Nature of Sin

Watching the sentencing for Amaud Arbery and the prosecutor brought up the fact that one of the defendants said that 4 minutes of conduct should not define his life. She made the point that Usain Bolt won 8 gold medals in 4 minutes, but that these 4 minutes were the culmination of 20-30 years of training, and that the point was applicable to the defendants. They had been conditioned

Got me thinking about the nature of sin. Why do we commit “big” sins? I don’t think people set out to sin

1) Sin is not an arranged marriage

We encounter it, we flirt with it, court it, and eventually marry it.

Lot/Abram

Genesis 13:5–13 CSB

5 Now Lot, who was traveling with Abram, also had flocks, herds, and tents. 6 But the land was unable to support them as long as they stayed together, for they had so many possessions that they could not stay together, 7 and there was quarreling between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. (At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were living in the land.) 8 So Abram said to Lot, “Please, let’s not have quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, since we are relatives. 9 Isn’t the whole land before you? Separate from me: if you go to the left, I will go to the right; if you go to the right, I will go to the left.” 10 Lot looked out and saw that the entire plain of the Jordan as far as Zoar was well watered everywhere like the Lord’s garden and the land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) 11 So Lot chose the entire plain of the Jordan for himself. Then Lot journeyed eastward, and they separated from each other. 12 Abram lived in the land of Canaan, but Lot lived in the cities on the plain and set up his tent near Sodom. 13 (Now the men of Sodom were evil, sinning immensely against the Lord.)

Abram and Lot were travelling as the Lord had commanded. Abram was older, so he could have chosen which part of the land to take, but instead he let Lot pick. (Green plains vs. scorched desert)

The green plain was filled with sin (Sodom and Gomorrah). Isn’t that the way it usually is? Sin looks inviting.

Flirting V13:12: Tittilation

We like to get close without touching. We watch movies filled with violence and sex. We “just have one” beer, or just tell a “little white lie”. Lot didn’t commit any sin at this point, but he wanted to be close enough to see.

Courting V14:11-12: Justification

As we become more accustom to sin (desensitized) we become more accepting. I’m sure that Lot justified his decision to move into the City despite the fact that it was known to be sinful. How do people justify this decision? (Not as bad as X… If this is the worst I do… Helps me connect with my friends…)

Marriage V19:1-2: Congregation

Lot had become the mayor of Sin City. He was caught up in the culture of Sodom. How do we help people who are married to sin?

We Need An Intercessor

Abram was an intercessor. When Lot was taken by the Kings who took over the Siddim Valley, Abram took his men to rescue him.

When God told Abram that he was going to destroy Sodom & Gomorah, Abram asked him to save the city. 50-45-40-30-20-10 righteous people...

However, even with Abram’s intercession, Lot lost his wife, his house, his city, and his daughters had a distorted view of morality, to say the least (v30-38). His lineage was ruined as the Ammonites and Moabites have been at conflict with God’s people for all of history. This happens when children are conceived outside the design of God. (Ishmael from Hagar and Abram) There was still a cost for his sin.

GOOD NEWS!: We Have An Intercessor

Jews consider Abraham the first patriarch. He was as “close to God” as anyone in the Jewish faith and communed directly with God frequently. He was an amazing person to have interceding for you with God.

However, while he was close to God, he was not God. He was not perfect (Ishmael) and had no more power than any other man.

We, as Christians, have an intercessor who is not close to God, but IS GOD! He intercedes for us constantly, and has guaranteed that we will be saved from destruction.

HOWEVER, there is still a cost for our sins. (Saved from sin, not the consequences of it)

It’s important not to be a Lot, but it’s also important to be an Abraham.