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THE SIN OF OMISSION

James 4:17

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.     All Christians know that sin is an evil, horrible, deadly thing.

1.       It stains the soul.

2.       It separates us from God.

3.       It leads to eternal condemnation.

 

B.      There are several ways to classify sin.

1.       Public Sins vs. Secret Sins

2.       Sins Done with the Body vs. Sins Done within the Heart

3.       Sins of Commission vs. Sins of Omission

 

C.     In this lesson, we want to examine the subject:  “The Sin of Omission.”

 

I.                    DEFINITION OF OMISSION

 

A.     Omission comes from the root word “omit.”

 

B.      Defined:

1.       Something left out, not done, neglected

2.       Not doing what is right, failing to do as commanded

3.       Failure in duty

 

C.     Verses that teach the definition of omission:

1.       James 4:17

 

Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

 

2.       Luke 6:46

 

And why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

 

3.       Luke 12:47

 

And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

 

II.                 DISPLAYS OF THE SIN OF OMISSION FROM THE BIBLE

 

A.     #1:  The nobles of Nehemiah’s day (Neh. 3:5)

 

And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of the Lord.

 

B.      #2:  The rich man (Matt. 19:20-22)

 

The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up:  what lack I yet?  Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven:  and come and follow me.  But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful:  for he had great possessions.

C.     #3:  The scribes and Pharisees (Matt. 23:23)

 

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  For ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith:  these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

 

D.    #4:  The five foolish virgins (Matt. 25:3)

 

They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them.

 

E.      #5:  The one talent man (Matt. 25:25)

 

And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth:  lo, there thou hast that is thine.

 

F.      #6:  The goats on Jesus’ left hand (Matt. 25:45)

 

Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did not it not to me.

 

G.    #7:  Jesus was neglected by his host, a Pharisee named Simon who failed to wash His feet (Luke 7:44).

 

And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman?  I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet…

 

H.    #8:  The priest and Levite of the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:31-32)

 

And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.  And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.

 

I.        #9:  I John 3:17

 

But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

 

III.              THE DIVISION KNOWN AS THE “UNs”

 

A.     In the English language, when the letters “un” are attached to a word, they mean “not.”

 

B.      There are many of these “un” words that involve the sin of omission.

1.       Unloving:  The unloving fail to practice love.  It is omitted from their lives.

a.       1 Corinthians 16:22

 

If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema, Maranatha.

 

b.      1 John 3:14b

 

…He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

 

2.       There are many more “UNs” found in the Bible.

a.       Unfaithful (Mark 4:40)

b.      Unthankful (2 Tim. 3:2)

c.       Unforgiving (Matt. 6:15)

d.      Unrighteous (1 Cor. 6:9)

e.       Unmerciful (Rom. 1:31)

f.        Unfruitful (Tit. 3:14)

g.      Unclean (Eph. 5:5)

h.      Ungodly (Ps. 1:5)

 

IV.              THE DISEASE OF OMISSION IN THE CHURCH

 

A.     Some neglect worship (Heb. 10:25).

 

B.      Some fail to study (Hos. 4:6).

 

C.     Some do not pray (2 Kings 1:2-3).

 

D.     Some refuse to visit (James 1:27).

 

E.      Some have not grown in their Christian lives (2 Pet. 3:18).

 

F.      Some refuse to use their talents in leadership (Jgs. 9:8-13).

 

G.     Some fail in their duty to defend the faith (1 Tim. 6:12).

 

H.    Some refuse the command to evangelize (Mark 16:15).

 

I.        Some will not give liberally (2 Cor. 9:6-7)

 

J.        Some refuse to repent of sin, confess them, and ask forgiveness (1 John 1:9).

 

V.                 THE DESCRIPTION OF THE SIN OF OMISSION

 

A.     It is deceptive because it appears as though one is not doing anything wrong.

 

B.      It is a respectable sin because seldom is it ever confronted like sins of commission are.

 

C.     It is a destructive sin because all a church has to do to fail is nothing.  All a soul has to do to be lost is nothing.

 

VI.              THE DAMNATION ASSOCIATED WITH THE SIN OF OMISSION

 

A.     A “woe” was pronounced on the scribes and Pharisees due to the sin of omission (Matt. 23:23).

 

B.      The five foolish virgins were refused access into the marriage (Matt. 25:12).

 

But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

 

C.     The one talent man was condemned by his lord (Matt. 25:30).

 

And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness:  there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

 

D.     The those on the Lord’s left hand heard words of condemnation (Matt. 25:41).

 

Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.

 

E.      The “UNs”

1.       The unmerciful will not obtain mercy (Jms. 2:13).

2.       The unforgiving will not be forgiven (Matt. 6:15).

3.       The unloving are Anathema Maranatha (1 Cor. 16:22).

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.     The ant and the grasshopper (Aesop’s Fables)

1.       The ant labored all summer storing food for the winter.

2.       The grasshopper chirped all summer because there was plenty of food at the time.

3.       But, the winter eventually came.

 

B.      Employer and employee:

 

Employer:  “You are fired.”

Employee:  “Why?  I did not do anything.”

Employee:  “That’s why you are fired.”

 

C.     The Parable of A “Church” Man

 

There was a man who lived in the twentieth century. His house was new. Two cars and a boat graced his garage and carport. A color television gleamed in his den. His family was healthy, and lo good fortune did smile upon him. As was his custom, when he was in town, when the fish were not biting, when he was not at the lake, when company did not come, when he could get up on time, when he was not too tired, when there was nothing else he could do, he went regularly to church. On these occasions, once every five to six weeks, he spent his time deploring the decaying state of the church. The Sunday school was low in its attendance. The congregation was small. The offering was poor. And, the preacher was discouraged. “They ought to do better,” he said. “What do they think this thing of religion is about anyway? Surely they could do better than this.” So, vacation and days off came and went until many moons had passed. As it is in the way of the world, this man’s children grew up. He knew that they did not go to the church, because they, down at the church had not interested them in religion. The man’s health failed. One day he noticed something strange. They, down at the church, came by no more. They did not visit him in the hospital. Verily, verily he was angry. But, being a great heart, he decided he would forgive them and go to the church once more. But, behold, when he arrived, there was no church, only a 7-11 store. “Where is the church?” he demanded. “Dead” was the answer. “Oh,” he moaned. “They should not have let it die.” “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”

 

The Sin Of Omission Sermon by Adrian Rogers, James 4:17 - SermonCentral.com