Sin Doesn’t Pay

by:  Matt Allen

 

FILING INFORMATION:

96016

March 3, 1996 - Brownsburg, IN

 

I.  Introduction.

A.  Today, society in general scoffs at family values and the way things were years ago. 

1.  It is like we are proud of the permissiveness that abounds in our society.  The gay-rights activist, abortion rights activist, and all sorts of other activist tell us that the society of yesteryear was an unlearned and ignorant society.

2.  If one has “Christian” values, society says he is “ignorant.” or could possible be “mean-spirited.”

3.  Isn’t it a shame that “family togetherness” is made fun of today?  Isn’t it sad that good & wholesome values are given the shaft while promiscuity, and immoral living are glorified?

B.  It seems to many around us, that in fact, SIN DOES PAY!!!  Unfortunately, we live in a world that prides itself on doing evil and sinful things.  The devil turns things around and makes us think that the ways of the Lord do not pay.  However, the Paul told the Romans in Romans 6:23...  Scriptures such as this however, are trivialized as religious nonsense or even ignored by the world.

C.  We live in a world that thinks it can get away with sin by hiding it from others.  (according to Paul Harvey News, 60% of high school seniors have been tempted to cheat on exams while 45% say they have cheated on some kind of exam during their high school years.  Most possess the attitude it’s OK to do it, just don’t get caught.)

1.  This is disturbing.  People have no concept that whatsoever that God is watching over us and knows about the things we do. 

2.  Hebrews 3:13

D.  This evening, we are going to look to see what happened to some of the most famous people in the Bible when they let sin creep into their life.  By the end, hopefully, one will be able to realize that sin does not pay!

 

II.  Sin Paid:

A.  Adam & Eve partook of the Lucious Fruit.

1.  She fell into belief of the lie that Satan told her.  He made it seem as if her life after she portook would be glorious and majestical.

a.  He tempts her with words such as you shall be as gods,  knowing both good & evil...

b.  He made it seem as if God were trying to keep something away from them.

c.  The sin finally takes place in 3:6

2.  The devil does the same with us today and will continue to do so until he is sent into the lake of fire at the end of time.

a.  We are tempted with sin that looks glorious and FUN!!!  We are tempted with the idea, Everybody else does it!  We are tempted with the idea that somehow our lives may be better or we may be looked on by others as better.

b.  The devil makes it seem as if the Christian life will keep something away from us.

c.  Finally,  we give in sometimes.

2.  What price did Eve pay for her sin?

a.  Yes,  she now knew good from evil.  She did not die (instantly)  BUT along with the supposed good that the devil told her about she had to endure the punishment of DIRECTLY violating a commandment of God.

b.  Genesis 3:16-19, 23

3.  Romans 5:12 - the consequence of sin:  death spread to all men.

a.  do we realize the far reaching effects of sin?

b.  do we realize the effects of sin not only to ourselves, but to others?

4.  Eve soon realized the price she would have to pay because of sin.  We need to realize this also.

 

B.  Lot’s wife took one last look.

1.  In the book of Genesis, we read of the depravity of Sodom & Gomorrah.  It was a disgusting place in the sight of the Lord.  He was going to destroy it because of the wickedness.  We read of the account in Genesis 19

a.  The DIRECT COMMAND is given by the angel in v. 17.

b.  Read 18-25

c.  The consequence in v.  26

2.  It was a little thing.  (to look back) Might have been hard not to look back.  They were leaving their possessions, and everything they had.  + there was great happenings taking place. 

a.  But, she simply VIOLATED the commandment of the Lord.

3.  Jesus told us not to look back at the world, because to do so would cause one to be unfit for the kingdom of the Lord.

a.  Luke 9:61-62.

1.  Jesus here talking about a servant who was wavering back and forth between the world.  He wanted to do what was right, but he wanted to go back to the world before starting on his journey.

b.  We are tempted to look back at the glistening golden sparkling image of the world.  Sometimes when things are going bad for Christians,  it seems as if those in the world don’t have any troubles or worries. 

