What's Your Problem?
I John 1:5 - 2:2
Sherwood Hawthorne
Everywhere we look we see problems. There are big problems and there are little problems. Problems in the world, problems in Washington, problems in Louisiana, problems in our city, in our church, in our home, and problems in our personal lives.
One of the candidates in the judge's race says "The problem is not the law. It's just that it is not enforced." I've got news for him. The written law has never been the answer for problems. In the Friday morning paper it was stated by the justice department that "one of twenty people born today will spend time behind bars if the 1991 crime, incarceration, and death rates remain constant."
What is the source of the problems we have in our lives? It is the same as it was in the Garden of Eden. Three little letters that carry a great impact. It was the source of problems to the men of the Old Testament, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It was the source of the problems of Samson, Pilate, Ananias and Sapphira, to David, and all the rest.
"SIN"
The scripture says in I John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (NIV) It also says in verse 10 "If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His Word has no place in our lives. The book of Romans tells us "We have all sinned and come short of the glory of God." It also says "There is none righteous, no, not one." The Bible also says "And the wages of sin is death"
I want to take four accounts from the Word of God and show us our problems.
I. Compromise
Judges 13 & 14
Let us take the life of Samson. God had set Samson aside to be His man. Numbers 13:4-5 "Now see to it that you drink no wine or other fermented drink and that you do not eat anything unclean, because you will conceive and give birth to a son. No razor may be used on his head, because the boy is to be a Nazarite, set apart to God from birth, and he will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hands of the Philistines."
Samson was doing his work well. He was the man God wanted him to be. But he ran into the devil in the likes of Delilah. Then he started compromising with the devil. The story is laid out in Chapters 13 and 14 of the book of Judges.
"AND THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH"
How many times have we been asked to compromise our principles or beliefs about something so we can get along or accepted to a group? The world tells us if we want to get ahead we have to compromise. Even some Christians say we need to compromise to get along with people. The Word of God cannot and must not ever be compromised. It was for yesterday and it is for today and it will be for tomorrow. Everything else may be compromised, but the infallible, inerrant Word of God will last forever. There is nothing else in life to stand on but the Word of God. It is the only truth that we have for sure.
II. Condemnation
John 18:38-40
Pilate had all the authority and the power to set things right. But for wanting to be with the "in" crowd, he condemned to death the Saviour. I know he was only carrying out the will of God, but he did not know that. His thinking was that the people would accept him if he sided with them. Pilate knew that Jesus was not guilty of anything that would lead to his death. His wife had even told him. He said himself "I find no basis for a charge against Him, but according to your custom, I can release one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release the 'King of the Jews'?"
"AND THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH"
"But everyone is doing that these days." "We have to change with the times." "We are not back in the dark ages." "We have been enlightened." "What will people think of me if I don't go along with that?" "I am saved and nothing can take my eternal life away from me." That last one is true, but sin will bring a separation between you and God. The sweet fellowship will be broken.
"AND THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH"
III. Concealed
Acts 5:1-11
Ananias and his wife Sapphira had seen other people sell their property and bring the money to the church for the needy. They sold a piece of property and they kept back some of the money for themselves. First of all, they were not required to sell their property. Secondly, they could have kept it all. Ananias with his wife's knowledge kept back part of the money and laid the rest at the apostle's feet.
Peter confronted him with it and said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit? Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? You have not lied to men but to God." When Ananias heard this, he fell down dead. That got people's attention and the Scripture says that great fear seized all who heard what had happened.
"AND THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH"
The men carried him out and buried him. About three hours later, his wife came in, not knowing what had happened to her husband. Peter asked her, "Tell me, is this the price you got for the land?" and she answered "Yes, that is the price." "How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also."
The world is full of people who will lie and do anything to conceal the true meaning for their actions. They give flowers and want to be mentioned in the bulletin the next week. They give and want everybody to know how much. They want their name on the church pews.
"AND THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH"
IV. Confess
II Samuel 17 and Psalm 51
But the answer to your problem and mine is "BUT THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE." When King David's sin was pointed out to him by God, he said, "Against You have I sinned." He knew he had missed the mark with God. He knew he had to go to God for forgiveness.
Yes, the wages of sin may be death, but the gift that came down from Heaven through Jesus Christ, the perfect sacrifice, is eternal life.
Do you want that free gift? It is yours for the asking. Romans 10:9-10 says that if you will confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
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