True Worth

Theme: Sin is worthless; therefore we must pursue what possesses worth.

Introduction:

Have you ever seen a commercial? Dumb question right, because commercials are everywhere. When you drive down the interstate there is a billboard advertising something to drink. When you turn on the TV there is a commercial advertising something tasty just about the time that everyone is hungry and you’re convinced that you’ve just got to have it. Maybe you have an e-mail account and you’re bombarded with spam e-mails everyday each one indicating that it holds precious information to make you rich, beautiful, healthy, or help you in some area of your life that you had no idea you needed help with in the first place. What is the point of a commercial? To stimulate you to do something that the manufacturer who paid for the spot has. To establish the true worth of an object before you so that you’ll be convinced to buy it. Some commercials are more creative than others. Take the Mac commercials for instance. I love them. “Hello I’m a Mac . . . And I’m a pc.” What is the point? To show you that a Mac os is far superior to Bill Gates’ petty little os and that you need to buy a Mac, it makes life less stressful. Do you realize that satan is in the commercial business? He offers us cheap stuff in order to make us his slave and destroy us. He is not your friend. This morning I desire for us to consider that: Sin is worthless; therefore we must pursue what possesses worth.

Worthless

Sin lacks quality because God hates it. (Deuteronomy 25:16- For all that do such things, and all that do unrighteously, are an abomination unto the LORD thy God. Example: Critics)

God hates sin because it goes against His nature. (Genesis 39:9- There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?, Psalms 51:4- Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.)

His holiness condemns it. (Ezekiel 39:7- So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel., He will punish the wickedness of others to show Israel that their sinfulness is a serious offense to the Holy God)

His righteousness condemns it for it demands justice for wrong. (Romans 2:8- But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, indignation or anger or annoyance provoked by what is perceived as unfair treatment and wrath)

God hates sin because it goes against His Word that forbids it. (I John 3:4-Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.)

Sin lacks value because the price is too high for something that brings no true gain. (Example: Hot New Item!!!)

The price is bondage.

Bondage to the sin. (Romans 6:16- Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?)

Bondage to the devil. (2 Timothy 2:26-And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.)

The price is death. (James 1:15- Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.)

Separation from God. (Revelation 20:15-And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.)

Relation to His wrath. (Revelation 20:15-And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.)

It is painful. (Matthew 13:50-And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.)

It is permanent. (Revelation 20:15-And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.)

No man can pay this price because no one is without sin.

No man is exempt all are in sin. (Romans 3:23-For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, Galatians 3:22-But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.)

Nothing you do can cleanse you. (Jeremiah 2:22-For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord GOD.)

Think about what satan is asking?

Sacrifice your purity for a moment of pleasure from immorality? I Thessalonians 4:3- For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:

He believes your purity is important.

He wills your purity.

Sacrifice your body for a moment of pleasure from drugs, alcohol, and nicotine? I Corinthians 6:19-What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

Context of immorality.

Overreaching context.

God wants our bodies for His service, not for us to selfishly indulge any destructive pleasures or lusts.

Sacrifice your mind to lust after things or people? Matthew 5:28- But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. Luke 12:15-And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

Worth

With God there is complete forgiveness of sin.

The believer receives pardon from punishment.

God is ready to forgive. (Psalms 86:5-For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.)

God forgives completely. (Hebrews 10:16-18- This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.)

The believer is made righteous. (Romans 3:22- Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:)

With God there is relationship.

He is our Father. (Psalms 103:13-Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.)

He is our Good Provider. (Matthew 7:11-If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?)

With God there is eternal life. (John 10:28- And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.)

With God there is peace. (Ephesians 2:14-For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;)

With God there is an eternal inheritance. (I Peter 1:4-To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,)

With God there are eternal pleasures. (Psalms 16:11- Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.)

Conclusion:

So what will it be? Will you sacrifice your life for the costly pleasures of this world? Or will you pursue the everlasting joys that come with following after Jesus Christ? The choice is yours and I hope that you see clearly which one is the right one.