By Steve A. Hamilton

Introduction: If there was no sin, there would be no Hell. Satan would have no basis to influence our lives to his ways. If there was no sin Christ would not have died on the cross. Perhaps, Christ would not have had cause to come to Earth in the form of man (2 Cor. 5:21).

The truth is, we all have sinned (Rom. 3:10-12, 23). The reality of sin causes us great pain in life. We want to do good, but all to often we do wrong. Paul recognized this dilemma in Rom. 7:15-25.

What should our attitude toward sin be like recognizing our same dilemma with sin? Should we give up to sin since we know we do sin? Or should we fight against sin since we know we sin?

Let us examine proper and improper attitudes toward sin because we recognize our attitudes determine our actions.

I. Improper attitudes toward sin.

    A. Some people deny sin. They like to think sin does not exist, or if it does exist, they are not guilty of sinning.

        1. 1 John 3:4 defines sin and its existence.

        2. Eccl. 7:20; Rom. 5:12: We all sin.

        3. The Bible has over 21 laundry lists of sin ( Matt. 15:18-20; 1 Cor. 5:9-11; Gal. 5:19-21; etc).

    B. Some people mock sin (Prov. 14:9; 10:23). The fool makes light of sin perhaps to ease his guilty conscience. Yet, when we see the consequences of sin, it cause the God fearing to mourn and languish.

    C. Some people love sin and those who commit sin (2 Tim. 3:4; 2 Thes. 2:12; Rom. 1:32).

    D. Some people dismiss sin.

        1. Felix dismissed his sin (Acts 24:25).

        2. Dismissing the sin doesn’t cause it to go away. If a person with cancer denies or dismisses its existence, will it go away? Rather, it grows and gets worse until the final consequence is death (Rom. 6:23).

II. Proper attitudes toward sin.

    A. We should admit our sins (1 John 1:8-10; 1 Tim. 1:15).

    B. We should hate sin.

        1. Prov. 8:13; Psm. 97:10; 119:104.

        2. Rom. 12:9, "Abhor" literally means to hate.

    C. We should shun sin.

        1. 1 Thes. 5:22, "Abstain" means "to keep oneself from."

        2. We are not to make any allowance for sin (Rom. 13:14).

    D. We are to resist sin.

        1. James 4:7, if we resist the father of sin, he will flee from us.

        2. In our resistance to sin, we are not to compromise an inch (1 Pet. 5:8-9; Eph. 6:13).

    E. We are to expose sin.

        1. Eph. 5:11, call a spade a spade when it comes to sin.

        2. Christ exposed sin (Rom. 8:3).

        3. We are to expose sin (1 Tim. 5:20; Titus 1:13; 2:15).

Conclusion: If we have the proper attitude toward sin we can conquer sin (Rom. 6:1-7). How about you? Have you been baptized for the forgiveness of your sins or do you continue in your sins? Your soul weighs in the balance. The Lord has promised much if we can overcome sin (Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21). Do you have a proper attitude toward sin? If not, please come forward that we may help.