Sin and ForgivenessJan 22, 2023

________Just read the message scripture , Luke 17:1–10

Sin brings shame. It brings shame to the person committing it. It brings shame to that person’s family and friends. In some cases, it brings shame to a community, and even to a nation. Christians should oppose sin. If Christians fought sin with more zeal there would be less sin.

I. THE FALLING—We read in vv. 1–2

Luke 17:1–2 “1 He said to His disciples, “It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come, but woe to him through whom they come! 2 “It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea, than that he would cause one of these little ones to stumble.”

1. Verse 1 tells us that There will always be sin and temptation. However, when you cause others to sin by encouraging or tempting them, judgment awaits.

2. Sin’s punishment in v. 2, Now listen church, It would be better for him to die than to face the judgment for causing others to sin. Anyone in here today ever cause anyone to sin, or tell a “little white lie” or go over the state line to buy beer????????

II. THE FORGIVENESS—Of course isn’t this what Jesus is all about? We want to do then grovel and ask for forgiveness, then turn around and do the same thing next Friday night?????

vv. 3–4 tells us:

Luke 17:3–4 3 “Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4 “And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.”

1. Are we this Self aware to be doing what these 2 verses tell us?—v. 3. “Take heed to yourselves”—be careful how you live.

2. Sin—v. 3. “If thy brother trespass against thee, restore him.” Hate sin, but love the sinner. Rebuke sinners in love. I’m reading a book now on the Gospels, and God hates the sin. Period.......

3. Sincere—v. 3. “If he repents, now this is a “sincere repent” of course. We know don’t we when someone is sincere, so Jesus says “forgive him.”

4. Surrender—v. 4. Forgive those who wrong you seven times a day, and if they wrong you over seven times daily, continue to forgive them.

III. THE FAITH THAT WE ARE TO HAVE RESULTS IN GREAT THINGS FOR JESUS—vv. 5–6 TELLS US:

Luke 17:5–6 “5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6 And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and be planted in the sea’; and it would obey you.”

Ex. Do any of you know how little a mustard seed is? Well, Jesus knew and He used it as a comparison to the disciples faith, like our faith.

1. “ The St. Paul’s Congregation said to Pastor Greg, “Increase our faith” just like the disciples asked Jesus in verse—v. 5. The disciples wanted an increase in their faith. We do to don’t we? However, it stops there, we do not want to do the work or devote the time that it takes to “INCREASE” OUR FAITH.

We may increase our faith by reading God’s Word daily.

Romans 10:16–17 “16 However, they did not all heed the good news; (this means that they didn’t listen) for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.”

At home this evening or this week, Read Hebrews 11 to see the great accomplishments by men of God who had great faith.

2. Influence of faith—v. 6. Those withfaith the size of a mustard seed could curse a tree and it would be planted in the sea. There is great power in faith. It is necessary to have faith in order to please God and live the life that our Father wants us to live.

Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

IV. THE FAITHFULNESS, to Jesus Christ is our at least should be “2nd nature.” No thought to doing the right thing or to show love or help others.

Luke 17:7–9 7 “Which of you, having a slave plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come immediately and sit down to eat’? 8 “But will he not say to him, ‘Prepare something for me to eat, and properly clothe yourself and serve me while I eat and drink; and afterward you may eat and drink’? 9 “He does not thank the slave because he did the things which were commanded, does he?”

1. Symbol—vv. 7–9. The servant, though he works hard in the field, still prepared the meal for his master. We too must remember that Christ is first in our lives.

Matthew 6:33–34 33 “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

2. Savior—v. 10. If we do anything for the Lord as a duty, we will lose our reward. Whatever we do for the Lord, we should do because we love Him. A religion that causes man to do things as a duty is an empty, dead religion.

God wants man to be faithful to His Word and His Son. When he is faithful, he brings honor and glory to God. He also makes an impact on others that we see each day.

Those who commit sin by habit (not thinking but doing because “we have always done it that way,”) are servants, or slaves, to sin. Satan is their master. Christians do good things because of their love for the Lord. It is not a duty or responsibility—it is a privilege. It is a joy to serve the Lord and to do His work.

Luke 17:10 10 “So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.”

AMEN

Let’s all stand and turn our Hymnals to page __________and sing_________________.