Combating the Practice of Sin

Main Point: We can either practice the presence of God or practice sin—but not both!

Romans 1:32–2:3 ESV

Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them. Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God?

Thus, we see that Paul uses this word to make and emphasize a unique concept—the danger of Judgment (what we looked at the last two weeks).

However, Paul approaches the concept of judgment from the ange

“prasso” = To perform of to bring about something

“prasso” = To perform of to bring about something

Paul uses this word for “practice” (prasso) five times in 4 four verses, and only 2 other times in the rest of his letters.

This form of the word is used 8 times in the NT and 5 times in these four verses of Romans

Thus, we infer that Paul uses this word to make and emphasize a unique concept—the danger of Judgment (what we looked at the last two weeks).

However, we can further deduce that Paul warns us in a general sense of the danger of practicing evil (what do I mean?)

An overview of Paul’s argument up to this point:

Paul is a servant of King Jesus — the Son of God who died and rose from the dead— and his work is to bring about the obedience of faith in all nations. ()

Paul explains that it is His desire to preach to all the Gentiles, to preach in Rome, to strengthen the body of Christ, to be strengthened by the body of Christ, and that He rejoices because others proclaim Christ ()

The Gospel is the righteous power of God that effectively saves ALL who believe and live by faith in God—and Paul is not ashamed of this! ()

God’s wrath is poured out upon those who reject Him: ()

They reject Him On Principle: In Outright High-handed Rebellion

They reject Him For Humanistic Philosophy: The wicked wisdom that rejects God and elevates man based upon perverted and blind reasoning

They reject Him For Idolatrous Immorality: The pursuit of the created overtakes our pursuit of the Creator

God’s wrath is terrifying because God gives the wicked up to further depravity: ()

He gives them up to Further Impurity = A heart/soul that is unclean/lost!—HE GIVES US UP TO ETERNAL SEPARATION

He gives them up to Further Dishonorable Passions = A thirst for that which degrades, humiliates, dishonors, disrespects, and defiles us!

He gives them up to Further Debased Thinking = A mind that doesn’t work

God’s is righteous to pour out His wrath upon the wicked: ()

Because they Embrace, tolerate, and promote sin = instead of hating sin! (who are we to tolerate what God abominates!)

Because they Condemn others for sinning = to desire their destruction and punishment instead of forgiveness and salvation

Because they Hypocritically evaluate others = Looking at the sin of others while refusing to address and repent from our own sin!

Because they Arrogantly ignore the attributes and work of God = Looking at our actions instead of the nature, character, and work of God that brings His children to repentance!

Bearing all this in mind, let’s ask ourselves a single question…

Q: What does it mean to practice sin and how do we avoid doing so?

First, we must know what God considers evil.

Paul Identifies a rather long list of sins—let’s take a look

Suppression of truth (1:18)

Failing to honor God (1:21)

Failing to thank God (1:21)

Living for creation instead of the creator (1:23)

Embracing a Defiled Sexuality (1:26-27)

Refusal to seek God (1:28)

The List in a list: (1:29-31)

Coveting (1:29-31)

Hate

Envy

Murder

Stirring strife

Deceitful

Malicious

Gossip

Slander

Hate for God

Insolence

Haughty/proud/arrogant

Boastful

Inventing evil

Disobedient to parents

Foolish

Faithless

Heartless/cold/unloving

Ruthless

Approving of the evil of others!

Hatefully condemning others (2:1)

Ignoring God’s righteous fairness and judgment (2:2-3)

Ignoring God’s love, patience, and work (2:4)

RThey ignore God’s love, patience, and work (2:4)

Ignoring God’s loving care and rewards for those who do good (2:6-10)

We can categorize the sins in the following:

Sins the disrespect, demean, reject, and show outright hate for God.

Sins that are sexually perverse in nature

Sins that are rooted in the desire and pursuit of material possessions, wealth, and idolatrous

Sins that are sexual in nature

Sins that divide, disrespect, hurt, attack, hate, and murder others

Sins that rooted in material possessions

Sins that divide, disrespect, hurt, and attack others

Sins that boast and elevate self above God and others

Sins that elevate one above God and others

However, The Bible also shows us a further understanding of evil:

Iniquity: (Hb. awon) (Gk. adikia & anomia) I am the wrong thing/crooked/bent/deformed/fallen

Transgression: (Hb. pesa) (Gk. parabasis & paraptoma) I am in the wrong place or in rebellion

Sin: (Hb. awen) (Gk. hamartia) I am doing the wrong thing or not acting rightly

Traditionally, the church has also classified sin in the following manner:

Sins of Commission = Doing what God forbids

Sins of Omission = Not doing what God commands

Sins of Pride = How we view ourselves in relation to God and others

Sins of the Heart = We commit the sin in our hearth but lack the means to enact it physically

So… How Do We Assimilate This?

