Seven deadly sins

Study Notes
By Stuart Olyott
Seven deadly sins

Table of Contents
Sermon Title Page
1. Pride...........................................................2
2. Anger..........................................................4
3. Envy...........................................................6
4. Lust.............................................................8
5. Gluttony....................................................10
6. Avarice......................................................12
7. Sloth.........................................................14

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Seven deadly sins

1. Pride
1. What it is

• It is something that cones from deep within us. Mark 7:22.

• It is something that we imagine ourselves to be. Luke 1:51.
• It is looking at ourselves, admiringly. Daniel 5:20.

2. The forms it takes

• Pride in appearance. Mark 12:38, 1 Peter 3:1-4.

• Pride in status. Mark 12:39. (Haman: Esther 3:5).
• Pride in power. Leviticus26-.19, Ezekiel30:6. (Pharaoh: Nehemiah 9:10).
• Pride in accomplishments. 2 Chronicles 26:15-16.
(Nebuchadnezzar: Daniel 4:30).
• Pride in possessions. Luke 12:13-21. (Hezekiah: 2 Kings 20:13).
• Pride in knowledge. 1 Corinthians 8:1.
• Pride in morality. Luke 18:9-14.
• Pride in abilities. 1 Peter 4:10-11. (Herod Agrippa: Acts 12:20-23).
• Pride in others. 1 Corinthians 3:21.
• Pride in blessing. 2 Corinthians12:7.

3. The effects it has

• It affects the whole spirit of the person concerned. Ecclesiastes7:8.

• this spirit shows itself, for example, in looking down on others (Psalm 123:4.
Luke 18:9). talking boastfully (James 4:16), arrogance (Proverbs8-.13), proud
looks (Proverbs 6:17), exaggeration (2 Peter 2:18), failure to rejoice in the
success of others (1 Corinthians13:4), snobbery (Romans 12:16).
• pride brings in its wake scoffing (Proverbs21-.24), self-importance (1
Timothy3:6), contention (Proverbs 13:10, 28:25), injustice (Psalm 10-, 2). a
sense of independence from God (Psalm 10:4), rejection of God's Word
(Jeremiah 43:2).
• it pollutes us (Mark 7:20-23), moves God to resist us (James 4:6) and ruins us
(Proverbs16:18, 18:12, 26:12).

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4. God's view of pride

• It is sin. Proverbs21:4.
• It is devilish. 1 Timothy3:6.
• God hates it. Amos 6:8.
• He resists it. 1 Peter5:5.
• One day He will put an end to it. Psalm 18:27, Isaiah 2:12, 17, 23:9. Malachi
4:1.

5. What to do about pride

• confess it, and be cleansed from it. 1 John 1:9, 1 Timothy 1:15.

• abandon all self-admiration by seeing that it is only in the Lord that there is
anything to be valued and admired. 1 Corinthians 1:31, Phil.3:4-11,
Galatians 6:14.

• praise Him, 1 Chronicles 29:10-20, Psalm 32:11.

• actively follow the example of the Lord Jesus Christ. Phil.2:1-11.

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Seven deadly sins

2. Anger
1. What it is

• Wrath is reacting to something by "boiling up" with displeasure. Anger, strictly

speaking, is the continuing attitude which follows. We are talking about both.
• so anger is something inward (Ecclesiastes7:9).

2. It is not always wrong

• "The only way to be angry and sin not, is to be angry only at sin."
• for example: Moses (Exodus 32:19, 22), Nehemiah (Nehemiah.5:6),
Paul (Acts 17:16) - and our Lord Jesus Christ: (John.2:13-17, Mark.3:5).
• God's anger is slow (Psalm 103:8, Jonah 4:2) and righteous (Revelation16:6-7).

3. But, in us, it is nearly always wrong

• most of our anger is a display of hurt pride.

For example: Cain (Genesis 4:3-5), Esau (Genesis27:41, 45), Eliab (1 Samuel
17:26-29), Ahab (1 Kings 21:1-4), Naaman (2 Kings 5:11-12), Uzziah (2
Chronicles 26:16-19), people of Nazareth (Luke4:28).

• such selfish anger has awful effects.

It tears us apart (Amos 1:11), shows on our face (Genesis4:5, Acts 7:54), spoils
prayer (1 Timothy 2:8), ruins Christian fellowship (2 Corinthians12:20), and
gives a foothold to the devil, which he will certainly exploit.

• so selfish anger quickly leads to other sins.

