Redeeming Failure :13b

A. Mark Fails Acts 13:13; Col 4:10; Acts 13:5; 15:36-39 • Nearly all the luminaries of Scripture have ______. • It’s an issue with ______humanity; Genesis 6:5; 8:21; Psalm 58:3; Ecclesiastes 7:20; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:10, 23; 7:18. • Our sinfulness is not a quirk of humanity. It is a deep-seated ______against God, and the Lord has pronounced judgment against it, Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:11-15; 21:8.

B. Redeeming Failure a. The is for people who fail • There is only one who never ______– Christ the Righteous; John 4:34; 8:29, 46; 19:4; :22 • Under a certain condition, God promises to completely ______my record of sin and failure and ______it with Jesus unbroken record of perfect obedience, perfect success. b. The Gospel of Salvation 2 Corinthians 5:21 • If I repent of my sins and place my ______in Christ, God grants me complete forgiveness and eternal life; John 20:30-31; Romans 10:9-11 c. The Gospel of Sanctification • Sanctification means to be ______from sin to God • A good description for the process of sanctification is “______in holiness” • Another good perspective is: “learning to live out what I already ______in Christ.” • The experiences of Christ become mine, because I am ____ Christ; Romans 6:3-11; 8:31-39 • The Gospel is a ______package. The Gospel of Christ saves you. The Gospel of Christ sanctifies you. The Gospel of Christ provides you with an absolutely perfect record of Righteousness before the Father.

C. The Rest of the Story :11; 1 Peter 5:13 • These texts place with the two greatest apostles near the very end of their lives. Whatever John Mark’s failings earlier, he was ______in the end. What’s the Big Idea? How can God redeem my failure? 1. Once I establish a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, God can redeem my failures because: • He is sovereign; • He is good; • He promises to work all things together for good toward those who love Him and who have been called according to His purpose.

2. Own the sin or failure on your part. • Don’t blame-shift, alibi, excuse, rationalize. • Confess it to God and ask Him to forgive you. • As appropriate, confess your sin to others.

3. Change the habits or life patterns that led to the failure. • Identify the factors that contributed to your downfall, and change what you can. • Identify the verses that speak your failure and memorize them. • Ask fellow believers to hold you accountable. • If necessary, seek the more intense discipleship we call counseling.

4. Remind yourself daily that the basis of your relationship with God is Christ’s shed blood, Christ’s perfect righteousness, and Christ’s intercession for you. • God sees you through His Son’s perfect righteousness, not through your failure. 5. Look for God’s strength to be perfected in your weakness. • 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 6. Let your failure remind you of your dependence upon God. • Stay close to God by daily Bible reading and prayer. • Don’t dwell on your sin; instead, magnify His grace. • Glorify Him through a thankful heart of worship.

7. Serve others by using your own failure as a point of ministry, once it has been repented of and your life has changed. • 2 Corinthians 1:3-6