Homily Pastor Dan Neary

Lust and Prudence

We are wrapping-up our series on the Seven Deadly Sins and the Seven Heavenly Virtues with the seventh pairing in our list

Lust and Prudence

I’m glad we’re wrapping this up… but I’m glad we walked this path together.

I was talking with one of you this week… “I didn’t know what they were.”

This is part of what makes this neo-classical approach great.

• A blended approach that is both contemporary and ancient
• New life into something that has served as a pillar of the ancient church

Deadly Sins? What makes these so deadly? Aren’t there worse sins?

• Murder
• Vengeance
• Stealing
• Lying

They are sneaky… insidious

They are the perversion of something good

They are twisted virtues

Lust typically is understood in the sense of one of our most base, animal, cravings.

Just as gluttony typically is associated with food, lust is typically associated with unbridled sexual desire.

There is just no getting around it… when the Bible speaks specifically of lust, it usually is directly tied to adultery or sexual desire.

• So this could be a great time to expound on the virtues of intimacy within the bounds of marriage…
• But we won’t… maybe we should… maybe we will (on a marriage retreat or something like that)… but not today
• Suffice it to say that intimacy in marriage is good

The passage that helps us best this morning is James 1:12-27

What is translated at lust in the NASB is often translated as evil desire in other English translations (like the NIV)

1. Perseverance under trial
1. This life is trying
2. We are called to persevere, to press on
2. God doesn’t tempt
1. The Human Race faces trials… but
2. They are not caused by God
3. Certainly not for His amusement
4. The Devil didn’t make you do it either!
3. Temptation occurs when lust entices and carries away
1. Sin is an inside job

i. The I in the middle of Sin reminds us

1. Sin starts in selfishness (“I”)

2. Sin is Inside job

2. Insidious Nature of Sin

i. Harmful but enticing

ii. Gradual and cumulative

iii. Waiting to entrap

3. What Jesus was meaning in Matthew 5:27-32

i. Looking with lust sin? Just like adultery?

ii. It is certainly on the path

4. Lust conceives and gives birth to sin
1. Conception indicates another party… Will
5. Sin leads to death
1. These three stages (lust, sin, death) are repeated throughout the Bible and go all the way back to Eden
6. God gives good gifts
1. Contentment
7. Pure religion (worship) is this…
1. Holiness, good works (charity), religion is all for worship
2. We don’t pursue holiness to earn heaven,
   we pursue holiness to worship the God who made us and saves us

Prudence: Antidote

• the ability to govern and discipline oneself by the use of reason
• skill and good judgment in the use of resources
• caution or circumspection as to danger or risk

Self-control… among the fruit of the Spirit - Galatians 5:22-25

This is work

Spiritual work, sure… but you aren’t likely to be delivered from your flesh. We are instructed to crucify the flesh. We die daily.

We are free from sin and called to pure, holy living.

We pursue holy living by keeping sin checked…

By bridling our desire

With the help of the Holy Spirit, our goal is to identify sin so we can

• Renounce it
• Resist it, and
• Replace it

If you find yourself today bound by sin… away from God.

Confess your sin, believe in Jesus, and enjoy life with Him now and throughout eternity. There is hope! And today I offer that hope to you.

If you find yourself trapped in Sin… come to Jesus for redemption.

If you have received redemption, but today are dealing with difficulty getting your experience to match the redeemed position Christ has bought for you, come to Jesus for help in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Responsive Reading from Romans 6

Victory over Sin #682