According to a recent survey of 1007 people, Ellison Marketing Research Company in Phoenix found 87% of Americans believe there is such a thing as sin. Well, that is a pleasant surprise considering our postmodern culture of "political correctness." And, you might be surprised at what we Americans believe is sinful! And that's our study today, "What Is Sin?"
My personal greetings to you, friend. We are so glad you have chosen our program today. We are In Search of the Lord's Way, to become a Christian and to live the Christian life, which incidentally, we believe is the best way to live this life that's ever been introduced to the family of man. Now in our 28th year, we are among the oldest continual religious television programs to which you have access. So many people write us that they've been blessed by our studies; and they tell us that we helped them get their lives turned around and they can vouch for the truthfulness of that statement that the Christ way is much better than the life they once lived in sin.
"Sin!" Well, there's that word again. I said it, didn't I? Well, it is a biblical word; it appears 447 times in the Scriptures and in the plural (as "sins") 173 times. So, we talk about it. What is sin anyway? Do you attend church somewhere-- anywhere? Do you listen to many radio or television preachers? How long has it been since you heard a sermon about sin at church or on radio or TV? To be honest and truthful, we just don't hear much preaching-- if any at all-- about sin anymore, do we? It's sort of "old fashioned" I guess. It's kind of backward or back-woodsy--too, too negative-- or judgmental-- to preach about nowadays. Most up-to-date preachers are too polished and polite to say the word in the pulpit. The preacher has to be gray-headed; well not necessarily as white as mine, but gray anyway to talk about sin in the pulpit. "After all, who is going to come back to church if he knows he's going to hear his sins exposed and reproved?" And, whether they say it or not, some preachers measure their "success,"-- not by how many they led to Christ by their preaching the word, but by the size of the crowds. Well, my subject today is titled, "What is Sin?"
If you think you might want or need a free printed copy, a CD or an audio cassette tape, you may mail your request to In Search of the Lord's Way, P.O. Box 371, Edmond, OK 73083, or by e-mail to searchtv@searchtv.org. If you prefer, you may use our toll-free telephone number, 1-800-321-8633. Oh, I did say they are free, didn’t I. I’m not sure I did, but they are free. Ken Helterbrand is going to lead us now as we sing, and then I'll be back for Bible reading and prayer with you.
We are reading from the book of 1 John today; and we have to remember as we read this passage that inspiration did not divide it into chapters and verses. We did that for our own convenience. But we are going to begin with verse eight of the first chapter and read over into the second chapter two verses. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. My little children, these things I write to you, that you may not sin. And if anyone sins we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” And now we will go to our Heavenly Father in prayer. Father, we are thankful to You for the advocacy of Jesus Christ and for His being our Advocate with You. We are thankful, Father, for the sacrifice that He made for our sin; and we do confess that we are sinful and we have need of Your forgiveness and His advocacy today. We pray Your blessings upon us as we meditate upon this very tedious subject. In Jesus name, Amen!
The survey of 1007 Americans that I mentioned earlier found that 87% of us believe in the idea-- or the concept of sin. Whew! Oh my, that tells us that a lot of people who are not even Christians know that sin is a reality of life. Eighty-one percent believe adultery is sinful; 74% percent believe racism is a sin; 65% believe the use of hard drugs is sin; 63% reportedly said that not saying anything when a cashier gives you too much change is sin; 56% believe that abortion is sinful; 52% believe the practice of homosexuality is sin; likewise 52% said falsifying on one's income tax is sin; only 18% believed playing the lottery was sin; even fewer than that, 16% said failing to give as much as 10% of one’s income to a church or to a charity is sinful; and only 4% believed dancing is sin. Well, I was pleasantly surprised that, in a time and a culture that reportedly says there is no "right" or "wrong" behavior, the label of "sin" was even given to the activities mentioned by 87% of the people! I wonder how the church you attend feels about sin. If it's the typical church, we may never know. I thought that might be just my opinion, and, ha, well, it's been said (I don't know whether there is any truth in it or not, but it's been said,) I'm "too judgmental." However, when I began reading and studying for this message, I found in my research that it's a thought shared by very many other people. Anyway, the word is still in the Bible, almost-- perhaps more than a thousand times in all its forms. Therefore, a sermon about it is appropriate, don't you think? We'll look to the word of God, not to an opinion poll, but to the Bible to learn what sin really is.
