Sin Problem in the Christian Life, Part 3

The point: When a justified person sins, they are to deal with that sin in conjunction with evangelical repentance, not just taking it seriously, refusing legal bondage, or dealing with God as Father.

Judas's confession, restitution, and deep grief are presented as an example of purely legal repentance that 'works death,' lacking the gospel perspective and leading to despair.

as God's law as being condemned by God's law. It seeks to turn away from sin only because conscience is miserable in the presence of that sin. And if it performs any restitution or confession, it does so with the hope that somehow that will bring relief from the sense of guilt. That is a purely legal repentance. It is the kind of repentance that Paul says works death. It's the repentance of a Judas. He confessed his sin. He went right back into the temple and said, I have sinned in that I have betrayed innocent blood.

10:21 - 11:01 Read in full sermon

The point: Learn how to acknowledge sin in a manner consistent with the Gospel to avoid hardness of heart or despair.

The analogy of someone avoiding raw carrots due to bellyaches is used to illustrate how believers might avoid acknowledging sin if it consistently brings them into legal bondage and misery, leading to hardness of heart.

I have got to maintain the perspective of mind and heart with which I addressed Him initially right on through the confession of my sin. Now if you and I do not learn how to acknowledge sin in a manner consistent with the Gospel, we'll end up doing one of two things, both of which are tragic to the state of our souls. We will be driven to a hardness of heart by seeking to push under the sense and reality of our sin because we get so weary of the bondage that it brings. You follow me? Every time we acknowledge our sin, if we let it bring us into legal bondage, bring us under the terrors of the ...

24:20 - 25:27 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The second element is genuine grief for sin, which is not the cringing fear of a criminal but sorrow born of offending a loving Father and dishonoring a gracious Savior…

A hypothetical scenario of a child flippantly confessing a broken rule to a loving parent is used to illustrate the lack of genuine sorrow and disrespect in a superficial confession, highlighting the necessity of godly sorrow.

It's when the heart is grieved and broken for sin that the will will then turn from sin. Now let me try to illustrate the difference in these two things, and I do so with the prayer that the Spirit of God will bring light to some of your hearts on this point. How would you feel as a parent, and I have tried to think how I would feel as a parent, but I won't make it personal. I'll ask you, how would you feel as a parent who has established a relationship of love and concern, reasonable standards, reasonable authority, gentleness and patience mingled with your firmness, your word is law but your...

36:28 - 37:41 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not run from God or cringe in the shadows when you sin, but confess your sins to Him, knowing He is faithful and just to forgive.

A hypothetical scenario of a child hiding in the garage, shivering and afraid to confess a broken rule to a loving parent, illustrates the dishonor of legalistic fear and distance from God, contrasting it with the liberty of a child of God.

And you're right. But what would you think of that same father with that same child if it came supper time and he wasn't around and didn't come to the table? And he goes out in the neighborhood looking for him and he can't find him. And he begins to be concerned and he looks all over the place and he says, Well, I don't know.

38:21 - 38:39 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The third element is a resolve to be done with sin, even while acknowledging the possibility of future falls due to ingrained sinful patterns, as illustrated by marital apologies…

The example of a husband apologizing to his wife for unkind words, resolving not to repeat them, yet knowing he might fall again, illustrates how a genuine resolve to forsake sin can coexist with an awareness of ongoing weakness.

Those of you who are husbands and wives know that occasionally husbands and wives say words that are less than kind and loving. I hope it's only occasionally in your marriage. Now let me ask you husbands something. The last time you said some nasty things to your wife and you agreed, and you came to her and put your arm around her and said, honey, I'm sorry.

43:49 - 44:14 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The third element is a resolve to be done with sin, even while acknowledging the possibility of future falls due to ingrained sinful patterns, as illustrated by marital apologies…

Martin recounts his teenage clumsiness, frequently knocking over milk, to illustrate how genuine grief and a resolve not to repeat a sin can exist even when the sin is deeply ingrained in one's present constitution or stage of development, and likely to recur.

And it seems I hid everything, stumbled over everything, until my father used to say again and again, Albert, you've got a gift. And he wasn't speaking about preaching or teaching. Well, I can remember more than once sitting at the table, and the table would all be set, and my glass of milk would be in its place, put there by my mother, and I'd go to pass something, and there it would go. I'd knock over the glass of milk, and when I'd see the milk go splattering, clashing on one of my many brothers or sisters' trousers or skirt, and all over the tablecloth.

46:07 - 46:42 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not grieve the Spirit by refusing to deal with sin in the way of evangelical repentance, lest you quench Him and lose His joy of acceptance and pardon.

The analogy of a friend disbelieving one's testimony about their whereabouts is used to illustrate how grieving the Holy Spirit occurs when believers refuse to believe His testimony about the perfection of Christ's work and their forgiveness.

He's grieved. How do I feel if you won't believe my testimony? You say, where were you last night? And I tell you, I don't believe you.

53:26 - 53:35 Read in full sermon