SIN – (Missing the Mark)
What is sin?
James 4:17 - So for one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, for him it is sin.
1 John 3:4 - Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.
1 John 5:17 - All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.
Romans 14:23 - But the one who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and (whatever is not from faith is sin.)
Genesis 2:17 is the heart or foundational principle of the Law given by God - but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for on the day that you eat from it you will certainly die.” The Mosaic law simply revealed our sin, served as a spotlight.
Romans chapter 7 discusses sin and the law. Even though the principle of the Law is perfect, it could not set us free from sin. This is where verse 6 explains; But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.
In the natural, we may struggle with impulsive behavior and triggers. We may find ourselves living in such a way that it seems impossible to resist sinful desire and commit acts that harm ourselves and / or others. Once this behavior becomes a habit it becomes very difficult to break the cycle.
- Tension – Gratification – Remorse
Living in impulse, deadens our senses and we become less able to consider the consequences of our actions as we are hyper-focused on the gratification that impulsive living and making impulsive choices produces. The very reward we look for as a result of impulsive living is ripped away as we ultimately face the consequences of pain and suffering that result from the choices we’ve made.
- Our desire is stimulated. We feel pleasure toward the thought
- We struggle with that desire / pleasure of thought
- Ultimately we approve / agree with where desire is taking us
- We commit the act
Notable Scriptures
Colossians 3:5 - Therefore, treat the parts of your earthly body as dead to sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.
Galatians 6:8 - For the one who sows to his own flesh will reap destruction from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit.
James 2:10 - For whoever keeps the whole Law, yet stumbles in one point, has become guilty of all.
James 3:10 - from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, these things should not be this way.
James 3:16 - For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.
James 4:4 - You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
James 4:8 - Come close to God and He will come close to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
1 John 3:8 - the one who practices (poieo) sin is of the devil; for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works (ergon) of the devil.
Leviticus 5:17 - “Now if a person sins and does any of the things which the LORD has commanded not to be done, though he was unaware, he is still guilty and shall bear his punishment.”
Mark 7:20-23 - And He was saying, “That which comes out of the person, that is what defiles the person. “For from within, out of the hearts of people, come the evil thoughts, acts of sexual immorality, thefts, murders, acts of adultery, deeds of greed, wickedness, deceit, indecent behavior, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. “All these evil things come from within and defile the person.”
1 Peter 2:24 - and He Himself brought our sins in His body up on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness; by His wounds you were healed.
Proverbs 14:12 - There is a way which seems right to a person, But its end is the way of death.
Proverbs 14:34 - Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a disgrace to any people.
Psalm 1:1 - Blessed is the person who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
Romans 2:12 - For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law
Romans 8:6-8 - For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
6 ways to defeat lust / sexual sin / habitual sin / ungodly habits
- Creation: - God created sex…it’s His design. All the aspects of sex and how it impacts our senses and inner selves is from Him. Always think on this truth and let it fill your mind and spirit.
- Cross: - We need to always remember, to stir up our thoughts about what Jesus took on and endured to for our sins. He said, “It is Finished.” The debt for our short comings has been paid in full. Let us not spit upon the work of Jesus at the cross but let us be in continual humility and thankfulness because without Him we would be with no hope and bound for hell.
- Crisis: - Always be mindful of how viewing pornography and committing sexual / habitual sin impacts those around you. It keeps you fragmented, always in an elevated level of crisis, limits progress and negatively effects the lives of your loved ones around you.
- Crown: - James 1:12 says, “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” Fix your mind upon the rewards from our Lord and King as we endure and overcome temptation by His strength and grace.
- Crowd: - Hebrews 12:1 says, “…since we are surrounded by so great a cloud (crowd) of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
We represent Christ, we don’t want to destroy our light and witness to those around us.
Christ: - Fellowship with Him and one another. 1 John 1: 5-7 says, “…God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses u