Taking Sin Seriously

The topic is sin. We understand sin to be an immoral act and a transgression against divine law. According to the Bible, sin was introduced into the world by Adam and Eve. You know the story – it begins in the second chapter of Genesis. God created Adam out of the dust of the ground (Ge. 2:7). God also created a perfect place for the Adam to live, the Garden of Eden. The Bible tells us it was a garden both pleasing to the eye, and full of food (Ge. 2:9). God gave man dominion over it, with one restriction: the man could not eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The punishment for breaking that law was severe – death (Ge. 2:17). Everything in Adam’s world was perfect, except for one flaw. Adam was alone, so God decided to give him a helper (Ge. 2:18). Taking one of man’s ribs, God created a helper for the man, a woman. Her name was Eve. According to Genesis 2:23, the man was pleased with her. Isn’t it too bad the story doesn’t end with the second chapter? Sadly, the story continues.

We are told in the third chapter of Genesis the serpent was the craftiest of all the animals God created for man. He is the one who convinced Eve to eat from the forbidden tree. It was Eve who convinced Adam to eat the forbidden fruit. For generations, men have been blaming women for the fall. If the truth is told, they are both responsible and things would never be the same again. Genesis 3:8-15 tells us of the consequences of their sin. One thing is clear, God has taken sin seriously from the very beginning. Adam and Eve lit a fire that has been burning since that day. Generations later, we live in the aftershock of their sin. With this as a background, let me make three statements about sin. This is statement number one.

Our generation does not take sin seriously. On December 8, 1980, former Beattle John Lennon (1940-1980) was shot to death in New York City near his residence. Mark David Chapman (born 1955) pulled the trigger and was sent to Green Haven Correctional Facility in Stormville, New York, where he is serving a 20 year to life sentence for the crime. He is still there today. A reporter interviewed him later and asked him if he had any regrets. He responded by saying, “Only one. I regret people don’t understand me. I am basically a good person. I only killed one person.” He illustrates the fact our generation does not take sin seriously. In my opinion, we may live in the most immoral times in American history because we don’t take sin seriously. How many things are accepted today that were not accepted years ago? The question is, why? I believe it is because we are always comparing ourselves to other sinners. Next to them, we look good.

Do you know of anyone who has stopped watching the news because they are tired of all the bad news. They are tired of hearing about violent crimes, sex offenders, and murders. They are tired of watching young people being sent to prison for decades, wasting their lives. They are tired of political corruption and hopeless world problems. They are tired of another church scandal. They are just tired of all the bad news, so they just stop watching. However, this is equally true – we compare ourselves to those in the news. In comparison to that list of bad characters in orange jump suits, we look good. We know we are sinners, but we are not that bad. Did you know, according to Lifeway Research, 67% of all Americans believe in hell, but only 2% of Americans think they are going to hell? It is painfully true, our generation does not take sin seriously. This is statement number two.

Historically, the church has taken sin seriously. In the eighth chapter of John, we find Jesus speaking at the Temple in front of a great crowd. We do not know the topic he is addressing, but we do know what happened. Suddenly, the teachers of the law and the Pharisees appear, dragging a woman. We know nothing about her, except for her adulterous behavior. (It is interesting they only brought just the woman. The last time I checked it takes both a man and a woman to commit an adulterous act.) They remind Jesus what the law required – she must be stoned. Things look bad for the poor woman, but Jesus saves the day. The Master says, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” The good news is the woman was not stoned. The bad news is everyone had to admit they were sinners. It is not just true of that generation, it is still true today – we are all sinners. Romans 3:23 says, “All have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God.” That is why the church has always taken sin seriously. What sin, or sins, are frustrating your spiritual development?

In the fourth century, a monk named Evagrius Ponticus (345-399) categorized all of mankind’s sins. According to him there were eight classifications of sin. Pope Gregory I (540-604) revised his list in the year AD 590. He said there were seven classifications of sin. We call that list “the seven deadly sins.” Through the years, preachers, both known and unknown, have examined that list. During Lent one year, I preached on the “Seven Deadly Sins.” Which one of these sins haunts you? This is the list:

1. Lust

2. Gluttony

3. Greed

4. Sloth

5. Wrath

6. Envy

7. Pride

Christians must see sin for what it is, the way to bondage and death, so that we cling to Christ. While our generation does not take sin seriously, historically, the church has taken sin seriously. However, this is more important.

