THE STING OF SIN

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   Sin is the transgression of God’s law (I John 3:4).

 

Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law:  for sin is the transgression of the law.

 

B.   Sin should be viewed as a horrible blight, but it is not.

1.     Sin seems to be fun.

2.    Sin seems to be satisfying.

3.     Sin makes one acceptable in many circles.

4.    Sin seems to cure some of the problems of life.

 

C.   Because sin seems to offer so many positives, we often forget that there is a “sting” to sin.

1.     The most venomous scorpion in the United States if the Bark Scorpion.  Its sting causes many problems: 

a.    Pain, tingling or burning sensation at the sting sight

b.    Malaise (mental uneasiness, fatigue), sweating, nausea or vomiting

c.    Salivating

d.    Numbness

e.    Muscle twitching

f.    Abnormal neck, eye, and head movements

g.    Heart palpitations

h.    Breathing difficulties

i.     Blurring of consciousness

j.     Unconsciousness

k.    Convulsions

l.     Fall in blood pressure

m.   Shock

n.    The threat of death

2.    The sting of sin also produced horrible consequences in the lives of human beings.  It definitely has a sting.  We have entitled this lesson:  “The Sting of Sin.”

 

I.          SIN CAN STING THE INDIVIDUAL

 

A.   Peter was a vibrant apostle of Jesus Christ.

1.     He left all to follow the Christ.

2.    He was always quick in his desire to follow and defend the Christ.

3.     He could not see himself ever denying Jesus (Matt. 26:33).

 

Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.

 

B.   This apostle did sin.  He denied the Lord three times.  Luke’s account shows us the sting of sin in Peter’s life (Luke 22:60-62).

And Peter said, Man I know not what thou sayest.  And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.  And the Lord turned and looked upon Peter.  And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.  And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.

 

C.   One sin can sting the life of an individual.  It can bring him pain, shame, and grief.

 

II.        SIN CAN STING THE HOME

 

A.   The home is referred to as a system in psychology and sociology.

1.     In a system, all the components are connected.

2.    Each member of a family is connected.  Thus, when one sins, the sting of sin can impact all members of the family.

 

B.   The family of Achan (Josh. 7)

1.     When Israel took the city of Jericho, all of the spoils were to be given unto the Lord (Josh. 6:17).

2.    Achan, however, was tempted and took of the spoils of the city (Josh. 7:20-21).

 

And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done:  when I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.

 

3.     This sin impacted the entire family of Achan.  In Joshua 7:25, Achan and all his family are stoned and burned with fire.

 

C.   Many homes and the loves of those in the homes have been disrupted, dismantled, and destroyed by sin (i.e., greed, drunkenness, adultery, etc.)

 

III.      SIN CAN STING A NATION

 

A.   Nations are nothing more than large systems.  Again, the sin of one can impact the lives of others.

 

B.   Three examples:

1.     The sin of Sodom and Gomorrah was grievous (Gen. 18:20).  Not even ten righteous individuals could be found therein (Gen. 18:32).  The sin of the citizens brought destruction to all (Gen. 19:24-25).

 

And the Lord rained upon Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven, and he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.

 

2.    In II Samuel 24, David numbered the people of Israel against the will of God.  His sin brought death to some 70,000 in Israel (II Sam. 24:15).

 

So the Lord sent a pestilence upon Israel from morning even to the time appointed:  and there died of the people from Dan even unto Beersheba seventy thousand man.

 

3.     The northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah were both taken into captivity.  Israel went into Assyrian captivity and Judah went into Babylonian captivity.  Their main sin was idolatry (II King 17:6, 12; II Kings 25).

 

C.   Every nation on earth has been established by God (Prov. 8:16).  God expects all nations to honor and obey him.  Those who forget Him will be cast down to hell (Ps. 9:17).

 

The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all nations that forget God.

 

IV.       SIN CAN STING A CHURCH

 

A.   The church is composed of the called out ones.  We’ve been called out of the world.  We’ve crucified the old man of sin.  We’ve crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

 

B.   Yet, Satan tempts those in the church and sometimes sin invades a congregation (i.e., the church at Corinth, I Cor. 5).

1.     The sin (I Cor. 5:1)

 

It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife.

 

2.    The impact on the church.

a.    They were puffed up.  They had not mourned over the deed.  They allowed the man to remain in their midst (I Cor. 5:2).

b.    Their actions were leading to a leavening effect upon the church (I Cor. 5:6).

 

Your glorying is not good.  Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

 

c.    This sin caused the church to have to take disciplinary action against the fornicator (I Cor. 5:13b).

 

Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

 

C.   There are many sins that members can commit that impact the whole church.  We must constantly guard against sin, lest we disrupt the peace and unity of the body of Christ.

 

 

V.        THE STING OF SIN AT THE JUDGMENT

 

A.   A day of judgment has been appointed by God (Acts 17:31).

 

Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

 

B.   On that day the sting of sin will be felt.

1.     The atheist will feel it.

2.    Those who do not obey the gospel will feel it.

3.     The immoral shall feel it.

4.    The promoter of false doctrine will feel it.

5.    The unprepared will feel it.

6.    The slothful will feel it.

7.    The one who causes division will feel it.

8.    Those who commit the sin of omission will feel it.

 

C.   Two verses:

1.     Romans 1:18

 

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness.

 

2.    Luke 16:22b-23a

 

…the rich man also died, and was buried; and in hell he lifte up his eyes, being in torments…

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   Sin is a horrible, despicable thing.

 

B.   The horrific nature of sin can only be seen at times by looking at its sting.  It has a sting that can impact individuals, homes, nations, and churches.

 

C.   Due to sin, man stands in need of a Savior.  Fortunately, we have one in Jesus Christ (I Tim. 1:15).

 

This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.