Improper Attitudes toward
Sin
By: M. Allen
FILING INFORMATION:
97045
11/9/97 -
Rapid City, SD
I. Introduction.
A.
Last wk in our sermon on
Sunday AM we talked about the seriousness of sin by getting a clear definition
of it.
1.
It is important that we have
a precise definition of sin so that we may be able to properly fight against
it.
2.
We all need to make sure
that we are doing our best to fight sin and to rid it from our life.
a.
sin carries along with it a
tremendous burden - eternal death
b.
Rom 6:23…
B.
This AM we are going to
discuss another important lesson on sin that is - "Improper Attitudes
Toward Sin.”
1.
So often, the reason so many
people get entangled in sin is because they do not have the proper attitude
concerning it.
2.
Often before they know it,
they are entrenched in it - desperately looking for a way out…
C.
"Attitude" defined
by Webster…
1.
A position of the body, or means
of carrying oneself <dealing with oneself>
2.
A state of mind or a
feeling; disposition <e.g., an attitude of open hostility>
3.
The orientation of an
aircraft's axes relative to a reference line or place such as the horizon.
4.
Of course, we wish to deal
with the second definition of the word.
D.
How is your disposition
toward sin?
1.
How do you feel about it?
a.
The way the Bible pictures sin? [discussed last week]
b.
a less threatening way
[always leads one down the path of destruction]
2.
You see our attitudes
determine our actions!
a.
Prov. 4:23 - from the heart
[mind] comes all that we do!
b.
Prov. 23:7 - for as one
thinks, so is he!
c.
Mt. 15:18-20 - Jesus had
been teaching lesson to Pharisees about hypocrisy and was explaining parable to
apostles…
3.
From these passages, we see that
attitude is everything! When it
comes to sin!
E.
This Am, we wish to discuss
four basic improper attitudes toward sin. I encourage each of you to take out your Bible and study along with us. Turn w/me to every Scripture. See what the Bible says!
1.
The Lord willing, we will
study the "other side" of the coin and study "Proper Attitudes toward
Sin."
2.
Hope you will enjoy the
lesson!
II. Improper Attitudes toward Sin.
A.
Deny it.
1.
Various religions in our
present world deny the reality of sin.
a.
One example: the Christian
Scientists.
b.
Following quote from their
own creed book "Science and Health."
c.
The notion that both evil & good are real is a delusion of material
sense, which science annihilates. Evil is nothing, nominal, nor power. {pg. 330}
2.
The movers & shapers of
our society deny sin by the way they speak of it.
a.
"mental agitation"
b.
"theological
abstraction"
c.
"sin has been invented
by churches to keep people from having fun"
d.
"Sin has been invented
by preachers so they can keep their job."
3.
Despite all the denial, the
Bible says sin is real. The Bible says it, I believe it!
a.
1 Jhn. 3:4 - a good example
b.
1 Cor. 6:9-11; 2 Cor.
12:20-21; Rev. 21:8 are just a few cases where the Bible defines what human
actions are against God's law and thus sin!
1.
1 Cor. 6:9 - those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God!
4.
If sin is not real, why did
Christ die upon the cross?
a.
Why would the son of man
suffer, bleed, and die if there was no sin to die for?
b.
Had there been no sin -
there would have been no cross!
1.
Isa 53:5-6,8,10
2.
Heb. 9:28
5.
The existence of Satan
proves that sin is real. Had there
been no sin there would be no Satan.
a.
2 Pet. 2:4 says…
b.
Chief purpose of Satan: get men to do evil: sin
c.
1 Pet. 5:8
6.
How can anyone sensibly deny
sin when looking at present society?
a.
FBI, says serious crimes
happen every 6 seconds.
1.
murder: 36 min…
2.
rape: 14 min…
3.
burgularly: 16 sec…
b.
must have doors w/locks;
jails, penitentiaries, P.D.'s, judicial courts
c.
All these things tell us
that sin is real!
d.
Only a fool would deny that
there is sin!
B.
Mock it.
1.
Again, to the book of
Proverbs - 14:9; 10:23
2.
