The Root of the Problem: Chapter 15 – Making Sin a Habit (Excerpt)

May 6, 2011 by

The Root of the Problem (cover)Sadly, many have developed a habit of sin. They have sinned so often that they now do it without even thinking. This is a very dangerous condition. We cannot repent of sin unless we first see the sin that is in our lives. The occasional sin is easier to see. It stands out to us – not just because it is out of character for us to engage in a certain behavior, but because we have to make the conscious decision to ignore what we know to be right in order to do what is wrong.

Habitual sins are able to hide because we do not think about them. Our decision to commit them is often unconscious. This does not excuse the action. Sin is sin, no matter how much thought we put into it. But when sin becomes a normal part of our routine, not only will our habitual sins continue, but the door will be wide open for other sins to enter into our life.

You can read more about the practice of habitual sins through the searing of the conscience in The Root of the Problem: Why We Sin & How We Can Overcome. Follow the link to learn more about the book and purchase your copy today!

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The Root of the Problem: Chapter 14 – Difficult Circumstances (Excerpt)

April 29, 2011 by

The Root of the Problem (cover)Teaching that difficult circumstances are no excuse for sin does not make one insensitive about the plight of others. It does not indicate a lack of concern for those with a troubled life. “But you don’t know what my life is like!” That may be true. (Then again, you don’t know what my life is like either – it works both ways.) But we do know what the word of God says.

“Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God” (Romans 6:11-13).

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

We are to put away sin. If we fail to do so, we will receive the wages that are due us for our sin. There is no exception to this on account of our circumstances. (p. 85-86)

You can read more about being faithful to God in the midst of hardships and difficulties in The Root of the Problem: Why We Sin & How We Can Overcome. Follow the link to learn more about the book and purchase your copy today!

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The Root of the Problem: Chapter 13 – Failure to Prioritize (Excerpt)

April 22, 2011 by

The Root of the Problem (cover)“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26).

Where does sin appear on our list of priorities? Does it have a place there? Really, it should not be on our list at all if we truly value the things that are spiritual and eternal. Our souls are far too important to lose on account of anything this world has to offer.

How do we make sure our priorities are in order? Ask yourself two questions:

1. What can you obtain without God?

2. What do you stand to gain with God?

You can read more about what is truly and eternally important in The Root of the Problem: Why We Sin & How We Can Overcome. Follow the link to learn more about the book and purchase your copy today!

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The Root of the Problem: Chapter 12 – Not Filling Our Lives with Good Things (Excerpt)

April 15, 2011 by

The Root of the Problem (cover)We are familiar with David’s notorious sin with Bathsheba. He saw this woman bathing, inquired about her, invited her to him, committed adultery, and in order to cover up the pregnancy that resulted, he had her husband killed in battle and he took her as his wife. David was a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22). How did he ever get on the path that would lead to this? Notice what the text says:

“Then it happened in the spring, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him and all Israel, and they destroyed the sons of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem” (2 Samuel 11:1).

Where should David have been? At the battlefield leading his army. This was one of the reasons why the Israelites wanted a king in the first place (1 Samuel 8:20). But where was David instead? He was at home in Jerusalem. While there, away from his duties, he had to find some way to fill his time. This opened the door to sin.

You can read more about avoiding sin by filling our lives with good things in The Root of the Problem: Why We Sin & How We Can Overcome. Follow the link to learn more about the book and purchase your copy today!

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The Root of the Problem: Chapter 11 – Curiosity (Excerpt)

April 8, 2011 by

The Root of the Problem (cover)Paul affirms to the Athenians that God created us. From the time of Creation, among all the other great things He did, He instilled in mankind a sense of curiosity. Why? It was so “they would seek for God.” Our curiosity is designed to make us ask certain questions: Where did I come from? Why am I here? Where am I going? Pursuing answers to these questions should lead us to God.

But curiosity can also get us into trouble. Satan took advantage of Eve’s curiosity to lead her to sin in the Garden.

“The serpent said to the woman, ‘You surely will not die! For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’ When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate” (Genesis 3:4-6).

Satan uses our curiosity to get us to experiment with sin. We do something just to see what it is like. In order to use our curiosity against us to commit sins we have not previously committed, he must minimize the consequences of sin. That is what he did with Eve. Notice that he did not try to convince her that eating of this tree was not a violation of God’s law. He conceded the fact that it was a transgression. But he did not want her to allow the penalty to deter her from seeing how she could benefit from it. She understood the penalty of death that came with violating God’s instruction. But Satan said, “You surely will not die,” and then told her what she could gain from her sin.

You can read more about overcoming your curiosity of sin and learn how to channel your natural curiosity toward more profitable pursuits in The Root of the Problem: Why We Sin & How We Can Overcome. Follow the link to learn more about the book and purchase your copy today!

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