Things in life
are not always as advertised. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Have you ever
bought a product only to be really disappointed in it? Karen and I once bought
a used freezer. When we first examined it, it felt cold inside. But it was
sitting in a garage in the wintertime. The man said it worked; but when we got
it home, it did not work at all.
Commercials can
make a product sound so good you are supposed to think you can’t live without
it. But many of the products advertised are not good for you at all. Often the
reality is entirely different from what is advertised.
Likewise, sin
puts on a good front, but the reality is much different.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sin is
transgression of God’s law (1 John 3:4). Pure and simple, sin is disobeying our
Creator.
Some people try
to convince us that sin is harmless, innocent, and even enjoyable.
Hebrews 11:25
refers to the "pleasures of sin."
James 1:14,15 –
Sin entices us by appealing to our desires. We may truly enjoy some aspects of
sin temporarily. But despite the apparent advantages, the end result is tragic.
The purpose of
this lesson is to examine the real consequences of sin.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Genesis 2:16,17 –
God created everything "very good." But He warned the first man and
woman about the consequences of sin. Nevertheless, Eve sinned and encouraged
Adam to sin, and since then all people have sinned (Romans 3:23). Tragic
consequences have resulted.
In this lesson we
want to consider, not just what sin advertises and promises, but what it really
delivers: the reality of sin. Consider what sin has done for you and all of the
human race.
Consequences of
Sin in This Life
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
People like to
convince themselves that sinners live "the good life." They think God
makes up rules to take away people’s fun, so to really enjoy life you have to
ignore the rules. This is what sin advertises, but consider what sin really
causes.
Sickness, Pain,
and Death
================
Genesis 3:16,19 –
The world was free from suffering and death until Adam and Eve sinned. Their
sin brought pain and death into the world. This includes disease, which causes
death.
All sickness and
death are a result of sin.
*********************************
1 Corinthians
15:21,22,25,26 – Everyone dies as result of Adam’s sin. Death is an enemy,
because it is a consequence of sin.
John 11:35 –
Jesus wept at death of Lazarus. Death was sad, even to Jesus.
When a person
dies, some people say, "It was the will of God." But death is the
consequence of sin, and it was never God’s will for man to sin. Death is God’s
will only in the same sense that it is the will of a parent to punish a
disobedient child. Neither the parent nor the child is glad the punishment must
occur. But when a child does wrong, the parent must correct him.
We may or may not
be able to see a direct connection between sin and sickness.
*****************************************************
Sometimes we see
the connection between sin and suffering.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
* A man gets
drunk and has a wreck.
* Smoking leads
to cancer, drinking to cirrhosis, fornication to V.D.
* Anytime there
is war, someone has been guilty of greed, anger, hatred, or a lust for power.
There would be no war if everyone would live right.
Other times we
may not see how a specific sin led to a specific disease or death.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
But whenever a
loved one suffers or dies, remember this is what sin has done for mankind.
2 Corinthians
12:7-10 – Paul prayed for God to remove his thorn in the flesh. It is right to
pray for God to help us overcome sickness and suffering, but God chose to leave
the problem for Paul’s good. God has not promised to remove all suffering from
our lives on earth. Suffering reminds us that sin is tragic.
1 Corinthians
15:21-16 – In the end Christ will remove all death by raising the dead.
Obstacles and
Frustration
================
Genesis 3:17-19 –
As a consequence of sin, man would face problems, hindrances, and difficulties
in his work. Life is filled with thorns and thistles. People face many
hardships in achieving goals.
Problems in daily
work
*******************
Men work long
hours and face conflicts on the job. Other workers may fail to do their job,
supervisors may make poor decisions, equipment may fail, and the government
requires red tape. Every man I know can talk for hours about the frustrations
on his job.
Homemakers may
think their work never gets caught up. As you do the laundry, the kids start to
fight, the baby needs changed, a salesman knocks at the door, and the dinner
burns.
Problems in the
church
*******************
We may think
there should be no problems in the work of the church, but God’s word shows
otherwise. We often struggle to find people who are willing to study God’s
word. When we do find someone, some false teacher leads him astray. Some
members become inactive or fall away, or members fuss among themselves. And
there always seems to be some new doctrinal issue.
When these
problems occur, we should remember that this is what sin has done for mankind.
Why should we believe people who tell us that sin is better than God’s way?
Alienation
Between People
================
Advertisements
for bars and casinos show people having a wonderful social life. But how does
sin really affect human relationships?
Alienation within
families
********************
Brothers and
sisters
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Genesis 4:3-8 –
Sin alienated Adam and Eve’s sons. In the end, Cain became angry and killed
Abel.
Genesis 27 –
Jacob had to leave home because his deceit caused Esau to threaten to kill him.
Genesis 37 –
Joseph’s brothers sold him as a slave because they were jealous.
Likewise,
children today often fight and quarrel.
Husbands and
wives
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Many homes are
often divided or end in divorce because of disobedience to God’s word.
Ephesians
5:22-25,28 – God teaches husbands to love their wives and wives to submit to
their husbands. But sometimes husbands are selfish or wives rebel.
The happiness of
a home may be destroyed by alcohol or drugs, gambling, adultery, etc.
God’s way is
best, but again and again we hear of homes broken because of sin.
Parents and
children
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Luke 15:11-32 –
The prodigal son rejected his father’s will and wasted his inheritance in
immorality.
2 Samuel 15-18 –
David fought a war with his own son Absalom.
Ephesians 6:1-4 –
God says children should obey parents, and parents should discipline children
in love for their good. But we often hear of parents becoming physically
violent or even abandoning a child. Or children may rebel, reject God, or turn
to drinking and drugs, sexual immorality, or crime.
How can anyone
say that sin is better than God’s way?
Alienation
between friends or between church members
*********************************************
People may be
close friends for years but become alienated when one mistreats or takes
advantage of the other.
2 Timothy 4:10 –
Because he loved this world, Demas forsook Paul. Brethren who worked
side-by-side for years, may be so alienated and bitter that they cannot even
worship together.
Romans 12:18 –
God teaches us how to avoid and resolve our differences. But this requires all
parties to cooperate. Sometimes, no matter how we try, others refuse to be
peaceable.
This is what sin
has done for mankind! Why should anyone think sin is a better way to live than
serving God?
Alienation from
God
============
Adam and Eve were
alienated from God because of sin.
*********************************************
Genesis 3:8 –
They had been in God’s presence, but sin caused them to hide from God.
Genesis 2:16,17 –
The "death" man received because of sin refers primarily to spiritual
death: separation from God. Physical death is separation of body from spirit
(James 2:26). Spiritual death is separation of man from God.
We too are
alienated from God because of our sins.
******************************************
Isaiah 59:1,2 –
Our sins and iniquities separate us from God.
Ephesians
2:1-3,12 – Sin makes us spiritually dead while physically alive. We are
separated from Christ, without hope and without God.
Colossians
1:21-23 – In sin, we are enemies of God. The blessing of the gospel is that,
through Christ, we can be forgiven of sin and be reconciled with God. Physical
problems may or may not be removed in this life, but the problem of alienation
from God can be completely solved through Christ.
God created man
in His image (Genesis 1:26,27), so we could have fellowship and peace with God.
Instead, sin so alienates us that He considers us His enemy. But by following
God’s way, we can be friends of God again. So how can sin be better for man
than God’s way?
(Ephesians 4:18;
5:6; Romans 5:10; 1:18; 2:5; James 4:4; Colossians 3:6)
Mental Anguish
=========
People in sin are
often pictured as carefree, just enjoying life to the full. But consider what
problems the Bible says sinners have:
Guilt
****
Genesis 3:10 –
Adam hid from God because he knew he was naked.
Psalm 38:3-8 –
David’s guilt caused pain, sorrow, and inward groaning. (51:1-3)
Matthew 27:3-5 –
Judas killed himself because of his guilt.
Jonah 1,2 – Jonah
tried to run and hide from God, but no one can hide from God.
God is willing to
forgive us and remove the burden of guilt. Yet many people live in anguish year
after year, knowing they are guilty. This is what sin has done for mankind.
Fear, insecurity,
and worry
**********************
Matthew 6:25-34 –
Many people worry about how they will obtain what they want in life. But God
promises to care for His servants.
Philippians 4:6,7
– Many people are anxious about life because they don’t serve God or don’t pray
to Him in faith. But God promises peace that passes understanding if His
faithful servants pray in faith.
Matthew 25:46 –
Many fear death because they aren’t ready for judgment. But God promises
eternal life to the righteous.
So these
consequences of sin can definitely be solved by the power of God even in this
life. So why continue to suffer in sin? How much better to serve God and let
Him remove the burden of guilt!
Sorrow
******
Matthew 26:75 –
Peter wept bitterly after he had denied Christ three times.