All sin starts in the heart ()

All sin flows from either lust for people or things, or from pride ()

Sin can be from contemplative, passive, and/or aggressive or approach.

Sin is a combination of being corrupt, violating God’s instruction, and going where we don’t belong.

Sin will express itself in how we engage God, others, and the things within this world.

Think about this...

What we think about shows us what we care about

What we care about with either be the Creator or the created

What we care about is what we pursue

What we pursue is seen in our actions (fruit). We inspect fruit in two ways:

Is there fruit on the tree of life (can we see our actions)?

Do we participate in spiritual disciplines

Do we strive to obey the Lord in such a way the glorifies Him in the midst of others?

What does the fruit look like in our life (what do we do)?

Do we participate in sinful pursuits

How do we treat others

How do we participate in the body of Christ.

OUR ABILITY TO IDENTIFY SIN IS NO SMALL GIFT FROM THE LORD!

When Jesus saved us, He gave us His Spirit to help us walk with Him

The Holy Spirit works to reveal sin to us in the following:

Through His Word

Through His Church

Through Our Hearts

Second, we must know how to handle our desires

“Practice” = To make something happen, to bring it about.

We know the something is “sin” or “evil”, but how does it come about? Why does sin happen.

When Paul uses this word for practice (prasso), he does so from the negative; meaning, the things that the audience he has in mind “practice” actually bring about the wrath of God.

We’ve already looked at the sins that Paul has in mind, so… what does practice mean?

PRACTICE DEFINES OUR ACTIONS AND EFFORT TO COMMIT SIN INSTEAD OF SEEKING THE LORD!

In this context, the action of sinning is not in view as much as the desire to sin!

Whether you are a Christian or a non-Christian, you and I still sin.

However, Christians should have their desires for sin transformed into a desire for God.

= We are a new creature in God

= God produces a sorrow within us that leads us to repentance

= When we walk in the Spirit we will not gratify the desires of the flesh

= God will not allow us to be tempted beyond our ability—but gives us escape when we seek Him!

If we desire sin and do not desire the Lord, Paul uses this as evidence against salvation and, instead, explains that we justly earn the righteous wrath of God! ()

Q: Why Do We Sin? How Do we Practice Sin?

Q: Why is it that we fall so frequently and sin so easily against our Great God?

IGNORANCE OF GOD’S WORD LEADS TO PRACTICING SIN

I

The Bible shows us the character of God

The Bible shows us the work of God

The Bible shows us God’s desires for us

IGNORANCE OF OUR EVIL DESIRES LEADS TO PRACTICING SIN

IGNORANCE OF

We all think that what we think is right!

We all think that our motives are pure!

REFUSAL TO FLEE TEMPTATION LEADS TO PRACTICING SIN

We think we are stronger than we are

REFUSAL TO REPENT FROM “LESSER SINS” LEADS TO “GREATER SINS”—THIS IS WHAT IT MEANS TO PRACTICE SIN

We think we can handle, temper, and tolerate the sin within our lives; however, sin only develops and grows within us.

James shows this to us in when he says:

God does not tempt us

We are lured and enticed (tempted) by our own evil desires

Desire leads to sin

Sin (unrepentant and continued sin) leads to death

The Point the Bible makes is this:

The Point the Bible makes is this:

We are wicked and mired in sin

We constantly venture into places we don’t belong

We constantly do what we should not

However, when we repent, God forgives, pardons, heals, restores, embraces, strengthens, sanctifies, and guides us in Him!

HOWEVER… WHEN WE REFUSE TO REPENT AND TURN TO GOD… WE, INSTEAD, PRACTICE SIN!

So… what do we do with this?

We confess the sins we know of to the Lord!

We ask the Lord for a further revelation of the sin within us.

We ask the Lord for strength to walk with Him

We engage the Lord through...

His Word

His Spirit through prayer

His church