Sermon | The Origin of Sin
Categories: Sermon Outlines, Topical Sermon Outlines Tags: Sermons on SinSermon on the Origin of Sin
INTRODUCTION:
A. Sin, is a word we are all familiar with, or, are we?
1. Sin comes from hamartia and literally means “to miss the mark” – it is the idea of an archer missing the target
2. Sin, though it is a small word, is a very terrible word
3. Sin is terrible because it separates man from God
a. Isaiah 59:1-2
b. Consider also – 1 John 1:6
B. Many in the religious world today try to talk as little about sin as they think they can get away with.
1. We are seeing the deteriorating results of this terrible philosophy in our world today
2. People do not know a lot about sin, so out of ignorance or indifference they commit sin
C. We need to study sin seriously because of its frequent use and its soul damning effect
1. The origin of sin is where we will begin our study
3. We will divide the study of the origin of sin in three parts:
a. The pre-Eden origin of sin
b. The origin of sin on earth
c. The origin of sin within the individual
DISCUSSION:
A. THE PRE-EDEN ORIGIN OF SIN
1. Though sin began on earth in the garden of Eden (Gen. 3), it is obvious that this is not the original beginning of sin and evil; for, the very presence of Satan in Eden proves this fact.
a. Thus, in dealing with the original beginning of sin, we must deal with the origin of Satan.
b. We cannot know everything about the origin of Satan, but there is information on the subject that God has revealed to us that we need to study.
2. Satan apparently was originally a holy angel in heaven, but sinned
a. To say that Satan was created as Satan, as the devil, reflects on the holiness of God
1) It would make God the creator of sin
2) “God saw everything that he had made and it was good” (Gen. 1:31)
b. Satan must have been an angel, since he was neither God (as evidenced by his subordination to God) nor man (as evidenced by his power over man).
3. Upon sinning, Satan was cast out of heaven
a. We need to remember that God dwells in holiness:
1) “God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness” (Psa. 47:8)
2) Revelation 21:27
b. Thus, Satan’s expulsion from heaven was inevitable and immediate upon his having sinned.
c. Other angelic creatures, having sinned, were cast down to hell
1) “God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell” (2 Pt. 2:4)
2) Jude 6
4. What is the destiny of Satan and those of like kind?
a. They are lost
1) Matthew 25:41
2) Revelation 19:20
b. And apparently it seems they are beyond redemption
1) “For verily not to angels doth he give help, but he giveth help to the seed of Abraham” (Heb. 2:16)
2) The Bible speaks of no scheme of redemption for Satan and his angels.
B. THE ORIGIN OF SIN ON EARTH
1. Sin had its beginning on earth in Genesis 3
a. This is one reason the first book of the Bible is called “Genesis”
b. “Genesis” means beginnings
2. Notice Satan’s diabolical and deceptive tactics on man in the garden of Eden
a. First, notice his timely approach
1) He approached Eve when she was unsupported by her husband – Adam seems to be there but gave her no aid
2) In like manner, Satan approached Christ at the perfect time as well (Mt. 4:1ff)
3) Satan will do the same with us
b. Secondly, notice his insinuating question
1) “Yea, hath God said …?” (Gen. 3:1)
2) Satan was trying to generate doubt in the mind of Eve
3) Satan throws doubt on the Divine Word
4) Satan put a question mark where God put a period
5) The same tactic is being used today
c. Thirdly, Satan implies unfair treatment
1) It seems as if Satan said to Eve, “Surely God has not given you such an unfair restriction.”
2) Today, Satan is having his way with us when he can convince us that in living the Christian life we are burdened, mistreated and deprived.
3. Notice Satan’s three way approach
a. Satan uses three avenues through which to tempt man – 1 John 2:15-17
b. Genesis 3:6 In the case of Eve there was:
1) The lust of the flesh – she saw that the tree was good for food
2) The lust of the eye – the tree was pleasant to the eyes
3) The pride of life – it was a tree to be desired to make one wise
c. The devil also tempted Jesus in these avenues in the wilderness (Mt. 4)
4. There were three steps in man’s original fall
a. Man listened to a lie
b. Man believed a lie
c. Man obeyed a lie
5. Why did man sin?
a. He desired freedom from divine restraint; he desired to be independent of God
b. This nature is seen in the parable of the prodigal son (Lk. 15:11-32)
C. THE ORIGIN OF SIN WITHIN THE INDIVIDUAL
1. Sin does not originate in the individual through hereditary total depravity
a. Sin is not inherited, it comes as a result of a violation of God’s word – 1 John 3:4
b. Ezekiel 18:20
c. Matthew 18:1-4
2. The origin of sin in the individual is described in James 1:13-15
a. There is first lust, then enticement, followed by temptation, resulting in sin, with spiritual death ultimately following
b. Each individual is the begetter of his own sin and the ancestor of his own demise.
3. The teaching of James 1:13-15 is graphically illustrated in the case of the sin of Achan
a. Joshua 7:20-21
b. Achan saw, Achan coveted, Achan took and Achan died.
c. The same thing occurred in Eve’s case
1) Eve saw, Eve coveted, Eve took and Eve died
2) The same will happen to us today if we give in to the devil
CONCLUSION:
A. We know how sin originates
B. We also know that by our own free will sin has originated in all of us who are of an accountable age (Rom. 3:23)
C. The Bible, though, teaches us how to relieve ourselves of the terrible consequences of sin …
Gleaned from Wendall Winkler