There are several words in the languages of the Old and New Testaments that are translated into the English as the one word "sin." The word most commonly used in the New Testament means simply, "missing the mark." The illustration's often given of an archer who misses his target; the arrow falls short of, or perhaps it goes beyond the target. But the archer would have "sinned" in either case. He missed his mark. Our text says, "Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness." The King James says there, "Whosoever commits sin transgresseth also the law; for sin is the transgression of the law." That is one definition of sin. It's "lawlessness" or "transgression." It is going beyond the law of God. Or it's falling short of it. James 4:17 says, "...to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin." Therefore, that is coming short of it, too, isn't it? It may be a willful transgression of the law of God. Or it may be neglect of-- or just simple and plain refusal to do what God commands. In either case, it's disobedience, and the Bible calls it "sin." Then, the law defines sin, doesn't it? Romans 5:13 says, "...until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law." Well, to illustrate that, the road in front of your business or your house may accommodate traffic both ways. But, should you drive that street tomorrow and see a sign that says, "One Way," with an arrow pointing the direction to drive; the opposite direction then as has been your legal custom would meet the definition of "sin," wouldn’t it?
Well, sin is universal (Romans 3:23), but it is not inherited. No, no my friend, you were not born a sinner. You were not born a liar, or a kleptomaniac, an alcoholic, or a homosexual. Sin is something every one of us does. And we do it by our choice. In James 1:13 to16 God's word says, "Let no one say when he is tempted, I am tempted by God; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived..." Oh say! That, “Do not be deceived," is very good counsel, my friend.
Israel, God's people in the Old Testament times were about to suffer through some very difficult days. They were learning the hard way that "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people" (Proverbs 14:34). They were blaming some of the wicked kings in their past. But God said to them, "What do you mean when you use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying: “The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge? As I live, says the Lord God, you shall no longer use that proverb in Israel. Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine; the soul that sins shall die" (Ezekiel 18:1 to 4). In the next few verses He describes then the character of a very good man: who had a wicked son, who, in turn, had a son who was good like his granddad. Then in verse twenty God says again, "The soul who sins shall die." And He continues, "The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself."
Sin has bitter consequences. Our prisons are literally filled to their capacity-- even to overflow-- with people who will testify to that fact. Despite the fact that they can't afford it some states are being forced to build more prisons because of the rapid increase in the rate of lawlessness-- sin-- in our country. Some of the occupants will spend the rest of their lives imprisoned because they sinned. Others will be executed because they sinned. Still others are suffering with the ill-effects of some kind of sin-- well it could be an addiction to nicotine or alcohol or illegal hard drugs or some kind of a sexually transmitted disease or well, something else. They have sinned. Families are being torn asunder by sin, forcing the children to live in one-parent homes. In some cases the children are deprived of both parents. They become the wards of the state because of sin. My friend, sin is no way of life. We reap what we sow. If we sow to the flesh, without fail, we'll reap the fleshly harvest, not only in eternity but even now. If we sow to the Spirit, we're sure to reap a spiritual reward. God says, "He who sows iniquity will reap sorrow" (Proverbs 22 and 8). The marginal note says, "trouble; He who sows iniquity will reap trouble."
Moses had led the children of Israel forty years through the wilderness. He was preparing them for the occupation of the Promised Land. In the 32nd chapter of the book of Numbers, he wrote that as he was approached by the children of Reuben and Gath, for his permission for them to settle in the land of Gilead on the east side of the Jordan. Oh well, Moses seemed to think that they were trying to avoid the battle for Canaan's land. Their appeal was that they were cattlemen and that the land east of the Jordan was more suitable for cattle raising. And, they would fight with and help the other tribes take the land of Canaan. Well, Moses considered it and he gave his approval. He said, “Now know this though, if you do not do so, (that is, if you do not help your brethren take the land of Canaan) then take note, you have sinned against the Lord; and be sure your sin will find you out." That is verse 23. And, it will. Yes, that's exactly right, "Your sin will find you out." I never think of that, that I don't also think of the time on the farm during the great depression, my father sent me to plant the cotton. Now cotton was our only "cash crop." When I had planted the seed, he said, I could put the planter in the shed, feed the mule; and then I could play with the other children under the tree in the yard. Well, I planted the seed until noon. I got a fresh mule and planted more. I still had seed at two o'clock, at 3 o'clock, and still at 4 o'clock I had seed. So, I dug a hole and buried the rest of the seed in that hole over near the fence. Well, all went well-- until my father found all that seed coming up in one place over near the fence. Yes, my sin had found me out. And so will yours!
