THE STUDY OF SIN

WHAT IS SIN?

WHAT IS SIN?

1. Sin is GLOBAL

Romans 3:23 ESV

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

NOTE: All are guilty before God

2. Sin is INTENTIONAL

James 1:13–15 ESV

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

NOTE: We can never say, “The devil made me do it”

3. Sin is INWARD

Matthew 15:18–20 ESV

But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”

Matthew 15:18–20 NLT

But the words you speak come from the heart—that’s what defiles you. For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. These are what defile you. Eating with unwashed hands will never defile you.”

NOTE: Atonement cannot happen on the outside

NOTE: Atonement cannot happen on the outside

4. Sin is DECEPTIVE

4. Sin is DECEPTIVE

Genesis 3:1 ESV

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”

Genesis 3:1 ESV

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”

NOTE: We are tempted by the father of lies

NOTE: We are tempted by the father of lies

5. Sin is ATTRACTIVE

5. Sin is ATTRACTIVE

Genesis 3:8 ESV

And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.

Genesis 3:6 ESV

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

Genesis 3:6 ESV

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

NOTE: We cannot serve two masters

NOTE: We cannot serve two masters

WHAT DOES SIN DO?

WHAT DOES SIN DO?

1. Sin KILLS

1. Sin KILLS

Genesis 3:19 ESV

By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

Genesis 3:19 ESV

By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

NOTE: Sin leads to physical and spiritual death

NOTE: Sin leads to physical and spiritual death

2. Sin DEFILES

2. Sin DEFILES

Romans 7:17–18 ESV

So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.

NOTE: Sin takes what is good and stains it

NOTE: Sin takes what is good and stains it

3. Sin ENSLAVES

3. Sin ENSLAVES

John 8:34 NLT

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin.

NOTE: We cannot stop sinning

4. Sin SEPARATES

Isaiah 59:2 NLT

It’s your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore.

Isaiah 59:

NOTE: Sin makes us enemies of God

5. Sin DESTROYS

Psalm 94:23 NLT

God will turn the sins of evil people back on them. He will destroy them for their sins. The Lord our God will destroy them.

Psalm 94:23 NLT

God will turn the sins of evil people back on them. He will destroy them for their sins. The Lord our God will destroy them.

NOTE: Sin’s destiny is eternal fire

NOTE

APPLICATION

Sin leads us to a Savior...

1 John 1:9 ESV

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Understanding Theology in 15 Minutes a Day Chapter 1: What Is Theology?

Many people, after hearing the word theology, roll their eyes and envision esoteric scholarly debates that have little if any bearing on real life.