The Big Problem: Our Position Before a Perfect God | Women and Faith | Stephanie Schwartz

Main message: Humans are created in God's image for relationship with a holy God, but sin (our failure to live by God's standard) has broken that relationship and put us in a guilty, unrighteous position that we cannot fix on our own. Recognizing this “big problem” is necessary before we can receive God’s remedy (to be presented next session).

Key points:

• God made humans uniquely in his image (intellect, emotion, will) for a perfect relationship with him.
• The Fall (Genesis 3) introduced guilt/shame and shattered the image-bearing relationship; sin means “missing the mark.”
• God is holy and demands moral perfection; sin separates us from him (no true relationship while in sin).
• From God’s perspective no one is righteous or “good enough” to meet his standard — all have sinned and fall short.
• Guilt is both a feeling and a legal position; we cannot remove our own guilt by deeds — we need God’s remedy (the gospel), which will be addressed next time.

Scriptures mentioned: Genesis 1, Genesis 2–3, Genesis 9, Exodus 20, Leviticus 11:44, 1 John 1:8, Habakkuk (Habach), Isaiah (Isaiah referenced), Romans (including Romans 3 and Romans 5:10), James (chapter referenced), Romans 6:23, Revelation (great white throne/book of life)