DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SINNERS
By David J. Riggs
Intro.
A. No human being can truthfully say that he is completely
sinless, whether he is in the church or out of the church. 1
John 1:8-2:2
B. People of the world often assert: "I'm as good as most people
in the church."
1. They like to emphasize that in some ways they are as good,
if not better, than some members of the church.
a. They like to think that they can be saved along with
members of the church because they are just as good as
most church members.
2. It is true that all are sinners; however, the sinner in the
world is not in the same situation or condition as the
sinner in the church. There is a great difference between
the two.
C. Let's look at the differences between sinners in the world and
sinners in the church.
I. MOST SINNERS IN THE WORLD DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT SIN IS. THEY ONLY
THINK THEY DO.
A. For example, they would not understand that having an erroneous
faith or practice is sinful. 2 Tim. 2:16-18; 2 Thess. 2:9-12
B. Most of the time, sinners of the world base what is sinful, and
what is not sinful, mainly on their own opinions.
1. Usually, they follow what is accepted or not accepted in
their present society.
C. Almighty God is the One who has made the laws. He determines
and declares what is sinful and what is not.
1. It is up to us to discern between good and evil. Heb. 5:12;
1 Thess. 5:21
2. We are to approve what is acceptable and not acceptable to
the Lord. Rom. 12:2; Eph. 5:8-11,17
3. Sometimes, the air in a room may look fresh and clean.
However, when the bright sunlight penetrates the room, dust
and other impurities are clearly seen. In a similar way,
when we study God's word, we begin to see impurities in us.
With God's help, and the power of the word, we can clean up
those impurities and be more like our Creator.
II. MOST SINNERS OF THE WORLD HAVE A RATHER LIGHT VIEW OF SIN.
A. Christians are commanded to hate sin. Rom. 12:9; Psalm 97:10
1. We cannot love the world with its sinful lusts and vain
glory. 1 John 2:15-16
2. The one who becomes a friend of the world becomes an
enemy of God. James 4:4
B. It is through the knowledge of the Scriptures, and our
willingness to follow them, that we begin to comprehend the
enormity of sin.
1. Sin is violation of the law of a righteous, holy, awesome
God.
2. It took the precious blood of the Lamb of God to bring
forgiveness of sins.
a. Thus, the tremendous cost necessary to bring
forgiveness shows the terribleness of sin.
3. Sin has terrible consequences. Rom. 6:23; Gal. 6:7-8
III. SINNERS OF THE WORLD DO NOT STRUGGLE AND FIGHT AGAINST SIN.
A. Most sinners of the world do not put forth much effort to fight
sin or to live above sin.
1. Often, worldly people are controlled by sinful passions and
desires without even knowing it.
B. The Christian, on the other hand, puts up a fight to conquer
sin in his life.
1. He prayerfully faces temptation, watching with perseverance.
2. He does all within his power to resist the devil.
3. His goal in life is to purify himself even as Christ is
pure. 1 John 3:2-3
C. Thus, to say the least, the Christian is more likely to win the
battle against sin than the normal sinners of the world.
1. The Christian may fall from time to time, but he does not
habitually sin. 1 John 3:9
a. The expression "does not sin" in the Greek is "does not
keep on sinning," and the term "he cannot sin" in the
Greek is, "he cannot keep on sinning."
(1) In other words, he does not habitually sin.
(2) The reason he does not habitually sin is because
"His seed remains in him."
b. Also, he cannot sin because it is not his desire or
intention to sin.
(1) When Peter and John said, "For we cannot but
speak the things which we have seen and heard"
(Acts 4:20), it did not mean that they literally or
absolutely could only speak those things. They
spoke about other things in their every day lives.
(2) It was their burning desire and intention to speak
what they had seen and heard.
IV. CHRISTIANS COME TO THE PLACE OF CLEANSING WHEREAS THE SINNERS OF
THE WORLD DO NOT.
