The Sin of Achan

TEXTJoshua 7:1-5

INTRODUCTION:

A.  OLD TESTAMENT STUDY IS IMPORTANT.

          1.  Warning (1 Cor. 10:6, 11).

          2.  Hope (Rom. 15:4).

B.  MANY LESSONS TO LEARN FROM THE STORY OF ACHAN.

          1.  The background (Josh. 6-7).

          2.  Jericho, the first city in series to be attacked.

C.  LET’S LOOK AT SOME LESSONS FROM ACHAN.

I.  ACHAN DISOBEYED A COMMAND OF GOD (Josh. 6:17-19).

A.  ACTED AS THOUGH THERE WAS NO LAW (1 John 3:4).

B.  TWO BASIC FORMS OF SIN.

          1.  Sins of omission (James 4:17).

                   a.  Must do what God tells us (Matt. 7:21).

                   b.  “But I didn’t do anything wrong!”

          2.  Sins of commission.

                   a.  Must not do what God forbids (1 Cor. 6:9-10).

                   b.  Or go beyond where He has given a pattern (2 John 9).

II.  HOW IS SIN CAUSED?

A.  Joshua 7:20-21.

          1.  Achan saw è Enticed (Matt. 5:27-28).

          2.  Achan coveted è Lusted (Mark 7:21-23).

          3.  Achan took è SIN.

B.  James 1:13-14.  SAME PROCESS!

C.  WHEN DOES LUST CONCEIVE AND BEAR SIN? (Rom. 6:12).

D.  SAME PROCESS WITH DAVID AND BATHSHEBA (2 Sam. 11-12).

E.  WE NEED TO WORK ON OUR HEARTS AND AVOID ENTICEMENTS.

III.  SIN EFFECTS OTHERS.

A.  DEFEAT AT AI (Josh. 7:1-5).

B.  WE ALL HAVE INFLUENCE.

          1.  The gospel is to shine in our lives (1 Pet. 2:9Phil. 2:15-16).

          2.  We have a responsibility toward our offspring (Eph. 6:4).

          3.  What if our example is bad? (1 Tim. 5:8Matt. 5:131 Cor. 15:33).

C.  SOMETIMES WE SIN AGAINST OUR FAMILIES AND HURT THEM.

          1.  Neglect, infidelity, violence, drunkenness and drugs, crime.

          2.  Husbands, do what to your wives? (Eph. 5:25).

D.  WHAT ABOUT THE CHURCH?

          1.  What does the world think of us? (1 Pet. 2:11-12).

          2.  What about our effect on the church? (1 Cor. 5:6).

IV.  CANNOT HIDE OUR SINS.

A.  ACHAN TRIED (Josh. 7:21).

B.  Num. 33:23Eccl. 12:12-14Heb. 4:12-13Psa. 33:13-14.

V.  THE CONSEQUENCE OF SIN.

A.  FOR ACHAN.

          1  Consequences were certain (Josh. 7:13-15).

          2.  Some consequences, even for the forgiven.

C.  SIN AND US (Isa. 59:1-2Ez. 18:20Rom. 6:23).

CONCLUSIONTHE SOLUTION TO SIN.

A.  GOD OFFERS AN APPEASEMENT OF JUSTICE (Rom. 3:24-25).

B.  BUT THERE ARE CONDITIONS (Heb. 5:8-9).

C.  WHAT CONDITIONS?