The Mark Of Sin

Text:

1John 1:7:

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

 

Theme:

The Mark Of Sin

 

Introduction:

• The First Epistle of John is the fourth of the general epistles and was written by the Apostle John in his later years.
  • The purpose of the epistle is to declare the Word of Life to those to whom he writes, in order that they might be united in fellowship with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ.
  • He shows that the means of union with God are,
    • By Christ, through his atoning work and his advocacy
    • By man, through our holiness, obedience, purity, faith, and love
• In our text, we will focus on the last clause when John says, “the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin”
  • This clause implies the existence of the theme of this study è The Mark of Sin
    • Sin leaves a MARK on us
• What is SIN?
  • “any want of conformity unto or transgression of the law of God”
    • 1John 3:4, “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.”
  • “The disposition to sin, or the habit of the soul that leads to the sinful act, is itself also sin”
    • Galatians 5:17, “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.”
• Does it leave a MARK? è YES
  • As a reminder to US
    • To remind us of our SIN
      • Revelation 16:2, “And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.”
    • As an indication to OTHERS
      • You can see it on the face à
        • Proverbs 21:29, “A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way.”
        • Isaiah 3:9, “The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves.”
• The Mark of Sin is as real as SIN itself!!

Body:

The Bible gives examples of when The Mark of Sin could/can not be erased…

• Genesis 4:15:

And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.

• Because of Cain slaying Abel and being exiled to the land of Nod, God gave him a MARK to keep others from killing him.
• Cain was not to get mixed into the rest of the people!
• 2Kings 5:25-27:

25 But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto him, Whence comest thou, Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant went no whither.

26 And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?

27 The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.

• Gehazi, the prophet Elisha’s servant, went and got payment from Naaman for Elisha healing him of leprosy.
• Elisha busted him for it when he came back and tried to play it off.
• Gehazi was punished with the visible afflicted of white with leprosy for the rest of his life…as well as all of his descendants. (Is this where “white people” came from? J)
• God made sure that others could see that “something about these folks ain’t right”!
• Revelation 13:16-18:

16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

• During the “End Times”, the beast which comes to deceive the masses to turn away from God will offer a MARK to identify who they follow, the Beast or the Devil.
• If you don’t accept/receive the mark, you can function well in the worldly society…trying to force you to take it!
  • You gotta take the MARK to “play the game”, “get ahead”, or “be accepted”.
• Those who accept/receive this MARK are damned to Hell!

Conclusion:

• However, we want to cleansed from The Mark of Sin. As David exclaimed…
  • Psalms 51:2, “Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.”
  • Psalms 51:7, “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”
• FOR US, the Mark of Sin can and must be cleaned! à Our text explains the prerequisite
  • “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another….”
  • WALK IN THE LIGHT!

Walk in the light.

Beautiful light.

Walk where the dew drops of mercy shine bright.

Shine all around us by day and by night.

JESUS the LIGHT of the world!

• Here’s how to be cleansed from The Mark of Sin!
  • Isaiah 1:18, “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”
    • God is the ONE who has made a way for us to be cleansed from The Mark of Sin! à Go to God!
      • Hebrews 4:1, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
      • 1John 1:7, “…and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”
        • Yes, I know that “the blood of JESUS CHRIST his [God’s] Son cleanseth us from all sin”!!

[I know it was the blood]

[I know it was the blood]

[I know it was the blood]…for me.

One day when I was lost

He died upon the cross

[I know it was the blood]…for me.

(other verses as desired and/or moan)

[They nailed him to the cross]

[The blood came streamin’ down]

[He hung His head and died]

• The Mark of Sin is erased by the blood of Jesus, the Christ!

There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel’s veins;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.
Lose all their guilty stains, lose all their guilty stains;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.

• LOSE ALL!!
  1. My hatred
  2. My lust
  3. My malice
  4. My backbiting
  5. My lieing
• LOSE ALL!!
  1. Original Sin – (Adam)
  2. Committed Sin – (What I did)
  3. Omitted Sin – (What I didn’t do)
  4. Known Sin – (What I knew of)
  5. Unknown Sin – (What I didn’t know of)
• LOSE ALL à The Mark of Sin

 

#398