WHAT HAPPENS WHEN CHRISTIANS SIN?
Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning, Feb. 7, 1999, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia:
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN CHRISTIANS SIN?
By Michael D. O’Neal…….Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church…….Albany, Georgia
Scripture Reading: 1 John 1:6 – 2:2
Text: 1 John 2:1
1 John 2:1 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:
Introduction: I want you to notice these words in verse 1 today: “And if any man sin …” According to the first part of the verse, it is God’s will that His people do NOT sin. Every saved person is saved in order to do GOOD works (Eph. 2:10). God’s people should be careful to maintain good works (Tit. 3:8). We should be holy, because HE is holy (1 Pet. 1:16).
Not only is it possible for a believer to sin, but also far too many believers become dominated, discouraged, and defeated by sin in their lives. Sometimes they are so ashamed that they no longer profess to be saved. Sometimes they are so confused that they no longer KNOW if they are saved.
Let us consider this morning, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN CHRISTIANS SIN
I. WHAT DOES NOT HAPPEN
A. You are not disowned
* 2 Timothy 2:13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.
* When a person is saved, he becomes a son of God (Jn. 1:12) by a supernatural birth (1 Pet. 1:23). Even as nothing can change the fact that one day a child was born into my PHYSICAL family, nothing changes the fact that you are God’s child if you have been spiritually born again. You have eternal life and you are secured for heaven. That is settled.
B. You are not dead
* John 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
C. You are not damned
* John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
HOWEVER … even though a believer’s sins have been paid for in light of his eternal destiny, the sins he commits in his daily life after he is saved DO have consequences.
II. WHAT DOES HAPPEN?
A. Closeness to God suffers
* 1 John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
* Although my child is still my child, we don’t get along when she is disobedient. Likewise, fellowship with God is hindered when a believer sins.
* That fellowship can almost become nonexistent, which can make the person feel that he is not even part of God’s family.
* God is grieved, as well (Eph. 4:30).
B. Calmness of spirit is hindered
* Isaiah 57:21 There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.
* Restlessness is often a result of spiritual rebellion. A Christian who doesn’t live for God will not have the same peace of mind as does an obedient believer.
C. Cheerfulness in Jesus fades
* Psalms 51:12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
* When a believer sins, he will begin losing the joy of church going, Bible reading, soul-winning, praying, and other Christian activities. He may finally lose the joy of living.
D. Capability of witnessing suffers
* Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
* No Christian is perfect, but a disobedient Christian is not likely to be very convincing when he tries to tell someone how to be saved.
E. Confidence in prayer departs
* Psalms 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:
* When fellowship is broken between you and God, you lose the confidence and the willingness to talk to Him. Likewise, He loses the desire to hear from you, unless you repent.
F. Crowns are lost
* Revelation 3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
* Salvation is a GIFT. However, the Bible teaches that in heaven REWARDS, or crowns, are given out, which are based on SERVICE, or our WORKS. God’s gift of eternal life cannot be lost, but rewards CAN be lost, to the shame of the believer who sacrificed heavenly praise and privileges for earthly pleasure.
G. Chastisement is experienced
* Hebrews 12:5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
* 1 Corinthians 11:31-32 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
* God whips His disobedient children, every one of them. No believer who does wrong “gets by” with it. If he does, he is not saved. And, let me tell you, GOD knows how to give a spanking! Maybe some of YOUR troubles are the chastisement of God!
III. WHAT TO DO
Are you a Christian who has gotten away from God? Are you out of fellowship with God due to your sin? Here’s what to do:
A. Confront it
* Proverbs 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
* Don’t try to cover it up. Don’t try to deny it. Realize you have a problem: a SIN problem.
B. Confess it
* 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
* To confess your sin means that you recognize that what you have done is rebellion against God. To confess is not to tell God that you want to get right IF you have sinned. It means that you name what you have done wrong.
C. Consecrate
* Proverbs 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
* Psalms 51:12-13 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. 13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
* Confess your sin, forsake it, and begin immediately endeavoring to do right. If you’re saved, that means such things as: get baptized; join a good church; attend it every service; tithe; read your Bible; pray; go soul-winning; and other such activities.
* If you stumble again, go through the above steps again. Don’t stay down. Keep getting up!
If you are guilty of sins of COMMISSION, confess them, and forsake them. Start doing right!!!
If you are guilty of sins of OMISSION, confess them, and start doing those things you have been putting off!!!