God takes sin seriously. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” God’s greatest desire is to spend eternity with you. That is why Jesus entered our world and that is why Jesus died on the cross. Without the cross there is no hope of eternal life. May we never forget, we are not saved by our good works, we are saved by grace and by grace alone. The cross solved our death problem. God takes sin seriously.

When I was in seminary, I took several required preaching classes. One by one, students stood in front of their peers to practice their new trade. I heard many sermons, but one illustration I heard still haunts me. I will be honest with you, it is not an easy story to tell and it is not an easy story to hear, but it does illustrate the point that God takes sins seriously. It is an old preaching story, so you may have heard it in the past. This is how it goes.

A father had a young son, who welcomed him every day when he returned home from work. The boy loved his father, and the father loved his son. Daily, the boy asked about his work. Each day the boy became more curious. The father’s job was not exciting, but it was important. He was a bridge operator. Normally, the bridge was up, so the ships could sail under it. However, when the passenger train came, he dropped the bridge, so it could reach its destination. The boy loved hearing about his father’s job and one day asked if he could go to work with his father. At first, the father said, “No,” but in time he said, “Yes.” The next morning the father took the son to work. At first the boy was fascinated. However, he was just a boy and in time he grew bored. In time, the boy wandered outside. His father watched him through the window. The father got involved in his work and couldn’t watch his son every second. For several minutes, he forgot his son was there. Soon, the signal was given. The train was coming, and it was time to drop the bridge. The father looked for his son, but the boy wasn’t in the office. He looked for his son, but the boy wasn’t in the yard. He looked for his son and saw him on the bridge. No, to be more exact, his son was under the bridge, on the large cogs that raised and lowered the bridge. The father stood to run to the bridge to save his son, but the train blew its whistle to say it was near. There was no time. The father was in the worst possible situation. If he pulled the lever to lower the bridge, he would kill his son, saving the passengers. If he didn’t pull the lever, he would save his son, killing the passengers on the train. What would you do?

On Good Friday, God pulled the lever, so we could live. The story doesn’t end there. As the train passed over the bridge the passengers waived at the bridge operator. They were having a wonderful time. That never knew the sacrifice he made for them. I hope you know the sacrifice God has made for you!

Lost in New York

Many years ago, before man walked on the moon, before a civil war threatened to divide America, or before Columbus discovered a New World, there was a man who spoke for God. His name meant “Comforter,” but we just call him Nahum. His exact location is unknown, but we do know he spoke to the people of Judah prior to the year 612 BC. The ones receiving these words were the people of Nineveh. Yes, it was the same Nineveh God sent Jonah to one hundred years earlier, the capital of the Assyrian Empire, known for her cruelty, idolatry, and wickedness. The Assyrian Empire covered parts of present-day Iran, Iraq, and Turkey. This time, they were guilty of backsliding. They had repented for Jonah, but they had returned to their old ways. God has had enough and now they must pay for their sinning. Those are not just empty words. History tells us the great city of Nineveh was destroyed by a devastating fire in the year 612 BC. Nahum’s brief book, only three chapters long, reminds us sin must be taken seriously. It is as true today as it was in Nahum’s time. This is the truth.

According to Webster, a sin is an immoral act against divine law. We should take sin seriously because our sins damage our relationship with God. While we are not known for our cruelty, idolatry, and wickedness, we are all guilty of sinning. It is no secret. We know we are sinners and God knows we are sinners The Apostle Paul knew were were sinners. One of the great scriptures in the New Testament is Roman 3:23, “All have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God.” In seminary I took three classes in Greek. In one of those classes, I studied studied the Greek word for “all.” The word for “all” in Biblical Greek means everyone. That means everyone is guilty of sinning. That means we are all sinners. That means we are more like the Ninevites than we care to admit.

James W. Moore (1938-2019) was the pastor of the 7,500 member St. Luke United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas from 1984-2006. He received his Master of Divinity degree from the Methodist Theological School in Delaware, Ohio. Through the years he wrote many books, which are nothing more than his printed sermons. I own several of those books. One of those books is entitled Yes, Lord, I Have Sinned, But I Have Several Excellent Excuses. In that book, he tells us our sins originate in four sources. Three of those ways are found in two parables in the fifteen chapter of Luke.

