DOCTRINE: Sin: It's character and universality

Sin: It’s character and universality

I have 3 daughters- and since having them-glitter has entered my household.

My husband, who grew up with mostly brothers- was unfamiliar with the substance.

I will never forget one of his first interactions with it....he was frantically trying to get it out of his hair, off his clothes and…frustrated..he cried out…it’s everywhere..

I told him that he had 3 daughters. Glitter was just apart of who he was.

If you have ever worked with glitter- you know that it is pervasive- it gets into every nook and cranny- it’s impossible to vacuum- sure you can clean up some of it, but just when you think you have it all- more appears.

That is sort of what sin is like…pervasive—it gets into every nook and cranny of our lives.

But unlike glitter- which is mainly annoying- sin is destructive.

So what is sin...

One pastor defined sin as: any feeling or thought or speech or action that comes from a heart that does not treasure God over all other things.

Anything that rules our heart other than God…is sin...

Remember, Adam and Eve in the garden- sin exists because their relationship with Him was broken

He was no longer their only love. Sin causes us to love and pursue things other than God.

When Adam and Eve sinned in the garden -Not only did sin enter the world, but every human is born with a sinful nature.

Sin is pervasive and corrupts the thoughts, motives, and actions of every person on this planet.

It is more than just the actions that we do- it is ultimately a heart condition.

In 1 Kings 11:1-9 we see the word “heart” mentioned over and over again as Solomon’s sins are brought to light.

Solomon’s actions were a result of the sin inside of him.

Now-scripture never tells us explicitly- but it appears that Solomon had a relationship with the Lord.

But yet, Solomon still had a sin nature.

Solomon let sin remain unchecked in his life over time…

He pushed aside the warnings of God....the sins revealed in 1 Kings 11 didn’t just start there- it’s a summary of years and years of letting his heart continuously fall in love with things other than God.

Sin is deceitful. It lies to us. But no matter how sin presents itself it will never deliver what it promises.

Where have you convinced yourself that sin in your life is not sin? Are you allowing sin to continue- telling yourself- it’s not that big of a deal...

Look at what happened because of Solomon’s unchecked sin in his heart- it resulted in the entire nation of Israel dividing...

The damage and pain inflicted by sin is very evident in our world and within ourselves.

When I do not believe that sin is pervasive...I think that humans can fix each other. I look to education, psychology, medicine, philosophy, politics, and on and on... to explain the brokenness I see in myself, humanity, or the world.

Those things can be beneficial, but they do not have the power to deliver us from sin.

Only God has that power- He is the one we should run to.

When I believe sin is pervasive in myself and humanity, I run to Jesus for salvation.

Only He can restore what sin has destroyed.

Believers continue to battle their sin nature but have been given the power to overcome it by the Holy Spirit o Spiritual growth – sanctification – involves recognizing, confessing, and turning from specific sin. o Our battle with sin can be discouraging, but the tension we feel as we fight is evidence of God’s work within us.

Let us never forget that o God made a way to save sinners, to save us, through the sacrifice of His Son.

Jesus defeated sin and death for you. In Him alone lies hope for you and all of humanity...

EXTRA LECTURE THOUGHTS:

Now- I want to make something very clear- if you have made Jesus King and Lord over your life- you are eternally secure in Him. Nothing can take that away from you. But, as long as you are on this earth- you will continue to daily struggle with Sin...

Now, I want to make something very clear- if you have made Jesus King and Lord over your life and accepted his gift of redemption- you are eternally secure in Him- Nothing can take that away from you.

But, as long as you are on this earth- you will continue to daily struggle with Sin…and In your own strength you can’t do anything about it…that’s what makes God’s grace, grace in the first place.

It’s all him. it’s not dependent on us. But again, you are not a passive participant. You still have a choice.

You choices matter.

Your decisions matter.

Your obedience matters.

Those compromises that you make, that you think aren’t that big of a deal, or aren’t effecting anyone else- matter- because anything that draws you away from God is sin- and there is not bigger tragedy than a heart separated from God.

God wants your heart- and He wants all of is- because he loves you, He knows what is best, and sin is never God’s best.

Conviction lead us to confession and when we confess, we actively participate by working through the power of the Holy Spirit to be transformed to be more like Jesus-Jesus had perfect relationship with God on this earth. Yes, on this earth we will never be in perfect relationship, but we can get glimpses of it as we move towards Him.- that is how and why we fight sin.

Aim:

INTRODUCTION

1: Division Within (internal division led to external division) (Solomon) 1 Kings 11-

a

b. 1 Kings 11:1-8: Compromising heart/Conforming heart

Leaves sin unchecked (History; 1 Kings 3/Deut. 17)

w/ wives…1 Kings 11:1-3

other gods…1 Kings 11:1-5

Results in divided heart 1 Kings 11:9

DOCTRINE: Sin

c. 1 Kings 11:11- 43: has Consequences

11:9-13: of Divided Kingdom

11:14-43: of Adversaries (Hadad, Rezon, Jeroboam)

God’s sovereignty (11:14, 23)

Principle: When we become tolerant of sin in culture our hearts turn away from God.

Continuous dismissing of sin can lead to painful longterm consequences.

Application:

DIVISION 2 Resistance-> Stubborn Heart (Rehoboam) 1 Kings 12:1-24; 2 Chronicles 12-14

a. I Kings 12: 1-24: Rejects Wisdom

Listened to friends over wisdom

Fulfills God’s plan: God’s sovereignty in choices

vs. 15, 24

2 Chronicles 12 Abandons God’s law

Has opportunity to Repentant:

Repentance

consequences remain

Principle: God invites repentance to all, but the consequences of sin remain.

Are you willing to

DIVISION 3: God’s Invitation back to him (Jeroboam) 1 Kings 12:26-14

a. 1 Kings 12:25-33: Invitation through need for security—> Jeroboam instead chose to sin instead of going to God

b. 1 Kings 13:1-34 Invitation Through warnings

b.1 Kings 14:1-20 Invitation Through painful consequences

c. Security—>Self Reliant Heart 1 Kings 12:25-33

Leading other into sin (idol worship)

b. Control/Rebellion 1 Kings 13:1-10

J refuses to listen to the Word Of the Lord (I know better)

Prophet:

b. 1 Kings 14:1-20: Results in painful consequences

14:1-20: Jeroboam/Israel’s Consequences

14:21-31: Rehoboam/Judah’s Consequences

Principle: Refusal to follow God results in painful consequences.

Application:

Where are you blatantly refusing to follow God

CONCLUSION