Vessels2

VESSELS FIT FOR THE MASTER’S USE (Part 2)

Bible Passage: Matthew 25: 31- 46.

Memory Verse: "Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient." (Eph. 5 :6. NIV.)

LESSON FOCUS

Sin in its various forms pollutes a vessel that would otherwise be fit for the Master’s use. We shall therefore focus on sin today.

LESSON INTRODUCTION

If we were to ask the question, "What is sin?", we shall probably end up with a long list of sins – and it will never be complete. Let’s rather ask, How does the Bible define sin?

Sin is transgression, i.e. going over a line, breaking the law. I John 3:4.

It is also defined as missing the mark, failure to meet up with God’s standards. And it does not matter whether we miss that mark narrowly or by a wide margin. Rom. 3:23.

Sin is also rebellion against God - His word, expectations, commands, etc. Isa. 30:9; Ps. 78:17.

Sin can be against ourselves or against others. But ultimately all sin is against God.

And before Him, all sin is sin. There are no small and therefore negligible sins, or major ones for which we should only show some concern. If we sin – small or big, major or minor – we are sinners before God. See James 2:8-11.

LESSON OUTLINE 1: A MAN CAN SIN AGAINST HIMSELF

Our body is described as the "temple of the Holy Spirit". What and what can pollute it? See I Cor. 6:18-20; Eph. 5:18. Think also of modern day substance abuse.

Is there some teaching on how a man can sin against himself in Eph 5:25-30?

What does the fate of the fig tree that refused to bear fruit teach us on this subject? See Luke 13:6-9.

And how can we apply the case of the man who refused to trade with his one talent to this lesson? See Matt. 25:14-30, but particularly vs. 24-30.

LESSON OUTLINE 2: WE DO ALSO SIN AGAINST OTHERS

Failure to love our neighbour as ourselves (Mark 12:31) is sin against our fellow men and women. In what ways can this be demonstrated in our lives and attitudes? See Matt. 25:31-46; Prov. 21:13.

What warning should we take heed to from Matt. 18:5-7?

LESSON OUTLINE 3: ALL SIN IS ULTIMATELY AGAINST GOD

David, in committing adultery with Bathsheba and arranging for her husband to be killed, not only sinned against his body and the couple, but he primarily saw his acts as sin against God. See Psalm 51:3-4.

All sin is finally against God, because it is His laws that we break, and His standards that we fail to meet. It is against His word that we rebel, and His invitation that we reject. See Matt. 22:1-10: Hebr. 2:1-4.

SUMMARY

We cannot turn deaf ears to what God says to us, rebel against His word and pick and choose how we live our lives before Him, and at the same time hope He will not mind. God cannot look on our sin and pretend it does not matter. Habakkuk 1:13(a).

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