THE SHOCKING, SWEET SPIRIT OF CHRIST ABOUT SIN

Scripture Reading: Matthew 9:1-8

Text: Matthew 9:2

Matthew 9:2 And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.

Introduction: Jesus SHOCKED the religious leaders of His day by what He said about sin, especially the fact that He was able to FORGIVE sins. In the verse following our text, the scribes said of Him within themselves that, "He blasphemeth"!

Liberals, modernists, and leftwingers accuse fundamentalists of not having "the sweet spirit of Christ." This is especially true when they hear us preach about SIN. A liberal church won't even use the word.

In Southern Baptist churches you might hear a man preach about sin, but he probably won't name specific sins committed by people in the congregation. He will do it in such general terms that they will apply the message to other people and continue to feel pretty good about themselves.

Well, our Savior, who certainly has what the liberals refer to as "the sweet, spirit of Christ, had some specific and sometimes shocking things to say about sin and sinners. Let's look at some of them.

OUR SWEET BUT SOMETIMES SHOCKING SAVIOR SPOKE ABOUT

I. THE PRESENCE OF SIN

John 8:7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

You know the story. No one cast a stone, because they were all sinners. Folks, what our Lord said about sin should let us know that:

A. Sinners are in all areas

• Every area of town has sinners; we should try to reach them all!
• Every area of the WORLD has sinners; we should be trying to reach them ALL through sending missionaries and supporting missionaries!

B. Sinners are of all ages

• Psalms 58:3 The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.
• Although it takes years for them to be AWARE of their sin, babies come into this world in sin. They won't be held ACCOUNTABLE for their sin until they get old enough to understand that they have sinned against God, but they are still sinners.
• That little old lady who works in her garden is a sinner.
• That elderly man in the nursing home is a sinner.
• We need to be concerned about sinners of ALL ages, both young and old, and try to keep them out of hell!

OUR SWEET BUT SOMETIMES SHOCKING SAVIOR SPOKE ABOUT

II. THE PROGRESS OF SIN

John 19:11 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.

Notice: "the GREATER sin." All sins are NOT the same. They are all sins. They are all sinful, but they are not equal in degree.

Sin is NOT a disease, but it is LIKE a disease. The best picture of sin in the Bible is the disease called leprosy. With that in mind, let us think of the fact that

A. Sin defiles

• It is dirty. The more you play with it, the dirtier you get.

B. Sin demands more

• It claims to satisfy a person, but it doesn't.
• John 8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

C. Sin deepens

• It is like a cancer, a sore that eats away at a person.

D. Sin distributes itself

• Every year leprosy strikes nearly 700,000 people. According to the World Health Organization, over 800,000 cases were reported in 1988.
• Every hour, 54 adults and 11 children around the world contact leprosy, according to American Leprosy Missions.
• Sin is contagious. You have an effect on other people when you sin, even if you think no one saw you sin.

E. Sin deadens

• Leprosy attacks the nerves, reducing sensation and causing body parts to go numb.
• Likewise, sin can deaden a person's emotions over a period of time, so that he does not feel as badly as he should about his sin.
• Ephesians 4:19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

F. Sin destroys

• James 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
• Given enough time, sin will destroy your health, your happiness, and your home.

G. Sin damns

• The Bible says of the heavenly city, the New Jerusalem:
• Revelation 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.
• God cannot allow sin to enter heaven, or heaven would not BE heaven. Something must be done about our sin!
• This brings me to another thing the Lord said about sin:

OUR SWEET BUT SOMETIMES SHOCKING SAVIOR SPOKE ABOUT

III. THE PAYMENT FOR SINS

Matthew 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

You cannot pay for your own sins in the sense of earning God's forgiveness. You are broke and bankrupt before God. You cannot pay the penalty; the fine is beyond your reach! But, hallelujah, JESUS paid the price for you to be set free!

A. His body was broken

• His BONES were not physically broken, but His BODY was spoken of as having been broken for you and me.

B. His blood was shed

• His blood is pure, precious, sinless blood!

C. He bore our sins

• 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.

D. He was buried in a tomb

• He was wrapped in grave clothes.
• The tomb entrance was covered with a great stone.
• Soldier stood guard to keep anyone from removing His body. They were afraid that a rumor might start up that Jesus actually rose from the dead.
• However, after three days and nights ...

E. He broke out of the tomb and lives forevermore!

• Up from the grave he arose! With a MIGHTY triumph o'er his foes!
• Because He lives, we who are saved have assurance of salvation and a future reunion with our loved ones in Christ!

OUR SWEET BUT SOMETIMES SHOCKING SAVIOR SPOKE ABOUT

IV. THE PURSUIT OF SINNERS

Luke 5:32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

A. The Savior pursues sinners

• He did this when He was walking on the earth.
• He is going after sinners today, using you and me.

B. The Spirit pursues sinners

• He speaks to hearts while we speak to their ears.

C. The scriptures pursue sinners

• Psalms 147:15 He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly.

D. Saints should pursue sinners

• We are here in Christ's stead; we are His feet and His mouth in this world!
• Every one of you saved people should be winning souls to Christ!

OUR SWEET BUT SOMETIMES SHOCKING SAVIOR SPOKE ABOUT

V. THE PRESSURE ON SINNERS

John 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

The pressure on the sinner should not really be the preacher!
It should not really be the soul-winner!
It should be THE HOLY GHOST!

A. The Spirit of God rips open the heart

• God told Saul that it was hard for him to kick against the pricks!
• The Spirit of God uses the sword of the Spirit, the Bible, to cut deep! (Hebrews 4:12)

B. The Spirit of God reproves of sin, righteousness, and judgment

• No one gets saved without realizing that he is a sinner and that he is headed for hell!

C. The Spirit of God reveals

• He not only reveals sin, but He also reveals the Savior!
• He not only reveals the wickedness of the soul, but He also reveals the way of salvation!

OUR SWEET BUT SOMETIMES SHOCKING SAVIOR SPOKE ABOUT

VI. THE PARTY OVER SINNERS

Luke 15:7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

Luke 15:10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

A. There is rejoicing in heaven

• Singing!
• Shouting!
• Leaping!
• Laughing!

B. There is rejoicing in the heart

• 1 Peter 1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

C. There should be rejoicing in the house of God

• God pity that backslidden Christian who looks at his watch during the invitation, as he sits or stands in his pew, while others are on their knees down front!
• God have mercy on that cold-hearted church member who yawns while a little child is being presented for a public profession of faith at 10 minutes after 12!
• There should be REJOICING when someone gets saved!

OUR SWEET BUT SOMETIMES SHOCKING SAVIOR SPOKE ABOUT

VII. THE PLAN FOR SAVED SINNERS

John 8:11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

Jesus didn't have the woman killed, but He told her to go and change her ways!

A. After salvation, stop your wickedness!

• 1 John 2:1a My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not ...
• 1 Thessalonians 4:7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

B. After salvation, start working for the Lord!

• We are saved by grace through faith, WITHOUT works (Ephesians 2:8-9), BUT ...
• Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

C. After salvation, submit to the word of God!

• Let this Book change your life!
• Luke 4:4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

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