Consider Sin

Presented to:

Bethel Chapel Pentecostal Church

Auditorium Sunday School Class

Granite City, IL

29 October 2017

Updated: October 28, 2017

By:

Boyce Belt

Consider Sin

Opening:

• Review

• Series: For Your Consideration
• Two weeks ago: The Lord is God—There is No Other

• Prayer
• A more topical approach

Text:

Leviticus 13:13 (KJV)  Then the priest shall consider: and, behold, if the leprosy have covered all his flesh, he shall pronounce him clean that hath the plague: it is all turned white: he is clean.

Introduction:

The context of this verse is the guidelines for these who have leprosy.  The priest is instructed to consider—look on, think about, contemplate—a blemish to determine the appropriate course of action.

Throughout Scripture we find that leprosy is a type of sin.  It is with this in mind that I have titled this lesson Consider Sin.  As we see the treatment and effect of leprosy we see a picture of sin.  Leprosy was an infectious disease that necessitated isolation to prevent the entire community from being infected.  Even so sin will infect entire congregations if not checked.

Description of Leprosy

1. Sin’s Cause

1. Sin Nature

1. Romans 5:12-14 (KJV) 12  Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 13  (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14  Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
2. Adam cannot be blamed for our sin.  Each man will be judged for his own sin.

2. Outside Influence
3. Selfish Desire

1. James 1:14 (KJV)  But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

4. Hidden

1. Naaman
2. Proverbs 28:13 (KJV)  He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

2. Sin’s Catastrophe

1. Loss of Feeling
2. Isolation

1. Numbers 5:2 commands that lepers were to be put out of the camp.  “The moral principle behind this regulation to church members who flagrantly transgress God’s truth or righteousness; they must be ‘put out’ of the congregation if the body of believers expects to receive the blessing and presence of God.”^[1]

3. Decay of the Body
4. Death

1. Romans 6:23 (KJV)  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

3. Sin’s Cure

1. The Cross

1. Romans 5:15-20 (KJV) 15  But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 16  And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. 17  For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) 18  Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. 19  For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. 20  Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

2. Sanctification

1. Crucify the Flesh

1. Romans 6:1-2 (KJV) 1  What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2  God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
2. Romans 6:6 (KJV)  Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

2. The Word of God

1. Ephesians 5:25-27 (KJV) 25  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

1. A Mediatior

1. 1 John 2:1-2 (KJV) 1  My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2  And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Conclusion:

In Matthew 26, Mark 14, and John 12 we read the story of Mary anointing Jesus.  Both Matthew and Mark note that it took place in the house of Simon the leper.  Obviously the very fact that they were feasting with him indicates that he had been cleansed from his leprosy.  He was probably healed by Jesus.  Even though he had been cured he was still known by the disease.  So it is with sin.  When give in to see it often leaves its mark even after we have been redeemed.  A Christian who falls into sin will often never completely recover his testimony.

It is also of note that John points out that Judas Iscariot was Simon’s son, probably this same Simon.  What a tragedy it is when one falls into sin and returns to the Savior only to lose their children.

Next Week: Reunion Sunday — No Class

12 November 2017: Consider Chastisement

Next Week: Daylight Savings Time Ends

Prayer