1. Making Sin Righteous In Our Own Eyes Justifying Sinful Actions

2. God Defines Sin Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. (1 Jn. 3:4) All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death. (1 Jn. 5:17) Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. (Jas. 4:17) But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin. (Rom. 14:23)

3. God’s Punishment For Sin For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom. 6:23) But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. (Rev. 21:8) …In flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power… (2 Thess. 1:8-9)

4. Righteousness of God For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith." (Romans 1:16-17) Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. (Romans 10:1-3)

5. Attempts To Justify Sin Adam and Eve (Gen. 3:11-12) Adam and Eve (Gen. 3:11-12) Israelites at Mt. Sinai (Exod. 32:21-24) Israelites at Mt. Sinai (Exod. 32:21-24) King Saul (1 Kings 15) King Saul (1 Kings 15) Lawyer (Lk. 10:25-37) Lawyer (Lk. 10:25-37) Pharisees (Lk. 16:14-15) Pharisees (Lk. 16:14-15) Some at Judgment (Mt. 7:22-23) Some at Judgment (Mt. 7:22-23)

6. Reasoning Behind Justification Satisfy Own Conscience Satisfy Own Conscience Receive Approval of Men Receive Approval of Men Avoid God’s Condemnation Avoid God’s Condemnation To Please Someone Else To Please Someone Else Family member Family member Friends and Neighbors Friends and Neighbors Co-workers Co-workers

7. Current Examples of Justification Unbelief: Atheism, Humanism, Evolution Unbelief: Atheism, Humanism, Evolution Religious Division Religious Division Had To Go To Church When A Child Had To Go To Church When A Child Chemical Imbalance Chemical Imbalance Doesn’t Hurt anyone Else Doesn’t Hurt anyone Else Age: Sowing Wild Oats Age: Sowing Wild Oats Classify Sin As A Matter of Opinion Classify Sin As A Matter of Opinion Everybody Else Is Doing It Everybody Else Is Doing It