1 Timothy 5:17-20

Are You Afraid to Sin?

“Rebuke elders who sinned” 1. To sober the sinner, & cause him to have a sense of shame 2. Make others have no desire to come under the same humiliation Greek – “to confute or admonish” lit. “to expose” in the ASV “to reprove” Dictionary – “to criticize or reprove sharply; reprimand” Reprove- “to rebuke for a fault or misdeed; scold…find fault with.”

Sin is Against God Luke 15:18 “I have sinned against heaven” We must Clearly and Distinctly be Against ALL SIN Why do people Continue to Sin? Not afraid TO sin, because they are not afraid OF sin Sin- “Iniquity, deviation or turning aside” Isaiah 53:6 “gone astray” 2 John 9 “transgresses” Romans 3:23; 1 John 3:4

Sin is Against God Some seem to think they can continue to engage in sin & escape the consequences Others just sin a little, now & then, and they say they really WANT to control it No One can accurately calculate the long range affects it may have on others Ezekiel 18:20 “soul who sins shall die” James 1:15 “brings forth death” Numbers 32:23 “will find you out”

God is the Reason Why We Should Be Afraid to Sin! Psalm 36:1,2 “no fear of God before his eyes” Romans 3:10-18 “there is no fear of God before their eyes.” Luke 23:40 “do you not even fear God” GOD IS TO BE FEARED! Psalm 89:7 Psalm 90:11 “as the fear of You, so is Your wrath.” Matthew 10:28; Revelation 14:1-7

Many Reasons Why we Should be Afraid to Sin Sodom & Gomorrah – Genesis Chapter 19 Korah, Dathan and Abiram – Numbers Chapter 16 Paul warns US in 1 Corinthians 10:8 “and in one day twenty three thousand fell.” Nadab and Abihu – Leviticus 10:1,2

Many Reasons Why we Should be Afraid to Sin We Cannot Hide From God! Psalm 139:7-9 “where can I go” Hebrews 4:12,13 “no creature hidden” 2 Corinthians 5:11 “knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord” 2 Corinthians 7:1 “fear of God” Philippians 2:12 “fear & trembling” Hebrews 10:31 “fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God”

WHY ARE PEOPLE NOT AFRAID TO SIN? Brethren Don’t Do Anything About it! Galatians 6:1,2 “restore…in a spirit of gentleness” Galatians 2:14 Could it be that we are too involved in sin ourselves to be successful in helping a brother?

WHY ARE PEOPLE NOT AFRAID TO SIN? Preachers are Turning Sin Into a Disease! 2 Timothy 4:1-4 “preach the word” Cannot Soften Sin & Make it Less Threatening to mankind! Lack of Discipline in the church- Acts 5 – First case- “Great fear came upon all the church…” 1 Corinthians Chapter 5 2 Thessalonians 3:6

WHY ARE PEOPLE NOT AFRAID TO SIN? Our Punishment is Not Immediate- and will only come in the Day of judgment Amos 6:3 “Woe to you who put far off the day of doom, who cause the seat of violence to come near.” Psalm 119:11 “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” Romans 6:23 “wages of sin is death”

Consequences of Sin Should Lead to Fear Adam & Eve – Genesis 3:10 ”I was afraid” Sexually Immoral man in Corinth – 2 Corinthians 7:8-10 Peter – Luke 22:62 “Peter wept” Jesus promised in Matthew 5:4 “blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted”

How Do You Look At You Sin? Are you Remorseful over it? Are you Afraid you might DO IT AGAIN?