Sin As Predator

Why this series?

Things are not the way they are supposed to be.

Definitions of Sin:

“Human activity contrary to God’s will” (LBD)

“Sin is a riddle, a mystery, a reality that eludes definition and comprehension. Perhaps we most often think of sin as wrongdoing or transgression of God’s law. Sin includes a failure to do what is right. But sin also offends people; it is violence and lovelessness toward other people, and ultimately, rebellion against God. Further, the Bible teaches that sin involves a condition in which the heart is corrupted and inclined toward evil.” (EDBT)

“Sin is culpable shalom-breaking” -Plantiga, 14.

Sin is a riddle, a mystery, a reality that eludes definition and comprehension. Perhaps we most often think of sin as wrongdoing or transgression of God’s law. Sin includes a failure to do what is right. But sin also offends people; it is violence and lovelessness toward other people, and ultimately, rebellion against God. Further, the Bible teaches that sin involves a condition in which the heart is corrupted and inclined toward evil.

The goal of this series is to paint a clearer picture of sin so we may learn how not to be mastered by it and how great God’s grace is in not wanting things to stay they way they are.

No guilt…only freedom!

Sin As Predator

Read Passage

A story of different offerings...

Why Abel and not Cain?

The New International Version Chapter 11

4 By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commendedm as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings.n And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.

Sin is crouching at your door.

Crouching = Resting OR Lurking, ready to pounce and devour

Whole-hearted religion vs. half-hearted

Whole-hearted: God is above all

Half-hearted: I am above all

Plantinga:

“At the heart of halfheartedness is this: sin is treating yourself as your own first cause and God, therefore, as an accessory.”

Keller:

“You use God to get to your end. God is the means; your own joy and happiness and your agenda is the end.”

Sin is crouching:

It is bigger than it looks. There is no such thing as little sins.

Sin desires to have you

Sin is not done with you even when you are done with it.

Notice the theme of relationships and how they are broken because of sin.

“In Cain’s character we see ‘a terrible outburst of self-will, pride, and jealousy, leading to a total and relentless renunciation of all human ties and affection.’” (ISBE)

In Cain’s character we see “a terrible outburst of self-will, pride, and jealousy, leading to a total and relentless renunciation of all human ties and affection.”

My grandfather and his brother

There is hope for sin

Hebrews 12:23-24 You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled bloody that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

You have come to God, the Judge of all,v to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,w 24 to Jesus the mediatorx of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled bloody that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.z

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And you shall renew the face of the earth.

w

O God, Who by the light of the Holy Spirt, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise, and ever enjoy your consolations. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

x See

y ; ;

z ;

The New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011. Print.