Sometimes, we sin by being led astray. That is found in the parable of the lost coin. In that parable a coin is lost. That coin equaled a day’s wages. That means it is worth finding. The coin did not grow legs and walk away. The coin was lost because someone misplaced it. That is what happens with people. Some sin because of the influence another has on them. Parents know it is true. That is why we evaluate our children’s friends. That is why we want our children to participate in wholesome activities. Parents fear their young will be influenced by others and get into trouble. God fears we will be led astray by others too. Can I ask you a question? Who are the most influential people in your life? Sometimes we sin by being led astray.

Sometimes, we sin by running away. That was the story of the prodigal son. He could not wait for his father to die, so he went to his father for his share of the inheritance. He took his cash and ran. For a short time, he lived life in the fast lane. I will let your imagination fill in the blanks. Then, he discovered what everyone knows. Life is expensive. In a short time, he is struggling to survive. Then, as the Bible says, he came to his senses and returns to his father asking for a job. You can call it selfishness. Those are the sins we commit when we think the world revolves around us. Those are the sins we commit because we think we are God’s gift to the world. Can I ask you a question? Do the people in your life consider you selfish? Sometimes, we sin by running away because we are selfish.

Sometimes, we sin because of resentment. The parable of the prodigal son reveals two origins of sin. The first is selfishness. The second is resentment. It is found in the older son who stayed home. While his little brother was out there living the wildlife, he stayed at home. He got up early daily and went to work. You can call him responsible, but he felt foolish. He dreamed of the wild things he was missing. At first, he must have admired his brother, but in the end, he resented his little brother. It is no fun working when others are having fun. Many believe this is the greatest sin in the life of the church today. It is no fun doing church work, when so many have forgotten the church. Can I ask you a question? Who do you resent? Sometimes, we sin because of resentment.

Sometimes we sin by wandering off. That was the story of the Ninevites. One hundred years earlier, God’s reluctant prophet, Jonah, arrived and told them they must repent. The people heard his word and responded. They started acting like God wanted them to act. They became more loving. They became less judgmental. They became more accepting. They promised they would never return to their cruel, idolatrous, and wicked ways. However, as the emotion wore off, they began to backside. Before long they we known once again for their cruelty, idolatry, and wicked. The Ninevites are not much different from us. We know what God wants us to do but we refuse to do it. Can I ask you these questions? How far have you wandered away from God? Are you the person God intended at the very beginning?The excitement of that mountaintop experience began to fade away and found yourself falling into your old routine. Sometimes, we sin because we wander off. I hope that is not your story. Nahum reminds us there is a price to pay for sinning. However, this is the good news for today.

Nahum lived in Old Testament times and we live in New Testament times. The great city of Nineveh was destroyed by a fire in the year 612 BC. That was their punishment for sinning. They got what they deserved. That was the Old Testament way. We deserve to be punished for our sins, but it will never happen, because we are New Testament times. Every Sunday school child knows Jesus died on the cross for our sins. His death was not pretty because our sins our not pretty. Yet, his death handled the sin problem. How you respond to Jesus’s death is extremely important. Is it just a passing thought or is it a life changing experience? It has been said, “God’s grace is not an excuse to sin, but rather a reason to love and serve him more fully.”

The address was 202 Midwood Street. That was my grandparent’s address in Brooklyn, New York, and the address of the home that my mother was raised. We visited it annually. As a child, I remember it as a massive place. It included an outer sitting room with a player piano, an inner living room with with a modest television set, dining room and a tiny kitchen. Upstairs, there were three bedrooms and a full bath with a skylight. It seemed massive to me as a child. Recently, I researched that massive home. It was constructed in 1901 and is 1,800 square feet. The market value of that 1,800 square foot home in Brooklyn today is $1.8 million. It is hard to compare property value in Brooklyn, New York with Youngstown, Ohio. Externally, the house was not original. My mother called it a “Brown Stone.” The entire neighborhood was filled with them. Each one was identical. Each one was constructed from a tan stone, a flat roof, a bay window, and a flight of stairs leading up to the front door. The only thing that changed about each dwelling was the address. My grandparents lived at 202 Midwood Street. I will never forget that address because of an event that happened to me one day on one of my family’s visits to Brooklyn.

