Purpose: To help seekers see themselves as our Holy God sees them: utterly sinful and separated from him. This realization brings about a desire for both forgiveness and repentance.
When ever I go into this studywith someone I know that it is either going to make or break their journey in seeking the basic truth about God and the gospel of Jesus. Why? Well, because no one likes talking about their sin and no one likes hearing that we are called to standard of holiness by God.
Now, holy doesn't mean you are perfect or better than anyone. It simply means that your life is set apart from the majority. You will learn more about this as you move forward.
BUT talking about Sin has a way of making people shrink back, because let's face it...when we take a look at our Sin before a God that is Holy sometimes it can be intimidating and shameful.
God doesn't want us to shrink back. Does he want our sin to grieve us? Sure, but he wants that grief to inspire an action of change in us.
You should check out my conversion story HERE
I have no shame in talking about my past or my sin. I have overcome it and I continue to do so each day! The same can be for you!
1 PETER 2:9-10
Every person is either in the darkness or the light. This study will show us that outside of Jesus we are all in the darkness.
Darkness Not a People No Mercy
Light People of God Mercy
ISAIAH 59:1-2
What is the consequence of sin? Sin hurts others, hurts ourselves, but ultimately sin hurts and separates us from God. God is light. As long as the wall of sin remains, we are in the darkness. In order to have a relationship with God, the barrier of sin must come down.
ROMANS 3:21-24
We will come back to other ideas in this text later, but focus on v23. Who has sinned? Use illustrations to show that some are better than others, but all sin and fall short. Examples: Swimming to Hawaii, or graph showing piles of sin. Who is more lost? There is no "good person" who is without sin.
Everyone has fallen short. Sin has had an impact on everyone.
No one is sinless (see also 1 John 1:10).
There is no good deed that you can perform that will save you from your sin.
MARK 7:14-23
Sin is not simply wrong actions, but a problem of the heart. Who is responsible for our sin? Despite genetics, parenting, peer pressure and socio-economic conditions, we are responsible for our own sin, which comes from our own hearts and makes us unclean. What is the consequence of being unclean before God? Discuss the sins Jesus talks about here.
GALATIANS 5:19-21 16-25
Sin is the fundamentally "un-God-ward" orientation of our "flesh" or "sinful nature" and finds expression in many different ways. Emphasize "and the like." What is the common element in all these things? Self-centeredness. Be as specific as necessary to explain and share from your own life about the sins listed. How do you see yourself in these verses? What sins have been characteristic of your own sinful nature? (If needed, look at additional Scriptures which catalog sins.)
The sinful nature opposes the Spirit. We must live according to the Spirit.
We will not inherit the Kingdom of God if we choose to live according to the sinful nature.
JAMES 4:17
We are sinful and in need of forgiveness not only as a result of those sins we have committed, but for failing to do the good that we know to do.
ROMANS 6:15-18
How does sin enslave? Note that sin is a power that must be defeated as well as specific acts that must be repented of. Who alone can set us free from sin? (John 8:31-36)
ROMANS 6:20-23
What are the eternal consequences of sin? Why be urgent to learn about receiving the gift of God that comes through Jesus Christ? Review these verses as honestly as you can to get in touch with the bad news about your own sinfulness. In the next couple of studies, we will look at the good news of God's solution to our bondage to sin. (Note: In some instances it is important to have the person articulate how he or she was saved or forgiven of sin before examining the Bible's teaching about salvation.)
ADDITIONAL HELPFUL SCRIPTURES:
Revelation 21:8
Romans 1:21-32
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Colossians 3:5-11
2 Timothy 3:1-5
James 2:10-11
How does this affect God’s plan?
How has this changed your understanding of sin?
What is the problem of sin?
If sin separates us from God, who has the power to remove the barrier?
It may be helpful for you to write down on paper the sin in your life. Take some time to write a letter to God specifically confessing your sin to him. This helps us to see how much we need God.