Effects of Sin

Effects of Sin

 

Introduction:

1. Illustration: we are the family of God; consequently what affects one will also affect the other.
2. Illustration of different levels of family: Getting married you have a broadened sense of family.   For one, you inherit each other's sense of family.  In Vanessa's case, Filipinos have a greater sense of family, even considering second cousins as close family.
1. There is the most immediate family, in this case Vanessa and I, and the extended family, aunts and uncles.
3. The Campus Ministry is the church within the church in that we are a subgroup of the family.
4. What damages any family? (simple answer right? Sure, sin)
5. We are our brother's/sister's keeper if we are Children of God – it cannot biblically or logically be otherwise if your faith is that you are in God's family (Ref. 1John 2:7-11)
6. To build family and keep from damaging it, let's spend some time tonight looking at the effects of sin from several perspectives.

 

Body:

1. Sin's Effects on Individuals
1. Reference the main points from a sermon you will preach next midweek (The Deadly Power of Sin).
2. God's love for you and desire to protect you – he is not trying to rob you are keep you from fun.

 

2. Sin's Effects on Your friends
1. The least that can happen when you are not where you need to be spiritually: you will fail to provide a righteous example that calls them upward (1Timothy 4:16).
2. At worst, you will encourage them to join you in doing things from which they may never recover – whether or not you even go that far.

 

3. Sin's Effects on the Ministry
1. The Bible says the church is a Body.

                                                              i.       What if you have an infection in one part of your body – will it affect the rest?

                                                            ii.       Someone sees a tumor growing from your knee.  "No problem mate, I've just got a little cancer in my knee – nothing to worry about, no need to see a doctor – only my knee is affected!

2. Consider these Biblical examples carefully:

                                                              i.       Joshua 7 – the history of how God's wrath was on Israel, setting them apart for destruction because Achan took what was set apart.

                                                            ii.       1 Corinthians 5 – person caught in immorality in the church, and it says to disfellowship with this brother because a little yeast will spread throughout the whole and corrupt the whole church.

 

4. Sin's Effects on God
1. Genesis 6:5-6 – He is grieved.
2. Deuteronomy 6:13-15 – He is jealous and He is angry for a number of reasons.

                                                              i.       Because we are to be His – individually we are not to lose our devotion.

                                                            ii.       We are to be His as a whole – He is very serious and protective of His people.

3. Nothing is hidden from Him, no matter how well you might hide something from people:

                                                              i.       Hebrews 4:13

                                                            ii.       Galatians 6:7-8

                                                          iii.       Matthew 10:26-28

                                                          iv.       1Timothy 5:24

                                                            v.       Proverbs 28:13

                                                          vi.       All these passages say that we can't escape God's judgment.

1.     We have the opportunity to live openly here and now or many terrible consequences will result.   If there is sin in our lives and hearts that we are hiding, trying to handle on our own or trusting in a group of people that do not challenge repentance, there will be one or many of the following consequences:

a.      The sin will be found out by what it produces – for example, sexual immorality, and the consequences of that sin (STDs, pregnancy, relationships scared [with yourself, even present and future with others), etc.], is not something that just happens but is the result of impurity less dealt with.

b.     The sin will make us out of touch with God until it is reconciled – The worst thing a person can be, Hypocrite, which means an actor!

c.      The sin will follow us to our judgment before God – if we do not fear God in this way, we must know that the ultimate consequence is a serious one.

 

Conclusion:

1. You are a part of God's family, and consequently you are your brother's or sister's keeper.
1. We cannot be gossiping about one another.  We must stop the gossip and care for one another spiritually.
2. We cannot ignore even worse cover up, things God has brought to our attention.
2. Take sin and its effects seriously by staying in the light.
1. We have prayer partnerships and discipleship groups for a reason.
2. You are in this ministry, this part of God's family, and that is how you need to function.
3. If there is hidden sin, it will be made known – that is a promise of Scripture we can all count on!