WAYS WE CAN SEVER OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

WAYS WE CAN SEVER OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

INTRODUCTION • The Bible is filled with many great spiritual truths I want to introduce our study today by considering one of these great spiritual truths v. Let us together read Genesis 1: 2628 (Genesis 2: 7, 18 -25)

INTRODUCTION • God created Adam and Eve with the intent of having a relationship with them • In Acts 17: 28 -29 , Paul described mankind as the offspring of God Adam & Eve were God’s first human offspring

INTRODUCTION • For a time, Adam and Eve enjoyed a perfect relationship with God, but. . . They sinned and destroyed their perfect relationship with God (Gen 3) v. A pattern that has been repeated again and again throughout the history of humankind

INTRODUCTION • God punished the guilty parties who sinned against Him (Genesis 3: 14, 16, 17 -19), but… • With the punishment, God declared a message of hope for all mankind (Genesis 3: 15) God was going to provide a way for sinful man to be reconciled to Him

INTRODUCTION • 1 John 1: 1 -3 talks about Jesus coming in the flesh to restore man’s relationship with God That relationship is described using the word fellowship A proper relationship (fellowship) with God is brought about by obedience to the gospel

INTRODUCTION • The gospel instructs men how to enter a relationship with God and how to maintain a relationship with God Hear the gospel (Romans 10: 17) Believe the gospel (Mark 16: 15 -16) Repent (Luke 13: 2 -5, Acts 2: 38)

INTRODUCTION • The gospel instructs men how to enter a relationship with God and how to maintain a relationship with God Confess Jesus (Rom 10: 9 -10) Be immersed for the remission of sins (Acts 2: 38, 22: 16) Live a faithful life (Rev 2: 10)

INTRODUCTION • When God enters a relationship with us, He rightfully expects and demands that relationship to be permanent • If we choose to enter a relationship with God we should be fully cognizant of this fact before entering that relationship (Luke 14: 28 -29)

INTRODUCTION • Unfortunately, there is a sad and harsh reality we must consider Like Adam and Eve, many fail to remain faithful to God They engage in behaviors that jeopardize or perhaps even sever their relationship with God altogether

INTRODUCTION • In our study today, we will carefully consider this sad and harsh reality • This we will do by asking and then answering the following questions:

INTRODUCTION • Q 1: What are some ways described in the Bible through which we can sever our relationship with God?

INTRODUCTION • Q 2: What are some remedies described in the Bible that will help us… A) Guard against severing our relationship with God? B) Restore a relationship that has been severed?

I. BACKSLIDING • The practice of engaging in some sinful behavior once again after you had previously stopped that behavior • Backsliding was a constant problem for the children of Israel in the OT (Judges) See Hosea 11: 1 -7, Jeremiah 3: 6 -10 • Backsliding is still a problem among God’s people to this day It severs one’s relationship with God

I. BACKSLIDING • The remedy for backsliding Repent and return to the Lord God Acknowledge our iniquity to God Pray to God for His forgiveness v. See Jeremiah 3: 12 -15 God promised to restore His people if they returned to Him v. That promise is still available to us today if we are guilty of backsliding

II. BEING DRAWN AWAY FROM GOD • To be lured (baited), enticed or attracted away from a place safety • Our relationship with God keeps us safe • Things that can draw us away from God False teachers (Acts 20: 28 -31) Our own desires (James 1: 13 -15) Other gods/idolatry (Deut 30: 15 -18) v. Covetousness is idolatry (Ephesians 5: 5, Colossians 3: 5)

II. BEING DRAWN AWAY FROM GOD • The remedy for being drawn away from God A realization that if we remain in that state we shall perish (Psalm 73: 27) v. To avoid this fate, we need to draw near to God (Psalm 73: 28) Submit to God, resist Satan and do those things that draw us closer to Him (James 4: 7 -8)

III. DRIFTING AWAY FROM GOD • A slow and gradual movement from one place (safety) to another (danger) A person may not even realize it’s happening until it’s to late See Hebrews 2: 1 -4 v. Drifting away from God and His word is a product of neglect (Hebrews 2: 3) v. A failure to pay attention to the things that are most important, spiritual things

III. DRIFTING AWAY FROM GOD • The remedy for drifting away from God Giving more earnest heed to the things we have heard will keep us from drifting (Hebrews 2: 1) v. Give the word of God the attention it deserves, it’s our life line to God v. The word of God is our spiritual anchor that keeps us from being tossed to and fro (Ephesians 4: 14)

