The Sin of Achan
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.
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).
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.
A. DEFEAT AT AI (Josh. 7:1-5).
B. WE ALL HAVE INFLUENCE.
1. The gospel is to shine in our lives (1 Pet. 2:9; Phil. 2:15-16).
2. We have a responsibility toward our offspring (Eph. 6:4).
3. What if our example is bad? (1 Tim. 5:8; Matt. 5:13; 1 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).
A. ACHAN TRIED (Josh. 7:21).
B. Num. 33:23; Eccl. 12:12-14; Heb. 4:12-13; Psa. 33:13-14.
A. FOR ACHAN.
1 Consequences were certain (Josh. 7:13-15).
2. Some consequences, even for the forgiven.
C. SIN AND US (Isa. 59:1-2; Ez. 18:20; Rom. 6:23).
A. GOD OFFERS AN APPEASEMENT OF JUSTICE (Rom. 3:24-25).
B. BUT THERE ARE CONDITIONS (Heb. 5:8-9).
C. WHAT CONDITIONS?