A. Christ is the Christian's place of cleansing. 1 Pet. 1:18-19;
Rev. 1:5; Eph. 1:7
1. This is the main difference between sinners in the church
and out of the church.
2. The Christian's hope does not rest on the ground of his own
sinless perfection.
a. He knows when he does everything that is commanded,
he is only doing what he should be doing. Luke 17:10
b. An old familiar hymn expresses the Christian's view:
"My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and
righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but
wholly lean on Jesus' name."
c. Christ is the propitiation (appeasement, atonement) for
our sins. 1 John 2:2
B. The sinner of the world, however, seemingly disregards the
mercy of the Lord and the blood that was shed for him.
1. He continues apart from Christ, even though he could be
cleansed if he would come to the Lamb of God who takes
away the sins of the world.
2. To all sinners of the world, Jesus has said: John 8:24; Luke
13:3; Luke 12:8-9; Mark 16:16
a. These commands are absolute. Apart from obedience to
these commands, there is no promise of forgiveness.
b. Because many have not rendered obedience to these
commands, they are excluded from forgiveness.
C. In effect, the sinner of the world who hasn't obeyed the Lord,
is depending on his own moral goodness to save him.
1. However, no one can be saved by his own moral goodness.
Acts 4:12; John 14:6; 6:44-45
2. Let's suppose that someone has a sour lemon tree in his back
yard, but he doesn't want a sour lemon tree; he wants a
sweet orange tree. Thus, he pulls off all the sour lemons
and ties sweet oranges in their place. Does he now have a
sweet orange tree? No, in reality, all he has is a sour
lemon tree with oranges tied on it.
3. So it is when one is depending on his own moral goodness
without changing his state before God.
V. THE CHRISTIAN HAS THE PROMISE OF CONTINUAL FORGIVENESS BUT THE
SINNER OF THE WORLD DOES NOT.
A. When Simon the sorcerer fell into sin, Peter told him to repent
and pray so that he might be forgiven. Acts 8:22
1. Christians have the promise of forgiveness. 1 John 1:9
a. All of us from time to time must take advantage of this
great blessing.
b. No matter how great the evil, we have the promise to be
forgiven. 1 Tim. 1:9-11
c. What a privilege and blessing!
B. The sinner of the world does not have this promise.
1. He may think he does.
2. He might plead with God every day to forgive him. But, he is
not forgiven because he is not a child of God.
VI. THE CHURCH MEMBER, EVEN THOUGH HE HAS SINNED, IS HEADED FOR
HEAVEN; BUT, THE SINNER IN THE WORLD IS HEADED FOR HELL.
A. Only those who have their names in the book of life will enter
the heavenly city. Rev. 21:27
1. Those whose names are not in the book of life will be cast
into the lake of fire. Rev. 20:15
B. Several years ago, there was a massive volcanic explosion in
the state of Washington when Mount St. Helens erupted. Sheriff
Bill Closner said, "People were in the danger areas around the
mountain because they refused to obey road blocks. The bottom
line is that nobody would listen."
1. As a result of their unwillingness to listen, many were
needlessly destroyed.
2. Let us not be foolish sinners who will not listen to God's
warnings.
3. Let us do our best to not sin, but when we do, let us humbly
confess our sins, and strive to do better. Luke 18:13
Concl.
A. There is no comparison between the sinners of the world and the
sinners in the church.
B. There is a vast difference between the babe in Christ who has
many sinful habits but is striving to overcome them, and the
sinner of the world who has never obeyed the Lord.
1. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
2. Many sinners have let the devil deceive them into thinking
they are just as well off as those who are members of the
body of Christ.
3. No, they must come to the Lord to be cleansed.
C. If the righteous will barely escape the destruction threatened,
where shall the ungodly and sinner appear? What shall be the
end of those who have not obeyed the gospel? 1 Pet. 4:17-18
Chart:
Sinners Of The World
They really don't know what sin is.
They have a rather light view of sin.
They don't fight and struggle against sin.
They don't come to the place of cleansing.
They do not have continual forgiveness.
They are headed for destruction.