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God
i n t r o d u c t i o n t o s y s t e m a t i c t h e o l o g y
sin
o f r i g h t e o u s n e s s r e b e l s a n d
sin
What it is Where it originated What are its implications? Application
sin: what it is
The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (Gen 6:5) Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart; there is no fear of God before his eyes. For he atters himself in his own eyes that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated. The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit; he has ceased to act wisely and do good. He plots trouble while on his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not reject evil. (Psa 36:1-4) Thus says the Lord: Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes esh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord. He is like a shrub in the desert and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? (Jer 17:5-6, 9)
sin: what it is
Not doing what God commands Doing what God forbids
sin: what it is
The rejection of God the Creator--who he is in all his perfections Turning toward and adoration of the creature
sin: what it is
WLC Q.24. What is sin? A. Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, any law of God, given as a rule to the reasonable creature. God's law is the ultimate moral standard to which his creatures are accountable We violate Gods law by what we do (actions), what we think (heart-attitude), and because of who we are (sinful nature)
sin: what it is
Irrationality in the midst of rationality Hand on the stove analogy Deliberately, willfully, and actively pushing away the truth despite being confronted at all points by truth itself Consider Satan: Had direct access to God and knowledge of his attributes, yet sought to replace him as Lord; extremely intelligent, yet incredibly irrational And since they did not see t to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were lled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them. (Romans 1:28-32 ESV)
sin: application
We must be on our guard against sin If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it. Gen 4:7 Slaves to sin or slaves to righteousness Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the pstandard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.(Rom 6:16ff)
sin: application
Why should we take sin seriously? Gods Word tells us Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called today, that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original condence rm to the end. (Heb 3:12-14) Our own conscience tells us For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them (Rom 2:14-15)
sin: application
What are some reasons sin is not considered to be serious (or not considered at all)? High view of man Low view of God Since the Fall, all people have had a mancentered view of God, rather than a Godcentered view of man.
sin: application
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sin: application
How are we to battle against sin? Hiding the Word of God in our hearts (Psalm 119:9-16) Gods Word will protect us (Prov 3:21-26; 6:20-24) Gods Word is the Sword of the Spirit (weapon) Walking (being led) by the Spirit (Gal 5:16, 25) The Spirit works through His Word Prayer Petitioning the Holy Spirit for help (Matt 26:41; Eph 6:18)
sin: application
How are we to battle against sin? (cont.) Fellowship (The church) We are the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:27) We dont do life in isolation (Heb 10:24-25) Ask for, receive, and give help Gal 6:2; 1 Thess 5:14
sin: application
Concluding thoughts Romans 8 No condemnation The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in us as Christians vv. 29-30 v. 39 Phil 1:6