Our series for the month of July is Bad News - Good News.
In the Bible this is called the Gospel.
Romans 1:16

First week: an introduction to what the Gospel is and the four key words we would be using through the series.
Second week: we looked at the first key word, RELATIONSHIP. God's creation of mankind was so we could enjoy a relationship with Him and with others that He loves.
To truly understand the Gospel, we have to understand God. We looked at 2 key characteristics or 2 aspects of God's heart:
First - God is a loving God.
Second - God is a holy and just God.

Last week we learned that something bad happened to to mankind.
This part of the Gospel story is found in Genesis 3:1-7.

2. Man Brought About RUIN.
Mankind has brought RUIN to the RELATIONSHIP God established.
The ruin was caused by something called sin.
Sin is disregarding God's person, rebelling against His authority, failing to live as His image-bearers, infecting each succeeding generation with a now corrupt nature, and becoming idol worshipers.
Paul described the nature of sin in Romans 1:21-23 and then again in Romans 3:9-11, 22-23.

Paul went on in Romans 5:12 and 6:23 and talked about the penalty for sin which is death. Death indicates a separation that comes in a variety of forms (physical, relational, and spiritual are the most obvious).
The prophet Isaiah wrote about this in 59:2.

It is at this point that mankind should realize that we are the problem.
Our nature is incredibly corrupt, broken, and completely stained, inside and out.
God is the absolute standard by which we are measured. Sin must be viewed by His standard (which is holiness) and not by men.
Our sin is an offense to God. His moral standard cannot allow sin to co-exist with Him and is bound by His nature to punish all sin.

The bad news only gets worse. Man is incapable of changing his condition. We are without hope and totally helpless.
Jesus describes our true condition in Mark 7:20-23.
Paul wrote to fellow believers in Ephesians 2:1-3

The bad news points out our true condition from God's perspective.
We see this in Jesus' words in John 3:16-18.
The word "already" should strike fear in the hearts of those who have rejected Jesus. They are but one step, one breath, and one heart-beat away from judgement and eternity.
That is the bad news and there is nothing in our own power that we can do about it.
Next week we'll move to the 3rd part of the Gospel message.