Different Attitudes About Sin Lk 16:15 CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO
People have different attitudes about sin. Today, we are going to preach about these different attitudes in an effort to expose them. Hopefully, our depictions will be clear enough for you to find yourself in the list. In this study on attitudes about sin, we see:
Sinners Determined – Lk 16:15 – ye are they which justify yourselves before men – these are sinners who excuse their sin – in other words, they know what they are doing is wrong but they have convinced themselves that it is all right for them to do it – they have come up with justification in their own minds to do what they want to do – the Lord says they are an abomination to him – often a sinner like this will justify his sin by pointing out that you have sin in your life – thus, it’s okay for him to have sin in his life.
Sinners Displayed – Num 25:6 – in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel – Ex 32:6 – the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play – these are sinners who are not ashamed of sin and who openly flaunt their sin in public – they are proud of who they are and what they do – that’s why you have gay “pride” for instance – many sinners know that what they are doing is sin but they don’t care – they are proud to put it on display – for instance, you smoked your first cigarette in hiding, then you showed off to your friends because you wanted them to see that you were cool and now you don’t care who sees you.
Sinners Deluded – Prov 28:13 – he that covereth his sins shall not prosper – these are the hypocrites – these are sinners who are two-faced and double-minded – they sin but they pretend not to do it – the more they sin the more they cover it up – and yet they think that they are getting away with it because you cannot see what they are doing – they commit their sins in secret [Ps 19:12; Rom 2:16] – while they are sinning secretly, they openly denounce sin and condemn sinners who display their sin –– that’s part of the cover.
Sinners Depressed – 2 Cor 7:10 – the sorrow of the world worketh death – these are sinners who know what they are doing is “wrong” but they like what they’re doing too much to stop – so when they give into the sin, they enjoy the pleasure temporarily, and then they feel horrible afterwards – they are guilty and ashamed – but after the guilt and shame wear off then they are right back at it – the result is that they go through bouts of depression – this cycle is not the only cause of depression but it accounts for some of it.
Sinners Depraved – Rom 1:28 – God gives them over to a reprobate mind – these are sinners whose consciences are so defiled [Titus 1:15] and seared [1 Tim 4:2] that they accept what they are doing as perfectly normal and see nothing wrong with it at all [Eph 4:17-19] – as a matter of fact, they look at you like you’ve lost your mind if you point out that what they are doing is sin – you are an abomination to them [Prov 29:27].
Sinners Done – 2 Cor 7:10 – godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation – these are sinners who have some to the end – they have reaped enough consequences – perhaps before reaping the full load they come to the fear of God and realize that they must stop – they repent and forsake their sin – their repentance is real and the result is heart-broken contrition [Ps 51:17] – they quit [1 Pet 4:1] and now they are free [Rom 6:6-7] – they have liberty [2 Cor 3:17] and now they have joy [1 Pet 1:8-9].
Conclusion: where are you in the list – hopefully, you are a “sinner done” – but if not then you need to acknowledge the truth about your attitude toward your sin – you need to see who you really are – and then you need to get in that Bible and confess to God what you are and then you need to repent and turn from this wickedness – you need to turn to the Lord and let him make you free – that’s the only way you can ever get it behind you!!