GETTING SERIOUS ABOUT SIN
INTRODUCTION: THINGS HAVE RADICALLY CHANGED IN THE YEARS I HAVE BEEN AROUND. I AM SURE REGARDLESS OF AGE, MOST EVERYONE CAN SAY THAT. WE IS MOST SIGNIFICANT TO ME IS THE WAY IN WHICH ACTIONS THAT USED TO BE CLEARLY DEFINED AS SINFUL, HAVE SLOWLY MORPHED INTO ACCEPTABLE ACTIVITIES OR EVEN RECLASSIFIED AS ILLNESS; WHETHER MENTAL, EMOTIONAL, OR IN SOME CASES PHYSICAL.
THE END RESULT IS THAT SIN IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE ACCEPTABLE IN OUR SOCIETY BECAUSE AS THE CONCEPT OF SIN MORPHS, IT PROVIDES A N EVER GREATER OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE OUR PERCEPTION OF RIGHT AND WRONG, AND THEREBY ADJUST OUR PERCEPTION OF GOD (FROM JUST TO MEAN), AND OUR PERCEPTION OF RIGHT AND WRONG.
BACK IN 2014, CHRISTIANITY TODAY HAD AN ARTICLE ON 10 SINS WE TAKE LESS SERIOUSLY. HERE ARE JUST A FEW BECAUSE I DON’T WANT TO BE RUN OUT OF THE CHURCH!
THE LOTTERY. THERE WAS A TIME WHEN GAMBLING WAS VIEWED AS ONE OF SOCIETY'S MOST GODLESS ACTS... TODAY A QUICK SCROLL THROUGH SATURDAY-AFTERNOON SOCIAL MEDIA TELLS US THAT MANY CHRISTIANS SEE NO HARM IN THE OCCASIONAL BET ON THE HORSES OR THE FOOTBALL, OR IN SPENDING A FEW LOOSE COINS ON A LOTTERY TICKET OR SCRATCHCARD. THE LATTER PRACTICALLY COUNTS AS GIVING, RIGHT? THE BIBLE DOESN'T SPECIFICALLY CONDEMN GAMBLING (ALTHOUGH IT SAYS A FAIR AMOUNT ABOUT OUR ATTITUDE TO MONEY), SO PERHAPS IT'S MORE A QUESTION OF WHERE WE'RE PLACING OUR TRUST WHEN WE PLACE THAT BET.
A BIT OF A SWEAR. RUDE WORDS ARE NO LONGER SHOCKING IN OUR CULTURE - AN IN-CONTEXT F-WORD WON'T TAKE A FILM ABOVE A 12A CERTIFICATE. IN THE CHURCH TOO, WE'VE BECOME MORE RELAXED- MOST OF US SEE SWEARING AS AN IRRELEVANT CHARACTER AT WORST. IN FACT, MANY OF THE CHURCH LEADERS WHO WE HOLD UP AS 'COOL' ENJOY A BIT OF A SWEAR, EVEN IN THEIR SERMONS, AND SOME OPENLY DEFEND THE FACT. PAUL TALKS ABOUT NOT ALLOWING UNWHOLESOME TALK TO COME OUT OF OUR MOUTHS - BUT MAYBE HE DIDN'T MEAN SWEARING ANYWAY.
GAME OF THRONES. THIS IS ONE OF THE CLEAREST SHIFTS. THE AVERAGE 90S CHRISTIAN WOULD HAVE AVOIDED 18 CERTIFICATE FILMS LIKE HE MIGHT HAVE AVOIDED FREDDY KRUEGER FROM A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET. TODAY, WE POSITIVELY BRAG ABOUT OUR ENGAGEMENT WITH TV SHOWS FULL OF SEX AND VIOLENCE. OF COURSE, WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE CULTURE IN ORDER TO SPEAK PROPHETICALLY INTO IT - BUT SOME OF US ARE TAKING THAT ASSIGNMENT REALLY SERIOUSLY...
SEX BEFORE MARRIAGE. THIS IS WHERE IT STARTS TO GET A BIT MORE SERIOUS. PLENTY HAS BEEN MADE OF HOW PURITY PLEDGES RUIN WEDDING NIGHTS - BUT ON THE FLIPSIDE, WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE OLD PERCEIVED WISDOM ABOUT 'KEEPING YOUR FEET ON THE FLOOR' AND 'NOT TOUCHING WHAT YOU HAVEN'T GOT'? A FRIEND RECENTLY TOLD ME OF HOW SHE SPLIT WITH HER BOYFRIEND - A WORSHIP LEADER AT A LARGE LONDON CHURCH, AFTER HE PRESSURED HER TO SLEEP WITH HIM. HIS ARGUMENT? 'OH COME ON! EVERYONE'S DOING IT!'