For example: quarrelling (Proverbs15:18, 21:19, 29:22, 30:33), harsh words
(Ephesians 4:31), cruelty, (Genesis 49:7. 2 Chronicles l6:10, Proverbs27:4),
foolishness (Proverbs 14:17, Daniel 2:12), murder (Genesis 4:8, 49:6,
Matthew 2:16) - for anger is the spirit of murder (Matthew 5:21-22, 1 John.3:15).

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4. What to do about sinful anger

• Realise how wrong it is.

Our anger shows ourselves as we really are (Luke 6:45), is a "work of the flesh"
opposed to God's Spirit (Galatians 5:19-21), utterly displeasing to God
(James 1:19-20), and certain to be judged by Him (Matthew 5:21-22).

• Confess it, and be cleansed from it. (1 John 1:9, 1 Timothy 1:15).

• Finish with it (Ephesians 4:31, Psalm 37:8). You can, for being angry is
something you choose to do.

• Choose to be angry righteously and slowly (Proverbs 16:32, 19:11, Titus 1:7,
James 1:19-20, Ephesians 4:26-27).

• Study the science of defusing anger (Proverbs15:1, 18, and 29:8, 11).

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Seven deadly sins

3. Envy
1. What it is

• envy is ill-will caused by looking at what somebody else has or is. (Genesis
26:14, 37:3-4, Ecclesiastes 4:4, Matthew 27:18).
• it is particularly seen when others succeed
(1 Samuel 18:6-9, Daniel 6:3-4, Acts 13:44-45, 17:4-5)
or are commended (1 John 3:12, Genesis 4:3-8).
• envy comes from the depths of the human heart (Mark 7:20-23),
which is proud (1 Timothy 6:4-5), bitter (James 3:14), malicious (Titus 3:3).

2. What it does

• it caused mankind to lose fellowship with God (Genesis 3:1-6).

• it is cruel (Proverbs27:4) and was behind the first murder (Genesis 4:4-5, 8).
• yes, it brings in its wake every imaginable evil (James 3:16), for example,
conspiracy, mockery, murderous thoughts, violence, cruelty, betrayal, lies, and
immeasurable hurt to others (Acts 7:9, Genesis 37:11-36).

• even believers sometimes know envy. It makes them ill (Proverbs14:30), holds
up their spiritual progress (1 Peter 2:1) and makes prayer impossible (Psalm
66:18).

3. What God thinks of envy

• it is a characteristic of those living without God (1 Corinthians 3:3, Titus 3:3).

• it belongs to darkness, not light (Romans 13:12-14).
• it is evidence of an unconverted mind (Romans 1:28-29).
• it is a work of 'the flesh' (Galatians 5:19-21).
• it is the opposite of love (1 Corinthians13:4) and those who envy are unlike God
(1 John 4:8), but like Satan (1 John 3:12).

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4. What to do about envy

• Confess it, and be cleansed from it. 1 John 1:9, 1 Timothy 1:15.

• Believe, and live by - Ephesians 1:11, Psalm 103:19, Proverbs16:9

Romans.8:28, Matthew 6:26....

.... until at last you can say:

"I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:

I know tow to be abased, and I know how to abound.
Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full
and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
(Philippians 4:11b-13).

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Seven deadly sins

4. Lust
1.What it is

• Lust is desiring what God forbids.

• desires (physical, mental, spiritual, sexual) were given by God at creation and
were wholly good (Genesis1:31).

• such desires are necessary if, for example, the body is to be fed (Matthew 4:2)
or the human race is to continue (Hebrews 13:4).

• but sin has spoiled everything.

Desires can now be set on evil things (1Corinthians10:6),
or legitimate desires can go out of control (1 Thessalonians 4:5).

• thus, for example, looking becomes covetousness (Joshua 7:21) and attraction
becomes adultery (Matthew 5:27-28).

2.Its characteristics

• all desires, good and bad, come from deep within us

(Psalm 37:4, Romans 1:24).

• human nature is now corrupt through deceitful lusts (Ephesians 4:22).

• the passions of our mortal bodies demand satisfaction in sinful ways

(Romans 6:12, 13:14, Galatians 5:16).

• lust shows itself in uncontrolled passion (1 Thessalonians 4:5), often leading to

sexual immorality, and sometimes perversion (Proverbs 6:25, Romans 1:29,
Jude 1:4).

• it is stimulated by what men and women see with their eyes (1 John 2:16,
Joshua 7:21, 2 Samuel 11:2, 4).

