Two Ways of Looking At Sin

1. Two Ways of Looking At Sin The Scriptures contrasts how God views sin with how man views sin

2. Introduction • Our greatest problem in this life is sin • But, one of the greatly misunderstood subjects is sin • Wrong thinking about sin leads us to justify our sins or blame others for our sins • God’s view of sin is the opposite of our view • To overcome sin, we must see it as God does and turn to Him as He commands

3. Man Views Sin As Deserved Pleasure • If it feels good, do it • We are told do whatever you desire as long as no one gets hurt

4. Man Views Sin As Deserved Pleasure • Gen 3:6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.

5. Man Views Sin As Deserved Pleasure • 1Co 15:32 If from human motives I fought with wild beasts at Ephesus, what does it profit me? If the dead are not raised, LET US EAT AND DRINK, FOR TOMORROW WE DIE.

6. Man Views Sin As Freedom From Authority • We should be able to do whatever we want to do whenever we want to do it • No one has the right to tell us what to do especially God

7. Man Views Sin As Freedom From Authority • Gen 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Indeed, has God said, 'You shall not eat from any tree of the garden'?" • Gen 3:2 The woman said to the serpent, "From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat;

8. Man Views Sin As Freedom From Authority • Gen 3:3 but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.'" • Gen 3:4 The serpent said to the woman, "You surely will not die! • Gen 3:5 "For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."

9. Man Views Sin As Normal • Sin is natural – fulfilling normal physical desires • Everyone sins so we get used to it as normal

10. Man Views Sin As Normal • Gen 6:5 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. • Gen 6:6 The LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.

11. Man Views Sin As Normal • Gen 6:7 The LORD said, "I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them."

12. Man Views Sin As Something That Victimizes Him • We are not responsible for our sins • We are victims of genetics (born sinners) • We are victims of disease forcing us into alcohol addiction and other sins • We are victims of circumstance – bad family background, corrupt society, have made us sinful

13. Man Views Sin As Something That Victimizes Him • Gen 3:11 And He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?" • Gen 3:12 The man said, "The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate." • Gen 3:13 Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" And the woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."

14. Man Views Sin As A Hopeless Condition • We are helpless and hopeless in sin • Nothing we can do to overcome sin

15. Man Views Sin As A Hopeless Condition • Eph 2:11 Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called "Uncircumcision" by the so-called "Circumcision," which is performed in the flesh by human hands-- • Eph 2:12 remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

16. Man Views Sin As A Hopeless Condition • Rom 7:21 I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. • Rom 7:22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man,

17. Man Views Sin As A Hopeless Condition • Rom 7:23 but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. • Rom 7:24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?

18. God Views Sin As Bringing Grief, Sorrow, Death and Wrath • 2Co 7:9 I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us. • 2Co 7:10 For the sorrow that is according to the willof God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.

19. God Views Sin As Bringing Grief, Sorrow, Death and Wrath • 1Ti 5:6 But she who gives herself to wanton pleasure is dead even while she lives. • Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

20. God Views Sin As Bringing Grief, Sorrow, Death and Wrath • Eph 5:5 For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. • Eph 5:6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

21. God Views Sin As Enslavement To Satan • 2Pe 2:18 For speaking out arrogant words of vanity they entice by fleshly desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error, • 2Pe 2:19 promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved.

22. God Views Sin As Enslavement To Satan • Rom 6:15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! • Rom 6:16 Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?

23. God Views Sin As Enslavement To Satan • Rom 6:17 But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, • Rom 6:18 and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.

24. God Views Sin As Abnormal • Heb 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.

25. God Views Sin As Abnormal • 1Co 6:12 All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything. • 1Co 6:13 Food is for the stomach and the stomach is for food, but God will do away with both of them. Yet the body is not for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body.

26. God Views Sin As Lawlessness Committed By Perpetrators • 1Jn 3:4 Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.

27. God Views Sin As Lawlessness Committed By Perpetrators • Luk 15:17 "But when he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! • Luk 15:18 'I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; • Luk 15:19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men."'

28. God Views Sin As Lawlessness Committed By Perpetrators • Jas 1:13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. • Jas 1:14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. • Jas 1:15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.

29. God Views Sin As Something He Can Help Us Overcome In Hope • 1Jn 3:1 See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. • 1Jn 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.

30. God Views Sin As Something He Can Help Us Overcome In Hope • 1Jn 3:3 And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

31. God Views Sin As Something He Can Help Us Overcome In Hope • Act 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?" • Act 2:38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

32. God Views Sin As Something He Can Help Us Overcome In Hope • 1Co 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. • 1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.