THE INAPPROPRIATE JOKE. PERHAPS LESS IMPORTANT BUT FAR MORE PREVALENT - THE NATURE OF THE HUMOR SHARED BETWEEN MANY CHRISTIANS HAS GONE DOWNHILL. SOMETIMES THEY'RE A BIT RUDE (JUST DECIDE WHAT YOU THINK ON POINT 2), BUT OFTEN THEY'RE ALSO CRUEL OR EVEN PREJUDICIAL.
ALCOHOL. CHRISTIAN ATTITUDES TO ALCOHOL HAVE GENERALLY RELAXED - AGAIN FROM A STARTING POINT THAT PERHAPS ALIENATED US FROM OUR CULTURE. BUT HAVE THEY RELAXED TOO FAR? OF COURSE, ONE GREAT ARGUMENT FOR COPIOUS DRINKING IS THAT JESUS BROUGHT OUT MORE - AND BETTER - WINE AFTER THE GUESTS WERE TOO INEBRIATED TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN IT AND THE CHEAP STUFF. ON THE OTHER HAND, HOW IN CONTROL ARE WE OF THE IMPRESSION WE MAKE ON OTHERS AFTER FOUR JÄGERBOMBS AND A BACARDI BREEZER?
TRANSITION: SO, MAYBE ITS TIME TO RETHINK, REREAD AND REDISCOVER WHAT THE BIBLE HAS TO SAY ABOUT SIN. WHERE BETTER TO START THAN RIGHT HERE AND RIGHT NOW
I. SIN IS A VIRUS
a. COVID-19
i. CAME INTO A POPULATION, THAT WAS NOT AFFECTED BY IT BEFORE
ii. STARTED IN ONE AREA AND WENT GLOBAL
iii. CAUSED ILLNESS AND DEATH
iv. HAS LINGERING EFFECTS EVEN AFTER IT IS UNDER CONTROL
b. THE PATTERN OF A VIRUS
i. A VIRUS SUPPORTS ITSELF BY INJECTING ITSELF INTO THE GOOD CELLS OF OUR BODY AND TURNS THEM INTO LITTLE FACTORIES THAT REPRODUCE THE VIRUS
ii. IT REPROGRAMS THE CELL – IT CHANGES ITS PURPOSE
II. THE VIRUS OF SIN
a. THE ORIGINAL ENVIRONMENT OF GOD WAS PERFECT
i. GOD AND THE ANGELS
ii. LUCIFER INTRODUCED SIN
1. ISAIAH 14:12-16 (NIV) HOW YOU HAVE FALLEN FROM HEAVEN, O MORNING STAR, SON OF THE DAWN! YOU HAVE BEEN CAST DOWN TO THE EARTH, YOU WHO ONCE LAID LOW THE NATIONS! 13 YOU SAID IN YOUR HEART, "I WILL ASCEND TO HEAVEN; I WILL RAISE MY THRONE ABOVE THE STARS OF GOD; I WILL SIT ENTHRONED ON THE MOUNT OF ASSEMBLY, ON THE UTMOST HEIGHTS OF THE SACRED MOUNTAIN. 14 I WILL ASCEND ABOVE THE TOPS OF THE CLOUDS; I WILL MAKE MYSELF LIKE THE MOST HIGH." 15 BUT YOU ARE BROUGHT DOWN TO THE GRAVE, TO THE DEPTHS OF THE PIT. 16 THOSE WHO SEE YOU STARE AT YOU, THEY PONDER YOUR FATE: "IS THIS THE MAN WHO SHOOK THE EARTH AND MADE KINGDOMS TREMBLE,
2. EZEKIEL 28:11-17 (NIV) THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME TO ME: 12 "SON OF MAN, TAKE UP A LAMENT CONCERNING THE KING OF TYRE AND SAY TO HIM: 'THIS IS WHAT THE SOVEREIGN LORD SAYS: "'YOU WERE THE MODEL OF PERFECTION, FULL OF WISDOM AND PERFECT IN BEAUTY. 13 YOU WERE IN EDEN, THE GARDEN OF GOD; EVERY PRECIOUS STONE ADORNED YOU: RUBY, TOPAZ AND EMERALD, CHRYSOLITE, ONYX AND JASPER, SAPPHIRE, TURQUOISE AND BERYL. YOUR SETTINGS AND MOUNTINGS WERE MADE OF GOLD; ON THE DAY YOU WERE CREATED THEY WERE PREPARED. 14 YOU WERE ANOINTED AS A GUARDIAN CHERUB, FOR SO I ORDAINED YOU. YOU WERE ON THE HOLY MOUNT OF GOD; YOU WALKED AMONG THE FIERY STONES. 15 YOU WERE BLAMELESS IN YOUR WAYS FROM THE DAY YOU WERE CREATED TILL WICKEDNESS WAS FOUND IN YOU. 16 THROUGH YOUR WIDESPREAD TRADE YOU WERE FILLED WITH VIOLENCE, AND YOU SINNED. SO I DROVE YOU IN DISGRACE FROM THE MOUNT OF GOD, AND I EXPELLED YOU, O GUARDIAN CHERUB, FROM AMONG THE FIERY STONES. 17 YOUR HEART BECAME PROUD ON ACCOUNT OF YOUR BEAUTY, AND YOU CORRUPTED YOUR WISDOM BECAUSE OF YOUR SPLENDOR. SO I THREW YOU TO THE EARTH; I MADE A SPECTACLE OF YOU BEFORE KINGS.
