DONE with Sin

Have you ever gotten to a place in life or perhaps in a place in a particular situation where you were just… done?

I’m not talking about giving up or throwing in the towel… I am talking about fed up… choosing to have nothing to do with ______________ any more.

I’m sure most of us have been there. We could fill in that blank with many different things depending on your situation. A person can come to a point where they say, “That’s it. I am done. This fight is no longer worth it and it is time to walk away.”

Now… there are some areas in life that I hope a person NEVER experiences this kind of feeling.

For example, I hope a person never experiences this in their relationship with their spouse.

Culture isn’t making marriage easy. The divorce rate is high both outside and inside the church. And I get it… I come from a broken family. In no way am I trying to condemn anyone here tonight. However, I hope that with the help of Jesus, we never reach a place with the one we vowed “‘Till death do we part” that we say, “I’m done.”

What about faith? What about our relationship with God and with His church? I pray a person never reaches a point where they look to God and say, “That’s it… I’m choosing a different path.” I hope people will forever be resolved to follow God no matter what.

In recent years, it has saddened me to watch the decline in overall church attendance around this nation. Although we have fared better than most… we continue to feel the effect of the pandemic shut down. What should have given us a deeper appreciation of being able to gather together, ended up turning many away from corporate worship and fellowship.

For the people in Peter’s day… a people who were scattered for their faith in Christ, Peter encourages them to be done… to be fed up… to never have anything to do with something very specific.

Remember they were scattered and isolated for their belief in God. They were strangers in a foreign land… but they were no strangers to God.

Although they were not experiencing the ideal living conditions, Peter reaches out and reminds them that despite their alienation, they were to remain faithful and true to the Lord. In order for this to become their daily reality… the people had to say yes to Jesus… and no to something else. The people had to choose to be DONE with sin.

1 Peter 4:1–2 NIV

1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. 2 As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.

The choice to be done with sin would be marked by something very specific. Did you catch what that was in the text? Suffering in the body. Look at verse one again… “whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.” SOOOOO DONE with sin that they would rather suffer than surrender to it.

I’m curious tonight… who in this room is DONE with sin? I mean absolutely sick and tired of sin and its effects?

I truly hate sin. I despise the damage that it is doing to people and their lives but especially despise how it separates people from the presence of God.

My heart breaks for those who are entangled in sin. My heart breaks for those who see sin as their only way of life… they are deep within the deception that the enemy has laid out. Sin is destroying lives!

I have felt and experienced the weight of sin in my life and I never want to feel that weight ever again! This is true no matter what may come of said decision. I am resolved to have NOTHING to do with sin!

And this was the point Peter was leading the scattered people of his day to. NOTHING is worth sinning for. NO ONE is worth sinning for. Even if that decision leads to suffering in the body… STAY AWAY FROM ANY AND ALL SIN!

Consider this… engaging in sin might relieve a person from suffering for a moment… but it ALWAYS results in suffering for the long haul. And… if left unredeemed, sin can cause inescapable eternal suffering of the soul!

Sin brings destruction to our life here on the earth.

Sin brings destruction to our souls on the other side of eternity.

Sin separates us from the presence of God. It breaks us of our fellowship.

Sin places a person in bondage, leaves them living in deception, and shrouds them in darkness.

We know what living in sin looks like and feels like. But Peter lays out what being done with sin looks like and feels like.

Being done with sin mean life is no longer lived for evil human desires.

Being done with sin means life is now lived for the will of God.

Being done with sin has to be more than a spoken resolve or an emotional feeling. It has to be lived out. It has to be placed into action.

It is a whole-body decision to say, “that’s it… no more. I WILL NOT choose sin ever again - no matter what.”

This means we say no to sin with our heart, mind, and soul. This means we choose to love and honor God with our heart, mind and soul.

So what is the key in making this choice and staying true to this choice? What is the direction Peter told the early believers to go… what is the direction that we need to go today?

As believers living in a world that is immersed in sin, the ONLY way to be done with sin… is to have the same attitude that Christ had. Peter said, “Arm yourselves also with this same attitude.”

