I. Introduction

What a wonderful invitation lies before us – let us draw near to God, yet how hesitant we are to respond to it. 

What is it that keeps us from drawing near to God?

It is because we do not have assurance that we will be accepted.  We know that God is holy and we are not, God is perfect and we fall short.

II. The sickness – sin

Romans 3: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Jeremiah 17: 9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?

The heart represented the mind and the will

Before we can receive the cure we must accept the diagnosis

III. The symptom – guilt, our conscience

Romans 2: 15 since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.)

God has given us a means to know when we have sinned.  As pain tells us there is something wrong in our bodies, guilt tells us there is something wrong in our souls.  Our own thoughts accuse us.

What in your life does your conscience signal may be a problem for you?

IV. The solution – the blood of Christ

What are some ways people try to deal with guilt?

People try to deny their guilt,

People run from it by ceaseless activity,

People deaden it by seeking pleasure

God’s way of dealing with the problem –

1. A New heart

Ezekiel 36: 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

2. The sacrifice of Christ

What does the sacrifice of Christ do for us?

            Provides forgiveness – restores our relationship with God

Hebrews 8: 12 For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

Cleanses from guilt – restores our peace

Hebrews 9: 14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!

    Sets free from sin

Romans 6: 18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

So when we have made the sacrifice of Christ our own, accepted it for ourselves, we can have confidence to draw near to God, and what better way to do so than to come to the Lord’s Table.