THE CHRISTIAN'S ATTITUDE TOWARD SIN

INTRO:

1. No subject nor principle bears upon the Christian's life more than the subject of sin.

2. For the Christian to remain faithful unto God, he must recognize the proper disposition or attitude that he is to have toward sin.

3. Someone might ask the question; "Just what is sin?"

A. There are at least four passages of scripture in God's Word that can help us define the word "sin".

1) 1 Jno. 3:4; 5:17; Rom. 14:23; Jas. 4:17.

4. Just how is one led into sin?

A. James gives us some idea in : Jas. 1:13-15.

I. THE CHRISTIAN IS TO RECOGNIZE THAT HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS OWN SINS. Gal. 6:5.

A. Man does not inherit sin. Ezk. 18:20.

B. An individual's own sins separate him from God. Isa. 59:1,2.

C. Man is not born into this world as a sinner. Deut. 1:39; Matt. 18:1-3; Rom. 6:16.

1. Psa. 51:1-5; 58:3-6; have to do with being conceived in sin, a sinful atmosphere and circumstance, and then going astray, speaking lies and having teeth. What infant, even shortly after his birth, speaks lies and has teeth?

a. No, one is not born in sin and is thereby a sinner from his birth but he goes astray afterwards in his life.

II. THE CHRISTIAN IS TO HAVE THE PROPER ATTITUDE TOWARD THE CHARACTERISTICS OF SIN.

A. That sin is a deceitful force. Heb. 3:13.

B. That it hardens the heart. Heb. 3:8. (Pharaoh is a good example), Exo. 7:13.

C. That it has a progressive nature. 2 Tim. 3:13.

1. This characteristic is exemplified in Joseph's brethren. Gen. 37. Envy, hatred, murderous, sold him.

2. It is also seen in David's case. He looked, He lusted, He fornicated, He murdered. 2 Sam. 11.

3. And in Peter's case. Matt. 26: 58-75.

D. It's pleasures are but for a season. Heb. 11:25.

E. It pays wages. Rom. 6:23.

F. It kills the sense of shame. Phil. 3:19; Jer. 6:15.

III. THE CHRISTIAN IS TO HAVE THE PROPER DISPOSITION OR ATTITUDE IN COVERING HIS SINS.

A. There is a right and a wrong way to cover sins. Prov. 28:13; Psa. 32:1.

B. We are not to try to hide them. Num. 32:23.

C. We are not to deny that they exist. 1 Jno. 1:8-10.

D. We are to confess them. 1 Jno. 1:9.

E. We are to repent of them;. Acts 8:22.

F. We are to forsake them. Prov. 28:13.

IV. THE CHRISTIAN IS TO HAVE THE PROPER ATTITUDE TOWARD THE CONSEQUENCES OF SIN.

A. Sin separates us from God. Isa. 59:1,2.

1. It is the only thing that can separate us from God. Eph. 2:1,2.

B. It brings the vengeance of God upon us. 2 Thes. 1:7-9.

C. It will cause one to miss heaven. Jno. 8:;21; 1 Pet. 4:17,18.

D. The wages of sin is death. Rom. 6:23; Rev. 21:8.

E. There is punishment for sin. Matt. 25:46; 2 Thes. 1:;9.

V. THE CHRISTIAN MUST HAVE THE PROPER ATTITUDE TOWARD THE PUNISHMENT OF THOSE WHO SIN.

A. We must recognize that it is just. Rom. 3:23-26; Jno. 3:16; Matt. 10:28.

B. That the punishment will last forever. Matt. 25:46.

C. That it is a situation where annihilation would be a relief. Mk. 9:44, 46,48; Matt. 25:30.

D. In recognizing the extent of the punishment for sin, to do all in our power to bring all men to the obedience of the gospel of Christ. Rom. 1:16; 2 Cor. 5:11.

CONCLUSION:

1. May we never be guilty of winking at or in any way minimizing sin.

2. We must not deny its reality nor its heinousness.

3. Paul tells us to: "Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good." Rom. 12:9.

4. he also says: "Abstain from all appearance of evil." 1 Thes. 5:22.

5. Yes, our attitude or disposition toward sin is a very serious matter in our lives.

6. We must always be of the mind to remove sins from our lives and to keep ourselves unspotted from the world. Jas. 1:27.

7. What about you? What is your attitude toward sin?

8. Do you desire to remove sin from your life?

You can by obeying the Lord as required in His Word.

by Jim Sasser

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