THE EVILS OF SIN

From Michael Pickford and reworked by David Riggs

Intro.
   A. We are living in a "politically correct" society where everyone
      is afraid to step on anyone toes.
      1. Not much is said about sin anymore.
      2. Even many religious groups have shunned preaching against
         or taking a stand against many things which God condemns.
      3. They're afraid they might offend someone or run someone
         off.
      4. A local denominational preacher in giving his invitation    
         said, "If you don't become a Christian, you haven't lived   
         life to it fullest."
         a. He didn't say, "If you don't become a Christian, you are
            lost in your sins."
   B. The Bible has a great deal to say about sin.
      1. We need to be constantly reminded about it.
      2. Sin literally means "missing the mark."
         a. Judges 20:16 - the Hebrew word here for "miss" is the
            same word for "sin."
      3. God has set up His target (His guidelines and laws); and
         whenever we miss His target or mark, we sin against Him.
      4. Sin is transgression of the law of God. 1 John 3:4
   C. Let's consider what sin is and does.

I. SIN IS A DIVIDER. Isa. 59:1-2
   A. Sin divides, breaks up, or cuts off our fellowship with God.
      1. Sin separated man from God in the garden of Eden.
      2. Sin separated the Israelites from God.
      3. And even today, sin continues to separate men from their
         Creator.
   B. Sin not only separates man from God, it also separates         
      families.
      1. Think of what the sin of adultery has done to marriages.
      2. Think of what the sin of drinking alcohol has done to       
         destroy individuals and their families.
   C. Sin also divides brethren. 1 Cor. 3:3
      1. At the root of most church problems is sin.
      2. Concerning a church problem someone once said, "The
         wicked sin and the righteous suffer."
         a. That is often true regarding church problems.

II. SIN IS A DESTROYER. Ezek. 18:20; Rom. 6:23; James 1:15
   A. The Bible speaks of two deaths, or two separations.
      1. The first death is when the soul is separated from the body.
      2. The second death is when the soul is eternally separated    
         from God in eternal torment.
      3. Both of these deaths are caused by sin.
   B. In the Garden, God said that if man ate from the tree which was
      in the midst of the garden, he would die. Gen. 2:17
      1. They died physically in that their bodies, from that point  
         on, began to die. 
      2. They died spiritually in that their fellowship was broken   
         from God.
      3. Rom. 5:12,18

III. SIN DEBILITATES NATIONS.  Prov 14:34; Psalm 9:17
   A. Sins of a people will break down, destroy, debilitate any      
      nation.
   B. We all remember the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
      1. They were destroyed because of sin. Gen. 18:20; 19:5
      2. Sin debilitated those societies to the point that God saw   
         fit to miraculously intervene and destroy them with fire and
         brimstone from heaven. Jude 7
   C. America was at one time a God-fearing nation built and based
      upon God's principles. 
      1. But this nation is quickly becoming a nation that has
         forgotten God. It's because of sin.
      2. Isaiah draws a picture of a nation condemned by God. Isa.
         1:4
      3. I don't know what God has in store for our nation, but I do
         know that He has never been pleased with a nation that is
         laden with iniquity.

IV. SIN IS A SHREWD DECEIVER. Heb. 3:13
   A. Sin never comes with a badge which says, "Beware, I am sin."
   B. Sin makes itself attractive.
      1. Someone once said, "The devil is an artist who paints sin in
         very attractive colors."
      2. Satan uses trickery and shrewd, deceitful devices and
         Christians need to beware of them. 2 Cor. 2:11
      3. 1 Pet. 4:3  
         a. The word for "banquetings"  (KJV) is translated
            "drinking parties" in the NASV and NKJV.
         b. Trench, in his Synonyms of the New Testament,
            defines it as "the drinking bout, the banquet, the
            symposium, not of necessity excessive, but giving
            opportunity for excess" (p. 225).
         c. This word prohibits Christians drinking at what we
            know as cocktail parties, or "having a few drinks with
            the boys" or simply "social drinking."

V. SIN'S PLEASURES ARE ONLY TEMPORARY AT BEST. Heb. 11:24-26
   A. Sin is pleasurable; that's why people desire it so much.
   B. But, it is pleasurable only for a season.
      1. Sin often promises great things, just like that fruit in the
         garden.
      2. But sin does not fulfill it's promises; instead, it brings
         discomfort, destruction and death.
      3. One may enjoy sin now, but one day he will give account to
         his Maker, and he will reap eternal torment. Gal. 6:7-8

VI. SIN ENSLAVES. John 8:34; Rom. 6:16
   A. We may get accustomed  to a lot of things in this life, but sin
      is one thing which we must never ever get accustomed to.
      1. A lot of people do.
         a. They begin by committing so-called "little sins."
         b. And before long, they are justifying bigger sins.
         c. And before you know it, they are engulfed in sin and
            sometimes even trying to justify it.
      2. Someone once said, "One reason sin flourishes is that it's
         treated like a cream puff instead of a rattlesnake."
      3. Sometimes people become so engulfed in sin and error they
         will never pull themselves up out of it.
         a. They have become the slaves of sin.
         b. Consider what the Hebrew writer mentioned in Heb.
            12:1.
      4. No sin is small. All sin is against an Infinite, Almighty   
         God and will have severe consequences.
         a. We need to look that seemingly insignificant sin in the
            face and boldly say, "I'm going to beat you, I will not
            become your slave."

VII. SIN IS A SHAMEFUL DISGRACE. Phil. 3:19
   A. Many people glory in things they should be ashamed of. Jer.    
      6:15; Prov. 10:23
   B. Instead of glorying over our sins we should weep and mourn.
      James 4:8-9
      1. Paul constantly grieved over his past sins. He called       
         himself the chief of sinners. 1 Tim. 1:15
      2. David begged forgiveness for his sins. Psalm 51:1-3
      3. Someone wrote: "Sin has ruined men, ruined women, and
         ruined angels. Sin has occasioned every tear of sorrow,     
         every sigh of grief, and every pang of agony. Sin has       
         withered everything that is fair, blasted everything that is
         good, made bitter everything that is sweet, dried up springs
         of comfort, and rolled far and wide tides of sorrow. Sin has
         dug every grave, built every coffin, woven every shroud, and
         enlarged every cemetery."
      4. Indeed, sin is gross, disgustingSeptember 9, 2003 and
         deadly. It's not to be gloried in or bragged about.

Concl.
   A.  We have seen that sin is a divider and a destroyer. Sin       
       debilitative nations. Sin is a shrewd deceiver. Sin's         
       pleasures are only temporary. Sin enslaves and is disgraceful.
   B. This, of course, is by no means an exhaustive list of the      
      things the Bible says about sin.
      1. But these should be enough to cause all of us to look at sin
         very seriously.
      2. Sin must be avoided at all cost, because it's hurtful to us,
         to those around us, and most of all, because it is against  
         God.