OceanSide church of Christ

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“THE PROBLEM OF SIN"

Original outline by Mark Copeland

 

Text:  Eph. 2:1-5

Thesis: To understand How The Gospel of Christ addresses the Problem of Sin.

 

INTRODUCTION

 

1. A number of years ago a book came out with the title: "Whatever Happened To Sin?"

 

2. This is a relevant question, for today "sin" is often taken too lightly...

   a. By the world

   b. Even by the church

 

3. Exactly what is sin?  The Bible speaks definitively, describing sin as:

   a. A transgression of the law of God - 1John 3:4

   b. A failure to do what you know to be right - James 4:17

   c. Doing that which violates your conscience, even if the act is right within itself - Rom 14:23

 

4. The Bible also reveals the seriousness of sin, which is seen...

   a. In its universality - "all have sinned..." (Rom 3:23; 1 John 1: 6-10)

   b. In its consequences - "The wages of sin is death..." (Rom 6:23)

 

5. Even so, I am not sure that many people, even some Christians, truly understand...

   a. The problem of sin

   b. How the gospel of Christ effectively addresses this problem!

 

I.   THE PROBLEM OF SIN

 

A. THE "LOVE" OF SIN...

      1. Sin does have its pleasurable nature - Heb 11:24-25

      2. It is this pleasurable side that makes it easy for men to love sin, which in turn can then blind them to the truth- John 3:19

 

B. THE "PRACTICE" OF SIN...

      1. The seriousness of this aspect of sin is seen in that ALL havesinned! - Rom 3:23

      2. Even Christians continue to practice sin at times – 1John  1:8-10

 

C. THE "STATE" OF SIN...

      1. Those who both love and practice sin are said to be dead "in" sin - Eph 2:1

      2. This pertains to our relationship to God; as far as He is concerned, our practice of sin places us in a state in which wearedead "to" Him!

 

D. THE "GUILT" OF SIN...

      1. In the Scriptures, this refers primarily to "legal" guilt, but it often includes "emotional" guilt

      2. We may try to deny or suppress this truth, but a Holy God stillrecognizes our guilt before Him - Rom 3:19

 

E. THE "POWER" OF SIN...

      1. Jesus spoke of the enslaving power of sin - John 8:34

      2. Sin is so powerful, that even when a person wants to do good, outside of Christ they are unable to do so consistently - cf. Rom 7:14-21

F. THE "RESULT" OF SIN...

      1. "The wages of sin is death" (Rom 6:23)

 

      2. In the Scriptures, death includes the idea of separation (e.g., physical death is the separation of body and spirit – (James 2:26)

         a. The result of sin is "spiritual death," or separation from God

         b. Such separation exists in this life, but even more so in the life to come! - Rev 21:8

 

Such is the problem of sin.

·       Do we understand what a serious problem itreally is?

·       How does the Gospel of Christ address this problem? 

·       Bear in mind that the gospel consists of:

- FACTS to believe

- COMMANDS to obey

- PROMISES to receive

 

The facts to believe are concisely stated in 1Cor 15:1-4, which reveal things that God has done in Christ. 

 

These things which God has donemake it possible for the commands and promises of the gospel to really address the problem of sin!

 

Consider...

 

II.   HOW THE GOSPEL ADDRESSES THE PROBLEM OF SIN

THE COMMANDS OF THE GOSPEL

 

A. "BELIEVE IN CHRIST" ADDRESSES THE "LOVE" OF SIN...

      1. That it is necessary to believe is evident from Mark 16:15-16

 

     2. When a person really believes in Christ and the facts, The gospel tells about Him...

 

         a. They will come to hate sin for what it cost God and Christ

         b. They will have the attitude expressed by the Psalmist

(Psalms 119:104)  Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.

      3. The point is, true faith helps to eliminate our love for sin

 

B. "REPENT OF SINS" ADDRESSES THE "PRACTICE" OF SIN...

      1. The gospel clearly calls mankind to repent - Acts 2:38; 17:30-31

      2. When a person truly repents (a decision of the mind that leadsto a change of action), they will cease living a life devotedto the practice of sin

 

C. "BE BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST" ADDRESSES THE "STATE"  OF SIN...

 

      1. Remember, outside of Christ our state is "dead in sin"

      2. The gospel includes the command to be baptized - Mark 16:15-16; Matt 28:18-20

      3. When we are baptized, our "state" changes

         a. For baptism puts us in Christ - Gal 3:27

         b. In Christ, we are now "dead TO sin", no longer "dead IN sin"- Rom 6:1-7

THE PROMISES OF THE GOSPEL

 

D. "REMISSION OF SINS" ADDRESSES THE "GUILT" OF SIN...

 

      1. Remission of sins is promised to those who repent and are baptized - Acts 2:38

      2. When sin has been remitted, there is no longer any guilt!

 

E. "THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT" ADDRESSES THE "POWER" OF SIN...

 

      1. The gift of the Holy Spirit is likewise promised to those whorepent and are baptized - Acts 2:38

      2. With the help of God's Spirit, we are no longer under the power of sin - Rom 8:12-13; Eph 3:16, 20

 

F. "ETERNAL LIFE" ADDRESSES THE "RESULT" OF SIN...

 

1. Instead of spiritual death and eternal separation from God, wecan have spiritual life and eternal communion with Him!

2. As Paul put it so succinctly:  "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."(Rom 6:23)

 

CONCLUSION

 

Have you let the gospel address your problem of sin? 

               By...

-        Believing the facts of the gospel?

-        Obeying the commands of the gospel?

-        Receiving the promises of the gospel?

Do so, and through Jesus Christ you can overcome the problem of sin!