INTRODUCTION: What is
sin, anyway? A child, "When you do something wrong!"
Incorrect English. What says the Bible? 1. Sin
is the transgression of the Law. 2. Sin is missing
the mark. 3. Sin is any unrighteousness. Isaiah
5 records 6 sins of Israel that stirred God to anger.
We have already examined the first four sins:
1. The Sin of Covetousness
(Is. 5:8-10).
2. The Sin of Licentiousness
(Is. 5:11-17).
3. The Sin of Promoting
Sin (Is. 5:18-19).
4. The Sin of Calling
Good Evil, and Evil Good (Is. 5:20).
Now, let's look at the
final two sins that aroused God's wrath against Israel:
I. The Sin of Conceit/Pride
(Isaiah 5:21).
A. Many think they
are right, when they are plainly wrong. ILLUS: The
Boy with the Braid, and his parents.
His mother was unwise
and wrong about this in 2 respects:
1. God doesn't want
men to have long hair (I Cor. 11:14-15).
2. The best way to
teach the boy responsibility is to let HIM suffer the
consequences
of HIS choice,
not to blame the coach.
B Pride was Satan's
sin. Adam and Eve's sin. We need to humble ourselves
under God and His Word, and not just decide for ourselves
what is right or wrong.
II. The Sin of Corruption
and Injustice in the Courts (Isaiah 5:22-23).
A. Note: High society,
judges, lawyers, congressmen, are just as likely to
overdo the
alcohol and
drugs as are the poor street people. They just dress
it up better.
B. In years gone
by, government corruption was something that they did
in other countries: Bribes for a passport, for a driving
license, for justice in the courtroom, etc. What is
happening to America? What does God think about it?
ILLUS: Cal Thomas'
comments on Clinton vs Paula Jones.
C. Upright, honest
tough law courts a a deterrent to crime. ILLUS: Man
with a money bag from a money truck.
CONCLUSION: God is loving
and forgiving, slow to anger. But He does get angry
at sin. Israel made God angry by covetousness, licentiousness,
promoting sin, confusing good and evil, conceit and
injustice in the courts. We are all sinners. Israel
needed a Savour. We need a Saviour. God sent His
Son to die for our sins, and turn aside his wrath.
Prayer
*Hymn # 183 "Beneath the
Cross of Jesus"