Sins of the Heart-1
I John 3:1-4
Sin
• John tells us that sin is a violation of God’s law or lawlessness
• God’s law can be violated by doing something it prohibits (sins
of commission)
• Or by failing to do what it requires (sins of omission)- Jas. 4:17
• All sins will cause the sinner to be eternally lost- Rom. 6:23
• But all sins are not alike in their appearance or effects
• Some sins are easily recognized like stealing
• Others like covetousness may not be recognized by others
The Spiritual Heart
• Not the organ that pumps blood
• Nor simply one’s feelings or emotions
• But the center of our moral and spiritual being
• It is the hidden inner person- I Pet. 3:3-4
• The real you and the real me- Prov. 23:7
• The heart is the target of temptation- Jas. 1:14
• It determines our appetites and outlook- Prov. 4:23
Sins of the Heart-1
• Jesus identified the heart as the source of sinful desires and
actions
• Mt. 15:19- For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders
adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies;
• In this sense all sins are sins of the heart
• But there are sinful attitudes toward self, toward God, other
people and toward material things
• These may lead to many other sins
Sins of the Heart-2
• These may go unnoticed by neighbors and associates
• Yet, they will condemn the person who harbors them in the day
of judgment
• I Tim 5:24- Some men’s sins are clearly evident, preceding them
to judgment, but those of some men follow later.
• These sins reside and abide in the heart
• These are the “sins of the heart” I want to consider in this series
of lessons
Indifference-1
• Indifference is a lack of interest or concern for someone or
something
• When it involves spiritual things, indifference is sinful
• It is one of the more common sins among Christians
• Therefore, it is a great danger to the Lord’s church
• Indifference comes from a lack of genuine love for Christ, His
word and His church
• It is a violation of the greatest commandment- Mt. 22:37
Indifference-2
• One cannot love Christ and be indifferent toward His word, His
work or His church
• It produces spiritual laziness and leads to neglect of one’s duty
• We have been redeemed to be zealous for good works- Tit. 2:14
• Indifference prevents individual spiritual growth- II Pet. 3:18
• It also discourages other zealous Christians and and hinders the
growth of the local church
Indifference-3
• Indifference results in complacent self-satisfaction- Rev. 3:17
• It is difficult for the individual to see this sin in himself/herself
• Indifference is hypocritical
• Those guilty of it claim to love Christ
• But their lack of zeal and service deny that claim
• Neither can we be indifferent toward sin- Psa. 97:10
• Indifference produces lukewarm Christians like those in Laodicea
• A condition that makes Jesus sick- Rev. 3:16
Indifference-4
• Jesus has told us how to identify and remedy indifference:
1. The eye salve of the gospel reveals our real spiritual conditionRev. 3:18
• That requires a serious and thorough self-examination- II Cor.
13:5
2. Gold refined in the fire- Rev. 3:18
A pure and precious faith in Him- I Pet. 1:6-7
Indiffernce-5
3. White garments to cover the nakedness
• Righteous lives of faithful Christians- Rev. 19:8
4. Repent of one’s indifference
5. And be zealous for His word, His work and His church in the
future- Rev. 3:19
• Those who refuse to repent will be rejected in the last day
• We must avoid this sin of the heart
Jesus at the Door of Our Heart
• In Rev. 3:20 Jesus pictures Himself at the door of the heart
• The inside may lack room or be too corrupt for Him
• Yet, He stands knocking and desiring to enter
• To forgive, to comfort, to bless and to lead to heaven
• The door must be opened from inside
• Is Jesus in your heart and your life?
• If not , we bid you let Him in now