3. BOTH OF THESE PASSAGES SPEK OF THE FALL OF SATAN
a. SIN ENTERED INTO HEAVEN
i. FALLEN FROM HEAVEN
ii. GUARDIAN CHERUB
iii. HOLY MOUNT, FIERY STONES
b. GOD CANNOT TOLERATE THE PRESENCE OF SIN, FOR HE ALONE IS HOLY
4. SIN WAS JUDGED IN HEAVEN WITH THE FALL OF SATAN
b. WHEN GOD CREATED THE ENVIRONMENT YOU AND I HAVE NOW – EARTH, SPACE, THE UNIVERSE, HE SAID EACH ACT OF CREATION WAS GOOD AND THE TOTALITY OF HIS CREATION WAS VERY GOOD
i. WE HAD A PERFECT WORLD
ii. WE HAD A CLEAN WORLD
iii. WE HAD A POPULATION THAT NEEDED NO VACCINATION
iv. ADAM AND EVE WERE INNOCENT
1. UNTESTED INNOCENCE, THERE HAD NEVER BEEN AN OPPORTUNITY WHERE THEIR INNOCENCE WAS CHALLENGED
2. ADAM AND EVE DISOBEYED GOD
a. CORE REASON – SELFISHNESS AND PRIDE
b. THEY WANTED TO BE LIKE GOD
v. ROMANS 5:12 (NIV) THEREFORE, JUST AS SIN ENTERED THE WORLD THROUGH ONE MAN, AND DEATH THROUGH SIN, AND IN THIS WAY DEATH CAME TO ALL MEN, BECAUSE ALL SINNED—
1. SIN SPREAD TO EVERYMAN FROM ADAM ON FORWARD
2. MAN HAS NO CURE
3. SIN RESULTS IN DEATH – SEPARATION FROM GOD -- JAMES 1:15 (NIV) THEN, AFTER DESIRE HAS CONCEIVED, IT GIVES BIRTH TO SIN; AND SIN, WHEN IT IS FULL-GROWN, GIVES BIRTH TO DEATH.
4.
III. DEFINING SIN
a. SIN IS MISSING THE MARK. THE GREEK WORD FOR SIN IS “HAMARTIE” AND IT IS THE TERM AN ARCHER WOULD USE WHEN HE MISSED THE BULLS EYE. WHAT WE FORGET IS THAT ALTHOUGH WE MISS THE INTENDED MARK – THE MARK GOD HAS FOR US, WE HIT SOMETHING ELSE – THAT WOULD BE THE MARK SATAN HAS FOR US
i. SATAN LIKE TO COUNTERFEIT WHAT GOD DOES
ii. HE CAN’T GET IT RIGHT
iii. HAITIANS CALL THE CASHEW “SATAN’S APPLE”
1. THIS IS BECAUSE THE CASHEW GROWS ON THE OUTSIDE OF WHAT LOOKS LIKE AND APPLE.
2. SATAN TRIED TO MAKE AN APPLE AND COULD NOT GET IT RIGHT
3. THE “APPLE” BY THE WAY IS POISONOUS
iv. SO WHEN WE MISS GOD’S MARK AND HIT SATAN’S MARK WE HAVE SINNED.
b. 1 JOHN 3:4 (NIV) EVERYONE WHO SINS BREAKS THE LAW; IN FACT, SIN IS LAWLESSNESS.
i. SIN IS LAWLESSNESS.
ii. ALL SIN IS CONTRARY TO THE LAW OF GOD.” SIMPLY PUT, SIN IS ANYTHING THAT IS CONTRARY TO WHAT THE WORD OF GOD COMMANDS OR FORBIDS.