I was not very old. I must have been six or seven. My grandparents wanted to entertain me, so they borrowed a bicycle from a neighbor for me to ride during the visit. The problem was there are very few places a child can ride a bicycle in the middle of Brooklyn. My only option was to ride up and down Midwood Street. I am confident my parents told me to be careful and I am confident they told me my grandparent’s address, 202 Midwood Street, because all the houses looked the same. The problem was I did not listen to them. I was more interested in trying out the bicycle. When I jumped on the bike and began to peddle. In a few seconds, I was lost in the adventure of the ride. I picked up speed fast and I imagined being in all kinds of exciting places. I was having a great time! When I snapped back to reality, I discovered the truth. I was lost in New York. All the homes were identical, and I did not know which one belonged to my grandparents. I could not remember my grandparent’s address, 202 Midwood Street. Emotionally, I went from the highest mountain to the lowest valley. Fear began flood through me. I thought I would never see my family again. How would I survive in the streets of New York alone? There was only one option, I began to cry. I know that is hard to believe because I am so manly today. I promised myself, I would never ride a bicycle again and I prayed that God we help me.

God heard my prayer. My savior came to recue me. In that emotional moment I heard comforting words. It was my mother, who had been watching me from the window the whole time. I do not remember her exact words, but I do remember the relief I felt. My mother took me by the hand, wiped my tears, and led me home. I took one last look at that horrible bicycle and walked inside. I was safe and sound. I am confident I was extra good the rest of that trip. Can I ask you another question? When was the last time you were lost?

It is not just a story about a small boy lost in a big city. It is the story of the Christian faith, itself. We are lost in sin. Everyone does it and it comes in many forms, each one damaging our relationship with God. We deserve what the people of Nineveh got, punishment. But our punishment never comes because our savior came 2,000 years ago. His name is Jesus. Grace is a wonderful thing. How do you respond to God’s grace? It has been said, “God’s grace is not an excuse to sin, but rather a reason to love and serve him more fully.”

Lead Us

John Paton (1824-1907) was a missionary in the New Hebrides Islands. One-night hostile natives surrounded the mission station, intent on burning out the Paton’s and killing them. Paton and his wife prayed during that terror-filled night that God would deliver them. When daylight came, they were amazed to see their attackers leave. A year later, the chief of the tribe was converted to Christ. Remembering what had happened, Paton asked the chief what had kept him from burning down the house and killing them. The chief replied in surprise, “Who were all those men with you there?” Paton knew no men were present–but the chief said he was afraid to attack because he had seen hundreds of big men in shining garments with drawn swords circling the mission station. That story reminds us we are never alone. God has always been with us and God will always be with us.

Today, we look at the next section of the Lord’s Prayer, lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.Don’t speed read those words. Take some time with those words, lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Jesus is connecting temptation and evil. Temptation is defined as the desire to do something, especially wrong or unwise. Evil is defined as profoundly immoral or wicked, especially when regarded as a supernatural force. So, when Jesus speaks of temptation, he is not talking about being tempted by a piece of cake when you are on a diet. Jesus is talking about the temptations in our lives that damage our relationship with God. What is it in your life that is damaging your relationship with God? Perhaps, we need to hear less about grace and more about sin? Let me state the obvious. Everyone deals with temptation.

Even Thomas Steele deals with temptation. He should have known better. He had recited the line, lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, countless times. Who is Thomas Steele? The Hendersonville, North Carolina newspaper, The Blue Ridge Now, posted his story the other day. The 63-year-old former pastor was sentenced to 73 to 100 months in prison for embezzling $123,367 from an 83-year-old parishioner over a five-year period. He also must pay her back. The story is not pretty. It is a sad story. He abused her trust. You can call her a fool, or you can call him a crook, but in the end no one wins. He illustrates for us everyone deals with temptation, even preachers. Thomas is not alone. You are not alone.

