The Seven Deadly Sins (Pope Gregory the Great)
INTRODUCTION. At the close of the sixth century, Pope Gregory the Great classified all sins under seven distinct sins. It was his view that all sins committed could be placed under one of the seven distinct sins. He said that these sins were pride, anger, envy, impurity, gluttony, slothfulness and avarice. From that time until the present these seven sins have been known as the “Seven Deadly Sins.”
I. The Seven Deadly Sins
PRIDE
PROVERBS 8:13
INTRODUCTION. At the close of the sixth century, Pope Gregory the Great classified all sins under seven distinct sins. It was his view that all sins committed could be placed under one of the seven distinct sins. He said that these sins were pride, anger, envy, impurity, gluttony, slothfulness and avarice. From that time until the present these seven sins have been known as the “Seven Deadly Sins.”
I. WHAT IS PRIDE?
1. Pride is a sin; Prov. 21:4.
2. Pride is a sin that binds; Ps. 73:6.
3. Pride is an abomination to God; Prov. 16:5; Ps. 119:21.
II. FROM WHERE DOES PRIDE COME?
1. It comes from false wisdom; Rom. 1:22, 28, 29, 30.
2. It comes from conceit; Prov. 26:12.
3. It comes from within; Mark 7:21, 22.
III. WHEN DOES PRIDE BEGIN?
1. It begins with wealth … Hezekiah; 2 Kings 20:13; Isa. 39:2.
2. It begins with self-esteem … Haman; Esth. 5:11.
3. It begins with an exalted position … Naaman; 2 Kings 5:11–13.
IV. HOW DOES PRIDE AFFECT THE INDIVIDUAL?
1. It brings deception; Gal. 6:3.
2. It brings shame; Prov. 11:2.
3. It brings a man low; Prov. 29:23.
V. WHY IS PRIDE DANGEROUS?
1. It brings material loss … Nebuchadnezzar; Dan. 4:30, 34; 5:20.
2. It brings punishment … Uzziah; 2 Chron. 26:16–19.
3. It leads to the condemnation of the Devil; 1 Tim. 3:6.
VI. HOW CAN PRIDE BE CURED?
1. By sober thinking; Rom. 12:3.
2. By humility; James 4:6; Phil. 2:3, 5.
3. By the fear of the Lord; Ps. 111:10.
VII. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PRIDE IS CURED?
1. The fruit of the Spirit will come; Gal. 5:22, 23.
2. The love of the brethren will come; Eph. 4:1, 2.
3. The instruction of others will come; 2 Tim. 2:25.
ANGER
PROVERBS 14:17
INTRODUCTION. The words wrath and anger are closely related in meaning.
I. WHAT IS ANGER?
1. Anger is a work of the flesh; Gal. 5:19, 20.
2. Anger is a messenger of death; Prov. 16:14.
3. Anger is a sin that is hated by God; Amos 1:11.
II. FROM WHERE DOES ANGER COME?
1. It comes through grievous words; Prov. 15:1.
2. It comes through jealousy; Prov. 6:34.
3. It comes through the old nature (flesh); Gal. 5:19, 20.
III. WHEN DOES ANGER BEGIN?
1. During a time of greed … Ahab toward Naboth; 1 Kings 21:4.
2. During a time of reproving … Asa toward the prophet; 2 Chron. 16:10.
3. During a time of arguing … Elihu toward his three friends; Job 32:3.
IV. HOW DOES ANGER AFFECT THE INDIVIDUAL?
1. It caused Cain to slay Abel; Gen. 4:5–8.
2. It caused the Jews to slay Stephen; Acts 7:54–59.
3. It caused Haman to conspire against Mordecai; Esth. 3:5.
V. WHY IS ANGER DANGEROUS?
1. It brings forth destruction; Col. 3:6.
2. It brings forth God’s wrath; Rom. 1:18.
3. It brings hard feelings in the family; 1 Sam. 20:30–34.
VI. HOW CAN ANGER BE CURED?
1. By putting it off; Col. 3:8.
2. By refusing to do evil; Ps. 37:8.
3. By prayer; 1 Tim. 2:8. Prayer comes by knowing Christ.
VII. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN ANGER IS CURED?
1. A life of self-control will come; James 1:19.
2. A life of understanding will come; Prov. 14:29.
3. A life of fruit bearing will come; Col. 1:10, 11.
ENVY
PROVERBS 27:4
INTRODUCTION. In the English language the word envy is similar to jealousy.
