Wrong is Always Wrong

By:  M. Allen

 

FILING INFORMATION:

98009

2/8/98 - Rapid City, SD

 

I.  Introduction.

A.     Satan the most cunning being around.  His sole desire is to cause all men to lose their salvation and spend eternity in hellfire with him.

1.    He hates good and all those who strive to do good.

2.    Glories in the spread of evil or bad things.

B.    Always looking to take advantage of us.

1.    2 Cor. 2:11- Satan takes advantage of us, we are not ignorant of his devices.

2.    1 Pet. 5:6-9 - our adversary.  Compared to a roaring lion.

C.    Often tempts us with things that in and of themselves aren't wrong; but motives behind them are.

1.    this one of his most deceitful tricks

2.    Many fall prey to this and do not realize that wrong is always wrong.

3.    Ever heard the phrase. "The end justifies the means?"

D.    Often this premise used to justify religious practices that are in error.

1.     Institutional brethren justify support of colleges/orphanages - "Look at the good we are doing."

2.     Often other religious people justify unauthorized activities with the guise that God is please because of the good they are doing.

a.    Drama presentations/alterations to the worship service.

b.    All kinds of perversions justified.

E.    Often we can see the fallacy with their position and point out that indeed the end does not justify the means.

1.     Can see easily with others, but we must understand that the same is true in our personal lives.  We must understand this because this is where so many fall short of the glory of God.

2.     Satan works hard to get us to justify error & questionable things because it serves his overall objective to cause us to lose our soul.

F.     Let's look at some reasons why wrong is always wrong.

 

II.  Even if one isn't caught.

A.     Prominent people today believe & practice this on a daily basis in our country.

1.     Devil wants us to hide our sins making us think that if no one sees/knows of them that we'll be OK.

2.     Adam & Eve…Gen. 3:6-10 - Hid themselves.

a.    Could it be the nature of man to hide his sin?

b.    Adam:  "If God doesn't know - it'll be OK!"

c.     God found them.  Confronted them with their sin.

3.     Can't run from God!

a.    Prov. 15:3 - The Lord knows!

b.    2 Cor. 5:10 - we will give an account for the things which are done in the body!

c.     Yet what do men do today?  Commit sin where no one can see all the while pretending that all is well.  Some never make amends for this.

B.    Another Scripture to consider.

1.    Heb. 4:12-13 - All things open/naked to God.

2.    Man may not catch someone in sin - but God will catch it on judgment if the sin is not repented of!

3.    Read song - Watching You.  Enclosed in packet.

 

III.  Even if something done for a good cause.

A.    Remember back to arguments made by people in introduction?

B.    Bible has example of someone who thought that all the good he would do later would cover up the wrong he did in the first place.

1.    Saul - 1 Sam. 15

2.    Express command in v. 3- violated in v. 8-9.

3.    Confronted of his actions in v. 19-21.  Justified by saying sheep/oxen/plunder would be sacrificed to the Lord.

a.    Look at all the good I'm doing.

b.    Certainly the treasury of the Lord would be greatly benefited.

c.     The people: they are learning the importance of sacrifice!

4.    Answer of Samuel - v. 22-23

5.    Saul learned the hard way.  Good doesn't cover up bad.

C.   1 Jhn. 3:4; 5:17 - sin is a transgression of the Law; all unrighteousness is sin.

1.     If I violate the law of God - the only way to correct that is to confess the wrong and seek forgiveness from the Lord!

2.     1 Jhn. 1:8-9

3.     If I never confess/ask forgiveness/never acknowledge to God that I was wrong: that will not be forgiven even if I do all kinds of good to cover it up!  Soul still in jeopardy!

 

IV. Even if Others Do Worse.

A.     Often heard by many:  "Well just look at "_____."  He does all these terrible things that I would never do.  The things I do just aren't as bad."

1.    Does this rationalization work?  Is it justifiable before God?

2.    See Prov. 24:8-9

a.    Wouldn't you agree that those who use such reasons to justify sin are scoffing at their sin?  They don't understand the seriousness of sin.

b.    Sin is not in degrees!  Sin is Sin is Sin.

B.    See Prov. 28:13

1.    Words of wisdom from the wisest man to walk upon the face of the earth.

2.    The bottom-line.

3.    Again:  sin is sin is sin.

4.    Some people vainly hope to cover their sins by magnifying the sins of others.

5.    Such the way of the Pharisees in which Jesus condemned in Mt. 7:1-5.

C.    2 Cor. 10:2

1.    When we say that others do worse so we can justify our wrong - whom are we comparing ourselves to?  Christ?  His standard?  Or other men?

2.    1 Jhn. 1:8; Rom. 3:23 - not a man who hasn't sinned.

3.    What good does that do?  Why hold ourselves just to man's standard?  Sin is sin is sin.

 

V.  Even if it doesn't violate our conscience.

A.     Acts 22:1-5 - Paul persecuted Christians to death - w/o violating his conscience!

1.    Was he justified?  Just because his conscience wasn't violated did it make his actions acceptable?  Certainly not!

2.    2 Tim. 1:12-15 - Paul the chief of sinners.

B.     Our conscience is a good guide - but it must be trained up under the principles of righteousness in order for it to be a proper guide.

1.    When schooled/knowledgeable in righteousness the conscience can then be our guide & we then should listen to it!

C.    See 2 Tim. 1:3; Acts 24:16

1.    Must strive to live w/o offence to God and men!

 

VI.  Even if it is considered acceptable.

A.    Another popular argument of many:  "Everyone else is doing it; it's got to be OK."  If the majority right, its right.

B.    Is this always true?  Usually we need to be wary of the "majority view."  Consider:

1.    Ex. 32:1-2 - what was the majority view?

2.    They considered idol worship to be acceptable.  Did the majority make it so?

a.    God's law - Ex. 20:4-6.

b.    Still the same no matter what the majority felt.

3.    Penalty of this thinking: Ex. 32:7-10; 28 - men died who did not repent and turn back to the Lord.

C.   Prov. 4:14-17 - don't go with the flow.  Majority usually displeasing to the Lord.

D.   1 Thess. 5:21 - test all things.

1.    Many often caught up in trying to look like religious world.  Some want to be just like them.  Appealing!

2.    Majority have inst. Music - why not us?

3.    Majority have fellowship halls - why not us?

4.    Majority have social activities sponsored by the church - why not us?

5.    PROVE ALL THINGS BY THE SCRIPTURES!

 

VII.  Conclusion.

A.    There is no right way to do wrong.  Wrong is wrong is wrong just as sin is sin is sin.

B.    Don't play into the deceiving/conniving tricks of the devil.

C.   If you have wrongs in your life that needs to be corrected, why not take care of it tonight?

D.   Wrong will not get you to heaven!

E.    I N V I T A T I O N