The Blessedness of Righteousness and the Destruction of Sin

I’ve watched those who serve the Lord walk in His blessing

I’ve watched sin destroy people’s lives (even in our church)

Blessed

Genesis 1:27–28 (CSB)

So God created man in his own image;

he created him in the image of God;

he created them male and female.

God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature that crawls on the earth.”

/Before they sinned, God blessed Adam and Eve in tangible ways

He communicated with them (relationship)

They were at peace with God

He gave them family

At peace with one another

He gave them purpose

Vice Regents

They have no name

He provided for them (put them in the Garden which means delight)

Gave them food

Health

Life

*Abel found favor with the Lord because he did what was right

Cursed (After Sin)

Shame: 3:7 - They were naked it and new it

Broken fellowship with God: 3:8 (They hid themselves from God)

Cast out of the Garden

Broken Families:

3:16: Your desire will be for your husband but he will rule over you

Chapter 4: Cain kills Abel

Genesis 4:7 (CSB)

If you do what is right, won’t you be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.”

Cursed are you (v. 11)

Difficulty in work:

Ground will produce thorns and thistles

Eat bread from the sweat of your brow

Death:

Cast out from the tree of life

The wages of sin is death

Noah and the World

Genesis 6:7–8 (CSB)

Then the Lord said, “I will wipe mankind, whom I created, off the face of the earth, together with the animals, creatures that crawl, and birds of the sky—for I regret that I made them.” Noah, however, found favor with the Lord.

This pattern that continues throughout the Bible

Psalm 1

Isaiah 35:8-10;

Read Luke 7:36-50;

The Lord came to redeem us and to deal with our sin. He offers to restore and heal us.

The sinful woman was restored (blessed)

The Pharisees remained hard-hearted, judgmental, and bitter

Closing:

The alluring nature of sin (Eve saw the fruit was good for eating)

James 1:14–15 (CSB)

But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desire. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death.

Brings destruction

Questions:

Do Christians still battle the temptation to sin?

How do we overcome temptation:

1 Corinthians 10:13 (CSB)

No temptation has come upon you except what is common to humanity. But God is faithful; he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to bear it.

Galatians 5:16 (CSB)

I say, then, walk by the Spirit and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh.