What is sin?

First occurrence in NT: Mt.5:29 LawlessnessLawlessness , 1 Jn.3:4

OmissionOmission – Ja.4:17

“everyone who practices righteousness” (2:29)

“everyone who…practices lawlessness” (3:4)

I. Why Do Most Think Sin Is Harmless?

1. Ps.73, the wicked: 1. Ps.73, the wicked:

Prosperous,3

Pain free,4

Peaceful,5

Pampered,7

Reaction,2

2. Eccl.8:11, the delay:2. Eccl.8:11, the delay:

“They see not the smoke of the pit, therefore they dread not the fire”

Ro.2:4-5

Purpose of

longsuffering:Repentance

Perversion of

longsuffering:Rebellion

3. Hb.11:25, the pleasure:3. Hb.11:25, the pleasure:

Epicurean motto: “Eat, drink, be merry, for tomorrow we die”

“It can’t be wrong when it feels so right”

I. Why Do Most Think Sin Is Harmless?

II. The High Price Of Low Living

Chickens come home to roost

Is.3:11, just deserts Ec.8:12-13, not forgotten Ro.6:23, wages, usually soldier’s pay

Three aspects of wages of sin:

1. Sin’s pay is death; a deceiver (Gn.3)

2. Since wages is not a single payment, but continuous, death is not simply the final penalty but the active shadow which this death projects on life

3. Wages is a legal term in contrast to gift. Man has rights only in relation to sin; these rights become his judgment– TDNT V, 592

I. Why Do Most Think Sin Is Harmless?

II. The High Price Of Low Living

III. Sin’s Price Tags

1. Peace of Mind

Gn.3 Sin brought immediate change:

separation, fear Is.48:22

2. Disease

Ex.15:26; Ep.6:1-3

Lungs

Brain

Liver

STDs

3. Exposure 2 Sm.11-12 Jer.6:15:

Adulterer Computer

4. Death

Pro.7:…21-27 As an ox goes to the slaughter Till an arrow struck his liver As a bird hastens to the snare, He

did not know it would take his life The way to hell (sheol) Descending to the chambers of death

5. Freedom

Pro.23:29-35. Jn.8:32…34

Alcohol

Drugs

Internet

6. The end – eternal punishment

Ps.73:16-17, their end Lk.16 (2 Pt.2:12) . . . Rv.20:10

Peace of Mind

Disease

Exposure

Death

Freedom

The end (eter. pun.)

Present wrath of God

(Ro.1:18)

Wrath of God

Strong indignation directed at wrong-doing, w. focus on retribution

God does not lose His temper or throw a tantrum

As a calm judge, He sentences the criminal by the demands of His law

“Wrath…is being revealed” (1:18)

Past:Flood

SodomPlagues

Present:Civil

authorities (13:1-7)

Future:Day of

Judgment(2:1-16)

Present:Abandonssinners totheir fate

When God does nothing…

Instead of sending fire and brimstone, He appears to do nothing

Therefore (24) = 21-23, abandons them (gave them up, 24,26,28)

A debased mind (28)

Reprobate, worthless, corrupt Word play:

They did not approvetrue God

God gavethem up to adisapproved

mind

Amos 8:11-12

Learning the hard way: their most precious possession

Punishment fits the crime (cf. 7:12)

Saul1 Sm.28

ProdigalLk.15

Misguided lovers, 2 Th.2:10-12 ““Once we assuage our conscience Once we assuage our conscience

by calling something a ‘necessary by calling something a ‘necessary evil,’ it begins to look more and evil,’ it begins to look more and more necessary and less and less more necessary and less and less evil”evil” – Sidney J. Harris – Sidney J. Harris

Ahab

Mt.7:13-14

We cannot come to a fork and “take it”; to refuse the right way is to choose the wrong