Even Jesus struggled with temptation. The story is found in the fourth chapter of Matthew. According the text, Jesus is led in the wilderness by the Spirit, where he fasted for forty days. The author gives us obvious information. After fasting forty days, Jesus was hungry, and the tempter came to him and offered him food. He suggested Jesus use his powers to turn the stones into loaves of bread. However, Jesus refused. Then, the devil took Jesus to the top of the temple in the holy city and requests Jesus to throw himself down. However, Jesus refused. Finally, the devil takes Jesus to the top of a high mountain and shows him the kingdoms of the world in all their splendor. He offers it all to Jesus, if he will worship him, but Jesus refused. The story ends and the devil leaves Jesus, and the angels care for him.

Those three temptations are not accidental. You can distill all temptation down into three categories. Each one is represented in Jesus’ temptation. Here are the categories of temptation.

The Temptations of Selfishness – Jesus hadn’t eaten in forty days, so he is beyond hungry. Satan suggests to Jesus he change stones into bread. That is not beyond Jesus’s power, but he refuses, because others did not benefit. Have you ever been tempted to do something that only benefits you?

The Temptations of Popularity – The temple was the eye of the storm in the holy city. Big crowds would have seen Jesus saved by the angels. That crowd would have followed Jesus. Jesus would have been a celebrity. However, Jesus was not interested in the crowd, he was only interested in the committed. Have you ever been tempted to do some that would make you popular?

The Temptations of Materialism – From the mountaintop Jesus doesn’t just see property. Jesus sees wealth. Jesus could have had it all, but he refuses because there is more to life than money. Have you ever been tempted by materialism?

This is the question you must answer. What is your greatest temptation?Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.

Temptation is something all Christians face, no matter how long we have been following Christ. But there are a few practical things we can do to grow stronger and smarter in our struggle against sin. We can learn how to overcome temptation by practicing these five steps. They come from Christian blogger Mary Fairchild.

Recognize Your Tendency to Sin – The temptation to sin is a given, so don’t be surprised by it. Expect to be tempted daily and be prepared for it.

Flee from Temptation – When you come face to face with temptation, look for the way out. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says God will give you a way out. Run as fast as you can.

Resist Temptation With the Word of Truth – Jesus overcame the devil’s temptations in the wilderness with the Word of God. If it worked for him, it would work for us. And because Jesus was fully human, he can identify with our struggles and give us the exact help we need to resist temptation. Read your Bible daily.

Refocus Your Mind and Heart with Praise – Praising God takes our focus off our self and puts it on God. You may not be strong enough to resist temptation on your own, but as you focus on God, he will inhabit your praises. He will give you the strength to resist and walk away from the temptation.

Repent Quickly When You Fail – When you do fail and sin, repent quickly. It is dangerous to persist in your sin.

Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.

In 1952, a writer named Bernard Malamud wrote a great novel called The Natural. If you haven’t read the book, then you may have seen the movie of the same name, staring Robert Redford. The story is about a man by the name of Roy Hobbs. He is the natural, untainted unspoiled. He was born on a Nebraska farm. It was his father who recognized his enormous talent for baseball, and it was his father who taught him the game. But one day, his father dies, and he never got to see his son make it to the big leagues. The Major Leagues are not kind to Roy Hobbs. The innocent farm boy is confronted by temptations. His greatest tempter is a woman, who in time was rejected by Roy. Her scorn was real. She shoots Roy and he walks away from the game early, wounded physically and emotionally. For years, he wonders how life could have been. Years later, at the age of 35, Roy Hobbs returns to the game. Once again, Roy is confronted with temptation. This time in the form of his team owner, who is the embodiment of evil, who has hired his old temptress. They want Roy to throw the game because the owner has made a huge bet against him own team. The moment comes when Roy must decide what to do. He is standing at the plate all alone. Will he surrender to the temptation and throw the game, or will he do what is right? What tips the scale is a woman wearing a white dress standing behind home plate. Her presence encourages him to do the right thing.

This is the point. In that scene, Bernard Malamud painted the human condition. We are confronted daily by temptation, pulling us, pushing us, enticing us to sin. We think we are alone, but we are wrong. God is standing near us encouraging us to do the right thing. There has never been a moment in your life when you have been alone. God is with us now and God is with us in the face of temptation. He is encouraging us to do what is right. God is with us now. Oscar Wild (1854-1900) was an Irish poet and playwright. His life was complex. He is remembered for his literary genius, his criminal conviction, imprisonment and early death. He died at 46. He once said, “I can resist anything except temptation.” I hope that is not your story. No wonder Jesus taught us to pray, lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.