EXCUSES FOR SIN “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” James 1:22 1

Those who make excuses for their sins, reveal a terrible heart condition that will be the death of them spiritually. So many in our society argue with the concept of absolute truth. Many make excuses for errors in their lives and in the lives of others. In their minds eye “sin” or “sins” don’t exist! 2

Observe the Heart Conditions that will cost you, your soul! Wrong doing is being excused by the masses and by individuals who say, “who does it hurt”? The lie of no “absolute truths” in the Bible has become a battle cry for those who work to establish “relative truth” in everyone’s mind. This lie is based in subjective feelings. 3

Heart Conditions of the Soul Truth is no longer based on “objective” truths found in God’s word. Bible students see “Necessary Inferences” in the scriptures. Situation ethics has reduced truth to a matter of opinion. “Truth is now in the eye of the beholder” 4

Haunting excuses and questions used in this life, that will torment many in Hell for all eternity: “What was I thinking?” “But I only did it once!” “After all, I’m only human.” “I really thought I was okay because after all didn’t God make me this way” “I never asked to be born!” “but I always believed it was other people that made you sin.” 5

Excuses People Make to justify themselves: “I didn’t do any thing that was worse than what other people have done!” “I know I promised, but..” “I sincerely didn’t know!” 6

Excuses People make to convince themselves they are not that bad: “After all even Jesus ate with sinners.” “I was mistreated in my youth.” “People make you lie!” “I couldn’t help myself” “I suffer low self esteem.” 7

“Who could blame me?” “I didn’t promise I could do everything right all the time, after all nobody’s perfect.” “But it felt so right, and I was confused!” “Everyone else is doing it!” “Where was God when I needed Him to help me overcome sin?” “I just couldn’t say NO!” 8

Then there are those appealing to human beings for authority: “But my Mom said it was okay.” “My Dad said it was okay.” “My preacher said it was okay.” “Well, the church where I attend doesn’t believe it is wrong!” “Well isn’t that the elder’s responsibility!” 9

10 “I can’t be wrong, because the smartest people in the brotherhood agree with me!” “Answer me this, how can so many people be wrong, and you be right all the time?” “I suffer from sleep apnea and sometimes I don’t know what I’m doing!” Tired of hearing excuses, imagine how it is for God?

Commission – Romans 14:23, “ But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.” Omission- James 4:17, “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” 11

1 John 3:4-9, “Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.” v. 6 George Strait – “It’s a Love without end, Amen!” “A Fathers love is without end, Amen!” But what about Hebrews 12:8 “Your not His Child!” Is God’s love really unconditional? Compare this passage with 1 John 1:5-8, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” 12

13 1 Samuel 15:1-35, “But, I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, and gone on the mission on which the Lord sent me,” 20-21, “But, the people took of the plunder, sheep, oxen, the best of things that should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.”

14 Consider the outcome of King Saul’s sin against God. 1 Samuel 28:3-16, Remember the warnings of 1 Corinthians 10:6,11

Those making excuses for sin reveal a spiritual heart condition that will ultimately lead to their spiritual death! 15

16 Hebrews 10:26-31 “What is your practice, do you admit fault, or do you like most people make an excuse, even to yourself?”

17

Let us look at Pharaoh’s Heart Condition Exodus 5:1-23, “ So Moses returned to the LORD and said, “Lord, why have You brought trouble on this people? Why is it You have sent me?” “For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done evil to this people; neither have You delivered Your people at all.” 18

19 Exodus 8:10, “Now the magicians so worked with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not. So there were lice on man and beast. Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, just as the LORD had said.” 8:15

20 Exodus 9:27, “And Pharaoh sent and called for Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “I have sinned this time. The LORD is righteous, and my people and I are wicked.” Did you think from what Pharaoh said he was sorry and was willing to repent?

21 We see Pharaoh making assumptions based on his limited understanding of the patience of the Lord God. (God had relented before by taking away the plague.) Psalm 50:16-23; Zephaniah 1:12; 2 Peter 3:3-6 Pharaoh thought it was a matter of negotiation concerning the sin of ignoring the commandments of God.

22 Exodus 9:27-28, “And Pharaoh sent and called for Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “I have sinned this time. The LORD is righteous, and my people and I are wicked. Entreat the LORD, that there may be no more mighty thundering and hail, for it is enough. I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer.” Exodus 9:30, “But as for you and your servants, I know that you will not yet fear the LORD God.”

23 Exodus 9:34-35, “And when Pharaoh saw that the rain, the hail, and the thunder had ceased, he sinned yet more; and he hardened his heart, he and his servants. So the heart of Pharaoh was hard; neither would he let the children of Israel go, as the LORD had spoken by Moses.” Romans 9:14-24, “For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.”

24 Exodus 10:16-29, “Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste, and said, “I have sinned against the LORD your God and against you. “Now therefore, please forgive my sin only this once, and entreat the LORD your God, that He may take away from me this death only.”

25