The Indignity of Sin
FILING INFORMATION:
2001052
Subject: sermon on the mount
Preached Originally:
09/16/01 – Rapid City, SD
Introduction:
A. Hebrews were found to represent the affection of the mind by the members or parts of the body.
1.
Bowels – denoted compassion
2.
Heart – affection or feeling
3.
Evil eye – could denote envy; evil passion; and sin in general.
4.
In speaking of false teachers – 2 Pet. 2:!4 – expression
used to denote adulterous passion, unlawful desire, or wicked inclination.
B.
This = interesting because of what Jesus says in 5:27-28
1.
what exactly is meant by words in 5:29-30?
2.
Eyes/hands mentioned b/c they of most use to us.
3.
Teaching us that however strong passion may be, or difficult to part
with, that we should make all effort to not give in.
4.
Basically: Jesus saying
that if “they stand in your way & become an occasion of sin –
sacrifice them!”
5.
We should understand that sin = so serious – that any sacrifice is
justified in order to avoid the guilt of sin.
I. Some preliminary matters:
A. Let’s look at the nature of sin and it’s consequences.
1. sin is so ugly; so terrible – that it required the death of Jesus Christ.
a)
not a little thing – it is serious!
b)
Hard for us to always realize. Have habit of minimizing & making matters trivial ….
c)
Forget they considered terrible in the eyes of God!
2. Jesus suffered loss; pain; anguish all because of our sin! See Isa 53:5; 1 Pet. 2:22-24.
B. The soul & it’s destiny are important.
1. 5:29-30 – note last half of both of these verses. Note they said twice by Jesus.
2. Our soul = most important thing of all. How many fail to realize this?
3. Eternal destiny is truly precious. Note the words of Jesus in Mt. 16:26.
C. Sin must be hated – destroyed at any cost.
1. Command in Psa. 97:10.
2. Must train ourselves to hate sin! Any sin! All Sin!
3. Can’t muddy up our robes w/it.
4. Note how we are to view sin:
a) 5:30 – cut it off & throw it from you.
b) Rom. 8:13 – put to death the deeds of the body.
c) Col. 3:5 – consider members of your earthly body as dead.
D. We must strive to have a pure heart. See Mt. 5:8. Remember: we can commit sin in our heart!
II. How can I combat sin?
A. We must never feed the flesh.
1. Rom. 13:14 – make no provision for the flesh.
2. Don’t read/take in things that would harmfully influence your soul.
a) like pouring gas on a fire!
b) Eph. 5:3-4 – no coarse talk or jesting – no hint of impurity…
B. We must deliberately restrain the flesh.
1. 1 Cor. 9:27 – Paul disciplined himself.
2. If Paul needed to do it – how much more do we?
III. The seat & power of sin.
A. Back to 5:28 – not only not to commit adultery – but not to look at another with lust.
1. Sin is not merely a matter of deeds of the body – but a condition of the heart.
2. sin is a disease of the heart.
a) symptoms may vary widely.
b) Make no mistake – sin = terminal illness. Some have terrible symptoms others have no symptoms at all.
3. Some – no physical sin evident – but what’s on the heart?
4. Mk. 7:21.
IV. Sin will sneak up on us.
A. Sin can always make us think we are innocent when we are guilty.
1. Satisfied b/c we did not do the deed. Back to 5:27.
2. but….we should ask: “Why did I want to do it?”
B. We must get away from the enjoyment of sinning in mind and imagination.
1. Not careful – can find ourselves in deeper than we ever imagined.
C. Note also – the very things, powers, instincts, that God gave us to enable us to function – Satan perverted and made them the occasions of our downfall.
1. Sin can/will pervert us. It can/will destroy us.
Conclusion:
A. Words to “purer in heart o God.”
B. How is your heart?
C. Don’t let sin take root in your heart!
1. Rather: Let God’s word and the goal of godly living become the way you live your life.
2. Col. 2:6-7 – work on growing in the Lord!
D. Has sin a grip on your life?
1. Nowhere is scripture are we told to deal with it passively!
2. Aggressively take control of your soul today!
3. Obey the gospel & get the burden of sin off your back!
E. I N V I T A T I O N