The Evil of Sin Within
Minister: | Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: | 11/16/2014 AM |
Text: | Galatians 5; Lord's Day 44 |
Psalters: | 416, 391, 215, 60 |
- The description.
- To "covet" is to judge something to be desirable, and then to long for it in order to possess it.
- To covet is a natural activity of man as a creature, and it is not per se sinful.
- After the fall into sin, coveting can be either right or wrong.
- It is right if the thing desired is a good thing and the desire is moderate.
- It is wrong when the good thing we desire belongs to my neighbor.
- It is wrong when my coveting is immoderate (too much so we are not content) - called a "lust."
- While the state and the church cannot and do not punish for violations of the tenth commandment God does.
- Scripture contains serious warnings concerning this sin.
- Scripture speaks of it as "idolatry" (Col. 3:5) and says it leads to hell (I Tim. 6:9).
- It is a deceitful sin, for it is called a “cloke” (I Thess. 2:5).
- And it is a mother sin, giving rise to many other evils within and without (a "root of evil" I Tim. 6:10).
- This sin is deeply offensive to God.
- Covetousness damages love for God, as we become filled with love for ourselves rather than God.
- God hates covetousness because it is the act of worshiping earthly things rather than Him.
- Covetousness destroys relationships with jealousy, so we cannot love our neighbor.
- Thus God condemns sin as it begins deep within us: in the imagination of the thoughts of our heart (Gen. 6:5).
- Scripture contains serious warnings concerning this sin.
- The positive calling.
- Salvation in Jesus Christ means forgiveness for all of our coveting and also freedom from having to covet.
- Rejoice at your neighbor’s prosperity and good, seeing God as the Giver (instead of selfishly bitterness).
- Consider the antidotes against this sin.