UNDERSTANDING  WHAT SIN IS?

1.  FIRST, there is no understanding of salvation without a understanding of the doctrine of man and sin.  

a. Anyone who talks about “pulling yourself together” does not understand the lost condition of man.   Anyone who talks about “living a good life” does not understand the Biblical conception of mans lost condition.   

2. Remember, If you do not understand the DEPTH of sin, then you will not appreciate the greatness of His power....You will not really comprehend the resurrection and its meaning.  

3. Even our PRAISE OF HIM is connected to our understanding of what He has done for us and our lost condition.  

a. If we know what sin is, what sin is in us, what it cost God to save us...it will create a new quality of praise from us.  What is lacking in most believers is that SENSE OF WONDER, AWE about His death for us.  

4. This lack of understanding about the lostness of man affects our EVANGELISM.  Most evangelism does not start with MANS LOST CONDITION, but it starts with the fact that God has a plan for you and wants to save you.  

a. What would happen if I really FELT THAT EVERY LOST MAN WAS DOMINATED BY THE PRINCE OF THE POWER OF THE AIR?  It would change my whole out look on evangelism.  

b. We would quit trying to win them to our SIDE, our PARTY, our GROUP, our CHURCH....

EPHESIANS

2:1-3 "And you hath he quickened who were dead in your trespasses and sins; Where in time past you 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."

1.  Remember, Before you can appreciate the GREATNESS of salvation, you have to GO DOWN first.  [The further you can go down regulates how far you can go UP]

a. Illustration: You will never have a true conception of REDEMPTION unless you understand the Biblical doctrine of sin.   [He is not just some “friend” to go to when in time of need]

b. Illustration: You cannot understand the doctrine of INCARNATION unless you understand the doctrine of sin.  [Our condition was such that it necessitated the coming of our Lord from heaven to earth...and taking to Himself a human nature  WHY?  BECAUSE OF SIN]  

c. The Biblical view of man is REALISTIC. All of the other plans do not face the facts...They are so pleasant and ingratiating .....they want us to think well of ourselves....and to think well of man..  They say, “give man a chance.”  

1. The Bible comes and says that man is a child of disobedience...sinful.  

d. The Biblical view of man is RADICAL. It does not just face certain ASPECTS of mans problem....IT FACES THEM ALL.  The process is painful...it takes the scapel and dissects and continues to dissect until the canker is exposed...

1. The world is always MEDICATING SYMPTOMS...giving man phenobarbital in a spiritual sense....[When the pain is eased, man thinks it has gone]

e. The Biblical view is also MORE PESSIMISTIC AND MORE OPTIMISTIC than the other views.  

1. The pessimistic aspect is that MAN IS IN THE DEPTHS OF SIN...but the optimistic side is that GOD CAN COME AND TAKE HOLD OF HIM AND RAISE HIM TO NEW HEIGHTS.  

MAN'S STATE IN SIN:  “you hath He quickened who were DEAD.” Eph. 2:1

1. Obviously, he is deaing with a condition of SPIRITUAL DEATH and not actual physical death.  [why?  because he goes on by saying, “wherein you walked”]

a. LESSON:  Life for the non Christian is a LIVING DEATH.  

b. Remember, You cannot say anything beyond saying that a “man is dead.”  

1. It is not “almost” dead, “partially” dead, not “desperately” ill,  but DEAD. 

2. What is DEATH? 

1. It is the exact opposite and antithesis of life.  

2. What is LIFE?  John 17:3...”and this is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.”  THAT IS LIFE. 

a. Life then is to know God, to be in relationship to God, to enjoy God, to correspond with God, to be like God, to share the life of God...

b. Note: Knowing God is talking about Him...”this is life eternal that they might  KNOW THEE.  Can you say, “I know Him”?   

3. Man is IGNORANT of spiritual things and Spiritual life:  

1. Rom. 8: 5   “ For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit do mind the things of the Spirit.”

a. Those who are lost are not INTERESTED in the things of the Spirit.  

b. The law concerning affinities is true.  LIKE APPEALS TO LIKE...like attracts like.

4. Man DISLIKES the things of the Spirit:

a. “the carnal mind is ENMITY against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.  Rom 8:7

5. Man's  life is NOT BLESSED by God:   [therefore, it is miserable].  

1. The life of the world is miserable....this is why it is ALWAYS CHANGING...Man gets tired of everything,  he is always seeking after something new.  Looking for new thrills.

                                                                                                                                                                                               6. Man is GOVERNED BY THE WORLD: “walked according to the course of this world.” Eph. 2:2

1. Meaning:  They live under the control and outlook and mentality of this present evil world.  Gal 1:4.  

2. What  do we mean by the world?  It is the OUTLOOK and MENTALITY and ORGANIZATION of life apart from God.  

a. It does NOT mean the physical world....the mountains and rivers, etc.  

b. The WORLD IS A MENTALITY, THE WORLD IS AN OUTLOOK,  A VIEW OF LIFE APART FROM GOD.  

3. ILLUSTRATIONS OF THIS.

a. Their appearance is controlled by the world....they think as the world thinks.   Their OPINIONS come from the world.  

7. Man is CONTROLLED by evil principles in life:

1. “wherein in time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in children of disobedience.” Eph. 2:2

a. The word “spirit” here means the PRINCIPLE...there is an evil principle working in the world.  

b. Note the word “working”  which is a very STRONG WORD.  There is an energy, a force behind it.  

1. NOTE:  There is nothing more pathetic than to think of life as a PASSIVE LIFE or a NEGATIVE LIFE....the fact is there is a very powerful and strong principle of evil at work in this world.  

2. Can’t you see how organized, how uniform it is...?

                        3. THIS EVIL PRINCIPLE IS GOVERNED BY THE DEVIL AND HIS POWERS.  

                      1.  “according to the prince of the power of the air.” v. 2 

                     a. Yes, I believe in the devil because I cannot explain life without him.  The devil is so subtle that he dominates a man and at the same time persuades that man that he is not being dominated.  

                      2. Note Eph 6:12 ”we wrestle not against flesh and blood”    [the problems of the world is not just dealing with another man or men]   If you think the problems of the world is a problem of PERSONALITTIES, a problem of a Hitler or a Stalin etc. then you are blinded. “we wrestle against principalites and power, rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."  

                      3. Lesson to christians:

                     a. Quit thinking or dreaming of ease and thinking of salvation as some sort of life without strife or struggle.  NOT IN THIS WORLD.