Cut off Temptation

As we travel down the road through the life of Jesus, We see that Jesus did not stop being a rabbi a teacher just because He knew he was about to die.

His teaching becomes more intense as He comes towards the end.

In mark 9 we see such a teaching

Mark 9:42–50 CSB

42 “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to fall away—it would be better for him if a heavy millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 43 “And if your hand causes you to fall away, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and go to hell, the unquenchable fire. 45 And if your foot causes you to fall away, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. 47 And if your eye causes you to fall away, gouge it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48 where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. 49 For everyone will be salted with fire. 50 Salt is good, but if the salt should lose its flavor, how can you season it? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

Pray

Sin is a very serious topic

Too often do we not take it seriously. We write it off. “God will forgive me.”

We rank it. This isn’t a very big sin. It just me by myself. It doesn’t hurt any one. It’s not like I committed Murder.

We ignore it. We fight over someone else sin, Because we don't want to get our own junk in order or we don't see our own sin. Often the sins we hate in others are the sin we hate in ourselves.

We don’t understand sin.

We philosophy it, If God really loved me he wouldn’t let someone sin against me. He wouldn’t let Adam and Eve eat that fruit. Which sounds good at first but when carried out to its conclusion is an illogical response.

He has given us His law and what he expects and if we would follow it ….

The reality is that God is love. And His desire is for us to love Him and in order for that to happen we have to have the choice to say no I do not love You and will not follow your Laws and will Miss the mark. Which is what sin is. Sin is when we don’t measure up. On purpose or otherwise due to society, upbringing, habit and so on.

Sin is Very Serious

Serious that He says it would be better for you to Kill yourself than cause another to sin or to cut off a part of your body that causes you to sin

This seems a bit serious

And God doesn’t want you going around killing yourself or cutting of your body parts. Though there have been people in History that have taken this stance, even to the point of becoming Eunuchs

God takes Sin serious because it is this sin that separates us from Him

He is so holy that he cannot be in the same place as sin

He is a just God who will punish us for our crimes against him no matter how small

It is but for the Grace of God that covers up our iniquities our sins with His Blood that frees us to Be with God

What a gift Jesus is

Amen

There is no purgatory where everyone gets to work off their sins so all can go to heaven

Jesus said I am the way The Truth and the Life no one gets to the Father Except through Me. The Blood Sacrifice

God wants us to take sin seriously Too

He wants us to cut off not our hand Which doesn’t cause you to sin

But to cut off our temptations to sin

If you are tempted by the things on the TV. Cut it off

If you are tempted by things on the Net. Cut it off

If you are Tempted by the things in your Bank account. Become a Giver

If you are tempted by false religion, Stop watching Opera (LOL)

Become emerged with the things of Jesus again

IF you struggle with Drunkenness, Become a Teetotaler. Absence it easier than perfect moderation, especially when you struggle with it

We need to put to death the things that lead us into temptation

Yes that may take drastic measure which is why he speaks of drastic measures here

It may mean getting canceling Or going to AA Or getting help

We need to be working together

Sin is not something that we should treat lightly

Because it is what separates us from God. Because it destroys our relationship with God and others

Because it leads to something that destroys others. Cut off your hand if it causes you to sin. Kill Yourself if you cause others to sin.

How do we cause others to sin?

False Teaching

Displaying and teaching wrong actions

Failing to teach

Hurting a child. A person who is abused will struggle with sin that was lead to by the sin of others.

Our sin can lead others on the path of sin

Don’t kill yourself Grow in Christ, become more than you are right now.

Next Steps

We ask why did God do this to me Because we are to individualistic

We did this to ourselves when we choose not to worship God

But set up false idols Even if some of them we call Jesus

Do you take sin serious

If you don’t it’s because you don’t take God serious

Where do you stand today?