Society today and even
sometimes we want to make sin a joke. Many laugh at it and try to turn it into something fun! Look at TV programs, movies, society in
general….
a.
How many people are laughing
themselves straight to hell???
3.
If we will look at the
consequences of sin in great detail, we will find that sin is no laughing
matter!
a.
How many of us have a heart
felt sorrow for sin in our lives?
b.
Do we recognize sin, express
sorrow for it, and honestly turn away from it?
4.
Read 14:9 of Prov. Again… Sin is NO laughing matter….
C.
Minimize it.
1.
to "minimize" is
defined as: to represent as having the least degree of importance, value, or size.
a.
very often we fall into this
snare of the devil. We have all at
one time or another minimized sin.
b.
How do or can we minimize
sin?
2.
We minimize sin when we do
not call it what it is…
a.
Political correctness seems
to have taken over our society. Many try to tell us today that the word "sin" sounds too
harsh. It might offend someone.
b.
Sin now spoken of as:
1.
immature development
2.
negative goodness
3.
misdirection
c.
Tell a lie? You've only "colored the
truth"
d.
Lust after someone? You "love" them
e.
Adultery is now known as a
biological maladjustment. Murder
is a release from a previous traumatic experience.
f.
As one preacher said, it is getting hard to find an old fashioned
sinner today!
1.
Whitewashing sin doesn't
change it from what it really is!
3. We
minimize sin when we make it inconsequential
a.
1 Kings 16:31-33 - Ahab
sinned w/o remorse. Sinned as if
it were no big deal.
b.
Prov. 17:15 - those who do
so are an abomination to God!
c.
But yet, how many times do
we hear:
1.
Young people will be young people - they're just sowing their wild
oats!
2.
A year from now - no one will ever remember what I've done…
d.
But what does the Bible
say??? Gal. 6:7-8
4. Minimize
sin by infrequent teaching/preaching on it. Minimize sin when we are indifferent to soul-winning…
5. Another
problem: minimizing some sins & magnifying others. Often, we minimize our own sins and magnify
those of others.
a.
Or, we classify sins of the
flesh being major while sins of attitude are minimized.
b.
Lk. 15:11-32 a good example with
the older/younger brother.
6. Let
us stop treating sin lightly!
a.
One preacher has said, sin is blacker than hell and worse than
Satan; for, had there been no sin there would have been no hell and no Satan.
[1]
b.
Had there been no sin - no Calvary.
c.
Treat sin lightly??? Treat the cross lightly. Who is willing to do that??
D.
Dismiss it.
1.
When we do not honestly face
our sin and come to grips with it we dismiss it.
a.
Felix [Acts 24:25] Men of
Athens [Acts 17:32] dismissed their sin before God.
b.
Promised they would deal
with it sometime later.
c.
Do we have this attitude???
2.
This attitude does not make
sense.
a.
If one has a disease and
chooses to ignore it dopes it miraculously go away?
b.
Rather, continues to grow
& progress - eventually causing death.
c.
So it is with sin.
3.
The long we put off sin, the
more dangerous a situation we get into. What if:
a.
The Lord comes.
b.
Death occurs
c.
We are rendered physically
& mentally incapable of cleansing our sin?
4.
I believe the majority of
people fall into this category!
a.
so many know/realize the
danger of sin
b.
so many realize they are in
sin
1.
by not being a child of God
2.
By being unfaithful child of
God.
c.
Yet so many continue in
it! I just do not understand…
5.
Remember story of tax
collector in Lk. 18:9-13?
a.
Which is your attitude
toward sin?
1.
Pharisees - deny sin,
dismiss sin…
2.
Tax collector - deal with
sin
3.
Which is it going to be?
III. Conclusion.
A.
My friends let each and
everyone of us DEAL with our sin!
B.
Let us not deny it, mock it,
minimize it, or dismiss it, but deal with it in the proper manner before God!
1.
This is the only way we are
going to be pleasing before God!
C.
Are you willing to deal with
your sin today? Are you willing to
get your life right in the sight of God?
1.
Do so by becoming a
Christian!
2.
Do so by returning to the
fold of God by living a faithful Christian life.
3.
Do so before it is
everlastingly too late!
D. I N
V I T A T I O N