I. WHAT IS ENVY?
1. Envy is a sin that produces confusion; James 3:16.
2. Envy is a sin that kills; Job 5:2.
3. Envy is a sin of the rottenness of the bones; Prov. 14:30.
II. FROM WHERE DOES ENVY COME?
1. It comes from carnality; 1 Cor. 3:3.
2. It comes when there is unbelief; Acts 17:5.
3. It comes from a spirit of hatred; Matt. 20:24.
III. WHEN DOES ENVY BEGIN?
1. It begins when there is lust; Titus 3:3.
2. It comes when there is unbelief Acts 17:5.
3. It comes when God is forgotten; Rom. 1:28–32.
IV. HOW DOES ENVY AFFECT THE INDIVIDUAL?
1. It caused Joseph’s brothers to hate him; Gen. 37:4, 8, 18–28.
2. It caused Saul to desire to kill David; 1 Sam. 18:7–11; 19:8–24.
3. It caused the Jews to speak against Paul’s teachings; Acts 13:45.
V. WHY IS ENVY DANGEROUS?
1. It causes ill feelings … Prodigal’s brother; Luke 15:25–32.
2. It brings confusion and evil work; James 3:14.
3. It brings hatred in the family; Gen. 37:4, 8, 11.
VI. HOW CAN ENVY BE CURED?
1. By manifesting love; 1 Cor. 13:4.
2. By putting on the Lord Jesus Christ; Rom. 13:13, 14.
3. By living in the Spirit; Gal. 5:25, 26.
VII. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN ENVY IS CURED?
1. The grudges of the past will be forgotten; James 5:9; Lev. 19:18.
2. The meekness toward all men will come; Titus 3:2–4.
3. The manifestation of love will be seen; 1 Cor. 13:4–7.
IMPURITY
REVELATION 22:15
INTRODUCTION. In the English language the word for impurity is similar in meaning with unclean, filthy, sloppy, loathsome, nasty, repulsive, morally unfit and corrupt.
I. WHAT ARE SOME KINDS OF IMPURITY?
1. Impurity of sex; Ex. 20:14.
2. Impurity in worship; Ex. 20:8, 9, 10.
3. Impurity in outward conduct; Ex. 20:7, 13, 15, 16.
II. FROM WHERE DOES IMPURITY COME?
1. From within the individual; Mark 7:21.
2. From lust; Matt. 5:28.
3. From enticement; Prov. 9:13–18; 2 Tim. 3:6.
III. WHEN DOES IMPURITY BEGIN?
1. When there is a lack of understanding; Eph. 4:17–19.
2. When there is idleness … David; 2 Sam. 11:1–4.
3. When there is carnality; Rom. 8:7.
IV. HOW DOES IMPURITY AFFECT THE INDIVIDUAL?
1. It causes the individual to reap corruption; Gal. 6:7, 8.
2. It causes death in the midst of life; 1 Tim. 5:6.
3. It causes the soul unrest; Isa. 57:20, 21.
V. WHY IS IMPURITY DANGEROUS?
1. It caused Sodom and Gomorrah to be destroyed; Jude 7.
2. It causes death; 1 Cor. 10:8; Rom. 6:23.
3. It leads to Hell; Prov. 9:13–18.
VI. HOW CAN IMPURITY BE CURED?
1. By coming to the Lord; Matt. 11:28, 29.
2. By the mortification of unclean members; Col. 3:5.
3. By confessing Christ; Rom. 10:9, 10.
VII. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN IMPURITY IS CURED?
1. A pure conscience is experienced; 2 Tim. 1:3.
2. A fruitful life of holiness is experienced; 1 Thess. 4:7.
3. A zeal for good works is experienced; Titus 2:14.
GLUTTONY
DEUTERONOMY 21:20, 21
INTRODUCTION. In the English language the word gluttony is similar in meaning with over-indulgence, in excess, selfishness and greed.
I. WHAT IS GLUTTONY?
1. It is the sin of over-indulgence; Amos 6:4.
2. It is a sin that paints false pictures; Luke 12:19–36.
3. It is a sin that contaminates the body; 1 Cor. 6:19, 20.
II. WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF GLUTTONY?
1. There is gluttony in eating; Prov. 30:21, 22.
2. There is gluttony in drinking; Prov. 20:1.
3. There is gluttony in sinning; Luke 15:14.
III. FROM WHERE DOES GLUTTONY COME?
1. It comes from pride … Belshazzar; Dan. 5:1, 2, 27.
2. It comes from greed … Ananias and Sapphira; Acts 5:1, 2.
3. It comes from covetousness … Ahab; 1 Kings 21:2–16.
IV. HOW DOES GLUTTONY AFFECT THE INDIVIDUAL?
1. It caused the Jews to lust after Egypt; Num. 11:4–6.
2. It caused Eli’s sons to sin before God; 1 Sam. 2:12–17.
3. It caused the death of Belshazzar; Dan. 5:1, 30.
V. WHY IS GLUTTONY DANGEROUS?
1. The glutton’s belly becomes his god; Phil. 3:19.
2. The glutton forsakes the Lord’s work; 2 Tim. 4:10.
3. The glutton’s end is poverty; Prov. 23:21.
VI. HOW CAN GLUTTONY BE CURED?
1. By confessing the transgression; Ps. 32:5.
2. By seeking first the kingdom of God; Matt. 6:33.
3. By being filled with the Spirit; Eph. 5:18.
VII. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN GLUTTONY IS CURED?
