ve all been singing one of my favorite Christmas carols incorrectly
Their daughter, Ainsley, 3, was singing it recently
Listening to her, we learned that the words are "Hark, the hair of angels sing..."
When her mom told her that the word was really "herald",
She asked, "Who's Harold, and what does he have to do with the angels?"
To which a family friend replied, “He’s first cousin of Round John Virgin”

But gotta go from Chapel Hill to Columbus if you want to learn the basics
Enjoyed last weekend with “Gary”, 22, and his family – highly intelligent young man
Student at Carolina – floundering a bit in life – so enlisted in Infantry of Army
In 13 weeks of training at Ft. Benning this Fall – he learned basics (discipline, skills)
When we met him again last weekend – a new man – purpose, confidence
Had found direction again because he learned the basics

This series is about the basics – spiritual basic training
Teaching series to ground your life in 5 basic truths of Christian
And truth is a slippery thing in our culture
Where Hollywood, Oprah, ET, and Political correctness rein

What We’d All Like to Believe (and what the Culture teaches us)
1) At our core, we are all basically good – “trust your inner spirit”
2) God’s family includes everyone – “inclusiveness”
3) God is more concerned with sincerity than truth – “believe what is true for you”
But our series will focus on
WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS And Life Confirms! Ephesians 2:1-10
Begin today in revolutionary passage of Scripture – John Wesley, Martin Luther

Basic training 1) Without Jesus, we are spiritually dead
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient… (2.1-2)
Theologically, that means:
 Separated from God & unable to discern spiritual truth (Rom. 5.12; 1 Cor. 2.14; Gen. 2.15-3.19)
All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. (2.3)
Created in the image of God – good until Adam and Eve chose to disobey God
That image got soiled, corroded – sinful nature – we fell from God’s grace
Of all people, Reagan had a great way of looking at it that I often use
2 campers hiking in woods spot a grizzly bear running straight at them
One reaches into backpack, pulls out running shoes and puts them on
“What are you doing. You can’t outrun a grizzly!”
“I don’t have to. Just have to outrun you.”
sIn – I in the middle
Something in our nature opposes the will of God – sin
Desire to be self-centered, self-directed
Every one of us – Romans 3.10, 23; 5.12; 7.18
Separated from God and cannot discern spiritual truth

Practically, that means:
 Even good and moral need Jesus! (John 3.1-3; 14.6)
I love Kris Johnson – grateful for honesty today showing how ugly sinful nature can get
And a lot of times that is what we think of sin – drugs, crime, violence
But remember Nicodemus in John 3 – Pharisee, well-respected, educated religious leader
Kept the laws of God – everyone would say, he was a good and moral man
And still Jesus tells him, “You will not see the Kingdom God unless you are born again”
So one extreme to the other – Kris in pit of despair and Nicodemus at top of social heap
Every single one of us has a sinful nature and every one of us needs Jesus
What do Mother Teresa and Kris Johnson have in common?
Both know who they are: human being with a sinful nature

Culture fails to understand - true for everyone - some things true whether you believe them or not
To rely on your inner spirit – not gonna help because inner spirit is problem in first place
And to think that we are basically good is absurd – we all have a sinful nature
We have not loved with our whole heart, and mind, and strength
Have not loved neighbors as ourselves, have not forgiven others as we’ve been forgiven
We each have past unfaithfulness; pride, hypocrisy, and impatience in our lives
Have excessive love of worldly goods and comforts, & dishonesty in daily life and work
We each neglect prayer and worship

We have a sinful nature – proof all around you
Hong Kong jeweler left its double glass, electronic security door open, folks made away with $32,000 worth of good in less than a minute – “We wanted to attract more customers,” said the manager – attracted something alright – sinful nature - greed
Why New England city manager traded water bills for sexual favors – lust
Why my friend, “Paula,” moved to Bronx – astonished at first trip to grocery store – waiting patiently for a parking space – cut off by woman pulling in front of her and giving her the finger – shocked – 9 months later – found herself pulling in front of someone and giving them the finger- sinful nature – pride – All about me
The image of God in us is dirty and corroded – but it is not destroyed
Only He can redeem us from sin – John 14.6 – THE way, THE truth, THE life

Basic training 2) The world’s dominant spiritual influence is Satan.
The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2 Cor. 4.4)
 Theologically That Means:
 His only goal is to keep you from Christ.
(Eph. 2:1-3 1 John 5:19-20 2 Cor. 4:4; 11.14-15; Matt. 4:8-11; Col. 1.13; 1 Cor. 10.21-22; Luke 18.9-14)
Satan’s life work – keep you from Christ
Practically, that means:
 To think clearly, we must think Biblically. (Rom. 12.1-2; 2 Tim. 3.14-17)

Basic training 3) When it comes to salvation: God gets all the credit.
Remember this is the crucial passage of Scripture for believers
Because of His great love for us, God made us alive in Christ
By grace you have been saved
God raised us up with Christ
God seated us with Him in heavenly realms
It is by grace you have been saved through faith
It is the gift of God (Eph. 2.4, 5, 6, 8)

 Theologically That Means:
 Grace isn’t something for nothing – it’s great riches for crumbs.
(Isa. 64.6; Eph. 2.4-10; Phlp. 2.13 Col. 2.13-14)
Your soul is not do it yourself - not gonna be helped by your inner spirit
Oprah’s The Secret is useless new age drivel
The image of God in you has been soiled, corroded – you have a sinful nature
Only God can do something about that
And He has done something in Christ Jesus
Made us alive WITH CHRIST (2.5)
Raised us up WITH CHRIST (2.6)
Seated us WITH CHRIST (2.6)
Expressed his kindness IN CHRIST (2.7)
Created us IN CHRIST (2.10)
Do you get it? Christ Jesus is the cure – it is no secret
To believe otherwise may be sincere but it is fatal
Your engine is designed to run on Him – lemonade may taste great, but it will not satisfy
You merely believe and receive

Practically, that means:
 Spiritual maturity shows up in humility and obedience (Eph. 4:1-2; 1 John 2:3-5)

When you believe and receive, you will be saved
You will receive what God has done for you
Of course it will come with humility -no room for arrogance
You did next to nothing – you brought crumbs, and He responded with riches
I need a 12 step group – Kris Johnson, Mother Teresa, Nicodemus would be there
Introduce selves: “My name is Allen, and I’m a sinner”
Really, My name is Allen and I’m a sinner, saved by grace

And it should come with obedience
King has claimed you – and He desires a return on His investment
God’s family does not include everyone – includes everyone who believes
And that is our mission – to help the world come to believe

Basic training 1 – you are a sinner, in need of the grace of God
Invitation to ashes – Lent – humility (Eccles 3.20 – All come from dust, and to dust you will return)