SIN CANNOT BE WHITEWASHED

Text: Isaiah 5:20

“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter. Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight.”

INTRODUCTION

Many efforts have been made—and are still being made—to disguise sin. - All such efforts, of course, are of the devil.

The Devil Conceals Sin

He hides his own identity whenever he can, appearing as an angel of light rather than the Ruler of Darkness.

He desires to keep sin concealed so that it does not appear as it truly is.

His chief power lies in deceptiveness.

The True Nature of SinWhen sin is stripped of all its varnish and outward trappings, it is ugly, vicious, and horrible—frightening in its enormous potential.

Sin is a slave maker, a hard taskmaster.

John 8:34 – “Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.”

We claim to love freedom and cherish it. Yet, continued sin makes sin the master and leaves you captive.

Talk to a drunkard about breaking the habit. He makes promises, but sin has already captured him.

Sin always presents a glowing picture of ease, comfort, and freedom.

Example: The Prodigal Son believed he had freedom without restraint, but he found enslavement instead.

Sin Separates

It separates man from God (Isaiah 59:1–2).

It separates loved ones:

Homes are divided by divorce.

Children are pulled from one parent to another.

Loved ones are separated in death.

God’s View of Sin

Isaiah 1:6 paints the true picture:

“From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.”

Nothing is so repulsive or sickening—yet this is God’s view of sin.

The Jews of Isaiah 5:20

They attempted to mislabel sin—to whitewash it.

They called evil good and good evil, believing a new label would change reality.

But mislabeling does not change the nature of the thing.

Illustration: A little boy asked, “Daddy, if you call a dog’s tail a leg, how many legs would he have?” The answer: Four. A name doesn’t change the nature.

Sin cannot be hidden, renamed, or excused away. Whitewashing never cleanses. Only the blood of Christ can wash sin away.

I. LET US SEE HOW WHITEWASHING IS DONE TODAY

A. By Calling Sin a Mere “Sickness”

Many excuse wrongdoing as nothing more than an illness.

Everyone but the sinner gets blamed.

Clarifications:

Yes, there is such a thing as sickness—mental or physical—and some are not at fault for their condition.

But sin is not that kind of ailment. People are morally responsible for it.

1 John 3:4 – Sin is lawlessness.

Ezekiel 18:20 – The soul that sins shall die.

Psalm 51:1–4 – David confessed: “My sin….”

The idea of labeling sin as nothing more than a sickness is an attempt to remove personal responsibility and guilt. If sin is only a “disease,” then no one is accountable, and no one is supposed to feel guilty for what they have done.

B. Examples

Alcoholism and Drunkenness

Society often calls alcoholics and drunkards “just sick.”

They are portrayed as helpless victims who cannot control their habits.

If someone is hurt while they are under the influence, we are told they “just couldn’t help it.”

But this so-called sickness is the product of indulgence of the worst sort. It cannot be whitewashed by simply calling it an illness.

We recognize that a person can become enslaved by alcohol, but he walked into that enslavement with open eyes.

Proverbs 23:29; 1 Peter 4:3–4; Galatians 5; 1 Corinthians 6:9ff

Consider this:

If alcoholism is a mere sickness:

It is the only disease God condemns.

It is the only disease without germ, virus, or organism.

It is the only disease that requires a license to legally spread.

It is the only disease that violates civil statutes in some states and counties.

It is the only “disease” God calls immoral—and God is not mistaken.

No amount of calling it “sickness” can whitewash it. God calls it sin, and man is accountable.

Homosexuality

Homosexuals attempt to whitewash their sin by changing the labels, calling themselves “gay” to give the impression of happiness.

But Scripture clearly identifies this behavior as sin.

Romans 1:24ff

1 Corinthians 6:9 (ASV)

Even notable sources like Hastings’ Bible Dictionary list homosexual acts among crimes such as adultery, incest, and rape.

It is alarming how openly this sin is now paraded, and even more alarming how many defend it in the name of “freedom” and “rights.”

But no amount of relabeling or public approval can whitewash sin.

IT IS SIN — and man remains accountable before God.

C. Other Common Ways People Whitewash Sin

Claiming Sin Is Caused by “Genes” or “Nature”

Some claim that sinful behavior is the result of mixed-up genes or something that happened before they were born.

But would God condemn a person for something they had no control over? Absolutely not.

Sin is a learned behavior, and people can change.

Adultery and Fornication Renamed as “Having an Affair”

The term “affair” makes it sound innocent or romantic.

Television and media normalize it.

God still calls it sin (Galatians 5:19–20).

Calling Lies “Little White Lies”

Colossians 3:9

Revelation 21:8

Misuse of the Tongue

“That’s just my way.”

“I’m high-strung.”

“I just say whatever I think.”

Another attempt to excuse sin.

II. WHITEWASHING SIN WILL NOT WORK

A. Covering sin does not erase guilt.

B. Attempts to hide sin will always fail.

Proverbs 14:9 – “Fools make a mock at sin.”

Numbers 32:23 – “Be sure your sin will find you out.”

C. Sin will resurface and face us in judgment.

D. Calling sin something else:

Does not remove guilt.

Does not remove accountability.

Does not deceive God.

III. THERE IS ONLY ONE ELEMENT THAT CAN WASH AWAY SIN — THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD

A. Christ Sealed the New Testament with His Blood

Hebrews 9:16–17

A testament requires death.

Christ’s death put the covenant into force.

B. How Do We Reach His Cleansing Blood?

The blood is in the covenant.

We must obey the covenant’s commands.

C. Steps to Reaching the Blood

Faith in Christ

Hebrews 11:1, 6; Romans 3:23–25

Faith alone does not cleanse (James 2:24).

Repentance from Sin

Acts 2:38

Repentance prepares the heart for cleansing.

Baptism: United with Christ in His Death

Romans 6:1–4

Colossians 2:11–12

Acts 22:16

Matthew 26:28; Acts 2:38

D. Application

For the Alien Sinner

Must come in faith, repentance, and baptism.

For the Erring Child of God

1 John 1:7–9

Continued access to the blood through repentance, confession, and prayer.

CONCLUSION

Whitewashing never cleanses.

Renaming never saves.

Only the blood of Christ can wash away sin.

Only by contacting the blood of Christ can sin be truly washed away. Whitewashing will never cleanse—but obedience to the blood-sealed covenant will.