Introduction:
* What is the Greatest Need in Life?
* Jesus saw their faith!
* These men were not half-hearted.
* These men have been brought to desperation!
** Are we able to resonate with the paralytic? **
To be liberated, we’ve to submit ourselves entirely to Jesus’ method.
1) Jesus always leads us to our real source of trouble.
* Problem of Unforgiven Sin (“Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”)
* Problem of thinking we know the source of our trouble.
* We are only interested in the symptoms, but God is always interested in the diseases.
* Sadly, the World doesn’t know it’s real problem.
* All our troubles in life whether individually or collectively, are due to SIN.
* Sin puts us in trouble with the just and holy God.
* Only the Gospel reconciles us to God”.
2) We need to be Forgiven (by God).
* To be Forgiven = Penalty of our sins remitted.
* Jesus said: “But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.”
* Only Jesus has the authority to forgive sins and also the ability to remit its penalty.
3) The WAY to remit sins.
(1) Only the Son of Man can do so.
* Jesus is the Son of God who comes in the form of Man.
* Jesus is the perfect and sinless man who pays the penalty Man’s sin.
* He died for Man’s sins yet rose from death.
(2) Only through the Manifestation of His Divine Power
* Jesus said: “Get up, take your mat and go home.”
* All miracles – Signs of His divinity.
(3) Only through Faith in Christ.
** Conclusion **
* Our real need, is to have forgiveness of sin, and be reconciled to God.
