Progression of Sin

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Rob Kenney’s YouTube channel, “Dad, how do I?” went viral last year. Kenney released his first video shortly after the coronavirus pandemic was declared. He wanted to provide practical advice (“How to fix most running toilets”) and emotional support (“I am proud of you!”). But in a time defined by isolation and loneliness, his messages resonated with far more than the 30 or 40 subscribers he expected. Now he surpassed 3.4 million subscribers and 15 million views.

When Bob Kenney “Good Morning America” referred to the 57-year-old as the “Internet’s Dad,” followers flooded him with stories about their parents, broken relationships, and traumatic experiences. Kenney said, “It breaks my heart that so many people need my channel.”

The seeds for his videos were planted in Kenney’s tumultuous childhood. When his parents divorced, his dad gained custody. His mom was legally declared unfit to parent as she turned to alcohol. Soon after, Kenney’s dad met another woman. On the weekend, he would stock up his kids with groceries and then leave them as he drove an hour away. After a year, he gathered his children to deliver a devastating message: “I’m done raising kids.”

Kenney, who was 14 at the time, moved in with his 23-year-old newlywed brother in a 280-square-foot trailer. His teenage experience was full of anger, sorrow, and confusion as he vowed to never cause his own children such pain. That pledge broadened when he realized he wasn’t the only kid without a dad around, so he doubled-down and decided he’d also help anyone else who needed a father figure.

Once Kenney reached his early 50s, feeling like he had accomplished his goal of raising two good adults. He thought he had plenty more life to live, zeroing in on the second part of his vow: to help others. His daughter says, “I genuinely think he was put on Earth to be a dad.”

Over the past year, Kenney has leaned on his faith to prevent himself from feeling too overwhelmed. His early-morning habit of reading the Bible provides him with calmness and clarity. Last Father’s Day, his followers mailed him scores of cards (some handmade, many heartfelt). The fact that strangers are celebrating him at all reflects a man who found time to share his story—and a world that was desperate to hear it.

We hear this story thins morning, and I don’t know about you, but in many ways my heart kind of broke, for Kenney… the first time I heard this story… I mean, he didn’t choose to be born… He didn’t choose the conditions of life that he would grow up in… a mom, that would be unfit to raise him, and a father that would abandon him at the age of 14… and still, he made the best out of his situation.

We transition then to ourselves this morning, and perhaps your story isn’t like Kenny… but each of us, are all to familiar with the effects of Sin in our lives, and in the lives of others… and the question is, how do we respond? Do we sit back and say, “woe is me?”Or, do we lean into the Lord…

If you have your bibles, turn with me to the book of Romans 1. And as you’re turning there, we’re going to look at the downward progression of sin. By the way, for me as a minister, there a certain topics that are easier to preach than others… Things like, blessing, maybe peace, and joy, goodness. And we should, this is certainly part of the bible… But It’s also important to preach the totality of scripture.

Matthew 5:19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

So again, there becomes the necessity to preach the word. The full word… and to not set aside parts that we like, as sort of this buffet style Christianity… but to examine the full scripture.

With this in mind. In romans 1, we’ll find 3 things regarding the progression of sin. 1. Starts with suppressing the truth. 2. Continues with worshipping and serving Created things. 3. Concludes by being given over to sin.

1. Starts with suppressing the truth

Romans 1:18-23 18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

As we stop and consider the scripture, you’ll recall that Paul is writing to the church of Rome. During his 3rd missionary journey. And this would have taken place most likely, during the year AD 56, while Paul is in the city of Corinth. If you were here last week, you’ll may recall that there were Several Reasons that Paul would write to the romans. On one hand, Paul wanted to visit Rome. but at this point had been prevented from doing so. He also wanted to encourage these believers, But the main purpose for writing this letter was to advocate and advance the gospel.

And so, after a brief introduction. In the first several verses. Paul would bring things back to the core of his message. That is the gospel. And he would write:

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” Rom 1:16-17

And so, Paul addresses the Gospel, he explains he’s not ashamed of it. Because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes. If you’ll recall this word Salvation, brought this idea of being delivered or rescued, from sin and then he goes on to explain “The righteous will live by faith.”

It’s at this point, that there seems to be some distinction… some differentiating between the righteous, and the unrighteous… And Paul doesn’t mince words. He cuts to the heart of the message, by which the rest of the book of Romans, will be set up… and that is this “we’re a mess.” Apart from the saving, redemptive work of Christ… you and I would be a complete mess. We would all be deserving of wrath.

You see in verse 18, we see all the godlessness and wickedness described. 18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, (and here’s the problem) 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. (in other words, God has revealed himself to us, through all creation, through History he has revealed himself to us, and humanity… the fact that we have a conscience…) 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

In other words, aside from a person placing their hope and trust in Jesus…. They will spend an eternity separated from him, in a real place called Hell… because “People are without excuse.”

But what’s the issue? What’s at the crux of the message? The problem is… when we discuss sin… 18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness

By the way, this word suppress in the Greek carries this idea of restraining from the truth. Or going away from the truth.

