A0403_More Directions for Hating Sin
Date: 28th September 2008 (Sunday PM) Ref: A0403
Place: Kambah P.S.
Title: More Directions for Hating Sin
Text: & James 1:13-15
Illust: The problem many times we all face is that we are in a fleshly body & the flesh wars against the Spirit. We know what we should do but we end up doing the wrong thing. – Issue often is that we have not learned to hate our sin.
Notice James says that we are tempted when we are drawn away by our own desires. – Talking about a love of sin. It is our own desire, our own love of sin that causes us to fall to temptation.
Last week we looked at how as we laboured to know God more, Meditated on what Christ did for us to be saved from sin and think of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us & not wanting to grieve Him, - We would learn to hate sin. – A few more things to consider if we are to truly learn to hate sin
I. Eternal Destiny
A. The Mercy of God
i. Know and consider the wonderful love and mercy of God. Think about what it is that God has done for you; and you will hate sin, and be ashamed of it.
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (NKJV)
ii. If you think about the infinite mercy of God towards you, His grace (undeserved favour), then any shred of decency should convict us & make us deeply ashamed if we would offend the God who loved you & showed mercy towards you.
iii. It will grieve you if you have wronged an very good friend: their love and kindness toward you will come into your thoughts, and make you angry with your own unkindness / slefishness. Take time to look over the catalogue of God's mercies to you. – You will hate sin
B. The Purpose of Man
i. Think also about why you were created, why you exist. What is your purpose – Surely it is to love, obey, and glorify our Maker
ii. Sin throws a spanner in the works of your very purpose. How can you worship, love, obey & glorify God when you are sinning.
iii. How excellent, and high, and holy a work are you created for and called to! - Would you, could you defile the temple of God? Why serve the devil in filthiness and stupidity, when we should receive, and serve, and magnify our Creator? – If you think about the glorious purpose for which you were created, you will learn to hate sin.
II. Eternity with God
A. Service on Earth
i. If we are created to love, obey & glorify God , think about the benefits, think about the joy & peace that a holy soul may enjoy from God, in his holy service; and then you will see what sin is.
ii. Sin robs you of the pure joys & benefits of serving God in righteousness & instead has you wallowing in the mire of fleshly lusts.
iii. What delight, what fruitfulness, what blessing would be ours if it were not for sin. What do we miss out on because of our sin? – If you meditate on the blessings available to those who serve God, how much will you hate the sin that blocks you from receiving that blessing
B. Eyes on Heaven
i. That’s just here on earth. Remember this world is not your home; you are a pilgrim, a wanderer, passing through.
1 Peter 2:11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, (NKJV)
ii. Have an eternal home in heaven.
Revelation 4:8 The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!” (NKJV)
Think about heaven, the place where day & night the four living creatures emphasise the Holiness of God. There is no sinning; no worldly mind, no pride, no passion, no fleshly lust or pleasures in heaven.
iii. Think about eternity in heaven before the Holy God loving & magnifying Him in purity and holiness, and how far from sin they are who are in heaven; it should make you loathe sin ever after. To think that you hope to live for ever in heaven, sin should repulse you.
III. Judgment of Sin
A. Damned
i. Next think about the damned, the eternal torment waiting all sinners, all of lost humanity, Think about the mess that sin has made of our society.
ii. Understand that there is a very real devil who wants to tempt you it is not God, but your own desires and the devil & vs 13.
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. (NKJV)
iii. Remember that every temptation is from the devil, to make you like himself; as every holy thought and desire is from Christ, to make you like Himself. Remember when you sin, that you are learning and imitating of the devil, and are acting like him.
John 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. (NKJV)
The eternal destiny of the sinner is hell and if hell-fire is not good, then sin is not good
B. Judgment Seat of Christ
i. Finally it would help us to look always on sin as one that is ready to die, and consider how it would be viewed. Will it be applauded in eternity?
ii. What is interesting to me is the way the media turn on someone who sins in a public way like a pack of rabid dogs. They know things are wrong, the readers/viewers know sin is wrong even as they themselves may love and even do some of the things that people are being hounded over in the public arena. – How would those on earth speak of your sin after you have passed ~ Will any speak well of it?
iii. Will you sin when you are dying. It would help to always link sin and judgment together. ~ Remember that you must answer for it before God. If you consider well the coming judgment you will learn to hate sin.
2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. (NKJV)