Set Apart - Truth What makes Christians different from the rest of the world? Those same things make the church unique - and irresistible.

1 Peter 1:1-2 "God's elect, strangers in the world"

God has given His church the wisdom of His Word. The Scriptures reveal truth and answer important questions. 1. What's wrong with the world? 2. Who am I and why am I here? 3. What are these times we find ourselves in?

I. What's wrong with the world? A. The world is under the influence of dark forces. We are caught up in a "civil war, a rebellion, and we are living in a part of the universe occupied by the rebel. Enemy-occupied territory - that is what this world is." C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

B. It's not just that there is evil in the world, people are in open rebellion against God. The light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light for their deeds were evil. (John 3:19)

Some believe that the cure for the world is education. Some believe that science will right the worlds' wrongs. Jesus is the only hope. He alone can change hearts and restore broken lives. II. Who am I and why am I here? A. Who am I? Created to bear the image of God Genesis‬ ‭1‬:‭27‬ ESV So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

B. Why am I here? We are here to bring glory to God. Isaiah‬ ‭43‬:‭6-7‬ ESV I will say to the north, Give up, and to the south, Do not withhold; bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth, everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”

Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭11-14‬ ESV In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

C. Faded glory, blemished image bearers We were created to bear the image of God, but sin has corrupted that image. John Stott in his short book, Why I Am a Christian, says that being a human being means living as a paradox. Humans are capable of incredible heights of love and compassion, but also depths of cruelty and self-centeredness. We are a paradox: the glory and the shame of humanity.

D. In Christ, you are being transformed to bring glory to God.

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. (‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭3‬:‭18‬ ESV)

III. What are these times we find ourselves in? A. We are in the "last days" The coming of Jesus ushered what is called the last days. Christianity is spreading all over the globe Just as He promised, the Father is giving Jesus the nations as his inheritance. The kingdom of Satan is being plundered as sinners receive forgiveness, release from bondage and life instead of death.

[When people come to faith in Jesus, it] is more than just persuasion; Jesus, as king, is calling together a "flock" over which he rules as Shepherd. - Russell Moore

B. Time of restoration and reconciliation. There is forgiveness for sinners. There is restoration for the creation. The Glory of people lost in the garden will be restored in the people of God.

It is not that the church has come up with truth. We didn't invent it. It was revealed to us and, with God's he, we believe it.

These are not our words, not our ideas; this is truth given to us by our Creator so that we could know who we are, who He is, and what He's doing in the world. (‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭18-20‬ ESV)