The Gospel of Christ and the Problem of Sin
The Gospel Addresses The Love Of Sin
A. LAST LESSON: HOW THE GOSPEL ADDRESSES THE PROBLEM OF SIN.
B. THIS LESSON: HOW THE GOSPEL ADDRESSES THE LOVE OF SIN.
a. We saw that sin does have its pleasurable side( Heb. 11:24-25 ).
b. Such pleasure often blinds men to the truth( John 3:19 ).
a. Such love definitely alienates one from the love of the Father( 1 John 2:15 ).
C. THE GOSPELS ANSWER TO THE LOVE OF SIN: FAITH( Mark 16:15-16 ).
1. When we have FAITH, we will no longer LOVE sin, but even HATE it!
2. As the Psalmist expressed in Psa. 119:104.
D. WE NEED TO CONSIDER THE KIND OF FAITH IT TAKES TO HATE SIN
AND CONSIDER THE EVIDENCE GIVEN TO PRODUCE IT.
A. ONE MUST BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD.
1. John 20:30-31; 1:14; 1 John 5:13.
2. Strong conviction that Jesus was the promised Messiah( Acts 2:36 ).
B. THAT THIS JESUS DIED FOR OUR SINS.
1. Believing that Jesus died for our sins is part of the gospel( 1 Cor. 15:1-3 ).
2. Just as the Scriptures foretold He would( Isa. 53:4-6 ).
3. Why, because God loves us!( John 3:16; Rom. 5:8 ).
C. THAT GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD( 1 Cor. 15:3-4; Rom. 10:9 ).
D. HOW DOES BELIEVING IN THESE THINGS CAUSE US TO HATE SIN?
1. Think about all that God has done( 1 John 4:9-10 ).
2. Think about what sin does to our relationship and his name.
3. How can we not hate sin?
a. Sin is what makes the death of Christ necessary in the first place!
b. Sin is responsible for the anguish God and the pain and agony of Jesus!
c. Heb. 6:6.
E. Psa. 119:104.
A. EYEWITNESS TESTIMONY CONCERNING THE RESURRECTION.
1. Jesus appointed this was how people would come to believe( John 17:20 ).
2. The resurrection was the center of what the apostles taught.
a. Peter( Acts 2:32; 3:14-15; 4:33; 10:39-41 ).
b. John( John 20:30-31; 1 John 1:1-3 ).
c. Paul( Acts 26:22-23 ).
3. How strong is the evidence?
a. Consider the number of witnesses( 1 Cor. 15:5-8 )Over 500 people!
b. Consider the character of these witnesses.
1) Some, like His brothers, had not believed in Christ prior to His
resurrection( John 7:3-5; Acts 1:14 ).
2) Some were like Thomas( John 20:24-28 ).
3) Some were former enemies who had opposed Christ like Paul.
c. Consider the nature of their testimony
1) Hard, empirical evidence( Acts 10:40-41; 1 John 1:1 ).
2) Objective, not subjective evidence that could possibly be
attributed to hallucinations, dreams, etc.
d. Consider the transformation which took place
1) Prior to the resurrection, they were cowards who had lost hope!
a) They fled at His arrest( Mark 14:50 ). Peter denied Him.
b) They hid for fear of the Jews( John 20:19 ).
2) Yet, after the resurrection, they were proclaiming Christ boldly as
having been raised from the dead!( Acts 5:28-32; 41-42 ).
e. Consider the high moral standard they taught and lived
1) Exhorted the disciples to live holy lives( 1 Thes. 4:1-7 ).
2) They lived blameless lives themselves( 1 Thes. 2:10-12 ).
f. Consider the sacrifices they paid in life and death( 1 Cor. 4:9-13 ).
3. To deny the resurrection of Jesus is to impugn the honesty and integrity of
these witnesses.
4. To accept the resurrection is the beginning of the faith which will hate sin!
B. FULFILLED MESSIANIC PROPHECY.
1. Jesus used this to build the faith of His disciples( Luke 24:25-27, 44-47 ).
2. Therefore, the apostles appealed to this line of evidence...
a. Peter and Philip( Acts 2:29-31; 3:18, 24; 8:35 ).
b. Paul( Acts 17:2-3 ).
3. How strong is this evidence?
a. At least 330 prophecies in the OT that were fulfilled in Jesus Christ!
( Isa. 11:1, 10; Jer. 23:5; Micah 5:2; Mal. 3:1; Zech 9:9;
11:12-13; 12:10; 13:7; Psa. 22; 41:9;34:20).
b. What are the odds?
A. EYEWITNESS TESTIMONY AND FULFILLED PROPHECY ARE
OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE TO THE GOSPEL.
B. THE EVIDENCE IS IN THE SCRIPTURES( Rom. 10:17 ).
C. DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH FAITH TO HATE SIN?
TO LOVE JESUS?( John 14:15 ).
