Sin

PURPOSE

To understand the nature of sin, its costs and how God feels about it.

INTRODUCTION

In this study, we’ll look at several verses that help us understand the biblical picture of sin. We’ll see what sin is and what it produces in us. We’ll also talk about the source of sin and how God feels about it.

Q: What do you think it means to sin?

TEACHER’S GUIDE (Tap to view)

PURPOSE OF STUDY

In this study, we look at the desperate human condition and shed light on sin and our need for Jesus and redemption. The study culminates with Romans 7:24-25 which reflects the heart we hope this study will foster-one that looks forward to the good news of Jesus Christ. Be sure to be prayerful as you prepare for this time.

WHAT IS SIN?

The Bible uses other pictures to illuminate the nature of sin that we aren’t looking at in this study. The following verses are not meant to be added to the study, but they can help you as the teacher to be reminded of the terrible nature of sin. Sin is a weight and a burden (2 Timothy 3:6, Leviticus 16:21-22). Sin is spoken of as debt (Luke 7:43-50) and as a stain (Psalm 51:1-7,Jeremiah 2:22). Sin is turning away from God and going our own way (Isaiah 53:6). Sin is not simply naughty behavior!

COSTS OF SIN

The highest cost and greatest damage of sin is certainly spiritual in nature, and we discuss that with Ephesians 4:17-19.However, sin is also costly in our daily lives and is the cause of many ills in our society. In discussing the wages of sin, keep in mind the following: divorce and the damage it causes can be traced to sins of adultery, pornography, deceit, alcohol abuse, mismanagement of money, etc. Sins of hatred and prejudice fuel terrible acts of violence and racism. Family relationships (parents, children, siblings, etc.) are often hindered, severely damaged or even destroyed because of sins like selfishness and pride. Because of greed, the poor and hungry remain poor and hungry in our wealthy society. Violent sins such as rape and murder greatly damage the lives of the victims and their families.

OPENNESS – CONFESSION PRIMER

This study presents an opportunity for you (and any other disciple who is joining your Bible study) to share openly about the sin you had to face in becoming a disciple. One way to do so would be to walk through the sins of Galatians 5:19-21 and note which of them were a part of your life and the effect they had on your heart. The goal here is to model openness and to create an environment in which your friend feels safe to be honest about their own sin. Invite them to share as well. Keep in mind that this may be the most profound conversation they’ve ever had about their sin. For them to be open in this way is a huge step. Be sure to encourage them and thank them for sharing openly.

GOD’S GRIEF

The purpose of using Genesis 6:5-6 is to illustrate how sin actually pains God. God looked at his creation, riddled with sin and turning their backs on him, and he was deeply grieved. This verse is not to say that every time we sin God wishes he hadn’t created us! However, it does illustrate that God is emotionally invested in us and that our sin is more in his eyes than just the breaking of one of his commands.

ROMANS 3:21-24 | THE DEFINITION OF SIN

21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in[a] Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

The Bible defines and describes sin in different ways. Sin is referred to as a weight that we carry, a burden we bear, a debt that we owe, and as a stain that must be cleansed. Sin is also described as turning away from God and going our own way.

Note: Verse references are in the teacher’s guide

SIN | Teachers Guide

Purpose of Study

In this study, we look at the desperate human condition and shed light on sin and our need for Jesus and redemption. The study culminates with Romans 7:24-25 which reflects the heart we hope this study will foster – one that looks forward to the good news of Jesus Christ. Be sure to be prayerful as you prepare for this time.

WHAT IS SIN?

The Bible uses other pictures to illuminate the nature of sin that we aren’t looking at in this study. The following verses are not meant to be added to the study, but they can help you as the teacher to be reminded of the terrible nature of sin. Sin is a weight and a burden (2 Timothy 3:6, Leviticus 16:21-22). Sin is spoken of as debt (Luke 7:43-50) and as a stain (Psalm 51:1-7, Jeremiah 2:22). Sin is turning away from God and going our own way (Isaiah 53:6). Sin is not simply naughty behavior!

