Intro: you cannot do a serious study on the seven deadly sins without first doing an equally serious study on the meaning of sin. Defined it is the missing of God’s mark or the rejection of God’s commands. But beyond just a simple definition, we must research God’s Word to find out what sin is, what sin does, what are the consequences of sin, and how is sin removed or forgiven. This we will attempt to do, tonight.
First Bible reference-Genesis 4:7--if you don’t do well, sin is at the door. If you don’t do your best or give your best to God, sin is at the door. God didn’t say Cain sinned, but that offering to God our second best reveals there is something wrong in the heart. He wasn’t punished for this offering, but that thing in his heart that caused him to murder Abel, was revealed in this offering.
Payment for Sin--Exodus 29:36--a bullock for a sin offering for atonement. God put in place that sins must be paid for, atoned for. So the sin offering was established. For sin to be forgiven, atonement must be made. Here we see a foreshadowing of the cross. Where the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
Guilt associated with Sin--Psalms 51:3--my sin is ever before me--God gave man a conscience. When someone sins, they feel guilty. That guilt becomes a weight. It is condemnation. That is why in Christ there is no condemnation, we are free from the guilt or weight of sin. Whom the Son sets free is free indeed.
Protection Against Sin--Psalms 119:11--thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against Thee. God has given us His Word to place in our heart, that when we are tempted to sin, we can rely on God’s Word to help sustain us.
Sin’s domination--John 8:34--whoever commits sin is a servant of sin. Sin will become your Master. The more you give into a sin, the harder it will be to defeat that sin. Satan has stitches, he likes to put things into your flesh that are hard to remove.
Romans 14:23--for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. If you can’t do something in full confidence that it is right, it is wrong. Anything that is questionable to you should be avoided like a plague. If you cannot do it with faith that God will bless it, to you it will be sin.
Sin hardens the heart--Hebrews 3:13 hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. This is an amazing verse, the more you sin, your heart gets harder. You become less sensitive, less compassionate, more worldly, more fleshly. Sin begets more sin.
The Devil Didn’t Make You Do It--James 1:15--when lust conceives, it brings forth sin, sin when it is finished brings forth death. Here is an amazing statement, we get ourselves into more sin than the devil does. It is when we give in to our fleshly lusts, that sin is produced in our lives.
Sin of Omission--James 4:17 for a man to know to do right, and not do it, to him it is sin. We normally think of sins of commission, committing a sin. But there is a sin of omission, not doing what God has called us to do.
Self Deception--1 John 1:8--if we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves. Anyone who thinks that are so righteous and holy that they are without sin, they are deceived. We need to realize just because we didn’t murder someone today, or commit adultery, or rob a bank, doesn’t mean we were sinless. God checks our attitudes, our thoughts, our words throughout the day, He knows our motives for everything we do.
Sin’s Revelation--Numbers 32:23-be sure, your sin will find you out. You may seemingly get away with sin, but in time, all sin will be revealed. Most of the time here, sometimes it won’t be revealed until the judgment. Jesus said,those things done secretly will be revealed openly, those things in the dark revealed in the light.
Sin’s Consequence--I Corinthians 15:56-the sting of sin is death. When you think that sin is trivial, not that important, next time you go to a funeral service, realize that it was because of sin we lost paradise, and it was because of grace we gained heaven.
Sin’s Solution--I John 1:9--if we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us of all our unrighteousness. Jesus is the only solution for sin. Our self effort, self righteousness is like a filthy rag in God’s sight.
close: next week: Sin One--Pride
