20-0503a - Detailed Summary

Pastor Tom opens the sermon by addressing the topical issue of viruses, focusing on the coronavirus, which has dominated news and caused global panic, leading to widespread shutdowns. He acknowledges the fear surrounding the coronavirus and references other significant viruses such as Ebola, SARS, H1N1, bird flu, and AIDS, which have periodically sparked concern. He introduces the concept of a more dangerous "virus" than these physical threats, setting the stage for a discussion about a spiritual issue that he considers far more severe.

Tom presents sin as a virus more perilous than the coronavirus, noting its universal impact on humanity since the beginning of time, affecting not only the body but also the spirit and soul. He cites Romans 5:12 to explain that sin entered the world through one man, Adam, spreading death to all people. He reinforces this with Romans 6:23, stating that the wages of sin is death, in contrast to the eternal life offered through Jesus Christ. Tom critiques the media’s intense focus on the coronavirus while ignoring the far-reaching consequences of sin.

The sermon explores how society often portrays sin as enjoyable or harmless, with its presence normalized in media like television and movies. Tom warns that, although sin may seem pleasurable for a season, as noted in Hebrews 11:25, it leads to severe consequences such as addiction, loss of relationships, homelessness, and death. He references Proverbs 16:25 to emphasize that human ways may seem right but ultimately lead to death. He contrasts human reasoning with divine wisdom, asserting that only God’s ways, as outlined in the Bible, lead to life.

Tom highlights the vast difference between God’s thoughts and human thoughts, quoting Isaiah 55:8-9 to illustrate that God’s ways are infinitely higher than humanity’s. He argues that humans, being insignificant compared to God, should trust the Bible rather than question divine authority. Referencing Psalm 53:1, he calls those who deny God’s existence fools whose ways are corrupt. Tom underscores the seriousness of sin, comparing it to the coronavirus, and cites Matthew 12:36 to warn that everyone will be accountable for their actions and words on the day of judgment.

Tom compares the coronavirus to sin, describing the virus’s symptoms (fever, tiredness, dry cough, aches, sore throat, nasal congestion) and its relatively low mortality rate of 1-3%, comparable to the flu, with a death toll of 65,600 compared to 24,000–62,000 flu deaths in 2019–2020. In contrast, he portrays sin as affecting 100% of humanity, leading to physical, spiritual, and eternal death. He emphasizes that sin separates people from God and, if unaddressed, results in eternal destruction in hell, making it far more dangerous than any physical virus.

Tom critiques society’s tendency to mislabel evil as good and good as evil, referencing Isaiah 5:20. He lists sins such as homosexuality, abortion, drug use, drinking, adultery, and fornication, which are often normalized despite God’s condemnation. He cites John 8:32 and John 17:17 to affirm that God’s word is the ultimate truth. Tom then discusses the physical toll of sin, using Psalm 38:3 to describe how King David experienced physical and mental torment from sin, with no health in his bones. He also references Isaiah 1:5-6, illustrating how sin afflicted the nation of Israel, leaving it wounded from head to toe.

Continuing the theme of sin’s physical impact, Tom cites Psalm 38:8 and 38:10, where David describes feeling feeble, broken, and losing his vision due to sin. He references Zephaniah 1:17, which depicts sinners walking like blind men under God’s judgment, and recalls the blinding of Sodom and Gomorrah’s people as a consequence of their sin. He also cites Micah 6:13, where God strikes sinners with sickness and desolation. Tom highlights the seriousness of sin in the context of the Lord’s Supper, referencing 1 Corinthians 11:29-30, which warns that taking it unworthily can lead to sickness or death, emphasizing the need for careful living.

Tom discusses the emotional effects of sin, including guilt, shame, depression, fear, anxiety, and stress. He uses the story of Cain and Abel from Genesis 4:5-7 to show how Cain’s improper offering led to anger and depression, and his failure to repent escalated to murdering his brother. This downward spiral deepened Cain’s guilt, fear, and anxiety, as seen in Genesis 4:13-14, where he expresses despair over his punishment and fear for his life. Tom emphasizes that doing right leads to positive emotions, while sin compounds negative ones, urging listeners to follow God’s path to avoid such consequences.