1. A temperate life will be produced; Titus 1:7, 8.
2. A saintly life will be produced; 2 Peter 1:5–8.
3. A life of fellowship will be produced; 1 Cor. 1:9.
SLOTHFULNESS
MATTHEW 20:6
INTRODUCTION. In the English language the word slothfulness is similar in meaning with lazy, idle, neglectful, sluggish, inactive and laggard.
I. WHAT IS SLOTHFULNESS?
1. It is refusing to work; Prov. 21:25.
2. It is a sin of being a “busybody”; 1 Tim. 5:13.
3. It is a sin of being disorderly; 2 Thess. 3:10–12.
II. FROM WHERE DOES SLOTHFULNESS COME?
1. It comes from ignorance; Isa. 56:10.
2. It comes from an idle life; Ezek. 16:49.
3. It comes from drowsiness; Prov. 23:21.
III. WHEN DOES SLOTHFULNESS BEGIN?
1. It begins when there is conceit; Prov. 26:16.
2. It comes when there is foolishness; Eccles. 4:5.
3. It comes when there is pride; Ezek. 16:49.
IV. HOW DOES SLOTHFULNESS AFFECT THE INDIVIDUAL?
1. It led the Jews to idolatry; Ex. 32:1–6.
2. It leads to begging during the harvest; Prov. 20:4.
3. It caused the 5 foolish virgins to be unprepared; Matt. 25:1–13.
V. WHY IS SLOTHFULNESS DANGEROUS?
1. It is the door to poverty; Prov. 20:13.
2. It causes hunger; Prov. 19:15.
3. It brings destruction; Eccles. 10:8.
VI. HOW CAN SLOTHFULNESS BE CURED?
1. By considering the way of work; Prov. 6:6–9.
2. By acknowledging the transgression; Ps. 51:2, 3.
3. By occupying for Christ; Luke 19:13.
VII. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN SLOTHFULNESS IS CURED?
1. There will be the willingness to please Christ; 2 Tim. 2:2, 3.
2. There will be the willingness to work for Christ; 1 Cor. 15:58.
3. There will be the willingness to occupy for Christ; 1 Cor. 3:6, 7, 8.
AVARICE
PROVERBS 21:26
INTRODUCTION. In the English language the word avarice reveals a sin that is closely related to greed, stinginess, miserliness and covetousness.
I. WHAT IS AVARICE?
1. It is a sin of idolatry; Col. 3:5.
2. It is a sin against God; Ex. 20:17.
3. It is a sin that causes trouble; Prov. 15:27.
II. WHAT IS THE EXTENT OF AVARICE?
1. It reaches from the prophet to the priest; Jer. 8:10.
2. It reaches to a king … King Saul; 1 Sam. 15:8, 9.
3. It reaches from the least to the greatest; Jer. 6:13.
III. FROM WHERE DOES AVARICE COME?
1. It comes from self-love; 2 Tim 3:2.
2. It comes from selfish desires; Matt. 25:8, 9.
3. It comes from the heart; Mark 7:21.
IV. HOW DOES AVARICE AFFECT THE INDIVIDUAL?
1. It caused Felix to try to bribe Paul; Acts 24:26.
2. It caused Ahab to commit murder; 1 Kings 21:2–16.
3. It caused the rich young ruler to lose his soul; Luke 12:13–21.
V. WHY IS AVARICE DANGEROUS?
1. It causes some to err from the faith; 1 Tim. 6:10.
2. It causes a denial of God; Prov. 30:8, 9.
3. It leads to an excuse for rejecting God’s invitation; Luke 14:18.
VI. HOW CAN AVARICE BE CURED?
1. By setting the affections on Heavenly things; Col. 3:2–6.
2. By being content with what you have; Heb. 13:5.
3. By seeking God; Luke 12:22–31.
VII. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN AVARICE IS CURED?
1. There will be a renewed mind to use for God; Rom. 12:2.
2. There will be a walk worthy of God; 1 Thess. 2:12.
3. There will be holiness manifested before God; 1 Peter 3:11.
