A Reasonable Faith
Isaiah 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
The first section of this course of study is devoted to a consideration of sin. While this may seem unnecessary at first glance, sin is typically a very misunderstood topic. Many things determine a person's understanding of sin. This is why it is important to consider what the Bible says about sin. This first section is composed of three lessons in which you will have an opportunity to consider what the Bible says about The Nature of Sin, The Presence of Sin, and The End of Sin.
Lesson 1 - The Nature of Sin
Sin Defined
1 John 3:4 "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law."
Sin is the _______________________ of the _________.
A transgression is a violation.
James 2:10 "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all."
How many of God's laws does one have to break to be guilty ________?
James 4:17 "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin."
If one knows to do __________ and does it not, it is __________.
Sin is the violation of God's law. It is breaking God's law. The Ten Commandments!
How many of these commandments does one have to break to be considered guilty? _______
Is it good to obey these commandments? _________
If it is good, and we don't do it, what is that called? _________
Sin Inherited
Genesis 2:15-17 "And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die."
Of what tree was the man commanded NOT to eat? _____________________________
If the man did eat of the tree he would surely _________.
Genesis 3:6 "And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat."
Did the man eat of the tree? __________
Did that violate the command of God? _________
Romans 5:12 "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:"
By ______ _______ sin entered into the world.
What came into the world as a result of sin? ________
Who is has sinned? _________
Who will die? _________
Romans 5:19 "For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous."
By one man's disobedience many were made ________.
Sin came into the world by one man, Adam. Being descended from Adam his one sin plunged the entire human race into sin. All men since Adam have been sinners by nature.
Psalm 51:5 "Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me."
A persons inclination is toward sin from the time they are c____________.
Ephesians 2:2,3 "Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others."
We do not walk according to God's course but according to the __________ of this world.
We walk according to the spirit that worketh in the children of ____________________.
We are by ____________ the children of wrath.
The first man sinned and passed on a corrupted nature to all his descendants. Every child is conceived in sin. They are conceived with the nature to sin. Sin comes naturally to them.
Sin Abhorred
Habakkuk 1:13 "Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?"
Iniquity is wickedness or sin. Sin is the violation of God's law.
God cannot look upon _______________.
God is of purer eyes than to behold _________.
Psalm 5:4,5 "For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee. The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity."
God does not take pleasure in __________________.
___________ shall not dwell with God.
God ___________ all workers of _____________.
Psalm 7:11 "God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day."
God is ____________ with the _____________ every day.
Does it matter to God when men sin? _____________
Is God happy with sinners? ___________
Psalm 11:5 "The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth."
What word describes God's feelings toward the wicked? ___________
Having studied these verses answer the following questions:
Sin is a violation of God's ________.
Does God smile upon or excuse sin? _________
Does God take pleasure in wickedness? __________
Does evil dwell with God? ____________
How often is God angry with the wicked? ________ ________
Should we take sin seriously? ___________
In the next lesson, one will consider the presence of sin. It will be discovered that sin is a universal problem, a miserable condition, and results in a present condemnation.
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.
Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain.
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Honour thy Father and thy Mother
Thou shalt not kill.
Thou shalt not commit adultery.
Thou shalt not steal.
Thou shalt not bear false witness [lie]
Thou shalt not covet.