Pulpit Speech II                                                KL Paulson
Preacher Silcox                                                  2-23-1999

The Sin Nature (Part 1)

INTRODUCTION:

   -- The Sin Nature is that part of the essence of the soul acquired at Adam's Fall and subsequently passed on to EVERY person at birth. (Genesis 3; Romans 5:12)

   -- The Sin Nature is the CENTER of the soul's rebellion against God.

   -- A human SOUL'S CHARACTERISTICS:

* Self-consciousness
* Mentality--understanding, perceptions, thoughts, reasoning, imagination
* Volition--your will, choice, decision
* Emotion--grief, joy
* The Sin Nature

I. The Essence of the Sin Nature 

 
  Isaiah 64:6-7  "we are all as an unclean thing"
                 -- DIRTY RAGS

   Romans 8:7-9 "they that are in the flesh" <- v. 8

   A. The Sin Nature Directs the Production of ALL Personal Sin.

        TYPES of personal sin produced: 

    1. Mental Attitude sins  [wrong Thinking]  See Matthew 15:18-19
    2. Sins of the Tongue    [wrong Speaking]
    3. Open sinful Activity  [wrong Acting]

   B. The Sin Nature has Patterns of Lusts (desires). 

    I Peter 2:11 "abstain from fleshly lusts"
                 "war against the soul"

    Basic drives: 

    1. Desire for Power 
       (e.g. climbing the corporate job 'ladder'
             Often, today, money ($$$) buys the power.)

    2. Approbation 
       (attention, worldly praise, compliments, being accepted
        commendation, congratulations, applause of men)

    3. Ego  [Greek word for "I" in the KJV]
       (e.g. the 'ME' & 'ME ONLY' generation of 90's

       SHELLfishness -- SELFishness)

    4. Satisfaction -- Sexual, Material, etc.

II. Trends in the Sin Nature

   A. The Sin Nature has a system of Trends (inclinations) which Vary among Individuals.

        We are ALL PRONE to REBEL whether we like to admit it or not!

        1. Most people have an inclination toward Immorality or La-sci-vi-ous-ness. 

 
      [See Romans 1:18-32  
         excess, indeceny, shameless conduct]

      -- Lasciviousness unrestrained results in immoral degeneracy. 
         (e.g. fornication, violence-gang activity, terrorism-car bombings, 
               murder, dope addiction) 

      -- Wicked thoughts [potentially habits given time] need to be cut off as 
         soon as possible. 
         (e.g. ELI didn't RESTRAIN his 2 boys: HOPHNI & PHINEHAS
               See I Samuel 2:22-25; 3:11-14
               He seemed to be scared to DISCIPLINE)

        2. Some others have trends toward 'Morality' or Asceticism up to a point. 

      [Really motivated by SELF-justification, 
                           SELF-righteousness, etc.] 
 
      -- Professing Christians WITHOUT any hint of conversion.

      -- 'Moral' as their written histories record.   
         (e.g. Martin Luther--father of the reformation)

      -- No testimony of repentance.
         (my sheep hear my voice & I know them & they FOLLOW me)

   B. True Born-again Believers Still Possess the Old Sin Nature & Still Commit Sins. 

    Apostle Paul's inward STRUGGLE with sin (Romans 7:14-25)
    He had a BATTLE to do what was right. 

    NO 'sinless perfection' in this life (I John 1:8,10) 

    1. A true believer out of fellowship may actually commit any sin that his 
       unbeliever counterpart might. 

       (I'm not saying at all that this would be normal. 
        To be out of fellowship is NOT NORMAL.)

       (The Holy Spirit 'tugs/pulls' at your heart for you to get out of sin 
        or sin's way.) 

       (Hebrews 12:5-11 -- God's Woodshed)

    2. The importance of your Daily Walk w/ God & being Faithful in Christian 
       activities.

III. Bible Synonyms for the Sin Nature

   -- Several TERMS used in Scripture:

   A. Sin (singular) 

    -- Psalm 51:5--born in a STATE of sin; 
       Romans 5:12; 
              7:14--"sin dwelleth in me"; 
       I John 1:8--People have a natural tendency/bent to sin.

   B. Flesh (natural man)

        -- the emphasis here is on the location of the Sin Nature in the "flesh" or life of the individual. 

      Romans 8:8; 
             7:18-19; 
             13:14; 
      Galatians 5:16-21; 
      Ephesians 2:3--conversation => life.

   C. Old Man

        -- referring to the believer's FORMER manner of life as an unbeliever. 

      Ephesians 4:22; 
      Colossians 3:5-9.

   D. Heart

        -- in some usages the word "heart" refers to a facet of the soul which is the source of sin. 

      Jeremiah 17:9--deceitful & wicked; 
      Matthew 12:34--what we SAY reveals what is in our hearts; 
              15:18-19; 
      Mark 7:21-23; 
      Psalm 58:2-5--go astray from the time of birth...speaking lies.

   E. Carnality

        -- derived from the Latin for "flesh". 

      Romans 7:14--"I am carnal"; 
             8:6-8--enmity; 
      I Corinthians 3:1-3.

CONCLUSION:

   -- Today, we looked @ 

      the ESSENCE -- man is not 'basically good' or getting better

      2 TRENDS: Immoral & 'Moral'

      5 SYNONYMS: sin, flesh, old man, heart, carnality 

    of the SIN NATURE.

        Next time, we'll cover some PRINCIPLES & SOLUTIONS to the SIN NATURE.