The Only Thing God Hates

The Only Thing God Hates

Isa. 59:1,2

Intro.

A. Last week - the nature of God and what it means to know God. Today - what is the only

thing God hates?

B. The saddest story of man is the garden of Eden (man’s fall into sin); the saddest story of God is the cross (Mt. 27:46). The tragedy of one is the reason for the other.

C. It is sin God hates, not the sinner. It is sin that we should hate - not the sinner. (The doctor hates the disease and tries to eradicate it, not the patient!)

Body:

A. Three attitudes toward sin:

1. Sin does not exist - just “preacher talk.”

a. Some preachers do not talk that way - one said concerning sin “forget it as a bad dream.”

b. All you have to do is look at the locked doors, gated communities, burglar alarms.

c. 1 Jn. 1:8; Rom. 3:23

2. It exists but I’m not going to think about it.

a. We will “ignore it away.” Cover head with a pillow and the bad man can’t find you!

b. Felix waited for a convenient time (not now) (Acts 24:25).

3. It exists and I’m trying to separate myself from it (Rom. 6:17,18).

B. The meaning of sin:

1. Literally means “to miss the mark” - fall short (Rom. 3:23), lawlessness (1 Jn. 3:4; or transgression, 2 Jn. 9), lust conceived (Jas. 1:12-15), omission (Jas. 4:17; 1 Jn. 3:17,18), or violating conscience (Rom. 14:23).

2. It is deceitful (Heb. 3:12,13).

a. In garden of Eden (Gen. 3:1-5; 2 Cor. 11:3 “But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”)

b. Advertising uses the avenue of deceit - How did tobacco companies get women smoking? (Picture of woman looking a man smoking, moved a little closer - look like enjoying it, help him light it, then try it.)

3. It enslaves (Jn. 8:34; Rom. 6:16).

a. It can cause a brother’s conscience to become so seared that he cannot feel (1 Tim. 4:2)

b. “Sin is first pleasing, then it grows easy, then delightful, then frequent, then habitual, then the man is impatient, then he is obstinate, then he is resolved never to repent, and then he is ruined!”

c. A sinful life does not end with just one sin - it grows - the drug addict, the promiscuous,

viewers of pornography, etc.

4. It is contagious (1 Cor. 5:6,7; 15:33).

a. You catch a cold - but not health (it is not contagious).

b. Like throwing a rock in the water - it multiplies itself in circles.

c. Think of the influence of a father or mother who lives in sin; think of all the “good young people” who got in the wrong crowd and “caught the disease”!

C. The results of sin:

1. Separates from God (Isa. 59:1,2) - spiritual death (Ezek. 18:20), eternal death (Rev. 20:14)

2. Causes heartache, suffering and death (Prov. 13:15 “the way of the unfaithful (transgressor) is hard”).

3. It separates brethren (Prov. 6:16-19; 16:28).

4. It separates from the church (Acts 5 swift punishment; 1 Cor. 5:9-13).

5. It separates from heaven (judgment parables, Mt. 25:31-34,41,46).

Concl.

A. To keep sin from separating you - must be separate (2 Cor. 6:17).

B. The remedy is in the blood of Christ (Mt. 26:28; Rom. 6:3-6; 1 Jn. 1:7).