1.  This is what the devil wants us to think.  He tempts us into thinking that his way is better.  (May be better for awhile, but we always do not realize the consequences.)

c.  Remember the Israelites?  They constantly looked back to Egypt and compared it to how much better they were in bondage than in the desert.  (Numbers 20:3-5) (They failed to realize where they were headed.)  Many Christians do the same.

4.  Are you looking back or forward?

 

C.  Achan stole Silver & Gold, but He couldn’t spend it.

1.  The Israelites had just soundly defeated Jericho.  One can imagine the feeling running throughout the camp.  Probably one of euphoria and excitement that the promises made to them were finally coming true.    They had great faith in the Lord, and this is why they only sent two or three thousand men against AI.  But they were soundly defeated.

a.  Joshua 7:1-5

b.  Achan had stolen things from the city of Jericho.  At the time of the sin, the items looked so good.  One can only imagine he was thinking of all of the things he could do with the things he stole.  But he didn’t even have time to enjoy what he had stolen. 

1.  He hid them in the floor of his tent.  7:22-23

2.  He was afraid to take them out for fear someone would find him out.

c.  Compare/contrast with present day shop lifters....

2.  His punishment:  7:24-26

a.  Clearly we can realize the penalty for his sin. 

3.  As was mentioned,  one cannot hide their sins from God.  God will find you out.  May be later than sooner, but He will find you out.

a.  People do sinful things and then try to hide them from others.  May be successful in this, (from man)

b.  The Bible says in Galatians 6:7-8.

4.  Achan thought he could get away with his sin, and no one would ever no.  But because of it, he and his family were stoned.  Had he realized the consequences, he would have NEVER done what he did.

5.  Numbers 32:23 - Your sin will find you out.

 

D.  David took another man’s wife.

1.  David of course, commits adultery with Bathsheeba and then tries to cover it up.  Matters are complicated when she informs the king that she was with child.

a.  Brings Uriah home.  Tries to make it look like the child was Uriah’s.  But that didn’t work.  So he indirectly has Uriah killed.  b.  He thought his problem was over.  But we read in 11:27 that this displeased the Lord. 

2.  He paid the price for this.  12:10.

a.  Before this time, the nation under David prospered.  He had been able to defeat all of his enemies. 

b.  Now he would see his kingdom fall into chaos, with his own son challenging him to the throne, and the nation falling under hard times, all because of this one sin.

2.  In Psa. 51 he realized he was guilty of the sin.  (read some verses) We can too. 

a.  But we still have to pay the consequences of the sin we commit.  They could be far reaching.

 

E.  Judas Thirty Pieces of Silver

1.  Matthew 26:14-16

a.  Judas is commonly thought of as the apostle who went ahead of the others and made preparations for Jesus’s coming in the cities and towns. 

b.  In this case, he became tempted by money.  30 pieces of silver.  Something, evidently to him, of great value.  He felt the pressure of material wealth so he betrayed the Son of man.

2.  THE CONSEQUENCE:  Matthew 27:3-6

a.  Before this, maybe he realized what was going to happen to Jesus, but it was blinded, or blurred by the temptation of the money.

1.  When he realized what he did, it was too late.

b.  His sin had two main consequences:

1.  The Son of Man was betrayed and would die an innocent death.

2.  Judas went and hanged himself; thus bringing his life to an end.

 

III.  The Scale of Pay Hasn’t Changed in our lifetime.  Sin Brings Forth Eternal Death.

 

A.  In every case we have seen the clear consequences of sin.

a.  Adam & Eve:  banishment from the garden,  physical death would be upon them because they started dying physically at that instant.

b.  Lot’s wife:  immediate death.  Became a pillar of salt - even for such a little thing as looking back.

c.  Achan:  death.  His sin not only brought about his death, but he caused the needless death of some of the soldiers of Israel who otherwise would have lived.

d.  David:  the death of Uriah; and the death of the peacetime that the nation of Israel had known.

e.  Judas:  the death of himself, and the death of Christ, an innocent man.

B.  What will happen to us if we do not receive forgiveness for our sins?  DEATH ....2 Thess. 1:7-9

C.  Have you received forgiveness for your sins?  Why not tonight before it is everlastingly too late.  2 Peter 3:9-13; H, B, R, C, B