• it can also be stimulated by harmful friendships and pleasure-seeking company

(2 Timothy 2:22, 1 Peter 4:3).

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3. Its consequences

• lust never stands still. Evil desires become evil acts. (James 1:14-15)

• thus lust corrupts the world (2 Peter 1:4), breeds conflict (James 4:1-2),
dishonours the body (1 Corinthians 6:18-20), and breaks marriages (1
Thessalonians 4:3-6).

• it chokes the influence of God's Word in a person's life (Mark 4:19), brings many
to the point of scoffing at spiritual things (2 Peter 3:3), and causes God's wrath
to fall now (Ephesians 2:3) and in the future (Colossians 3:5-6).

4. What to do about lust

• Confess it, and be cleansed from it. (1 Jonn.l:9, 1 Timothy 1:15).

• understand that, as a believer, you are actually able to say "no" to evil desires
and to live a self-disciplined life (Titus 2:11-14).

• reflect upon the meaning of Christ's death (Titus 2:14, 2 Corinthians 5:15).

• be careful about the company you keep (2 Timothy 2:22, Proverbsl3:20).

• fill your mind with holy things (Galatians 5:16, Philippians 4:8-9).

• and meditate on 2 Peter 1:1-4.

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Seven deadly sins

5. Gluttony
1. What it is

• Gluttony is eating for eating's sake (Proverbs23:20, Luke 7:34).

• it is eating beyond what is enough (Proverbs 25:16).
• gluttons tend to eat too frequently. They do it, not for strength, but for the
enjoyment of excess (Ecclesiastes10:16-17).
• the Bible often puts drunkards and gluttons in the same category
(Proverbs23:19-21, Deuteronomy 21:20).

2. What it does

• Gluttony leads to lethargy and laziness

(Proverbs 23:19-21, Ecclesiastes10:16-18).
• with his senses thus dulled, a person lacks spiritual alertness
(Amos 6:3-7, Luke 21:34-36).
• it can lead to a host of other evils (Deuteronomy 21:20, Psalm 141:4,
Proverbs28:7, and 30:7-9, Isaiah.22:12-13, Philippians 3:18-19).
• the Bible contains many examples of people who were spiritually ruined by an
inordinate love of food: Esau (Genesis 25:29-34), Eli's sons (1 Samuel 2:12-17),
the rich man (Luke 16:19-31) and those in Philippians 3:18-19.

3. Why it is sinful

• it wastes food, which is ungodly (Leviticus23:22, John 6:12-13).

• it forgets that more than food is required to give life (Deuteronomy 8:3).
• it forgets that we are to glorify God in everything (1 Corinthians 10:31).
• it regards pleasure as a main aim in life (Is.22:12-13, Luke 12:19).
• it makes you a slave of food, not of God (1 Corinthians 6:12-13).
• it makes a god out of food and the stomach (Phil.3:19).
• it is a manifestation of worldliness (1 John 2:15-17).
• it is self-centred (Luke 16:19-31).

• and so God will judge it

(Numbers 11:31-34, Psalm 78:26-31, 2 Corinthians 5:10).

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4. What to do about gluttony

• Confess it, and be cleansed from it (1 John 1:9, 1 Timothy 1:15).

• make eating part of your Christian life and service (1 Corinthians10:31).

• pray for your daily bread (Matthew 6:11), work for it (2 Thess.3:10), receive it
with thanksgiving (1 Timothy 4:4-5), and enjoy it (1 Timothy6:17), without being
enslaved by it (1 Corinthians6:12).

• and remember to whom your body belongs

(Romans 12:1-2, 1 Corinthians 6:15, 19-20),
and that it is the sphere in which you do either good or evil (2 Corinthians5:10),
the instrument by which you may honour Christ (Phil.1:20).

• feed your spiritual life and control your eating (Galatians 5:16, 22-23).

• why not secretly fast sometimes? (Matthew 6:16-18, 17:21).

• discipline your intake of food and give to the poor (Isaiah 58:6-7, Proverbs22:9,
Matthew 25:42).

• and make it your "food" to do the Father's will (John 4:31-34, 2 Corinthians5:9).

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Seven deadly sins

6. Avarice
1. What it is

• Avarice is loving gain more than God. It is seeking more goods harder than you
seek more godliness.
• the word "avarice" is not used in the Bible. But it is a subject which God's Word
constantly speaks about. For example: Matthew 6:19-21, 1 Timothy3:3, 6:9-
11a, Heb.13:5.