IV. THE RESULTS OF SIN
a. SIN KEEPS US FROM THE STANDARD GOD HAS SET -- ROMANS 3:23 (NIV)
FOR ALL HAVE SINNED AND FALL SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD,
i. WHERE IS THE GLORY OF GOD?
ii. ISA 6 AND REV 21 BOTH TELL US THAT THE GLORY OF GOD IS WITH THE PRESENCE OF GOD
iii. THE GLORY OF GOD RESIDES WITH THE PERSON OF GOD AND IN THESE TWO VERSES THE PERSON O GOD IS IN HEAVEN
iv. FALLING SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD IS FALLING SHORT OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD – HEAVEN
b. SIN EXACTS A PRICE – SEPARATION
i. FOR THE UNBELIEVER
1. ROMANS 6:23 (NIV) FOR THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH, BUT THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD.
2. DEATH IS SEPARATION
3. THIS SEPARATION IS FROM GOD
4. LEFT IN THIS STATE MAN IS DOOMED AT THE END OF TIME -- REVELATION 20:15 (NIV) IF ANYONE'S NAME WAS NOT FOUND WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF LIFE, HE WAS THROWN INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE.
UNDERSTAND THIS,, THIS ETERNAL SEPARATION FROM GOD WAS NOT TO BE OUR DESTINATION
MATTHEW 25:41 (NIV) "THEN HE WILL SAY TO THOSE ON HIS LEFT, 'DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO ARE CURSED, INTO THE ETERNAL FIRE PREPARED FOR THE DEVIL AND HIS ANGELS.
THE ORIGINAL PURPOSE WAS FOR SATAN AND THOSE WHO FOLLOWED HIM
WE CHANGED OUR OUTCOME, NOT GOD.
ii. FOR THE BELIEVER –LOSS OF FELLOWSHIP AND REWARD
1. 1 CORINTHIANS 3:11-15 (NIV) FOR NO ONE CAN LAY ANY FOUNDATION OTHER THAN THE ONE ALREADY LAID, WHICH IS JESUS CHRIST. 12 IF ANY MAN BUILDS ON THIS FOUNDATION USING GOLD, SILVER, COSTLY STONES, WOOD, HAY OR STRAW, 13 HIS WORK WILL BE SHOWN FOR WHAT IT IS, BECAUSE THE DAY WILL BRING IT TO LIGHT. IT WILL BE REVEALED WITH FIRE, AND THE FIRE WILL TEST THE QUALITY OF EACH MAN'S WORK. 14 IF WHAT HE HAS BUILT SURVIVES, HE WILL RECEIVE HIS REWARD. 15 IF IT IS BURNED UP, HE WILL SUFFER LOSS; HE HIMSELF WILL BE SAVED, BUT ONLY AS ONE ESCAPING THROUGH THE FLAMES.
2. JAMES 4:4 (NIV) YOU ADULTEROUS PEOPLE, DON'T YOU KNOW THAT FRIENDSHIP WITH THE WORLD IS HATRED TOWARD GOD? ANYONE WHO CHOOSES TO BE A FRIEND OF THE WORLD BECOMES AN ENEMY OF GOD.
3. 1 JOHN 2:15 (NIV) DO NOT LOVE THE WORLD OR ANYTHING IN THE WORLD. IF ANYONE LOVES THE WORLD, THE LOVE OF THE FATHER IS NOT IN HIM.
iii. THE REMEDY FOR BOTH IS CONFESSION
1. THE UNBELIEVER -- ROMANS 10:9-10 (NIV) THAT IF YOU CONFESS WITH YOUR MOUTH, "JESUS IS LORD," AND BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART THAT GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, YOU WILL BE SAVED. 10 FOR IT IS WITH YOUR HEART THAT YOU BELIEVE AND ARE JUSTIFIED, AND IT IS WITH YOUR MOUTH THAT YOU CONFESS AND ARE SAVED.
2. THE BELIEVER -- 1 JOHN 1:9 (NIV) IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS, HE IS FAITHFUL AND JUST AND WILL FORGIVE US OUR SINS AND PURIFY US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.
AS WE STUDY THE DOCTRINE OF SIN, LOOKING AT WHAT THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, HERE AT THE BEGINNING IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO TAKE A FEW MOMENTS OF INTROSPECTION AND ASK OURSELVES WHERE SIN HARBORS IN OUR OWN LIFE. FOR WE ARE REMINDED THAT THIS OPPORTUNITY TO GET RIGHT WITH GOD REGARDING SIN ENDS WITH THE MOMENT OF OUR DEATH. WE HAVE NOT SECOND CHANCE; ONLY A JUDGMENT.
