Introduction

• Isaiah 59:2 – Sin separates us from God.
• Deuteronomy 6:24; I Timothy 4:8 – Not sinning is a benefit now and in eternity.

Sin invites trouble to my life!

• II Samuel 11:2-15; 12:14 – David’s sin with Bathsheba.
  • David caused the death of Uriah and of his infant child.
• Hebrews 12:15-17 – Esau could never recover what he lost when he gave away his birthright.
• Luke 13:4-5

Sin gives me a guilty conscience.

• Genesis 42:21-22; 50:15
• Matthew 27:3-5 – Judas hanged himself in guilt!
• Hebrews 9:14
• I Corinthians 15:9; Ephesians 3:8 – Paul carried his guilt of persecuting Christians the rest of his life.
• I Timothy 1:15; Acts 24:16 – Paul tried to put his sin behind him the rest of his life.

Sin might ruin my conscience.

• I Timothy 4:2
• Titus 1:15 – It’s possible to defile your conscience.
• Ephesians 4:17-19

Sin gets me into bad habits.

• Acts 8:9-10, 18-19
• Hebrews 10:25 – Missing worship can become a habit.

My sin affects others.

• Galatians 2:11-13 – Barnabas was caught up in Peter’s hypocrisy.
• Luke 17:1-2
• Our lives are like ripples in a pond – we affect others.
• Even if no one else is aware of your sin, you are a different person because of your sin. You are not as spiritually-minded as you could be otherwise.