Victorious Christian Living: Identifying How Sin Develops

Name of Assembly: United Apostolic Church
Type of service: Bible Study
Date: September 1st & 8th, 2020
Series Topic: Victorious Christian Living
Lesson 2: Identifying How Sin Develops
Scripture Text: James 1:12-15; 1 Corinthians 10:13
Memory Verse: James 1:13

“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it ringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” James 1:12-15

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” – 1 Corinthians 10:13 (KJV)

Introduction

The focus of this Bible Study Series is designed to affirm what is written in Titus 2:11-14, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”

Throughout this series of lessons, we will focus on some of the common hindrances to us living “ soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world” and what we must do to ensure that we seize victory and walk therein every day for the rest of our lives.

To overcome sin, we need to understand how it develops. We must also understand that we sin because of acting out bad habits.

Focus of this Lesson:

In this Lesson, we will do the following:

1. Identify how sins develop
2. Identifying sinful actions or habits that can lead to a lifestyle of sins.

How Does Sin Develop?

THE FIRST STAGE IS TEMPTATION.

In James 1:14, we see that temptation includes two things:

A. DESIRE (some translations say "lust", suggesting a strong desire for something)
B. ENTICEMENT (an opportunity and encouragement to satisfy the desire)

Putting it in the form of a simple equation:

1. TEMPTATION = DESIRE + OPPORTUNITY

It is not a sin to be "tempted," For Jesus Christ was "tempted as we are, yet without sin." Hebrews 4:15, “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”

Hebrews 2:18 “For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted.”

2. THE SECOND STAGE IS SIN ITSELF

• It becomes sin when we ACT and YIELD to the temptation.
• Thus sin involves the added step of some sort of action on our part.
• Again, in the form of a simple equation:

SIN = DESIRE + OPPORTUNITY + ACTION

3. THE THIRD STAGE INVOLVES THE CONSEQUENCES OF UNREPENTED AND UNFORGIVEN SIN: "DEATH”

• The "death" spoken here refers to spiritual separation from God.
  a. This separation occurs first in this life – Isaiah 59:2 “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.”
  b. If we die physically in this state, then we will experience the "second death", which involves eternal punishment! “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death” Revelations 21:8.

Putting all this into a final equation:

DESIRE + OPPORTUNITY + ACTION + NO FORGIVENESS = DEATH

If temptations can lead to such dire consequences, and are fed or fueled by BAD HABITS, then we must certainly learn how to identify these bad habits early.

Identifying Sinful Actions or Habits that can Lead to a Lifestyle of Sin

Identifying BAD HABITS involves asking a few questions about the matter at hand.

1) Is it clearly condemned in the Bible?

• Many acts are specifically mentioned as being wrong: acts born out of bad habits.
  One list of such things is found in Gal. 5:19-21, “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”
• A similar list is found in Ephesians 5:3-7, “Let there be no sex sin, impurity or greed among you. Let no one be able to accuse you of any such things. Dirty stories, foul talk, and coarse jokes-these are not for you. Instead, remind each other of God's goodness, and be thankful You can be sure of this: The Kingdom of Christ and of God will never belong to anyone who is impure or greedy, for a greedy person is really an idol worshiper-he loves and worships the good things of this life more than God. Don't be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the terrible wrath of God is upon all those who do them. Don't even associate with such people.” (TLB)
• As far as Christians are concerned, the things that have been mentioned in these two verses settles the question. There is no room for debate when the Bible clearly condemns these practices.

2) IS IT SIMILAR TO THINGS CONDEMNED IN THE BIBLE?

• In Galatians 5:19-21, notice the phrase “and such like” (KJV) or “all that sort of thing” (TLB).
• When we are uncertain about some matter, we should ask whether it is LIKE any sins specifically mentioned.
• You might even compare it with the GOOD THINGS mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23. Is the matter in question more like the "fruit of the Spirit" (that which is good) or the "works of the flesh" (that which is evil)?

3) DOES IT HURT YOUR CONSCIENCE?

• The Bible speaks of the importance of a GOOD CONSCIENCE.

- 1 Tim 1:5; 1 Tim 1:18-19; 1 Tim 3:9

• Violating our conscience to the degree it no longer bothers us is a sign of apostasy! - “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron” - 1 Tim 4:1-2.
• Engaging in any HABIT or ACT when you doubt its rightfulness is to violate your conscience, this Paul declares is SIN. “And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin” - Romans 14:23.
• So an act may be good in and of itself, but....
  a. If you think it is wrong (because of incorrect knowledge)
  b. Or have doubts about its rightfulness ...then don't do it!

4) WHAT DO MATURE CHRISTIANS SAY ABOUT IT?

This, however, is NOT the ultimate determining factor, because mature Christians can be wrong.

• But Hebrews 5:14 does say that those who by "REASON OF USE" are in a position to discern: “But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
• Therefore the advice of mature Christians can be helpful - Phil 3:17 “Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.”
• They were to join with one another in imitating Paul and the others who, after close inspection (SKOPEO; "to gaze at", that upon which the eye has been fixed), proved to be living on the same high plane. TYPOS (ensample) was originally the mark left by a blow, and then a "pattern" or "mold."
• Rehoboam's failure to listen to the advice of older, mature men should teach us something - 1 Kings 12:6-20. “And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people? And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever. But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him: And he said unto them, What counsel give ye that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter? And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins. And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, Come to me again the third day. And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him; And spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the Lord, that he might perform his saying, which the Lord spake by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat. So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents. But as for the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them. Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the tribute; and all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. Therefore king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem. So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day. And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again, that they sent and called him unto the congregation, and made him king over all Israel: there was none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.”

5) DOES IT HINDER YOUR INFLUENCE?

• Notice Paul’s concern for how his influence affected the salvation of others – 1 Cor. 9:19-23, “For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I  am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.”
• He then commands to do likewise, in which we are simply imitating the example of Christ! – 1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.”
• In helping a wife win her husband to the Lord. – 1 Peter 3:1-2 says, “Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.” What is said of a wife's example would also be true of a Christian's example. We should be concerned as to whether a practice under question HELPS or HINDERS our INFLUENCES for the Lord!

6) IS IT POOR STEWARDSHIP?

• We are "stewards" of our time, money, and bodies..... Matt 25:14-30; 1 Tim 6:17- 19 & 1 Cor 6:19-20

“14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. 15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. 16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. 17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. 18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. 20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. 21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. 23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. 26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. 28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. 30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

“17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; 19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life” – 1 Timothy 6:17-19.

“19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's” – 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.

• Some activities may be harmless in themselves, but require so much time and energy that there is none left for the Lord! This can be true of vocations, hobbies, etc. We should bear in mind that time is limited and therefore priorities must be set and kept.
  • “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil” – Ephesians 5:16
  • “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” – St. Matthew 6:33.

7) WOULD JESUS DO IT?

• Remember the goal of discipleship as found in Luke 6:40, “The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.”
• If you think Jesus would not do it, it is probably wrong!
• This makes the study of Jesus of prime importance in our lives! Studying His life, His examples, His Word, so that we can have the mind of Christ. “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” – Philippians 2:5