1. What is sin? First occurrence in NT: Mt.5:29  Lawlessness  Lawlessness, 1 Jn.3:4  Omission  Omission – Ja.4:17 “everyone who practices righteousness” (2:29) “everyone who…practices lawlessness” (3:4)

2. I. Why Do Most Think Sin Is Harmless?

3. 1. Ps.73, the wicked: Prosperous, 3 Pain free, 4 Peaceful, 5 Pampered, 7 Reaction, 2

4. 2. Eccl.8:11, the delay: “They see not the smoke of the pit, therefore they dread not the fire” Ro.2:4-5 Purpose of longsuffering: Repentance Perversion of longsuffering: Rebellion

5. 3. Hb.11:25, the pleasure: Epicurean motto: “Eat, drink, be merry, for tomorrow we die” “It can’t be wrong when it feels so right”

6. I. Why Do Most Think Sin Is Harmless? II. The High Price Of Low Living

7. Chickens come home to roost Is.3:11, just deserts Ec.8:12-13, not forgotten Ro.6:23, wages, usually soldier’s pay

8. Three aspects of wages of sin: 1. Sin’s pay is death; a deceiver (Gn.3) 2. Since wages is not a single payment, but continuous, death is not simply the final penalty but the active shadow which this death projects on life 3. Wages is a legal term in contrast to gift. Man has rights only in relation to sin; these rights become his judgment – TDNT V, 592

9. I. Why Do Most Think Sin Is Harmless? II. The High Price Of Low Living III. Sin’s Price Tags

10. 1. Peace of Mind Gn.3  Sin brought immediate change: separation, fear Is.48:22

11. 2. Disease Ex.15:26; Ep.6:1-3 Lungs Brain Liver STDs

12. 3. Exposure 2 Sm.11-12 Jer.6:15:  Adulterer  Computer

13. 4. Death Pro.7:…21-27  As an ox goes to the slaughter  Till an arrow struck his liver  As a bird hastens to the snare, He did not know it would take his life  The way to hell (sheol)  Descending to the chambers of death

14. 5. Freedom Pro.23:29-35. Jn.8:32…34 Alcohol Drugs Internet

15. 6. The end – eternal punishment Ps.73:16-17, their end Lk.16 (2 Pt.2:12)... Rv.20:10

16. Peace of Mind Disease Exposure Death Freedom The end (eter. pun.) Present wrath of God (Ro.1:18)

17. Wrath of God Strong indignation directed at wrong- doing, w. focus on retribution God does not lose His temper or throw a tantrum As a calm judge, He sentences the criminal by the demands of His law

18. “Wrath…is being revealed” (1:18) Past: Flood Sodom Plagues Present: Civil authorities (13:1-7) Future: Day of Judgment (2:1-16) Present: Abandons sinners to their fate

19. When God does nothing… Instead of sending fire and brimstone, He appears to do nothing Therefore (24) = 21-23, abandons them (gave them up, 24,26,28)

20. A debased mind (28) Reprobate, worthless, corrupt Word play: They did not approve true God God gave them up to a disapproved mind

21. Amos 8:11-12 Learning the hard way: their most precious possession Punishment fits the crime (cf. 7:12) Saul 1 Sm.28 Prodigal Lk.15

22. Misguided lovers, 2 Th.2:10-12  “Once we assuage our conscience by calling something a ‘necessary evil,’ it begins to look more and more necessary and less and less evil” – Sidney J. Harris  Ahab

23. Mt.7:13-14 We cannot come to a fork and “take it”; to refuse the right way is to choose the wrong