III. DRIFTING AWAY FROM GOD • The remedy for drifting away from God A realization that if we drift away thru neglect we will not escape the wrath and judgment of God (Hebrews 2: 2 -3) v. We will have forfeited a great salvation Be steadfast, immovable, abounding in the Lord’s work (1 Corinthians 15: 58)

IV. TURNING FROM THE TRUTH • This is a description of people who at one time heard the truth and obeyed it, then… • For some reason these people made a deliberate decision to turn from the truth Resulting in a severed relationship with God • Paul warned Timothy this would happen in 2 Timothy 4: 1 -4 People would turn from the truth because of “itching ears”

IV. TURNING FROM THE TRUTH • The remedy for turning from the truth Take measures to stop the problem before it starts Q: How? Preach the word and be watchful (2 Timothy 4: 2, 5) Warn people beforehand (Acts 20: 31) Plead with those who have turned from the truth to return to God (Isaiah 55: 7)

V. WANDERING FROM THE TRUTH • A picture that comes to mind is a sheep that wanders from the flock & goes astray • Wandering from the truth may not necessarily be a deliberate act • Due to a lack of awareness, a sheep can end up in a place it never intended to be • Sheep can also wander because of unfaithful shepherds as was the case with OT Israel (Ezekiel 34: 6 -10)

V. WANDERING FROM THE TRUTH • Whether deliberate or not, wandering from the truth is sin • Wandering from the truth separates us (the sheep) from our spiritual Shepherd, Jesus the Christ (John 10: 11, 1 Peter 5: 4) We no longer enjoy His protection and place ourselves in great spiritual danger

V. WANDERING FROM THE TRUTH • The remedy for wandering from the truth Submitting to faithful shepherds who will watch for our souls (Hebrews 13: 17) Being sober minded and aware of the dangers around us will keep us from wandering (1 Peter 5: 8) The wanderer must be turned back to God (James 5: 19 -20)

VI. FORSAKING THE RIGHT WAY • This statement reminds us there are 2 ways we can travel spiritually v. The right way, or… v. The wrong way Sadly, some people forsake (abandon) the right way for the wrong way Peter applied this language to false teachers (2 Peter 2: 1 -3; 15) v. A goal of false teachers is to persuade others to forsake the right way (V 2)

VI. FORSAKING THE RIGHT WAY • We forsake the right way if we forsake the assembling of ourselves together (Hebrews 10: 25) • Forsaking (abandoning) the right way severs our relationship with God and places us in great spiritual danger It places us in the broad way that leads to eternal destruction (Matthew 7: 13)

VI. FORSAKING THE RIGHT WAY • The remedy forsaking the right way Repent and return to the right way {the old paths} (Jeremiah 6: 16) Hate every false way (Psalm 119: 103105) Obey the instructions of God because they will keep us in the right way (the way of life) v. See Proverbs 10: 17

VII. BY LOVING THIS PRESENT WORLD • The world has many allurements that appeal to our physical appetites The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2: 16) The love of money (1 Timothy 6: 10) Covetousness which is idolatry (Ephesians 5: 5, Colossians 3: 5) The parable of the sower warns about this: The seed that fell among thorns (Luke 8: 5, 7, 14)

VII. BY LOVING THIS PRESENT WORLD • Demas forsook Paul (and God) because of his love for the world (2 Timothy 4: 10) • Being in love with this world will sever our relationship with God

VII. BY LOVING THIS PRESENT WORLD • The remedy for loving this present world Love not the world or the things in the world (1 John 2: 15 -17, Matthew 6: 24) Seek those things above (Colossians 3: 1 -2) Remember we are sojourners and pilgrims on the earth (1 Peter 2: 11 -12) Remember our citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3: 20 -21)

IN CONCLUSION • Today we studied some ways we can sever and destroy our relationship with God Backsliding Being Drawn Away From God Drifting Away From God Turning From The Truth Wandering Away From The Truth Forsaking The Right Way By Loving This Present World

IN CONCLUSION • Today we studied some ways we can sever and destroy our relationship with God In reality, all that we have talked about can be summarized in one word: v. Unfaithfulness will sever and destroy our relationship with God v. Faithfulness to God will maintain our relationship with Him (Rev 2: 10)

IN CONCLUSION • We also studied that God’s word provides the remedy (cure) for how we can restore our relationship with God In reality, this too can be summarized in one word: v. Repentance v. Then we must always strive for continuous growth that we might strengthen your relationship with God

IN CONCLUSION • Our relationship with God is the most important and precious relationship we will ever have We simply cannot afford to sever it To do so has eternal consequences v. Eternity in hell apart from God, unless our relationship is restored v. None of us wants to face that horrible possibility, therefore…

WE NEED TO BE DILIGENT TO PRESERVE OUR PRECIOUS RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD