The problem with sin.
I was just watching the father of Miley Cyrus talk about how the show Hanna Montana ruined his family and his marriage. He refused to go to Miley's 18th birthday because it was at a bar. He said that she was wrong to do that. She is surrounded by the world and the world is going the opposite way that believers are. More often I am seeing Christians getting sucked in with the world. For what? Fame- power- money- pleasure-selfishness? The world is getting tougher to live in and God is purifying His Saints. We need to stick together and be ambassadors for him and not let the lines blur, but let us stand out to honor Him and show the world who he is.
Effects of sin;
It keeps us from being the people that God wants us to be.
It keeps us in bondage.
It separates us from God.
It has devastating consequences.
It deceives us.
It destroys relationships.
It ruins our credibility.
It makes Christians look bad.
It distorts reality.
It has a life of its own.
It controls us.
Its idolatry.
It takes us places we don't want to go.
It ruins our character.
It brings compromise
It keeps us from hearing God.
It keeps us from understanding the Word.
It divides
It hurts others
The natural course of sin is destruction.
It corrupts.
It hardens our heart toward the things of God.
It brings death.
Jesus had to die for it.
What is sin? Romans 1:24-32
24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality,[c] wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving,[d] unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.
Sin is not OK. We are all human and we all have sin. All fall short.
The Remedy;
Realize that we need a Savior; Jesus Christ who paid the price for our sin.
Recognize it for what it is. Confess. Recognize the fact that sin is a daily battle between the flesh. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9
Repentance- which way are we going? God wants us to turn from the sin immediately, repent and move His direction. Its never too late. We can come boldly to the throne of grace in our time of need and he is just to forgive us. Don't get discouraged when he disciplines us because those who are his he does discipline.
Remember who we are; Moses knew who he was and he hoped in the promises of God. "choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin." Hebrews 11:25
Commit to walk in the spirit. Yield to God not the sin.
Early on we are warned; "If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.” Genesis 4:7
Another warning; Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.” John 5:14
"If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell." Matthew 5:29
There are several passages that mention the eye, the hand, and the foot. So where we go matters- if it is causing us to sin- don't go there. If we are doing something sinful with our body- stop and master it. If we are looking at things that are sinful (TV, computer, ...) turn it off,, rip it out, throw it away! Cancel cable!
"Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?" Romans 6:16 So who are we a slave to? Jesus or our sin?
"but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." Hebrews 3:13
"let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins." James 5:20 We are the salt and the light but when we engage with the sinful things of this world we don't convict the world of sin.
God is long suffering with us- patient and kind. He doesn't want us to be in bondage but He wants us to be free and live full lives in relationship with him and our sisters and brothers.
Effects of sin;
It keeps us from being the people that God wants us to be.
It keeps us in bondage.
It separates us from God.
It has devastating consequences.
It deceives us.
It destroys relationships.
It ruins our credibility.
It makes Christians look bad.
It distorts reality.
It has a life of its own.
It controls us.
Its idolatry.
It takes us places we don't want to go.
It ruins our character.
It brings compromise
It keeps us from hearing God.
It keeps us from understanding the Word.
It divides
It hurts others
The natural course of sin is destruction.
It corrupts.
It hardens our heart toward the things of God.
It brings death.
Jesus had to die for it.
What is sin? Romans 1:24-32
24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality,[c] wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving,[d] unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.
Sin is not OK. We are all human and we all have sin. All fall short.
The Remedy;
Realize that we need a Savior; Jesus Christ who paid the price for our sin.
Recognize it for what it is. Confess. Recognize the fact that sin is a daily battle between the flesh. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9
Repentance- which way are we going? God wants us to turn from the sin immediately, repent and move His direction. Its never too late. We can come boldly to the throne of grace in our time of need and he is just to forgive us. Don't get discouraged when he disciplines us because those who are his he does discipline.
Remember who we are; Moses knew who he was and he hoped in the promises of God. "choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin." Hebrews 11:25
Commit to walk in the spirit. Yield to God not the sin.
Early on we are warned; "If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.” Genesis 4:7
Another warning; Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.” John 5:14
"If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell." Matthew 5:29
There are several passages that mention the eye, the hand, and the foot. So where we go matters- if it is causing us to sin- don't go there. If we are doing something sinful with our body- stop and master it. If we are looking at things that are sinful (TV, computer, ...) turn it off,, rip it out, throw it away! Cancel cable!
"Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?" Romans 6:16 So who are we a slave to? Jesus or our sin?
"but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." Hebrews 3:13
"let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins." James 5:20 We are the salt and the light but when we engage with the sinful things of this world we don't convict the world of sin.
God is long suffering with us- patient and kind. He doesn't want us to be in bondage but He wants us to be free and live full lives in relationship with him and our sisters and brothers.
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