PROPER ATTITUDES TOWARD SIN

INTRODUCTION

In our series of lessons on “Studying Sin Seriously” we have so far discussed:

1. The Origin of Sin
2. What Sin Is
3. Kinds of Sin
4. What Sin Will Do To You
5. Improper Attitudes Toward Sin

In this lesson, it is only natural that we now study “Proper Attitudes Toward Sin”

We must remember how important our attitudes are in regard to our actions

1. Proverbs 4:23
2. Proverbs 23:7

Calvin Coolidge was known as a man of few words. Returning from worship services one day, his wife asked him what did the preacher preach on. “Sin,” he replied. “Well, what did he say about it,” she continued. “He was agin it!” Coolidge answered.

1. Surely this is the correct attitude toward sin
2. However, let us be a bit more thorough in our study of the subject.

DISCUSSION

ADMIT IT

First, we must admit that we are guilty of sin

1. Psalm 32:5
2. 1 John 1:8-10

Secondly, we must admit that we are personally responsible for our sins.

1. Ever since Adam, man has tried to escape individual responsibility for his sin
   • Genesis 3:9-13… the age old problem of “passing the buck”
   • Exodus 32:21-24… Aaron blames the people for the golden calf
   • 1 Samuel 15:13-15, 24… Saul blames the people
2. Today, for example, we hear, “When I was a little boy my parents made me to go to church all the time, and I vowed when I got old enough I would quit”
   • Such reasoning blames the parents for the responsibility of one’s absenteeism
   • Let’s not blame insanity, the environment, defective social arrangements, bad luck, society, hypocrites, or friends for our transgressions

HATE IT

We avoid things we hate

1. No one keeps a barrel of rattlesnakes in his home
2. We don’t usually eat food we dislike
3. Accordingly, an intense hatred of sin constitutes a safeguard against sin

God hates sin

1. Proverbs 6:16-19
2. Proverbs 8:13

Sin stirred Jesus’ soul with righteous indignation

1. In Mark 3:5 we see that Jesus was moved with anger against the hardened heart of the Pharisees
2. Jesus hates iniquity (Heb. 1:9)

All the world loves a lover; but God loves a hater of sin

1. Psalm 97:10
2. Amos 5:15
3. Let us not lose our capacity to hate, for some say, “we must not be too fast to condemn,” or “we do not want to cause any trouble”

We must hate the sin, but love the sinner.

1. Psalm 101:3
2. The cross preaches this lesson very clearly (John 3:16)

SHUN IT

1. We are to “abstain” from all evil (1 The. 5:22)
2. We are to “flee” from evil (2 Tim. 2:22)
3. We must pray not to be led into temptation (Mat. 6:13)
   • Now, to pray not to be tempted, and then to rush into occasions of temptations, is like thrusting your finger into the fire, and then praying not to be burned.
   • We must pray and do our part
4. In shunning sin we will NOT play with sin, seeing how close we can get to it without overly sinning
5. In shunning sin we will not make provision for it.
   • Romans 13:14
   • In other words, do not put yourself in a place where sin can easily get at you.

RESIST IT

1. 1 Peter 5:8-9
2. James 4:7
3. Jesus resisted evil and the evil one
4. Matthew 4:1-11
   • How? Through the word of God
   • In resisting evil and the evil one we cannot give an inch!

EXPOSE IT

God condemned sin

1. Romans 8:3
2. God condemned sin by sending His Son in the flesh

Jesus exposed sin

1. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees and scribes of His day
2. Mark 7:9-13

The Holy Spirit reproved sin

1. Jesus promised this in John 16:7-8
2. It happened on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2

John the Baptist condemned sin… Mark 6:18

The apostles denounced sin

1. Paul did (Acts 13:6-10; Galatians 2:11-12)
2. Peter did (Acts 2:22-23; 5:1-11)

Gospel preachers are also to rebuke sin

1. 2 Timothy 4:1-2
2. Titus 1:13
3. Sin must be condemned from the pulpit
   • Many in the religious world never mention sin from their pulpits
   • As a result, our nation’s morals are on a rapid decline

All Christians are to reprove sin

1. Ephesians 5:11
   • The majority of Christians may obey the first part of this command, but few obey the second part
   • Are we to be involved in cafeteria styled religion, where we pick and choose what want and don’t want to do? NO!
2. To illustrate:
   • You may refrain from the sin of purchasing pornography, but why not actively protest such to the business owner?
   • You may abstain from illegal or unauthorized use of drugs, but do you actively oppose their use?
   • We refrain from teaching and endorsing false doctrine; but such must also be refuted and denied.

CONQUER IT

1. We are to conquer, not commit, sin; we are to conquer, and not continue in, sin.
   • Romans 6:1-7
   • We are to crucify sin!

2. Drastic measures are to be taken to conquer sin
   • Mark 9:43-48
   • This is a hyperbole – exaggeration to make a point

3. We must conquer sin or it will conquer us
   • King Saul was ultimately slain by an Amalekite, of the nation he was commanded to utterly destroy…
   • Sin will destroy us if we do not destroy it first

CONCLUSION

What will help us to have the proper attitude toward sin?

1. Remember that sin caused the death of Christ.
2. Sin is the only thing that will keep us out of heaven
3. Remember that sin is a hard taskmaster in this world.
4. See sin as God sees it.

We must have the proper attitude toward sin

*** Outlined from Windell Winkler’s Book: “Studying Sin Seriously”

Tom Moore
http://www.fromthepreacherspc.org
http://www.harrisandmoore.org
http://www.parkheightscoc.com