Bankrupt in Kamloops, BC

I must confess, I am bankrupt.  I’ve come to the end of my rope and I realize that I am worth nothing.  I have debts that I cannot pay.  My creditor is standing at the door, but I am broke.

As we look at the economic turmoil around our world, it is no secret that many people are in trouble.  GM just announced that they are cutting 2,000 jobs.  Air Canada is temporarily laying off 345 people.  Without a doubt, The economic situation is grim.

Just like our economic status – our moral and spiritual status is grim too.  Let’s look at the situation for just a moment.  God gave us a moral and spiritual law to keep.  We know these as the Ten Commandments.  Take a look at Exodus 20.1-17.  The first four commandments deal with our relationship with God.  The last six commandments focus on our relationships with each other.  The Ten Commandments focus on our morality and our spirituality.

Now, can anyone honestly say that they have always kept these commandments?  Ask yourself a few questions – have you ever told a lie?  Have you ever stolen anything?  Have you ever taken God’s name in vain?  Romans 8.7 says that we cannot keep the law.  Furthermore, Romans 2.14-15 reveals to us that the law of God, His moral and spiritual standards, are written on our hearts.  Basically, we all know right from wrong.  Rightness and wrongness is something that is inherent within every humans heart.

As Tom Hanks said (in Apollo 13), “Houston, we have a problem.”  God gave a standard for us that we cannot keep (remember the 10 commandments).  Actually, you and I have a standard that we can’t keep.  That’s right, we don’t live up to our own moral goodness.  This leaves us with a moral and spiritual bankruptcy problem.  Because we have a law written on our hearts – when we break that law – we sin (Romans 3.20).  Romans 3.23 continues to say that we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.  Additionally, we find in Scriptures that our payment for sin is death (Romans 6.23).

This is where I have become bankrupt.  Apparently, my sin is a debt owed to God.  By nature, my sin becomes an infinite debt owed to an infinite God.  I’m not alone in this bankruptcy.  You, me, and everyone else has fallen short of God’s standard.

There is a false understanding that says something like, “when you die, your good and bad deeds will be weighed.  If the good outweighs the bad, then you are in favour with God.  However, if your bad deeds outweigh the good, then you are not okay.”  This is a nice sentiment, but it is completely false.

Scripture is clear that we have a problem that cannot be fixed by our own merrit.  However, Scripture clearly gives us the remedy.  Romans 10.9-13 shows that our remedy is found in Jesus Christ.  Our faith and trust in Jesus Christ is what “justifies” us before God.  Justification basically means that we are in a right standing before God.  This is critical.  Jesus Christ, by dying on the cross, paid the debt for my sin (remember, wages of sin is death).  It was his death that satisfies the wrath of God for me and for you.

You need to know that salvation is available to all, but it is not automatic.  By trusting in him (Jesus), this salvation will be appropriated to you.

Yes, we are bankrupt, but our bankruptcy is paid in full by Jesus Christ.

For more information, listen to this message.