Pastor Tom continues exploring the emotional toll of sin by referencing key biblical figures. He begins with Adam in Genesis 3:9-10, who, after sinning in the Garden of Eden, felt shame and fear, attempting to hide from God and blaming his wife, Eve. Similarly, Tom recounts David’s sin of adultery with Bathsheba, which led him to orchestrate the death of her husband, Uriah, to cover it up. He cites Proverbs 28:13, emphasizing that concealing sin leads to failure, while confessing and renouncing it brings mercy. Tom then discusses Peter’s denial of Jesus, as described in Matthew 26:75, which caused him to weep bitterly due to guilt. He connects these examples to modern experiences, noting that many people make promises to God but fall into unexpected sins, leading to emotional distress. David’s anguish is further highlighted in Psalm 6:6, where he describes sleepless nights and tears due to his sin, underscoring the profound emotional impact sin can have.

Tom intensifies the discussion by examining Judas, whose betrayal of Jesus led to such overwhelming guilt and shame that he took his own life, as described in Matthew 27:3-5. He warns that unaddressed sin can drive individuals to extreme actions, such as suicide, when they cannot face their wrongdoings. Tom stresses the importance of handling sin correctly through repentance, citing Acts 3:19, which calls for turning away from sin to have it blotted out. He transitions to the spiritual consequences of sin, noting that it affects not only the body and emotions but also the spirit, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of spiritual death.

Tom explains that sin causes spiritual death, using the example of Adam and Eve in Genesis 2:17, who were warned they would die if they ate from the tree of knowledge. While they did not die physically immediately, their sin led to spiritual death, a separation from God. He reiterates Romans 6:23, emphasizing that sin’s wages are death, contrasting this with the eternal life offered through Christ. Tom cites James 1:15 to illustrate how sin, conceived in thoughts, grows and ultimately brings death when fully realized. He further explains, using James 2:26 and 1 Timothy 5:6, that spiritual death is a separation from goodness, leaving those living in sin spiritually dead. Quoting Isaiah 59:2, he notes that sin creates a barrier between individuals and God, hiding His face and hindering connection. Tom references Psalm 27:9, where David pleads with God not to turn away, and warns that sin can quench the Holy Spirit, as stated in 1 Thessalonians 5:19, using Israel’s rebellion in Isaiah 63:10 as an example.

The sermon shifts to the eternal impact of sin, with Tom citing Ezekiel 18:4 to assert that the soul that sins will die, emphasizing personal accountability for one’s actions. He poses a rhetorical question from Matthew 16:26, asking what profit there is in gaining the world but losing one’s soul, urging listeners not to trade their eternal salvation for temporary sins. He compares this to Esau, who sold his birthright for food (Hebrews 12:16), warning against prioritizing fleeting pleasures over eternal life. Tom cites Romans 2:8-9 and Acts 3:22-23 to highlight that disobedience to God’s word leads to tribulation, anguish, and destruction of the soul. He stresses the importance of fearing God, who can destroy both body and soul in hell (Matthew 10:28), rather than fearing human consequences. Quoting Matthew 25:41, he notes that hell was prepared for the devil, not humans, urging repentance to avoid eternal punishment.

Tom transitions to a message of hope, declaring that God has provided a cure for the "virus of sin" through Jesus Christ. He cites 1 Peter 3:18, explaining that Jesus suffered for humanity’s sins to reconcile people with God. John 3:16 is referenced to emphasize God’s love in giving His Son for eternal life, and Ephesians 1:7 highlights redemption through Christ’s blood. Tom reiterates Romans 6:23, contrasting the death deserved through sin with the free gift of eternal life. He encourages sharing this cure, citing Mark 16:15 and Romans 1:16, urging believers not to be ashamed of preaching the gospel, which is the power of God for salvation. He emphasizes the urgency of spreading this message to those spiritually dead and trapped in sin.

In his conclusion, Tom underscores the scarcity of workers in the spiritual harvest, quoting Matthew 9:37-38, which describes a plentiful harvest but few laborers. He calls on Christians to pray for and become workers to save souls, emphasizing the command in Matthew 28:19 to make disciples of all nations through baptism. Tom concludes by thanking the congregation, reinforcing the urgency of sharing the gospel to combat the destructive effects of sin and lead others to salvation.

In the concluding moments of the sermon, Pastor Tom reiterates the central theme, emphasizing that sin is a far greater threat than any physical virus, including the coronavirus. He urges the congregation to prioritize addressing sin in their lives, reinforcing its severe physical, emotional, spiritual, and eternal consequences compared to the temporary dangers of worldly diseases. Tom concludes with a brief expression of gratitude, leaving the audience with a sobering reminder to focus on combating the "virus of sin" through repentance and adherence to God’s word.