OUTINE:

No Pity Parties
May we never suggest that the Lord isn’t with us and doesn’t give grace to the humble (Jas 4:6).

The Influence of Sin
If you’ve turned inward, focusing on self (goals, aspirations, desires, relationships, etc.) then sin has gained on you. Whenever our “undistracted devotion” (1Co 7:35) is interrupted, it is a telltale sign that sin is gaining ground, experientially.

The Garden Scene
With the introduction of sin in the Garden comes a pivotal lesson for all of us. If our response to God is EVER anything but 100% submissive, but rather self-absorbed (focusing on pain, etc.), then we know that sin has gripped us.

Emotionalism always makes us the fool.

Playing the Fool?
Instead of living in self-pity and blaming God (Pr 19:3), we can benefit from His mercy by agreeing with God and humbling ourselves before Him. (Lk 18:14, 1Pe 5:5-6; Jas 4:1-10; 1Jn 1:5-10)

Playing the Fool
We all want to be exalted, or promoted; but, subtly, we want it on our own terms.

Playing the Fool?
Instead of living in self-pity and blaming God (Pr 19:3), we can benefit from His mercy by agreeing with God and humbling ourselves before Him. (Lk 18:14, 1Pe 5:5-6; Jas 4:1-10; 1Jn 1:5-10)

The “Big” Question
“How do even well-intentioned believers get caught up in subjectivity, partiality, and the deceitfulness of sin?” (cp Pr 4:13-15)

The Simple Definition for Sin
Sin is any lack of conformity to God’s will, whether expressed actively or passively.

Mt 16:23
But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.”

“gave them over to”
from paradidomi - to hand over, pledge, hand down, deliver, commit, commend, betray, abandon; i.e. to deliver over with a sense of close (personal) involvement.

“men of depraved mind”
They are those who “oppose the truth”. Of course, in context, we are considering this as a habit, not when a believer fails and sins. The context here is to establish that sin opposes truth, by nature.