Practical Righteousness as a help to turn from sin

The foundational reason why we turn away from sin is because Christ has commanded us to and we want to glorify him...but a further encouragement should be that a sin committed keeps us from a good we could have practiced and enjoyed instead.

A child who sulks over losing a game of baseball loses out on the opportunity to play another game

A couple who spends the evening arguing over what movie to watch loses out on the opportunity to enjoy any movie with one another

A sin practiced means a failure to enjoy a true good in its place

James 3:13–18 “13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”

Disorder: upheaval

Luke 21:9 “9 And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once.””

1 Corinthians 14:33 “33 For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,”

Genesis 1:1–3 “1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.”

Creation = life

Sin is a return to Without form, void, darkness

A harvest of peace is literally the opposite to disorder, without form, void, and darkness

Romans 6:20–23 “20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”