Principles that lead to the legalization of sin. You can't legislate morality. the end justifies the means. Whatever happens between consenting adults is okay. If no one is hurt why should it be wrong. Reversal of virtues. Failure to fulfill the great commission. We must obey God not men.

1. LEGAL BUT WRONG 2!
PRINCIPLES THAT LEAD TO
LEGALIZATION OF SIN

2. Isaiah 55:7-9 Let the wicked forsake his
way, And the unrighteous man his
thoughts; Let him return to the LORD,
And He will have mercy on him; And to
our God, For He will abundantly pardon.
(8) "For My thoughts are not your
thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,"
says the LORD. (9) "For as the heavens
are higher than the earth, So are My
ways higher than your ways, And My
thoughts than your thoughts.

3. INTRODUCTION
A. “Christian nation” reference last week.
1.America has never been a “Christian nation,” but the
biblical principles that once were a part of this country are
eroding away as more and more sin is made legal.
2.Christian ideas underlie some key tenets of America’s
constitutional order. For instance, the Founders believed
that humans are created in the image of God, which led
them to design institutions and laws meant to protect and
promote human dignity. Because they were convinced that
humans are sinful, they attempted to avoid the
concentration of power by framing a national government
with carefully enumerated powers. As well, the Founders
were committed to liberty, but they never imagined that
provisions of the Bill of Rights would be used to protect
licentiousness. And they clearly thought moral
considerations should inform legislation. America has
drifted from these first principles. We would do well to
reconsider the wisdom of these changes. - Mark David
Hall, Ph.D Professor of Politics at George Fox University.

4. INTRODUCTION
B.Last week we looked at the legalization of
drugs and alcohol, same-sex marriage,
abortion, no-fault divorce, lying, adultery &
fornication.
C.We considered the fact that making
something legal does not make it
acceptable.
D.We looked at the fact that when God says
someone is going to be lost for committing
a particular sin, making it legal does not
change their being lost.

5. I. YOU CAN’T LEGISLATE MORALITY
A. "It may be true that morality cannot be
legislated, but behavior can be regulated. It
may be true that the law cannot make a man
love me, religion and education will have to
do that. But it can keep him from lynching me
and I think that is very important, also,"
Martin Luther King’s 1962 Speech at
Dartmouth
B. We legislate moral actions all the time.
Murder, theft, perjury, DUI,
C. Society seems to be adhering to the old
saying, “If you can’t fight them, join them.” If
an action being illegal doesn’t deter it then
make it legal.

6. II. THE END JUSTIFY THE MEANS
(Abortion) - Romans 3:5-8 But if our
unrighteousness demonstrates the
righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is
God unjust who inflicts wrath? (I speak as a
man.) 6 Certainly not! For then how will God
judge the world? 7 For if the truth of God has
increased through my lie to His glory, why
am I also still judged as a sinner? 8 And why
not say, "Let us do evil that good may
come"?--as we are slanderously reported and
as some affirm that we say. Their
condemnation is just.

7. III. WHAT EVER HAPPENS BETWEEN
CONSENTING ADULTS IS OKAY
A. Fornication (Sex outside of marriage, adultery,
homosexuality) happens between two consenting
adults but is against God’s will. - 1 Corinthians 6:9-
11 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not
inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived.
Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers,
nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, (10) nor thieves,
nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor
extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. (11)
And such were some of you. But you were washed,
but you were sanctified, but you were justified in
the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our
God.
B. Just because some action is between two
consenting adults does not stop it from being sin.

8. IV. IF NO ONE IS HURT, WHY
SHOULD IT BE WRONG?
A. Just because those involved in the sin don’t think they
are hurt by their actions, doesn’t mean others are not
hurt. Victimless crime?
B. Who says no one is hurt?
1. Matthew 5:22 But I say to you that whoever is angry
with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of
the judgment. And whoever says to his brother,
'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever
says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire.
2. Matthew 5:28-29 (28) But I say to you that whoever
looks at a woman to lust for her has already
committed adultery with her in his heart. (29) If your
right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it
from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of
your members perish, than for your whole body to be
cast into hell.

9. V. REVERSAL OF VIRTUES
(Christianity is bad)
A. Isaiah 5:20-25 Woe to those who call evil good, and good
evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness;
Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! 21 Woe to
those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their
own sight! 22 Woe to men mighty at drinking wine, Woe to
men valiant for mixing intoxicating drink, 23 Who justify the
wicked for a bribe, And take away justice from the
righteous man! 24 Therefore, as the fire devours the
stubble, And the flame consumes the chaff, So their root
will be as rottenness, And their blossom will ascend like
dust; Because they have rejected the law of the LORD of
hosts, And despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
25 Therefore the anger of the LORD is aroused against His
people; He has stretched out His hand against them And
stricken them, And the hills trembled. Their carcasses were
as refuse in the midst of the streets. For all this His anger
is not turned away, But His hand is stretched out still.

10. V. REVERSAL OF VIRTUES
(Christianity is bad)
B. Malachi 2:17 You have wearied the LORD with
your words; Yet you say, "In what way have we
wearied Him?" In that you say, "Everyone who
does evil Is good in the sight of the LORD, And
He delights in them," Or, "Where is the God of
justice?"
C. Proverbs 17:15 He who justifies the wicked, and
he who condemns the just, Both of them alike
are an abomination to the LORD.
D. Proverbs 24:24-25 He who says to the wicked,
"You are righteous," Him the people will curse;
Nations will abhor him. (25) But those who
rebuke the wicked will have delight, And a good
blessing will come upon them.

11. VI. FAILURE TO FULFILL THE
GREAT COMISSION
A. The real problem is the failure of Christians to take the
gospel to our neighbors.
B. We have failed to show them that righteousness is the
best way to live. - Proverbs 14:34 Righteousness exalts a
nation, But sin is a reproach to any people.
C. We have failed to convince them that Jesus is the answer
to their problems. - Matthew 11:28-30 Come to Me, all
you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you
rest. (29) Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I
am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for
your souls. (30) For My yoke is easy and My burden is
light."
D. Our religious division has destroyed our influence. -
John 17:20-21 "I do not pray for these alone, but also for
those who will believe in Me through their word; (21) that
they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in
You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may
believe that You sent Me.

12. WE MUST OBEY GOD
A. WE MUST OBEY GOD NOT MEN
1. It is not our government that determines what
is right and wrong but our God and His
Gospel.
2. Acts 5:29 But Peter and the other apostles
answered and said: "We ought to obey God
rather than men.
3. 1 Samuel 15:24 Then Saul said to Samuel, "I
have sinned, for I have transgressed the
commandment of the LORD and your words,
because I feared the people and obeyed their
voice.
B. We must work to unite Christianity on truly
following the word of God.
C. We must be the light of the world that God
intended.
D. We must reach out to the lost with the gospel.

14. TONIGHT’S SERMON
EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANTLY ABOVE