COSTS OF SIN

The highest cost and greatest damage of sin is certainly spiritual in nature, and we discuss that with Ephesians 4:17-19. However, sin is also costly in our daily lives and is the cause of many ills in our society. In discussing the wages of sin, keep in mind the following: divorce and the damage it causes can be traced to sins of adultery, pornography, deceit, alcohol abuse, mismanagement of money, etc. Sins of hatred and prejudice fuel terrible acts of violence and racism. Family relationships (parents, children, siblings, etc.) are often hindered, severely damaged or even destroyed because of sins like selfishness and pride. Because of greed, the poor and hungry remain poor and hungry in our wealthy society. Violent sins such as rape and murder greatly damage the lives of the victims and their families.

OPENNESS

This study presents an opportunity for you (and any other disciple who is joining your Bible study) to share openly about the sin you had to face in becoming a disciple. One way to do so would be to walk through the sins of Galatians 5:19-21 and note which of them were a part of your life and the effect they had on your heart. The goal here is to model openness and to create an environment in which your friend feels safe to be honest about their own sin. Invite them to share as well. Keep in mind that this may be the most profound conversation they’ve ever had about their sin. For them to be open in this way is a huge step. Be sure to encourage them and thank them for sharing openly.

GOD’S GRIEF

The purpose of using Genesis 6:5-6 is to illustrate how sin actually pains God. God looked at his creation, riddled with sin and turning their backs on him, and he was deeply grieved. This verse is not to say that every time we sin God wishes he hadn’t created us! However, it does illustrate that God is emotionally invested in us and that our sin is more in his eyes than just the breaking of one of his commands.

In this verse, sin is defined as falling short, a departure from the will of God. When we sin, we act in ways that oppose God and his will. We fall short in our efforts to be like God, and instead we act according to the impulses of our flesh.
Each and every one of us is guilty of sin. We’re all in this together, and every one of us desperately needs the redemption that comes through Christ.

ROMANS 6:20-23 | THE WAGES OF SIN

^{²⁰When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. ²¹What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! ²²But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. ²³For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in^a] Christ Jesus our Lord.}

Q: What do you think is meant by the “wages of sin?”

Sin enslaves those who are living in it and it results in spiritual death. Without Christ, those in sin miss the gift of eternal life!
Sin is very costly and reaps no benefits. It is terribly damaging to every area of our lives (families, communities, relationships).

EPHESIANS 4:17-19 | THE DAMAGING EFFECTS OF SIN

^{¹⁷So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. ¹⁸They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. ¹⁹Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.}

Q: What effects of sin do we see in this passage?

Over time, sin hardens our hearts and desensitizes us to God.
Sin darkens our understanding and hardens our hearts, resulting in ignorance. After a while, sin makes it difficult to even see and understand God! As a result, our sin separates us from the life of God.

MARK 7:20-23 | THE SOURCE OF SINMARK 7:20-23 | THE SOURCE OF SIN

^{²⁰He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. ²¹For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, ²²adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. ²³All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”}

Q: What is the ultimate source of our sinfulness?

Sin comes from within – from our hearts and not from our circumstances. We can’t blame our sin on our environment, our upbringing or our society.
Jesus is very specific here about some of the sins that come from within and that make us “unclean.” God wants us to be able to clearly identify the sin in our lives so that we can repent and deal with our hearts.

GALATIANS 5:19-21, JAMES 4:17 | TYPES OF SIN

^{¹⁹The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; ²⁰idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.}

James 4:17:

¹⁷If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.

Notice the different types of sin in this list: sexual sins, relational sins and sins of indulgence.

For definitions of these sins, see the appendix.

^{APPENDIX B: SINS OF GALATIANS 5:19-21}

SEXUAL IMMORALITY: Fornication, any sexual union outside of marriage. Denotes ungodly sexual acts and relationships – prostitution, rape, homosexuality, petting, adultery, child abuse, bestiality.