2. How it shows itself

• in seeing wealth as the way to happiness (Luke 12:13-21).

• in being dishonest, or unjust, if it will lead to gain (Jeremiah 8:10, Titus 1:11,
Amos 2:6, James 5:4).
• in spoiling yourself. (James 5:5).
• in talking about your material plans without talking about God's will
(James 4:13-17).
• in thinking you are superior because you have more (Proverbs18:23, 28:11).
• in worrying about not having yet more than that (Ecclesiastes 5:10-12).

3. Why it is sinful

• it breaks the first great commandment (Matthew 22:36-38).

• it is idolatry (Matthew 6:24, Col.3:5).

• it breaks the second great commandment (Matthew 22:39).

• it makes you think more of yourself than others (2 Timothy3:2).

• it is the first step to all kinds of sin (1 Timothy 6:10).

• it leads to deceitfulness (1 Thess.2:5, 1 Peter5:2, 2 Peter2:3).
• it is blatant worldliness (1 John 2:15-17).

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4. Why it is stupid

• you heap up what you are not certain to enjoy (Ecclesiastes 6:1-2, Luke 12:20).
• earthly riches are not permanent (Proverbs23:4-5, 27:24. Luke 16:19-31).
• riches give you false friends (Proverbs14:20, 19:4), and they can't buy you
peace and love (Proverbs17:1, 15:16-17).
• avarice makes you forget what true riches are (Matthew 16:26, Luke 12:21).
• and it shuts you out of heaven (Matthew 19:23-24, Proverbs28:20).

5. What to do about avarice

• Confess it, and be cleansed from it (1 John 1:9, 1 Timothy 1:15).

• take time to remember that all material possessions are going to be destroyed
(2 Peter3:10-13).

• take time to recall that avarice has led many people into apostasy
(Mark 4:19, 1 Timothy 6:10).

• so make your first priority the pursuit of spiritual enrichment (1 Timothy6:11-16),

remembering Matthew 6:33.

• this done, enjoy the possessions God gives you, and share them, doing good
in a spiritually enriching way (1 Timothy 6:17-19, Matthew 6:1-4).

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Seven deadly sins

7. Sloth
1. What it is

• Sloth is the opposite of hard work and self-discipline. It is not doing what you
should do, because of the effort involved. It "can't be bothered." It says "that'll
do."

2. Its characteristics

• the refusal to put yourself out. (Proverbs 21:25, 12:27, 26:15).

• lying-in. (Proverbs 6:9-11, 19:15, 24:30-34, 26:14).
• seeing difficulties everywhere. (Proverbs15:19, 26:13).
• thinking that "difficult" equals "impossible". (Proverbs20:4).
• not getting going. (Proverbs6:6, 9).
• living in a world of wishing, (Proverbs13:4, 21:25-26),
• and being unaware of itself. (Proverbs 26:16).

3. Its consequences

• being pushed around. (Proverbs12:24).

• being dependent on others. (Proverbs20:4).
• becoming a busybody and gossip. (2 Thessilonians3:11, 1 Timothy 5:13).
• lack of achievement. (Proverbs 13:4, 24:30-34).
• going from bad to worse. (Proverbs24:30-34, 19:15).
• uselessness. (Proverbs 18:9, Ecclesiastes10:18).

4. Its sinfulness

• it wastes time. (1 Corinthians 7:29, Ephesians 5:15-17, Psalm 118:24).

• it wastes your life. (Philippians 1:22a, Colossians 3:17, 23).
• it is unChristlike. (Acts 10:38, John 4:34).
• it is unkind. (Matthew 25:41-43).
• it is unspiritual. (2 Peter1:5-11).

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5. What to do about sloth

• Confess it, and be cleansed from it. (1 John 1:9, 1 Timothy1:15).

• take time to consider Ephesians 2:8-10.

• take concrete steps to beat sloth. ((Romans12:11, 6-8, Ecclesiastes 9:10).
• remember how short life is. (Psalm 90:12).

• do not have any slothful friends. (2 Thessalonians 3:14-15).

• change your views about sleep - it is God's gift. His reward for working hard
(Psalm 127:2b, Ecclesiastes 5:12). But enough is enough (Proverbs 20:13).
• drop the word "leisure", but take times of "re-creation". (Mark 6:31).

• and remember that diligence is precious in itself (Proverbs12:27), and always

carries a reward (Proverbs12:11, 13:4, 14:23).

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