Many people believe from pop culture that Jesus had so much love for them that he never preached against sin. But he did, because he loved them enough to warn them against sin’s destruction.
Let’s begin.
I.. Sources of Sin
A.. Satan
Satan is the ruler of this world (John 12:31) and head of his own kingdom (Matt. 12:26), the father of disobedient people (John 8:44), the father of lies (John 8:44), the evil spirit being who opposes the gospel (Matt. 13:19), who sows weeds (tares) among the wheat. He also causes people to do these things.
B.. The world
The world system is a source of sin. It hates those who follow Jesus.
18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. (John 15:18-19)
C.. The heart
Jesus said it is the things that flow out of the heart that defile people.
21 For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and defile a person.” (Mark 7:21-23)
II.. Kinds of Sins
A.. A list of categories follows. There are many.
1.. Hypocrisy
Jesus denounced hypocrisy.
“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Matt. 6:1-5)
2.. Lust
Jesus says no lustful eye.
27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Matt. 5:27-28)
Matthew 5:28 and Adultery in the Heart
3.. Unforgiveable sin
Sinning against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but not against the Holy Spirit (Matt. 12:31; Mark 3:29).
What Is the Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit?
4.. A vice list
Jesus names all sorts of sins, in a vice list. This shows that sin is universal.
19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. 20 These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.” (Matt. 15:19-20)
5.. An entire generation
Jesus calls an entire generation adulterous and sinful.
If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.” (Mark 8:38)
6.. Greed and covetousness
Jesus warned against greed or covetousness.
Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” (Luke 12:15)
7.. Sins against little ones
Sins are bound to come, but do not sin against the little ones
Jesus said to his disciples: “Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come. 2 It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble. 3 So watch yourselves. (Luke 17:1-3)
8.. Universality of sin
Everyone has sin.
20 He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. 21 For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and defile a person.” (Mark 7:20-23)
Galileans whose blood Pilate mixed with a sacrifice are not worse sinners than everyone else. And the tower collapsing on certain ones in Jerusalem are not worse, either. Repent!
Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” (Luke 13:1-5)
There is no one who is without sin. The excerpt is in italics because some manuscripts don’t have this section of Scripture.
When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” (John 8:7)
See no. 21, also.
9.. Pride
Jesus says no to pride, for James and John wanted wanted first place in the the kingdom. The passages are too long to quote, so here are the links:
Those who wanted the place of honor grabbed the top seats, but were asked to move.
7 When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: 8 “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. 9 If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. 10 But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. 11 For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 14:7-11)
10.. Divided loyalty
Jesus says no divided loyalty but follow him radically.
20 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
21 Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”
22 But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.” (Matt. 8:19-22).
11.. Immorality against body, the heart, and marriage
Jesus says no to that.
27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’[e] 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
31 “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery. (Matt. 5:27-32)
12.. Anger
Jesus warned against anger.
21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister[b][c] will be subject to judgment. (Matt. 5:21-22)
13.. Sinful speech
Do not commit sins of speech.
33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ 34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. (Matt. 5:33-37)
Judgment is coming.
36 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”(Matt. 12:36-37)
14.. Anxiety
It is lack of faith and therefore a sin.
26 He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. (Matt. 6:25)
15.. Irresponsible management
Be warned against it. These next two passages are about the Parables of the Bags of Gold (Talents) in Matthew and the Ten Minas in Luke These passages are too long to quote, so here are the links
Matthew 25:14-30 and Luke 19:11-27
16.. Prayerlessness
It is a sin, according to the Parable of the Persistent Widow. It ends with this question of warning:
However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8b).
17.. Sin and illness
Sometimes (not always) sin produces illness.
Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” (John 5:14)
In other cases, sin is not the cause of disease.
As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. (John 9:1-3)
18.. Sin causes death
You will die in your sins.
21 Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.” […] 24 I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.” (John 8:21, 24)
19.. Spiritual enslavement
Everyone who sins is a slave to sin. The verb tense is present, so it refers to a lifestyle of sin.
Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. (John 8:34)
20.. Arrogant, spiritual blindness
The Pharisees claim to see, so they are guilty of sin. If they were blind, they would not be guilty of sin.
Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains. (John 9:41)
21.. The world is guilty.
Jesus came and spoke to the world, so they are now guilty of sin.
If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. (John 15:22)
The world saw the works Jesus had done, but they refuse to believe, so they are now guilty of sin.
If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. (John 15:24)
The Spirit convicts the world of sin.
8 When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because people do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. (John 16:8-11)
22.. Degrees of sin
The Sanhedrin and chief priests handed Jesus over to Pilate; therefore they have the greater sin.
Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.” (John 19:11)
Capernaum and other towns refused to repent. This is sin, and they will face judgment.
20 Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.[e] For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. 24 But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.” (Matt. 11:20-24)
23.. Corrupt, oppressive leadership
Jesus denounces specific groups in the Jerusalem and temple establishment. This passage is too long to quote, so here is the link:
III.. Impact of Sin
A.. It impacts your destiny.
It causes people to be lost.
“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? (Luke 15:4)
“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:8-10)
In the Parable of the Prodigal Son, the lost son returns home. But sin had caused him to be lost.
For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. (15:24)
We can perish.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.” […] 24 I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.” (John 8:21, 24)
We will go to judgment. In the Parable of the Rich Fool, the rich man was unprepared.
“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ (Luke 12:20)
B.. It impacts your will.
The Pharisees were slaves to their desires
You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. (John 8:44)
C.. It impacts the body, sometimes.
Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” (John 5:14)
Jesus bore people’s sickness in his healing ministry, and Isaiah speaks of a sickness of soul (Is. 53):
17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
“He took up our infirmities
and bore our diseases.” (Matt. 8:17)
IV.. Solutions to Sin
The first four points are about God’s initiative and forgiveness through his Son. The last three are about our part, responding to God’s initiative.
A.. Jesus and his mission
1.. His mission
Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinner? His answer:
13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’[a] For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matt. 9:13; see also Mark 2:17; Luke 5:32)
2.. Jesus was anointed to free the captives.
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19)
3.. Jesus is pure, so he can save people from their impurity
No one can prove Jesus is guilty of sin
46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” (John 8:46-47)
4. Jesus completed his mission, so now he sends out his disciples on their mission:
Repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in Jesus’s name..
46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (Luke 24:46-47)
B. God’s forgiveness
1.. The father forgives his repentant son.
Once again, the wonderful Parable of the Prodigal Son:
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. (Luke 15:20-24)
2.. The Lord’s prayer
14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. (Matt. 6:14-15)
3.. A sinful tax collector who repents and confesses his need for forgiveness is justified by God.
13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 18:13-14)
C. The forgiveness Jesus offers
He is exalted in heaven now, and he is still willing to forgive repentant sinners:
1.. Jesus forgives a man who did not sin against him personally.
2 Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” (Matt. 9:2;see Mark 2:2-6; Luke 5:20-24)
2.. Jesus forgives a sinful woman.
48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49 The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” (Luke 7:48-50)
D. Jesus and the New Covenant
Jesus consecrated his blood for the forgiveness of many (all).
This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. (Matt. 26:28)
Be sure to get into the New Covenant. Pray the prayer at the end.
E. Deal harshly with sin.
Cut it off or gouge it out:
43 If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. [44] [b] 45 And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. [46] [c] 47 And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell (Mark 9:43-47)
F. Forgive others
1.. Forgive people seventy times seven.
Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.” (Luke 17:4)
2.. Ask for forgiveness of your sins, and then forgive others.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors. […] Matt. 6:12)
Forgive us our sins,
for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. (Luke 11:4)
3.. Forgive people who sin against you.
14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. (Matt. 6:14-15)
G.. Repent
1.. Leave your life of sin.
To the woman caught in adultery, Jesus declared:
“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” (John 8:11)
2.. Angels celebrate a repentant sinner.
7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:7-10)
V. Application
A.. Jesus’s teaching
It was extensive. He believed in sin’s universality. We need to be on our guard. We have to deal harshly with it in our own lives.
B. Sources
The world, the flesh (sin nature), and the devil work against us to sin. We need to live life in the Spirit, to be born again by the Spirit (John 3:3), and empowered by the Spirit so as not to be swept away by sin. We do not have to be enslaved to it.
C. Its impact
Sin will infest our soul and sometimes our body. It will ruin our future.
D. The solution.
For our part we need to repent and ask God to forgive us. We must also forgive those who sin against us, seventy times seven. We place our full trust and faith in Jesus. He’s the solution.
Pray this prayer:
Loving Father, I repent of my sins. Please forgive me. I now put my full faith and trust in your Son, Jesus the Messiah. I confess him to be the Lord. Jesus is Lord. I believe you vindicated him by raising him from the dead. Send your Holy Spirit into my heart to cause me to be born again. Fill me to overflowing. Empower me to live for him. In Jesus’s name, amen.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
I drew from Ryrie, Basic Theology, chapter 35, though I went my own way, and I am no dispensationalist.
Dr. Jim's Essential Bible Teaching 