THE CHARACTER OF SIN (PART TWO)

Bob Myhan

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n the last issue of the Faith Builder we dealt with the deceptive nature of sin. This, we believe, is its chief trait. While the particular deception may not always be the same, every sin will deceive in some way. Many of its other traits are variations on this first one. That is, it often has the opposite trait from what it seems to have. This makes it all the more dangerous. While one may discover some of these variations by experience, there is always another one that has perhaps escaped one’s notice. But the more one can learn from the experiences of others [not to mention the Scriptures] about sin’s character, the greater chance one has of not being deceived thereby.

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ot only is sin deceptive, it is also degenerative. By this we mean, “evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Tim. 3:12). From this passage we learn that sin is degenerative precisely because it is deceptive.

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avid illustrates the degenerative nature of sin in describing the man who is blessed. “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:1-3).

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otice the degeneration here: walking in the counsel of the ungodly degenerates to standing in the path of sinners, which degenerates to sitting in the seat of the scornful. The only way one can avoid winding up “in the seat of the scornful,” therefore, is delighting in the law of the Lord and meditating in it day and night. Those who fail to do this are deceived into thinking that the counsel of the ungodly is wise, which is the only reason anyone would walk therein.

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he degenerative nature of sin can be illustrated in the account of Amnon raping his half-sister (2 Samuel 13:1-19). “Amnon was so distressed over his sister Tamar that he became sick; for she was a virgin. And it was improper for him to do anything to her” (v. 2).

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pparently Amnon could see no way to satisfy his lust for her, inasmuch as virgins were kept in isolation. But his ungodly friend advised him on how to get her alone and gratify his sexual appetite (vv. 3-5).

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mnon walked in the counsel of the ungodly when he took his friend’s advice (2 Sam. 13:6-11). He stood in the way of sinners when he raped Tamar (2 Sam. 13:12-14). And he sat in the seat of the scornful when, after raping her, he “hated her exceedingly, so that the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her” (2 Sam. 13:15-19).

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eedless to say, family relations degenerated, as well. Tamar’s brother, Absalom, harbored such ill will against Amnon that—two full years after this took place—he arranged for the murder his own half brother (2 Sam. 13:23-33).

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peaking of false teachers, Jude gives three examples of the degenerative nature of sin (v. 11). “Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.”

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ain degenerated to the point that “he murdered his brother…because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous” (1 John 3:12). Balaam degenerated to the point that he “taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality” (Rev. 2:14). Korah degenerated to the point that he stood up against Moses and Aaron with such audacity that his very death was so horrific that it served as a sign that Moses and Aaron had truly been chosen by God to lead His people (Numbers 16:1-50). More than 14,950 people died because they walked “in the counsel of the ungodly” Korah.

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he inspired writer of the epistle to the Hebrews shows how the deceptiveness of sin can lead to degeneration of the sinner’s character. “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called ‘Today,’ lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (Heb. 3:12,13). Notice the degeneration: first, deception; then the hardening of the heart in unbelief; and finally, “departing from the living God.”

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es, sin is certainly degenerative. As someone has said, “It will take you further than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay and cost you more than you are able to pay.” &

WORSHIPPING WHILE ON VACATION

Guest Writer: Kyle Pope

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s you travel from place to place the next time you’re on vacation think about some of the reasons it is important to take the time to find a faithful group of Christians to worship with while you are away.

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t encourages other Christians. All over the world Christians struggle with faithfulness, both as individuals and as congregations. Especially in congregations it can offer a real “shot in the arm” to brethren to meet those who love the Lord from other places.

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t teaches our children. Taking the time to find a local church to worship with teaches our children who travel with us that while vacations may be fun there is also a place for the Lord in our times of relaxation.

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t teaches those who are with us. Often vacations involve time with friends or family who do not share our faith. It can have a strong impact on these we love to see us happily and anxiously set aside our entertainment for a while to focus on spiritual things.

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t edifies us. Brethren in other places are doing a great work. They have great insights, energy and zeal. Learning from their strengths and weaknesses can help us better serve the congregation we work with and [in some cases] be more thankful for what we have.

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t pleases the Lord. When the Lord instructs us in Hebrews 10:25 “to consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (NKJV), He is talking about the way we should live our lives all year round. We should never adopt a mentality that looks for the “minimum daily requirements,” that fulfill these instructions. While worship on the Lord’s day with the local church where we regularly worship is important, that is not all that Hebrews 10: 10:24,25 addresses. Mid-week studies, gospel meetings in the area, and worship services in other places are all assemblies of God’s people striving to grow. We must remember that fellowship with the Lord means that we have fellowship with His people, whether locally or in other places (1 John 1:1-4). & [Truth Magazine, August 24, 2003, via Topics for Thought, August 31, 2003]