2 Timothy 4:3-4 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

You see you can say something isn’t a sin… but sin is sin, regardless of how you slice it. It’s like putting lipstick on a pig… Just because you put lipstick on a pig, doesn’t mean she’s a suitable girlfriend, she’s still a pig.

And by the way… you sin will find you out. You see I’m reminded of a story I came across this week that explains: The arrest of a Mr. Berger 94-year-old man living for so many decades on a quiet street in Oak Ridge, Tennessee was a wakeup call for the man's neighbors. They said they could not have imagined that he was an active collaborator in one of the worst instances of the second World War.

Federal prosecutors convinced the court that Mr. Berger was part of the SS machinery of oppression that kept concentration camp prisoners in atrocious conditions of confinement. This led not only to the injury and emaciation of many of those prisoners, but to their deaths.

This man at age 94 must have imagined that he had gotten away with it, and that he would die in peace in that ranch house. But something happened that he could not have envisioned. The SS cards identifying him, along with other prison camp guards, had been on a boat that was sunk by the Allies. These cards were discovered in 1950 but they had disintegrated. But modern technology meant that these cards could be reassembled, and thus the names and all the information on those SS cards could now be fully understood. This led to a 94-year-old man living in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

Devora Fish, the director of education for the Tennessee Holocaust Commission, said this: “Every time that somebody is brought to justice, even from 50 years ago or longer, that is a message to the world because we're not going to stop until everybody is brought to justice. Even if it’s something you did years ago, it will catch up to you.”

The neighbors of this man did not see a Nazi war criminal. They just saw an elderly man living in the United States who had come from Germany. But what we cannot see, God sees. – Sin will find you out.

Church, James makes it clear: 17 If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them. James 4:17

We struggle with that this morning… but God is holy, he is perfect, he hates sin… and the truth of the gospel, is sin is repulsive to him… and yet it starts, by suppressing the truth.

2. Continues with worshipping and serving Created things

Romans 1 :21-25 21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

As we stop and consider the scripture, we see Paul expresses of the Wicked and Godless… 21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.

This word futile, means, vein or foolish… but notice with me this key idea, of what they became… for it says: their thinking becamefutile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools

Here’s the point… they didn’t start out that way… They had every opportunity, as we do… to go about life in the manner that they would like… and yet… rather than to glorify God and give thanks to him… both in word and deed. They choose.

They 23exchanged (vs 23) the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

In other words, they served the created… rather than the creator…

And so… it starts like this 1. They knew, the Good they were to do… But rather than doing, Good, worshipping the Lord and serving Him only. They rejected the Lord and suppressed their truth. 2. Next, vs 25… 25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

And so, as a result… and this is our 3rd point this morning… in response.

24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.

I Want to stop for a minute as we consider this final point… That in response to their rejection of God… God rejected them… The people 3. Are being given over to sin.

That should be a sobering thought for us this morning. Let me read that again… In response to their sin…and willingly turning their back on God… How did God respond? Vs 24

24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.

26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.

28 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

The truth is, God is Holy. And Sin is an abomination to Him… He hates sin. And as such, when a person continues to live outside of the context of God’s will for their lives, there are consequences. First and foremost, if a person never puts their trust in Christ, (Hell) if they never trust Jesus as Lord and savior… then they are given over to the results of their sin, and will face the Great White Throne Judgment. At this judgement, this Jesus would define as the broad road that leads to destruction, and many that will find it…

And put simply, there are countless people, who will spend an eternity away from Christ, in eternal torment and pain. This should motivate us in sharingour faith with others.

But aside from the consequences of Hell… sin leads to death.

In fact, James 1:13-15 13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

And here’s the key, this death for those that don’t know Christ as their savior, ultimately is death in this life, and death to follow…

Revelation 21:8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

For those who never knew Christ as their savior, He will tell them depart from me, I never knew you… but aside from this death… Sometimes, death, can take place, in God’s best for our lives…

For instance, if someone drinks and drives… gets into a car accident… they may literally die… Was not what God had planned for them, but they took matters into their own hands… cut their life short… Or maybe they don’t die, but maybe they get pulled over, and arrested… or they get into a car accident, and kill someone else and end up being sentenced to a life of imprisonment…

A pastor friend of mine used to say, we can always choose the sin… but we can never choose the consequences.

It starts with rejecting the lord, or suppressing… 2. It continues with worshipping created things, rather than the creator… and it concludes, 3. as we read, as sin leads to death.

But here’s the good news… Is that if this were the end of the story… we would all be trouble. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. but here’s the good news… The story doesn’t end, with the wrath of God.

You see, the good news of the gospel, is only good, because of the backdrop of the bad news…if the bad news were the end of the story, and hell was the final picture, the would be gloom, and despair, and hopeless… Weeping and gnashing of teeth would be the extend of it…

But then My bible tells me something different… That God So loved the world, that He Gave his only son…

My bible tells me something different…

8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

My bible tells me something different…

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

How do we respond this morning???

Colossians 3:1-17

Call the worship team up at this time.

1. Maybe you’re here, sin… You’ve tolerated sin. Repent this morning.

2. Maybe you’re here, evangelism. Share the Gospel, with someone else.

3. Maybe you’re here, never made the decision to trust the Lord as your Savior.

Pray