Sermon Tone Analysis

*OVERCOMING SIN*

*TEXT John 8:1-11*

 

*INTRODUCTION*

Jesus Commanded the woman to go and sin no more.

1.

A wonderful blessing we receive when we become Christians is the forgiveness of sins through the blood of Jesus Christ

2.         This does not mean that our problem with sin is over...

a.

We still sin at times -

*/1 John 1:8/*/  If// we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us./

*/1 John 1:10/*/  If// we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us./

b.   Satan does his best to cause us to sin -

*/1 Peter 5:8/**/  /*/Be// sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:/

3.         If we are to maintain a close walk with God, and ultimately receive the riches of glory He has prepared for us, we must overcome the problem of sin in two ways:

a.

By sinning less and less -

*/1 John 2:1/**/a/*/  My// little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not./

b.

By knowing what to do when we do sin -

*/1 John 2:1/**/b/*/-*2* And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world./

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I.          HOW SIN DEVELOPS

!! A.        The first stage is "temptation"

!!! 1.

In */James 1:14/*/  But// every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed/., we see that "temptation" includes two things:

!!!! a)      DESIRE (some translations say "lust", suggesting a strong desire for something)

!!!! b)      ENTICEMENT (an opportunity and encouragement to satisfy the desire)

!!! 2.      Putting it in the form of a simple equation:

*TEMPTATION = DESIRE + OPPORTUNITY*

\\ !!! 3.      To illustrate:

!!!! a)      A small boy is TEMPTED to steal some cookies when he WANTS (desire) them and has an OCCASION (opportunity) to take them

!!!! b)      The temptation becomes stronger if he wants them badly, and has a good chance of getting them without being seen

!!! 4.      At this stage in the development of sin, actual sin has not yet been committed

!!!! a)      It is not a sin to be "tempted"

!!!! b)      For Jesus Himself was "tempted as we are, yet without sin" -

*/Hebrews 4:15/*/  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin./

!! B.        The second stage is "sin" itself

!!! 1.      "When desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin" - Js 1:15

!!! 2.      It becomes sin when we ACT and YIELD to the temptation

!!! 3.      Thus sin involves the added step of some sort of action on our part

!!! 4.      Again, in the form of a simple equation:

*/SIN /**= DESIRE + OPPORTUNITY + ACTION*

!! C.        The third stage involves the consequences of unrepented and unforgiven sin: "death"

!!! 1.      "And sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death" - James 1:15

!!! 2.      The "death" spoken here refers to spiritual separation from God

!!!! a)      This separation occurs first in this life -

*/Isaiah 59:2/*/  But// your iniquities have separated between you and your God,/

!!!! b)      If we die physically in this state, then we will experience the "second death, which involves eternal punishment/!

/

!!!! */Revelation 21:8/*/  But// the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death./

!!! 3.      Putting all this into a final equation:

*DESIRE + OPPORTUNITY + ACTION + NO FORGIVENESS = DEATH*

!! D.        Observations about the development of /sin/...

!!! 1.      Sin will have overcome us if we receive the "final punishment" */Revelation 21:8/*

\\ !!! 2.      But we will have overcome sin if we can avoid this punishment and experience the glories God has prepared for His children!

!!! 3.      How can we be sure to overcome sin?  BY STOPPING ITS DEVELOP­MENT AT ANY ONE OF THE FOUR POINTS LEADING TO THE FINAL PUNISHMENT!

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II.

HOW TO OVERCOME SIN

!! A.        Change our "desires"

!!! 1.      Since this is where the process of sin begins, it is the best place for us to begin

!!! 2.      Bear in mind that it is a part of Christian growth to change our desires -

*/Romans 12:1-2/*/  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God./

*/Galatians 5:24/*/  And// they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts./

!!! 3.      How do we change our desires?

!!!! a)      Notice that the WORD OF GOD has always been instrumental in helping people overcome sin -

*/Psalms 119:11/*/  Thy// word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee./

*/Matthew 4:10/**/  /*/Then// saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve./

!!!! b)      To see how the Word of God can change our desires...

!!!!! (1)  As we read of God's love, longsuffering and mercy, we desire to serve Him

!!!!! (2)  As we read of sin and its damnable consequences, we come to hate it!

!!! 4.      So the more we study God's Word, the less likely we will have the DESIRE to sin, thereby beginning to overcome sin by "nipping it in the bud"'.

!! B.        Limit our "opportunities"

!!! 1.      Remember, we are tempted only when there is BOTH desire and opportunity

\\ !!! 2.      So while we work on changing our desires, we should limit the opportunities to fulfill wrongful desires

!!! 3.

This can be done by ASKING FOR GOD’S PROVIDENTIAL HELP, as Jesus taught

!!! 4.      We can cooperate with God by:

!!!! a)      Purposely avoiding situations that might excite wrongful desires

!!!!! (1)  Following the example of David –

!!!!! */Psalms 101:3-4/**/  /*/I// will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.

A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person./

!!!!! (2)  And the example of Job –

!!!!! */Job 31:1/*/  I// made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?

/

!!!! b)      Avoiding those whose evil behavior encourages us to sin with them

!!!!! (1)  Again, David sets a good example 

!!!!! */Psalms 101:6-7/**/  /*/Mine// eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me.

He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight./

!! C.        Exercise "self-control"

!!! 1.      Remember, it becomes sin when we yield to ACTION in fulfilling our sinful desires

!!! 2.      If we can control ourselves so as to not yield, then we can overcome sin!

!!! 3.      How does the Christian exercise self-control?

!!!! a)      Self-control is but one aspect of the "fruit of the Spirit" - */Galatians 5:22-23/*

!!!! b)      When we become Christians, we receive the gift of the Holy spirit in our lives –

!!!! */Acts 2:38/**/  /*/Then// Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost./

!!!! c)      The Spirit is God's instrumental agent by which He imparts strength to us - */Ephesians 3:16/*

!!!! d)      Strengthened by the Spirit, we are able to "put to death the deeds of the body" - */Romans 8:12-13/*

!!!! e)      As Paul said: /"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."// - *Philippians 4:13*/

\\ !!! 4.      It is through faith in God's Word that the Christian believes that he has this divine help –

!!! */Ephesians 3:20/*/  Now// unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,/

!!!! a)      It is certainly proper to pray for it, as Paul did in behalf of the Ephesians - */Ephesians 3:16/*

!!!! b)      But equally important, to act upon it, trusting that you are not alone as you try to do God's will - */Ph 2:12-13/*

!!!! c)      As an exercise commercial once said: JUST DO IT!

!!! 5.      The Christian, then, has no excuse for yielding to a temptation –

!!! *1 **/Corinthians 10:13/**/  /*/There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it./