Whats The Big Problem

What’s the Big Problem? (Gen. 3:1-8, 15-19,22-24) Satan Of course, rebellion against the government of God was first introduced to our world through Satan, who had himself practiced similar disobedience at some time previous and was cast down to the earth (Isaiah 14; Ezekiel 28; 1 John 3:8). Satan made God’s command appear more restrictive than it was (is) “Any tree” Initially he merely questioned God’s Word, with the intent to create confusion and doubt, but later, having done so, he went on to boldly call God a liar (3:4). But as Jesus said of Satan in John 8:44, “… he is a liar and the father of liars.” Eve Eve had an imperfect understanding of God’s direction She received God’s instruction second hand from Adam She added “or touch it” (or perhaps that’s what Adam had told her) She also left off the certainty of punishment (Gen. 3:17) Satan uses misrepresentations to confuse and mislead

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The best defense to this is to gain a thorough understanding of God’s Word through reading and meditating upon it (Ps. 119:11), along with prayer. 9:20-22)

Ps.119.27-32- I want to quote from the NIV this morning: “Let me understand the teaching of your precepts; then I will meditate on your wonders. My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word. Keep me from deceitful ways; be gracious to me through your law. I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart on your laws. I hold fast to your statutes, O Lord; do not let me be put to shame. I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free.” Eve was deceived (1 Tim. 2:14) Eve chose to believe Satan instead of God (see also Isa. 30:1) Satan convinced Eve that God was holding out on her (us) But our God-given freedoms far outweigh His restrictions, and what restrictions he gives us are for our protection.

As Benjamin Franklin once wrote, “Sin is not hurtful because it is forbidden, but it is forbidden because it is hurtful.” What is “pleasant to the eyes” is not always good “Sin is sweet in the beginning, but bitter in the end.” - The Talmud Adam Adam and Eve were morally innocent, like newborn children, having no experience with evil. Through the command regard the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, God presented Adam with a choice. He could, with his free will, decide to remain morally innocent and under God's protection or he could choose to reject God's absolute standards and oversight. In doing so, he may have believed that he was choosing a status of independent self-government based upon his own relative personal values of right and wrong. But in reality he would be choosing enslavement to sin and death. “There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof leads to… death.” (Proverbs 14:12 & 16:25) Slavery to sin under the law For a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. (2 Pe. 2:19) You are a slave to whomever you yield yourself to obey (Rom. 6:16) Jesus told the Jews: that every one who commits sin is a slave to sin and will not abide forever (John 8:31-36) Paul describes us in our pre-conversion state as "slaves to various passions and pleasures" (Titus 3:3). Many people are slaves to the opinions of others. But Paul said, "I do not allow others to judge me and I do not even judge myself." But those who have given themselves over to Jesus must resist sin’s mastery (Rom. 6:10-22) When Adam made the decision to eat from the tree he essentially decided to experience for himself the benefits and consequences of good and evil. Adam was not deceived Adam’s sin was imputed unto all men, and the penalty of death that accompanies it (Rom. 5:12)

Temptation Temptation does not come from God (James 1:13) Temptation comes from without and from within (James 1:13-16), but what causes our fall into sin is our internal nature, born of the desires of our flesh (Matt. 15:19, Ro. 7: 1423, Gal. 5:16-20, James 1:13-15) God put Cain on notice that “sin is crouching at the door.” (Gen. 4:7)

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The Holy Spirit always warns us of pending sin (though our ability to hear or willingness to listen may be diminished over time as we allow our hearts cold and hard

God is faithful to provide us help in resisting temptation (1 Cor. 10:13) What can we do to help us resist temptation to sin? When tempted, we should pray for help and God will help us (1 Cor. 10:12-13) A little girl was asked how she dealt with temptation. She replied, "When Satan comes knocking at the door of my heart, I send Jesus to answer the door. When Satan sees Jesus, he says, 'Oops, I am sorry. I must have the wrong house.'" Avoid/leave situations that present temptations (Gen. 39:12, 1 Cor. 6:18) Sin Sin (Heb. chataah, Gk. hamartia)= flaw, fault, falling short/missing the mark of God’s intended plan by failing to observe his direction (Rom. 3:23) Sin is defiling In Zechariah 3:3, Joshua, one of the high priests, says that sin is like a "filthy garment" that is being worn by a person. Our Holy and Righteous Father will not tolerate sin in His presence. Sin is rebellion One of the Hebrew words for sin, "payshah", literally means “rebellion”. Transgression (Heb. pesha) = willful disobedience, rejection of authority, trespass, rebellion But the Bible also says that transgression may be forgiven (Heb. nasa), carried away (totally gone, as if it never happened) Whatever the act of disobedience is, it is rebellion against the lawgiver: it is a renunciation of His authority.

