TEXT:  Rom. 3:23

INTRODUCTION:

A.      PEOPLE ARE LARGELY UNIMPRESSED BY SIN.

          1.       A joke, to be taken lightly.

          2.       Call it something else.

B.      WHAT IS SIN?

          1.       1 John 3:4.  Commission.

          2.       James 4:17.  Ommission.

C.      SIN IS TERRIBLE!  WE NEED TO SEE THAT.

I.      SIN IS FUTILE.

A.      IT’S PLEASURES ARE SHALLOW.

          1.       Service to self and appetites (Phil. 3:19).

          2.       Ignores the real issues of life (Matt. 16:26).

B.      IT’S PLEASURES ARE TEMPORARY.

          1.       Solomon strove “after the wind” (Ecc. 1 & 2).

          2.       Matt. 6:19-21;  1 John 2:15-17.  A servitude of the grave.

II.     SIN IS SHAMEFUL.

A.      ADAM AND EVE (Gen. 3:7-10).

B.      SHAME AND SIN.

          1.       “Hidden things” (2 Cor. 4:2).

          2.       “Children of the dark (Eph. 5:6-12).

          3.       Some lose their sense of shame (Phil. 3:19;  1 Tim. 4:1-2).

C.      WHY BE ASHAMED?

          1.       It indicates a control by less noble powers (Gal. 5:16-21).

          2.       Sin is an affront to God! (Psa. 51:4).

          3.       It sets at nought God’s blessing (Heb. 6:7-8).

          4.       It mocks God’s provision for forgiveness (Heb. 6:4-6;  10:28-29).

 

D.      SHAME AND MOURNING.

          1.       David’s acknowledgement (Psa. 51:16-17;  James 4:7-8).

          2.       The Publican (Luke 18:13).

III.    IT’S CONSEQUENCE (Rom. 6:23).

A.      ENMITY WITH GOD (Rom. 5:8-10).

B.      DEATH (Rom. 6:23;  5:12;  Eph. 2:1, 12).

IV.   SIN’S SOLUTION (Rom. 7:24 – 8:1).

A.      JESUS IS OUR RECONCILIATION TO GOD (2 Cor. 5:18 – 6:1).

          1.       vs. 18.        Reconciled through Jesus.

          2.       vs. 19.        Not reckoning their trespasses.

          3.       vs. 21.        He made him to be sin (1 Pet. 2:24;  1:18-19).

          4.       6:1.             Can be offered but lost.

B.      WHAT CAN WE DO?

          1.       No condemnation.  Where? (Rom. 8:1).

          2.       How do we get there?  How do we fellowship him? (Rom. 6:3-4).

C.      FREEDOM FROM SIN (Rom. 6:17-18).

CONCLUSION:  ARE YOU A VICTIM OF SIN?