SCRIPTURE: 1 John 2:1-6

INTRODUCTION:

There are many ideas about sin and as to what sin really is.

Man places his own definition upon sin.

He talks about big sin... little sin... sin others but not for me and doing whatever feels good at the moment.

(As long as I don’t hurt anyone else!)

We must always go to the Bible for spiritual truths.

I. WHAT IS SIN?

(I John 3:4) Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law

(I John 5:17) All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.

(James 4:17) Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin

A. First: Sin in the New Testament is rebellion.

It is not missing the mark or good intentions--falling short as some say.

That is a classical meaning, NOT NEW TESTAMENT.

(I John 3:4) Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

B. Second: Sin is a hostile, Lawless, and rebellious disposition against God.

Sin, then, cannot be construed as a mistake.

Sin evolves out of a corrupt soul and is moral and carnal in nature.

A mistake has its ground in our physical or intellectual weakness and is human in nature.

Thus, (Sin) is a moral quality or state;

The other is a human trait.

Scripture’s DO TEACH that we are saved from all sin, but, nowhere do they teach that we are saved from our humanity.

Humanity is an attribute of being, while sin is a result of the FALL.

SIN is of the devil.

(I John 3:8) He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

C. Third: Sin is incompatible with grace and righteousness at any stage of the Christian experience.

Sin is of the devil and not of God.

If one commits sin, that one is of the devil both in standing and state.

SIN IS A STATE OF SPIRITUAL DEATH.

Spiritual death means that one is cut off from God, that one will remain in that state until sin is both repented of and forsaken.

II. WHO WERE THE FIRST SINNERS?

(Genesis 3:1-6) Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? (2) And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: (3) But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it lest ye die. (4) And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: (5) For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. (6) And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

A. First: Adam and Eve sinned, they were in a state of spiritual death.

God told Adam and Eve not to eat nor touch the tree in the midst of the garden... or they would die.

This was the tree of "good and evil" that Eve partook of.

She took of the fruit and gave it to Adam and he did eat of it as well.

The Snake (serpent) beguile Adam and Eve, they became God’s enemy and man has been a sinner ever since.

B. Second: There are three separate points that need to be brought out with the first sin of man.

The defied God’s will.

When caught... they placed the blame on another source.

They both were punished severely for their transgression... One was as guilty as the other.

(Ezekiel 18:20) "But the soul who sins will die."

III. WHO IS THE AUTHOR OF SIN?

A. First: Satan is the author of sin.

(II Corinthians 11:3) But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

It was through the work of Satan that Eve was beguiled, and persuaded to disobey God.

B. Second: Satan is the enemy of mankind from the beginning until the ending of time.

Satan is still causing problems today in the lives of many.

(Luke 22:31) And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

C. Third: James tells us that we should resist the devil, and he will flee

(James 4:7) Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

IV. WHO IS THE FATHER OF THE SINNER?

(John 8:34-38) Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. (35) And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. (36) If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. (37) I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. (38) I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. (John 8:42-44)

A. First: Satan is the father of all sin.

If a man is the servant of sin... Satan is the father if the sinner

(Romans 6:16) Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; Whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

B. Second: If we continue in sin we will die in our sin.

Is it possible that a good God who hates sin has so created us, that we can resist Him, and cannot resist the devil?

The Bible says, " My Spirit shall not always strive with man."

God has so created us and given us the power to resist Satan, IF WE WANT TO."

Has God made us all helplessly sinners, with no choice in the matter?

(WHAT NONSENSE!)

The facts in the case are that neither God nor the devil can compel us to do either RIGHT or WRONG, unless our FREE AGENCY and RIGHT OF CHOICE be first destroyed.

So long as we possess these fundamental and basic qualities in our nature, which are primarily God-given to every person, we have it absolutely in our own power to do RIGHT or WRONG, to sin or not to sin, according as we will.

The will is the pivot upon which all volitional action moves.

I WILL TO WALK, and I WALK;

I WILL TO TALK, and I TALK;

I can be a Christian IF I WILL, or I can be a SINNER if I WILL;

I can go to heaven IF I WILL, or I CAN GO TO HELL if I WILL.

Our wills thus enable us to execute our choice.

The Bible says, "CHOOSE YE THIS DAY WHOM YE WILL SERVE.

Both the choice and the will are here urged into action.

But why urge a choice, if in reality we are servants of sin, and have no choice, but to do its bidding?

The Bible says. "How long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow him; if Baal, follow him."

This is strange language indeed, to address to creatures who really had no choice in the matter, and could do nothing other than to follow Baal.

Here is the bottom line: If you continue in sin... You will die in your sin... and at the judgment... You will not inherit eternal life, With Christ. (James 1:15)

C. Third: If we repent of your sin we will live.

CONCLUSION:

SIN IS A TERRIBLE DISEASE.

A. Sin is a disease because no disease is overcome with the intrusion of one who administers a cure.

It is God’s purpose and plan that we be saved here and now from our sins.

(Titus 2:11, 14) For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men. (14) Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

(II Timothy 2:19) Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

(I John 1:7) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

(Galatians 1:4) Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father.

B. Sin as a disease will lead one to terrible place called hell.

The consequences of sin are not always shoved off into hell.

There are visible evidences of its dire results here and now. Its hypnotic and deceptive influence is seen every day. Why do men cleave to that which mars their happiness here, and proves their destruction hereafter?

Why will they insist on serving him who at present tempts, but will soon torment them?

Why will they prefer wrong to right, darkness to light, the devil to God, and hell to heaven?

There is but one answer. They are not themselves. (Spiritual blind)

Sin has perverted their God-given sense of right and their endowments to discern that which is their best and highest good, until they are used for their destruction instead of their salvation.

If you confess your sins... We can have fellowship with Him, NOW. IN THIS LIFE.