Sin is ungratefulness An ungrateful heart focuses on what we don’t have as opposed to what we have been given. Sin rejects truth Daniel 8:12 states: “Because of rebellion… truth was thrown to the ground.” Jeremiah 7:28 declared “This is the nation that has not obeyed the LORD its God or responded to correction. Truth has perished; it has vanished from their lips.” Paul wrote that there were those who had “a form of godliness but denying its power always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth. (2 Tim.3:6-7) Sin results in shame The Holy Spirit convicted Adam of his sin. He had a guilty conscience. Adam and Eve felt shame. Shame is a function of guilt. Guilt is a function of sin. Sin separates us from God, like a cut flower, which over time, withers and dies. Sin has both temporal and eternal consequences. Physical death for all men came through Adam’s sin (Ro. 5:12-14, 6:23) Physical Death is the destiny of every person (Ecc. 3:2, 7:2)

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As Dr. J. Rainer comments in his book first Do No Harm, "In the end, though medicine has substantially increased man's life span, the mortality rate has changed. It remains one per person." God is a holy and just God who judges sin (Ex. 34:7) There is no hiding place from God (Num. 32:23; Zeph. 1:12)

Galatians 6:7-8 adds, "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life." The Lord brings our sin to light daily, the question is, how do we react to what he has revealed? (Zeph. 3:5) The revelation of our sin necessitates a response, from God (Zeph. 3:11), and from us!

Sin is the dare of God's justice, the rape of His mercy, the jeer of His patience, the slight of His power, and the contempt of His love” - John Bunyan quotes (English Minister and Author,1628-1688) Iniquity (Heb. avon) = twisted/perverted/distorted behavior deserving of punishment Iniquity may be pardoned (Micah 6:8) Blessed if not held accountable for (Ps. 32:2) Guile = (Heb. ramiyah) treachery, deceit This should not be found in a Christian (1 Pe. 2:1, Rev. 14:5) Anything that you do that isn't done as a direct act of faith in God is sin "Whatsoever is not of faith is sin." (Rom. 14:23) When we sin, whom do we sin against? All sin is ultimately against God (Ps. 51:4) David doubly wronged Uriah, yet the scriptures say he sinned against the Lord (2 Sam. 12:13, Psalm 51:4) How so? His actions gave “great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme” (2 Sam. 12:14, KJV) In other words, he gave a bad witness. David was supposed to be a “man after God’s own heart” (Compare: Prov.6:32) Sin often has an adverse impact on others (1 Sam. 12:10-14, 2 Sam. 24:1-15, 1 Chron. 21:1-14) David’s sin also brought great harm to his household (1 Sam. 12:10-14) Likewise, a later sin, numbering Israel, resulted in the deaths of 70,000 of his people (2 Sam. 24:1-15, 1 Chron. 21:1-14) He also brought harm to himself (Ps. 38:3) God calls sinners to repentance Because of Adam’s original sin, all of us our imperfect and in need of redemption. (Isa. 64:6, Rom. 3:9-12; 5:12; Ps. 51:5; 1 John 1:8) The Bible clearly teaches that the human race is infected with a serious sin problem and that man’s basic nature is sinful (Rom. 3:10-23; Luke 11:13). Only the grace and power of Jesus Christ can deliver man out of this sinful condition (Eph. 2:1-9). God wants us to admit our sinfulness and repent (turn back to Him) in order to receive forgiveness and a new life. (Ps. 32:5)

We are required to confess our sin (Prov. 28:13, Rom 10:10, 1 John 1:8-10) Ps. 32:6 implies that there may be an unknown time limit to confess Perhaps when the conscience has become seared and the heart hardened (Ps. 81:11-12, Rom. 2:21-32) Failing to do this may have adverse consequences upon our physical/mental health (Job 33:19; Ps. 38:3) Sin may be covered (Heb. kacah), hidden, concealed (making the person appear pure/perfect/on target/in compliance) God’s justice includes mercy for those that demonstrate humility & faith (Zeph. 3:12) When God asks where they are, obviously He knows. Adam is being called to reveal both himself and his sin, hopefully in a repentant fashion. This was not the time for punishment; it was a time of grace in the midst of sin, and it is similar to the ways in which each and every one of us are called to account for our actions when we sin. Not only doesn't Adam acknowledge his own guilt, he blames God for his actions, because it was God who gave him the woman who subsequently enticed him to eat of the forbidden fruit. Penitential Psalms (Ps. 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143) Penitence = regret, remorse, sorrow, contrition God welcomes a penitent heart (Ps. 51:16-17) Elements of these Psalms are regret over sin, confession of sin, request for forgiveness and thanksgiving for mercy The next step after penitence is repentance The answer to sin/death is God’s grace/imputed righteousness unto life through Jesus (Rom. 5:21; 6:23) Jesus is the one and only, complete and perfect sacrifice for our sin (John 1:29)