Jesus fully resisted sin even when He unjustly suffered for doing good. Those who patiently endure opposition and suffering for Christ find it easier to resist sin and to follow God’s plans and purposes for their lives. Why? Because they often depend more fully on God. They have united themselves with Christ, boldly identifying with the shame He endured on the cross - BUT THEY ARE ALSO DESTINED TO SHARE HIS GLORY.

As a result, the pull of sin becomes insignificant and God’s purposes become top priority. Believers will choose to obey the Lord, even when it means suffering.

THAT is the attitude Peter is talking about. That is what it means to be DONE with sin.

Peter goes on to describe why having this same attitude of Jesus is so important. So tonight, I want to give three reminders as to why it is so important that we be DONE with sin.

We KNOW What Sin Leads to.

We touched on this in the intro but Peter expands on the truth of what sin leads to if not dealt with properly.

1 Peter 4:3–6 NIV

3 For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. 4 They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you. 5 But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.

As mentioned before… everyone knows what sin is. We have all been there. Believers, however, have chosen to walk away from that old life through the work of Christ on the cross. We once did what the world does… and now the world wonders why we no longer do as we do.

Peter said “They are surprised that you do not join them” referring to the world being confused by the change of behavior observed in the believers.

Our walk ought to be different… different to the point that it surprises the world. And we are seeing some of that “surprise” vocalized in recent days.

The world is confused as to why the church would be against abortion. They do not understand our position on life.

And how can they? Their minds have been told they are an accident. They have been convinced of a “theory” that devalues their purpose, destroys their identity, and places happenstance in the driver’s seat.

The world is confused as to why the church takes a stand against the immoral practices of our day. Where is the harm in using pronouns that a person prefers to go by?

It is speaking and affirming a LIE from the enemy. Again, the further the world gets from God’s design, the more they are confused by it. All they know is what the world has told them to know.

All they know… is a broken system and corrupted way of thinking.

And we were there at one point too. May we never forget that ALL have sinned. The only difference is, we have had the privilege of being introduced to Jesus. Jesus set us free from the ways of the world.

The result of their surprise is where two worlds collide. Because believers refrain from engaging in sin… the world heaps abuse upon them.

This is the suffering the early church was experiencing… this is the suffering we face and will continue to face. So long as there is sin in this world… there WILL be suffering.

But with sin comes judgement. We know that Jesus gave His life on the cross to save and redeem those who would call on His name. But for those who choose to remain in sin… they will face judgement.

Th gospel message has been given so that people will prayerfully make the choice to walk away from sin.

They might be judge by the world for their choosing not to operate like the world. But they live… THEY LIVE according to the Spirit.

You see, the world thinks it knows what living is in sin… but a person can only come alive when Christ comes alive in them!

We know what sin leads to. We know that living for Christ in the world, may bring suffering for a time, but living for sin will be suffering for all eternity.

Sin leads to death… both physical and spiritual. Being DONE with sin means we walk away from that death and come alive in Jesus!

We KNOW the End is Near.

Now, this isn’t a point that should be written on a piece of cardboard and held up at a street corner. The end we are talking about was written in a book and is confirmed to be the revelation of Jesus Christ. Jesus is coming soon! And His return will mark the end of sin once and for all.

1 Peter 4:7 NIV

7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.

Matthew 24 speaks of the signs that will come with the end of all things. Church… we are seeing those signs pop up all over this world. And Jesus describes those signs… as the beginning of labor pains. What that means is… things will get worse… before they get better.

Such is why it is so important that the people of God be alert, of sober mind, and immersed in prayer.

Alert - informed. Observant. Aware. What is taking place is NOT an accident. What is taking place IS a part of the plan.

What plan am I speaking of? A plan that will end with the world destroyed by sin?

The plan I am speaking of is God’s plan of redemption. The world WILL be redeemed one way or another. Either through the blood of the Son… or the wrath of the Father.

The incredible part of this plan is we must never forget that God has given ALL we need to make it through this season.

