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
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