From now on, we are enemies... You and I. Because You choose for Your instrument a boastful, lustful, smutty, infantile boy and give me for reward only the ability to recognize the incarnation. Because You are unjust, unfair, unkind, I will block You, I swear it. I will hinder and harm Your creature on earth as far as I am able. I will ruin Your incarnation..

— Salieri, from the movie Amedaus

Sermon Summary: Jesus, the Serpent-Crusher; the Sin-Destroyer, came to destroy the works of the devil and we must place our confidence in him.

Passages to Consider:

John 10:10

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Rom 5:20–21

Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Preparation Question: How are we to understand our sin? Does our continual sin mean that we are not really Christians?

Confession of Sin: 

Gracious God, our sins are too heavy to carry, too real to hide, and too deep to undo.

We have neither honored you as God, nor given you thanks.

      Father, in your mercy, forgive us.

We have been quick to condemn our neighbors, while ignoring our own need for you.

      Jesus, in your mercy, forgive us.

We have trusted in our own resources, rather than resting in your transforming grace.

      Holy Spirit, in your mercy, forgive us.

Set us free from our sins and give us the grace to grow more into your likeness, through Jesus Christ.

Amen