IMPURITY: Any sinful thinking, anything vulgar, wrong thoughts, lust, masturbation, wrong motives, pornography, fantasy.

DEBAUCHERY: Any misuse of the body. Usually referring to sexual excesses, but in general refers to a readiness to indulge in any pleasure. In this state, man is at the mercy of his passions, impulses, emotions, etc. He is completely undisciplined (i.e. gives in to gluttony, laziness, smoking, cravings, masturbation, unlimited pleasure).

IDOLATRY: Worshipping anything other than God. Giving or devoting one’s time, substance, talents, and/or self to anything that keeps one from obeying and following God in every way (i.e. status symbols, investments, engrossing sports or hobbies, selfish ambitions, relationships, property, possessions, pleasure and wants, school, work, pride). Also includes praying to anyone other than God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit.

WITCHCRAFT: Seeking or being involved in any spiritual realm other than God’s. Includes astrology (i.e. the stars control – consequently, saying God does not rule), horoscopes, Satan worship, the occult, magic spells, good-luck charms or pictures, praying to saints, drug use, tarot cards, palm reading, channeling (the New Age movement), Ouija Board, etc.

HATRED: Wishing ill or harm on anyone, looking down on anyone, bitter feelings, resentment, wanting revenge, murder, abortion.

DISCORD: Anything that breaks up relationships, stirring up trouble, an inability to get along with people, arguing, slander, gossip, malicious talk, criticalness.

JEALOUSY: Possessiveness, not sharing.

FITS OF RAGE: Uncontrolled anger, losing your temper, temper tantrums, quick temper, angry shouting, cussing, profanity, fighting.

SELFISH AMBITION: Living to please self, wanting one’s own way, getting what one wants at any cost, desiring to be first at any cost, overly competitive spirit. Not willing to do menial or demeaning tasks, refusing to admit being wrong, arrogance, doing things for honor or glory, wanting to look good for others, refusing to compromise, pride, selfishness and independence.

DISSENSION: Rebelling against authority, not submitting, habitually disagreeing, arguing, causing division, starting arguments, stirring up trouble.

FACTIONS: Feeling superior to others, cliques, refusing to associate with anyone because they are different or for any other reason, wanting to be with “own” kind, prejudice, bigotry, racism.

ENVY: Desiring something another person has while wishing that they did not have it at all (i.e. wealth, status, ability, physical features, spirituality, relationships).

DRUNKENNESS: Anything that causes one to lose control – intoxication, alcohol, drug abuse.

ORGIES: Living without restraint. Includes partying, sexual parties, unrestrained sex, vandalism, carousing.

AND THE LIKE: Lying, stealing, cheating, deceit, etc.

SINS OF COMMISSION – Breaking God’s laws (1 John 3:4). Sin is lawlessness, going beyond God’s boundary. Sin is doing wrong.

SINS OF OMISSION – Sin is not doing right. Not doing the good we are asked by God to do

(James 4:17); for example – evangelism, discipleship, service, contribution, attendance, quiet times, prayer, Bible study, etc.

Those who live like this will not inherit God’s eternal kingdom. Instead, they forfeit their inheritance!
When we don’t do the good we know we should do – that is also considered sin.

Note: Now is a great time for you who are leading the study to share openly about the sin you had to face in becoming a disciple. Invite the person you are studying with to share as well.

GENESIS 6:5-6 | GOD’S HEART IN REGARD TO OUR SIN

^{⁵The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. ⁶The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled.}

Sin isn’t just breaking the rules. It actually pains God (grieves him) when we sin and hurts our relationship with him.

Q: Is this how you’ve understood God’s feelings about your sin?

ROMANS 7:24-25 | RESCUE FROM SIN

24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?

25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!

CLOSING COMMENT

Like Paul, seeing our own sinfulness can be overwhelming. In our next study, we’ll look at God’s answer to sin and how he rescues us.

Note: Encourage the person you are studying with to read the following verses that further describe sinful behavior and write out a personal sin list.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Colossians 3:5-10, Ephesians 5:3-7, 2 Timothy 3:1-5