God has NOT turned His back on the world. Rather, He gave the world:

The way of Salvation - Jesus

The power of His Spirit - His Holy Spirit.

God has set believers free through the work of the cross and has chosen to empower His people through the baptism in the Spirit.

Acts 2:17–18 NIV

17 “ ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.

God empowers His people… pours out His Spirit on His people that they might be His witnesses… that they might stand against the enemies, the forces of darkness and sin.

We know the plan. We are to be alert and of sober mind. And we are to pray. We are to seek God. We are to remain connected to the Father. As our resolve to be DONE with sin grows… so must our dependency on the Father grow.

We believe in the power of prayer… and for good reason. And as the world continues to operate in sin… we must continue to be faithful in prayer.

Jesus is coming soon. Our level of communication with Him in these last days is critically important. God did not intend for us to do this on our own… and even as the believers in Peter’s day were isolated… they were NEVER far from God. He was always just a prayer away.

When the world tries to get you down… God will lift you up. When the world says you can’t… God assures you that you can. But that lifting and assurances comes as we stop… set aside time, and pray.

We KNOW Love is the Answer

Where sin is the problem… love is the answer. Where sin brings destruction… love brings life. Not just any love… the love of Christ.

1 Peter 4:8–11 NIV

8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Do we understand what the statement, “love covers over a multitude of sins” means?

This statement refers to the fact that love is not easily offended and does not hold a grudge. Instead, it forgives again and again.

It means… the heart that is full of the love of God… is a heart that is empty of the world and its ways. That love is to be lived out. That love is to be active.

And when that love is doing what it is supposed to be doing, it keeps the believer on the path God has laid out for them. It keeps us aligned with God’s redemptive plan. It keeps us from sin’s shackles and in the will of the Father.

Even though the world is surprised by by our actions… so surprised that they heap abuse upon on heads… we are to speak the Word and love of God. We are to serve in His strength, we are to bring praise to His holy name.

This is true when we find ourselves surrounded by brothers and sisters in Christ… this is true when we find ourselves surrounded by those who reject the One we believe in.

Love is the answer. Love for God and love for others is our response. Believers are not to respond to sin as the world responds to the message they reject. We are to continue in love.

We have been called to be DONE with sin… but we are called to love the sinners… as Christ loves them… and as Christ loved us.

Never forget… it was the love of Jesus that made ALL the difference in our lives… and it is His love that will make the difference in the lives of the lost.

So long as the voice of His love rings louder than the voice of hatred and wickedness of the world… hope remains.

As the believers found themselves in unfamiliar territory… they were all very familiar with the love of God. They knew what it meant to live in His love… and Peter reminds them and us the importance of sharing His love no matter our circumstance.

In the good times, we are to be extensions of His love.

In the bad times, we are to be extensions of His love.

When all is right, we are to be extensions of His love.

When undergoing suffering, we are to be extensions of His love.

And by doing so… we close the door to sin entering our hearts. Being resolved to love as Christ loved is a sure way of being DONE with sin.

Closing

So are you at the place tonight? Have you made the decision? Are you DONE with sin? Are you ready to arm yourselves with the same attitude that Christ had?

Then we need to do three things in response to the Word.

One, rid ourselves of any and all old ways. If there is anything… any sin remaining in our walk… it’s time to get it under the blood.

Two, remember that Jesus is coming soon. Be thankful for our salvation AND position ourselves to receive more of God’s empowering Spirit that He is pouring out in these last days.

Three, check our love meters. We need to see where our level of love is tonight. We need to make sure that our hearts are full of God’s love and empty of bitterness, anger, etc.

The world is going to test your resolve… the world is going to see if you truly are done with sin or not.

It will push, it will poke fun, it will pick at you and nag you.

It might become tiresome… it might become irritating… but it must never become an excuse not to love or to engage in sin.

We are no strangers to God… and the stranger this world becomes… the more we need to rely on Him.

God wants to cleanse you of any sin that might remain. God wants to fill you with His power. God wants to transform you with His love.

Are you ready to make the decision? Stand if you are DONE with sin and open your heart to what God wants to pour into your life right now!