"SIN"

INTRODUCTION: There are many ideas about sin and as to what sin really is. Man places his own definition upon sin. He talks about big sin .. little sin .. sin for others but not for me and doing whatever feels good at the moment. (As long as I don't hurt anyone else!) We must always go to the Bible for spiritual truths.

I. What IS Sin? (1 Jhn 3:4) (1 Jhn 5:17) (Jam 4:17)

   A. Sin is wrong doing .. wickedness .. iniquity .. ungodliness .. do that which is bad and
      evil.
      1. Sin in man's life will lead him down the road to destruction ... he is not fit for 
         the "kingdom of God" (Luk 9:62)
      2. Those who remain in sin and do not repent of their sin ... will not be among those 
         in heaven ... regardless of who they are!

II. Who Were The First Sinners? (Gen 3:1-6)

   A. Adam and Eve transgressed God's will.
      1. God told Adam and Eve not to eat nor touch the tree in the midst of the garden .. or
         they would die.
         a. This was the tree of "good and evil" that Eve partook of.
         b. She took of the fruit and gave it to Adam and he did eat of it as well.
         c. The serpent told Eve that they would become as gods ... knowing good and evil.
      2. Because they allowed themselves to be beguiled by the serpent they became God's 
         enemy and man has been a sinner ever since.
   B. There are three separate points that need to be brought out with the first sin of man.
      1. They defied God's will.
      2. When caught ..they placed the blame on another source.
      3. They both were punished severely for their transgression .. one was as guilty as the
         other.

III. Who Is The Author Of Sin?

   A. Not God! .. he did every thing for Adam's comfort that needed to be done.
      1. He created woman for a help meet because no other creature was compatible with man.
      2. He placed them in the garden of Eden with all that they needed to subsist and gave 
         them only one command ... not to eat of the fruit of the tree of "good and evil."
      3. He made man to have dominion over every creature.
   B. Satan .. he is the author of Sin. (2 Cor 11:3)
      1. Through Satan's work .. the serpent beguiled Eve and persuaded her to disobey God.
      2. Satan is the enemy of mankind from the beginning until the ending of time.
      3. Satan is still causing problems today in the lives of many (Luk 22:31).
   C. James tells us that we should resist the devil, and he will flee (Jam 4:7) (1 Pet 5:8).

IV. Who Is The Father Of The Sinner? (Jhn 8:34-38) (Jhn 8:42-44)

   A. Satan is the father of all sin .. If man is the servant of sin .. Satan is the father 
      of the sinner.
      1. If we continue in sin .. we will die in our sin .. and at the judgment .. we will 
         not inherit eternal life with Christ (Jam 1:15).
      2. If we repent of our sin .. then we die to our sin through the burial of baptism into
         the body of Christ. Christ and the Father are one .. therefore .. we are the 
         children of God.

V. Man As A Servant Of Sin .. Produces The Fruits Of Sin:

   A. Bitterness (Deu 32:32) ... Wild fruit, unfit for consumption (Is 5:2) ... Deceitfulness
     (Hos 10:13) ... corruptness (Mat 17:17) ... Fleshly desires (Gal 5:19-21)
   B. All fruit must have a harvest time ... Sins harvest is:
      1. Disappointing (Is 17:11) ... Profitless (Jer 12:13) ... Reaped at Judgment 
         (Joel 3:12) ... According to the seed sown (Gal 6:8).
   C. Make no mistake ... there will come a time of harvest ... sooner or later. (Gal 6:7) 
      (Rev 14:15).
      1. Be very careful of whom you serve .. one will lead you to eternal joy the other to 
         eternal damnation.

VI. Who Is Guilty Of Sin? (Rom 3:23) (1 Jhn 1:8)

   A. All men are sinners ... that includes everyone hearing this lesson! (Rom 5:12)
      1. If all men have sinned as the Bible tells us .. then for man to become a Christian 
         .. he must have forgiveness of his past sins.
      2. For man to have forgiveness .. he must Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31)
         .. confess Christ (1 Jhn 4:2) .. repent of his sins (Acts 11:18)... he then must be 
         baptized for the remission of those sins (Acts 2:38).
         a. There is no other way but by baptism into the body of Christ.
         b. Man is then cleansed from all unrighteousness .. and added to the church by the 
            Lord (Acts 2:47).
            (1). He does not join the church on his own .. nor voted in by the congregation 
                 .. or even have his name placed on a roll.
            (2). He simply becomes a member of the body of Christ .. a Christian.

VII. What Causes Man To Sin?

   A. Man is always wanting something he does not have.
      1. Many will go to any lengths to get what they think they want.
      2. When they obtain what they thought they wanted .. they find that many times that 
         does not satisfy and they want more and more.
   B. This desire for more and more leads man to temptation.
      1. The Lust of the Flesh ... Desire for more money ... A need to go deeper into the 
         drug world ... or a burning desire to be seen of the societal world (Jam 1:14-15)
         (Jam 4:4).
   C. Many blame God for their trial and temptations .. they only have to look to the source
      of sin .. Satan.

VIII. Who Causes Man To Sin? (Mat 13:24-25) (Mat 13:38-39)

   A. If any man is persuaded to sin .. it is because of his weakness in the Lord and his 
      association with those who serve Satan.
   B. We as Christians must be constantly on our guard to rebuke all appearances of wrong 
      doing.
      1. We need to do all things with the hope or our reward which is in heaven 
         (1 Cor 9:9-10).
   C. Satan takes the blame for causing man to sin.
      1. He will never give up until the last days when we are resurrected .. stand before 
         the judgment .. and enter into the gates of heaven.
         a. He then will be cast into the lake of fire with his angels and his disciples.

IX. Sin Is A Terrible Disease.

   A. I call it a disease because no disease is overcome without the intrusion of one who 
      administers a cure.
      1. Christ is the great physician .. His prescription for life is His Word .. through 
         obedience to the gospel.
   B. Sin leads one to terrible consequences.
      1. Eternal damnation in the fiery lake that will burn for eternity for Satan and his 
         angels.
      2. Man must rid himself from the pains that sin will bring ... Only in Christ do we 
         have hope of an eternal life in heaven.

Chart:

"SIN"
(1 John 2:1-6)

What Is Sin? (1 Jn 3:4) (1 Jn 5:17) (Jas 4:17)

Who Were The First Sinners? (Gen 3:1-6)

Who Is The Author Of Sin? (2 Cor 11:3)

Who Is The Father Of The Sinner? 
(Jn 8:34-38) (Jn 8:42-44)

Who Is Guilty Of Sin? (Rom 3:23) (1 Jn 1:8)

What Causes Man To Sin? (Jas 1:14-15) 
(Jas 4:4)

Who Causes Man To Sin? (Mat 13:24-25) 
(Mat 13:38-39)