Sin Steals

TEXT: Isa. 59:1-2

THESIS: Sin is the greatest thief, a master con artist; it has convinced man that it is a friend and a true giver of joy while taking away the true joy of the world.

INTRODUCTION:

What is the most valuable thing you own?

1. Now, before you answer, there are some key details about the item you have to consider.

a. First, the item must be something you have always wanted and worked towards.

b. Second, its value does not necessarily have to do with a price point; it has to be worth something to you.

2. Whatever that item might be, you have it in your hands after working so hard to obtain it, and then, just like that, it is gone.

3. That is what sin does; it steals our most valuable treasures, and the sad part is the things that sin takes are not missed until it is too late.

a. This morning, we will consider four things that sin steals from everyone.

b. Side note: when last I spoke, I preached on loving the work, and it was pointed out to me that I misquoted a few verses.

c. I want to apologize and thank the ones who pointed the mistake out to me.

DISCUSSION:

I. SIN STEALS INNOCENTS.

A. Now, the first thing that we are going to notice is that sin steals innocents.

1. Many times, we are warned of the dangers of false teaching within the word of God.

a. Paul warns against false teaching (Gal. 1:6-9).

1.) At the end of the book of Romans he warns against false teaching (Rom. 16:17).

2.) Jesus warns about false teaching (Matt. 24:24).

b. False teaching is nothing new and we deal with it today, there is a teaching known as Total Hereditary Depravity.

1.) This teaching is predominantly taught by a group known as Calvinist.

2.) The teaching states that all people are born sinners and evil.

2. This, however, is false and has no scriptural foundations.

3. In fact, Jesus taught against this doctrine.

a. It is recorded in Matthew 18:1-3 that the disciples wanted to know who the greatest in the kingdom who be.

b. Jesus responded, “Verily I say unto you, Except ye be as little children ye shall not enter into the kingdom of Heaven.”

c. Matthew 19:14 Jesus says, “Suffer little children, and forbid them not to come unto me for such is the kingdom of Heaven.”

4. When was the last time you read a sinner was going to heaven?

B. It is the pure, the innocent, that will be going to heaven, bringing us back to sin and stealing innocents.

1. Sin is a transgression of God’s law.

2. The moment we know and truly comprehend the matter of good and evil, wrong and right, and choose to do wrong, that is when innocence is lost.

a. Sin has been stealing innocents since the beginning.

1.) Genesis 3:7-11, after Eve was deceived by the serpent, and looked at the tree of knowledge of good and evil, then convinced Adam to eat their innocence was lost.

2.) The text tells us that, “both of their eyes were open…knew they were naked and made aprons for themselves.”

b. Their innocence was lost due to their actions but also because of a lie.

3. Youth is a valuable thing; the innocence of a child is priceless, more valuable than gold, but the world is trying to take the purity of the young away from them.

4. Music, television, internet, social media, but the number one thing is the wrong friends.

a. These outside influences that attract us may seem fun.

b. The reality is that it is inviting sin, and when sin enters, it will steal your innocence.

II. SIN STEALS INDEPENDENCE.

A. Innocence is not the only thing of value that sin takes from us.

1. Sin takes our Independence from us as well.

a. Who here likes being in control over their own actions?

1.) Where you go, what you do.

2.) What you eat when you sleep.

b. Another way of looking at individuality is with the word freedom.

1.) Who would like to be in control over their own life choices?

2.) I would assume that everyone.

2. When I was a child, I could not wait to grow up and get out of my parents’ house and do my own things.

a. Then I grew up and knew the cost of being an adult, I would take being a kid any day.

1.) However, whether adult or child, we can choose not to be free.

2.) What happens if one breaks the law?

3.) What happens if one decides to take up substance abuse?

b. The outcome is no longer of us being in control but something or someone taking away that freedom.

B. How many people can you think of that are in situations that we would not want to find ourselves in?

1. It is all due to the choices that one makes.

2. Romans 6:16-18

a. 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. But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

c. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

3. Paul says once you were the servant of sin.

a. The wage of sin is death (Rom. 6:23; James 1:15).

b. But when you had the ability to choose, you chose the freedom of being servants of righteousness.

C. It is funny how our country is trying to escape God's law, but in the law itself, it recognizes God.

1. We are free to choose how we live, and if we follow the laws, we maintain our freedom.

2. Well, this practice was given to us by God.

3. “Jesus says, if you continue in my word, ye are my disciples indeed, and ye shall not the truth and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31-32).

III. SIN STEALS INFLUENCE.

A. The next thing that we can note that sin takes from us is our influence.

1. Matthew 5:13-16 in the Sermon on the Mound, Christ preaches that “ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall is be salted?”

2. After asking the question, He continues by saying it is suitable for nothing “but to be cast out and to be trodden under foot of men.”

a. This is an illustration of the Christians' influence.

1.) Salt has several uses: it preserves, seasons, and adds flavor, and a little goes a long way.

2.) When embodied by Christians, these qualities can do the same and much more.

b. But only if the Christian’s character, his influence is unquestionable.

B. If I went around town stealing, lying, cheating others, and fornicating, what would I then get up to preach; what would that say about me?

1. Now granted, we all make mistakes, but if these were my constant actions, I would not be qualified to preach nor to teach anyone.

a. That is the reason why when Paul wrote to Titus he instructs Titus to be of a certain charact that men would hear him (Tit 2:1-8).

b. You know, that one first that I have mentioned twice now 1 Timothy 4:16 it applies here as well.

c. But, Paul says something to Timothy in the same context that applies a little better.

2. That is, “let no man despise thy youth, but be thou the example of the believer.”

a. How Paul?

b. “In word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”

3. In other words, by your influences, but when people attach your name with sin you cannot influence anyone and become good for nothing.

IV. SIN STEALS INHERANTENCE.

A. So we have noticed that sin steals a lot from us.

1. Our innocence

2. Our independence

3. Our influence

4. The last thing to note, but perhaps the greatest, is that sin steals our inheritance.

B. We have already referred to James 1:13-15

1. But let us look at the text for a moment.

a. James writes, “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted of evil neither he tempteth any man.”

b. “But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust, and entice.”

c. “Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”

2. The death that James is referring to is a spiritual one, it is a separation of ourselves from the Almighty God (Isa. 59:1-2).

CONCLUSION:

1. Sin only offers an illusion of momentary pleasure.

a. Hebrews 11:24-25

b. Moses knew this and it is recorded for us.

2. This illusion is the greatest con, the greatest lie to ever be spoken to man.

a. And it was breed by Satan.

b. Gen. 3:4; John 8:44

3. Maybe it is that you are here tonight and have allowed sin to steal from you.