Snapshot Series: "Avoid Sin"

Snapshot26 Mark 9:42-50 "Avoid Sin"

Questions for Community Groups
1. Do you feel that you have ever caused someone else to sin?
2. Do you feel that someone else's actions ever caused you to sin?
3. Is there anything in your life that you feel you need to take drastic measures against because it is causing sin in your life?
4. How do you think you can negotiate that?



Sin is anything that we think, say or do that displeases God. Unfortunately in our society we have taken sinful actions, thoughts and speech and have normalized it so that people are confused as to what is sin and what is not. Some have made sin subjective meaning that sin, is only sin if you feel like it is sin. Each person can make their own decisions as to what is right or wrong.

Obviously we know that does not work because if... I or you think something is fine and acceptable but it hurts or offends another we will have a problem. If I or you set standards we may not agree on what the standard is and if we cannot agree then who is right.

There has to be and is someone who makes the standards. He is the Lord Jesus.

There are many things that the Lord calls sin and we will not have enough time to talk about all of them. What we do know about the Lord is that He wants us to "avoid sin" at all costs and todays passage talks about that.

Avoid causing others to sin. Vrs 42

This verse follows the passage in which we see the disciples desire to stop the other people from casting out the demons in Jesus' name. Remember the "nobodies are somebodies" message. Jesus was pretty much saying to the disciples if you stop my people from doing my work you are causing them to sin. It would be what we call a sin of Omission, James tells us if we know the right thing to do and do not do it we sin. Jesus was rebuking the disciples and communicating let them be and let them serve...a cup of cold water.

Are you causing others to sin?
Maybe it is just outright, you are doing something wrong and you want them to join in. Come on complain with me, gossip with me, steal with me, get drunk with me, beat someone down with me.

But it is more likely that it is more subtle then that.
Maybe...
-You are a parent who is embittering their child by harsh forms of discipline, unfair consequences or unfair treatment.
C-further rebellion
-You are a child that is making your parents life very difficult.
C-Outbursts of anger
-You are a wife that disrespects your husband and acts like he is incapable.
C-complaining about wife to others
-You are a husband who does not pay attention to the needs of your wife.
C-complaining about husband to others
-Student that is trying to get the right answers from another.
C-others to compromise standards
-Employer that is unfair to his employees.
C-employee to hate
-Employee not working well
C-employer to treat you wrong
-A friend that is not loyal.
C-friend to seek revenge
-A friend that thinks gossip is a hobby.
C-Dragging others down with you
-A boyfriend or a girlfriend that does not value purity.
C-Compromise purity

Maybe like the disciples you in some way are trying to stand in the way of the service others want to render to the Lord.

In your actions you may be causing others to react in sinful ways, not that they should act that way but you are not helping.

Jesus is saying this is so serious that here is what is better.

This is better...The large millstone (“donkey millstone”) was a heavy, stone turned by a donkey when it was grinding grain. Punishment by drowning someone this way was no doubt familiar to Jesus’ disciples (cf. Josephus The Antiquities of the Jews 14. 15. 10). BKC

Now Jesus moves on to the reality of what might cause us to sin and what we need to do.

We need to take drastic measures to avoid sin. Vrs 43-48

Jesus meant a disciple should take prompt, decisive action against whatever would draw him away from his allegiance to Him. The same is true of the foot and the eye, for temptations come through various means. Whatever tempts a disciple to cling to this world’s life must be removed much as a surgeon amputates a gangrenous limb. BKC

Let me be clear that there are three primary things that cause us to sin. Satan, our heart and our environment.
Jesus is dealing with our environment

If there is something in our lives that is causing us to sin we need to take drastic measures to get it out of our lives.

Men are willing to admit that they are sinners, but not that they are sinning. IVAN PANIN
What in your environment is causing you to sin?
-Computer/technology
-Friendship/relationship
-Job or career/school
-A Place you go
-What you eat or drink

You may say...I can't get rid of that. I would ask...can you continue to keep it in your life?
Sin always wounds the sinner. CAROL HOUSELANDER
No one said it was going to be easy and in fact the next verses help us to understand that

Avoiding sin results in a life of sacrifice. Vrs 49-50 (Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice) Hebrews 4 we have a high priest who understands. Jesus lived and did not sin. He sacrificed and was a sacrifice GOSPEL

It is no more effort for a man to be a saint than to be a sinner; it becomes a mere matter of habit. JEROME
And Serves as a...
1. A reminder of the fiery trials of past sins, "salted with fire" will help us to understand the sacrifice is worth it. Ex. You were involved with something or someone that caused you to sin and you paid for it. And now you look at that fiery trial and say "not going back there" We avoid because we remember.

2. A reminder to practice of repentance. "Salt is good" Matthew Henry It was appointed by the law of Moses, that every sacrifice should be salted with salt, because it was the food of God’s table, it was therefore particularly required in the meat-offerings, Lev. 2:13
Knowing that we will need to repent helps us avoid.
3. A reminder of continual sacrifice. Vrs 50
Our main concern is, to present ourselves living sacrifices to God (Rom. 12:1)
Avoiding sins pleasure is a continual sacrifice.

4. A reminder to live at peace with one another. Vrs 50b
Our speech must be always with grace seasoned with this salt, that no corrupt communication may proceed out of our mouth.

We seek to avoid sin because when we do it keeps the peace in my relationships

When we avoid causing others to sin and take drastic measures to avoid personal sin it will result in a life of sacrifice that the Lord Jesus is pleased with.