Sin also alienates the sinner from God. God is completely holy. So much so that no evil can come or remain in His presence. When Adam sinned, he and his wife, Eve, were driven from the garden, where God had previously come in the cool of the day to walk and talk with them (Genesis 3 and 8). God also took measures to prevent their getting back into the garden (Genesis 3:24). That meant any reconciliation between God and man-- or any restoration of that relationship that had existed between them would necessarily be on God's initiative. God was the aggrieved One-- He was the offended party, if you will. Therefore, any reconciliation would be by His grace, just as we read in Ephesians 2, verses 1 to 12. Yes of course, God knew Adam and all of his descendants would sin. Of course, He did. He created humankind with intelligence and He would hold us personally accountable for all our sin (2 Corinthians 5 and 10). God loves every one of us. We're His "offspring" (Acts 17:28). So, just as when Adam sinned God drove him from His presence; when we sinned, He drove us from His presence. His plan for our redemption and our reconciliation with Him-- the re-establishment of peace with God (Romans 5 and 1) would include the sending of His Son into the world, to live among us-- as one of us-- to be tried in all points as we are, but without sin (Hebrews 2:17) to make "atonement" for our sins (Romans 5:11).
Despite the fact that God is the aggrieved party in this situation God made the offer of forgiveness of our sins and reconciliation with Him-- salvation. Now "the ball is in our court" as we often say. I mean, whether we're saved and reconciled, forgiven and living at peace with God depends on whether we accept His offer. The Bible says, "Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear you" (Isaiah 59:1 to 3). His offer of redemption by the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ, demands a response by us. Will we accept His offer to forgive our sins? Will you, my friend? Are you willing to do what He asks you to do that you may enjoy with Him. Don't go away. After the hymn, I'll be back to tell you how. Our Father, we thank You now for the message of salvation and reconciliation with You through Your grace which we read about in the Bible. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
Are you ready now to receive forgiveness for your sin against God, to live at peace with Him the rest of your life, and to go home to be with Him forever? Are you ready? Are you really ready to be saved and become a Christian?
God sent His Son, Jesus Christ to die on the cross as the satisfaction-- not for His own sin, but for yours and mine (1 John 2 and 2). Do you believe that? In the days of His earthly ministry, there were some who believed in Him but they would not confess Him, because of their previous religious affiliation (John 9:22; and John 12:42). Would you be willing right now-- today-- to state publicly that you believe in Him; now that you would be willing to do that? How about repenting of your sins? The Bible says, "God commands all men everywhere to repent (Acts 17:31). And if you are determined to do it, you can do it, because He will help you. If you're willing to do that, you are ready to be baptized into Christ. Well, perhaps you're thinking, "Do I really have to be baptized?" Let me give you the words of Jesus about that. He said, "He who believes and is baptized will be saved..." You may read it for yourself in Mark chapter 16, verse 16. Remember now, that failure to do what God says is one definition of sin. You may be saying, "But, none of my family was baptized and I believe they are in heaven." Well, neither you nor I can judge your family, but we do know what Jesus said and they may not have known what we know. God will hold you and me accountable for us only.
Well, we pray you will become a Christian today. And if you would like a free printed copy, or CD or an audio cassette tape of the message titled, "What Is Sin?" just write us: In Search of the Lord's Way, P.O. Box 371, Edmond, OK 73083. Our e-mail address is searchtv@searchtv.org. Our telephone number for your use is 1-800-321-8633. We love you.
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