Undoing the Chaos of Sin

REFLECTION QUOTES

“The only way to get rid of sin is to admit it, for without honest repentance, forgiveness and grace are impossible. The Christian does not go around all the time feeling guilty. For him sin is a burden he can lay down for he can admit it, repent and be forgiven. It is the unfortunate creature who denies the existence of sin in general and his own in particular who must go on carrying it. The way to freedom consists in honest confession and repentance that can open our hearts to the Comforter.”

~Joy Davidman (1915-1960) in Smoke on the Mountain


“Sin is ironic. Its intention is self-exaltation, its result is self-debasement. In trying to ascend, we fall.”

~Glenn Tinder in “Can We Be Good Without God?” in
The Atlantic Monthly

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it. I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”

~Jeremiah 17:9-10 (ESV)

“Thou art become (O worst imprisonment!) the dungeon of thyself.”

~John Milton (1608-1674), English poet

“There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root.”

~Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862), American author and poet

“Freedom is when you have the desire, the ability, and the opportunity to do what will leave you with no regrets forever.”

~John Piper (1946-present), pastor and author

SERMON PASSAGE


Selections from 1 John (NASB)
1 John 1:5-10

5 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; 7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.

1 John 2:1-2

1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; 2 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.

1 John 2:15-17

15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

1 John 3:4-5

4 Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin.

1 John 4:10

10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

I John 5:5,21

5 Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

21 Little children, guard yourselves from idols.