Psalm 32:1-5 –
David groaned all day long because of sin, but when he confessed he was
forgiven. Once again, the burden of guilt on our souls can be completely lifted
through Jesus.
So why would
anyone think that sin is better than God’s way? Does it make sense to continue
in sin instead of serving God?
(Psalm 38:3-8;
Proverbs 13:15)
Consequences of
Sin after This Life
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
So far we have
described problems sin causes in this life. But some people seem to suffer
little if any consequences of sin in this life. They may prosper and appear to
live "the high life." So some folks conclude that maybe sin is not
all that bad.
The truth is that
most people in sin do suffer many of the problems we have described in this
life, whether they acknowledge it or not. But after this life will come
problems that everyone will definitely suffer unless their sins are forgiven.
Sinners Receive
Eternal Punishment.
======================
Consider how the
Bible describes this punishment.
Fire
****
Matthew 25:41 –
The wicked will go to eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels.
Revelation
20:10-15 – The second death is a lake of fire for all not found in book of
life.
Physical death is
the first death, and we have learned it is the consequence of sin. But that
death is nothing compared to the second death: the lake of fire.
(Matthew
13:39-42; 18:8,9)
Conscious torment
***************
Revelation 20:10
– Those in the lake of fire were tormented day and night.
Luke 16:19-31 –
The rich man died and was tormented in flame.
(Romans 2:8,9)
Outer darkness
************
Matthew 8:12 –
Imagine being tormented in flame, but you can’t see anything. You want to
escape, but there is no way to escape.
There is not one
passage that says anything good about the state of the wicked after death.
Eternal
******
Matthew 25:41,46
– Eternal fire, everlasting punishment
2 Thessalonians
1:8,9 – Everlasting destruction (ruin)
This is the final
result of what sin does for mankind. We will see that the gospel shows how to
avoid this end. But why would anyone defend sin or present it as harmless and
innocent?
Sinners Miss
Eternal Life
===============
Not only does sin
lead to a horrible destiny, but it also causes us to miss a beautiful destiny.
Notice how the gospel describes the destiny of those who are forgiven of sin.
Heaven, the
dwelling place of God
****************************
Matthew 5:10-12 –
Those who endure persecution receive a great reward in heaven.
1 Peter 1:3,4 –
An inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, reserved in Heaven.
1 Thessalonians
4:17; 5:9,10 – We shall ever be with the Lord living with Him.
(Philippians
3:20,21; Revelation 21:3; 22:3,4)
Happiness with no
suffering
***********************
Romans 2:6-10 –
Glory, honor, and peace to all who work good
Revelation 21:3,4
– God will wipe away all tears, death, sorrow, crying, and pain.
When God first
created man, everything was "very good" with no problems. But sin
brought with it all the problems we have discussed. So now God has provided
another place where these problems are not found. Why would anyone prefer the
consequences of sin?
Eternal life
*********
Matthew 25:46 –
The righteous go into eternal life.
Romans 6:23 – The
gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ.
Revelation 21:27
– Those who practice sin will not enter Heaven (verse 8).
Sin not only
makes this life miserable and causes physical death, but after death it causes
us to miss the joys of heaven. This is what sin has done for mankind.
(Romans 2:7;
Galatians 6:8; Titus 1:2; 3:7; John 3:16; 20:31;)
Conclusion
=======
Knowing the truth
of God’s word, why should anyone want to defend sin as being innocent or
harmless, let alone pleasant and desirable? Why would anyone continue
practicing sin?
The good news of
the gospel is that Jesus Christ can solve all these problems.
*****************************************************
The gospel means
"good news." God seeks our good, not our harm. But no one will truly
appreciate the good news till he first understands the bad news.
John 3:16 – Jesus
can forgive sin so we can have eternal life, not eternal torment. (1 John
1:6,7; Romans 5:1,2)
Philippians 4:13
– I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. He gives His people
strength to endure and be faithful despite the hardships of life.
Serving God does
not remove all problems from the lives of Christians. All people suffer in this
life because sin is in the world. But God helps us avoid many of the problems
in this life. Then after this life, we can go to a land where there are no
problems at all.
What must we do
to be forgiven and receive eternal life?
**********************************************
Believe, repent,
confess, and be baptized – Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38.
Live a faithful
life – Revelation 2:10; 1 Corinthians 15:58.
If we sin again,
repent and confess – 1 John 1:8-10; Acts 8:22.
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