Casting Off Sin In Our Lives
Hebrews 12:1-15, 28
INTRO: What good does it do to only talk about sin? What if we never try to get rid of it? I want to end the series on sin today. What better way to end it, but by talking about casting away our sins. What better thing to do with sin in our lives than to let the Lord help us remove it.
First as we look into Hebrews 12, we can see our need to…
Look around and see the harm of sin in our lives - 1
Sin separates us from God -
Sin is repulsive to God - he hates it
Sin has repercussions with God - Rom 6:23
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Sin makes us a refugee from God
Sin ultimately brings sadness to our lives (both the sinner and others)
Sin can even shorten our lives
ILL. - Leonardi DaVinci's "Last Supper" painting - The Christ and Judas
Lay it down and set it aside - 1
How?
At once - don't wait - like a skunk smell
Like a hot potato - as in pain
Like a heavy burden - relieved to be rid of it
Like a rotten apple - disgust - "I hate ______" fill in blank
(Spiders? Snakes? Worms? Ants? )
Let go…fast, for God, for good (model of repentance)
Also we need to remember sin…
Weights us down
Holds us back
Halts our growth
Hinders our witness
Stops our joy
Spoils our joy
Look to Jesus who set the "mark" - 2,3
He is…
Reason for our hope (author and finisher)
Representative with God
Redemption for our sins - Gal 1:4
Galatians 1:4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:
Replacement for our payment (sacrifice) Isaiah 53:6
Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
He was…
Rejected (by God) for us
Yet through all this, He
Remained sinless - Hebrews 4:15-16
Hebrews 4:15 - 16 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. 16Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
We have a reason to look to Him
Learn from His correction as Sons of God - 5-
God wants the best for us
God's best is closeness to Him
God's closeness is holiness
God's holiness is laying aside the weight and sin
Laying aside the weight and sin is God's best for us
Live for Him and serve Him gladly - 12 -
It is not just about not sinning, but also about serving Him
1 Corinthians 15:34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.
Lift our hands in worship
Seek Him upon our knees
Walk straight for him in front of others (all the time)
(…away from slippery slopes)
Behave right before men and God - 14;
1 Timothy 4:15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
Trust God's Grace
Use God's Grace
When we let the Lord help us remove sin from our lives, we…
Gary Marcum - New Beginnings Church - 052905am