In sin part 1 we began to look at the subject of sin and how we as Christians are called to deal with it in an effective way. We saw that all Christians do sin, because we have two natures. We have the new nature that does not sin and cannot sin and we have the old nature that wars against this new nature. The reason we sin is that the old nature wins battles from time to time. Does the fact that all Christians sin give us a license to continue in known sin? Or does YAHVEH expect us to turn and repent from known sin and walk in victory? “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” (Romans 6:1-2)

In this teaching I want to talk about the consequences of continuing in known sins once YAHVEH reveals to you that they are sin that need to be repented of. This teaching should put the fear of YAHVEH into all of our lives concerning sin. “In mercy and truth atonement is provided for iniquity; and by the fear of the LORD one departs from evil.” (Proverbs 16:6) The fear of YAHVEH comes from knowing that there are consequences for continuing in sin once YAHVEH warns us that we are to repent of a particular sin in our lives. If we persist in the sin we will begin to sow to the flesh and the flesh will reap corruption from the sin. As a result our sins will eventually be found out by the fruit of our lives. “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life”. (Galatians 6:7-8) “But if you do not do so, then take note, you have sinned against the LORD; and be sure your sin will find you out.” (Numbers 32:23)

Various Consequences Of Un-repented Sin.

A) Un-repented Sin Defined:
Un-repented sins are those sins that the Bible clearly states we are to repent of when we come to HaMashiach.  If we fail to repent of these sins, then they are un-repented sins such as immorality, drunkenness, filthy language, covetousness, evil desires, anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, lying, theft, hatred, jealousies, dissensions, murders, etc. There are also areas in which YAHVEH has convicted you personally of which must be repented of e.g. attitudes, sins of omission etc. Now that we understand this, let's look at some of the consequences of not repenting when YAHVEH is leading us into repentance. (Colossians 3:5-10)

1.) Sin Brings Loss of Christian Joy.
“For the kingdom of God is not food and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 14:17) One of the fruits of coming into the Kingdom and knowing Yeshua is the joy we have in Adonai. When we continue to walk in sin, whatever it may be that YAHVEH is convicting us of, we will be robbed of the precious joy of Adonai and as a result we begin to lose the strength we have in YAHVEH. It is impossible to be happy and joyful when you have un-judged, un-rebuked, un-confessed sin in your life. Sin brings the smiting of the conscience. It brings the rebuke of Ruach HaKodesh.

The example of David - Psalm 51:8-13.
In Psalm 51 we have the heartbroken prayer of David after his sin with Bathsheba. Remember, David tried to cover his sin for a time, but was rebuked by the prophet, Nathan. “Make me to hear joy and gladness, that the bones which You have broken may rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities.” (Psalm 51:8-9) “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and uphold me with Your generous Spirit.” (Psalm 51:12) David had been weeping over his baby who died because of his sin. He had been weeping over his own lost fellowship with YAHVEH. He begged for the cleansing of his heart anew, a renewal of a right spirit. He begged for the fellowship of Ruach HaKodesh. Then he said, "Restore unto me the joy of Your salvation." David had lost the joy of his salvation. David knew that only with cleansing from sin, only by the comfort of Ruach HaKodesh, only by being upheld and helped to walk straight, could he have the joy which ought to go with salvation. Anyone who claims that he can go into sin and have no burning of conscience, no unrest of soul, no conviction by Ruach HaKodesh, gives evidence that he does not know our Adonai Yeshua HaMashiach. Why do you think Peter went out and wept bitterly after denying HaMashiach? His sin took all his joy. Sin will take your joy too, if you allow it to go un-judged and un-confessed in your life.

2.) Sin Quenches & Grieves Ruach HaKodesh & His Ministry In Your Life.
“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption”. (Ephesians 4:30) “Do not quench the Spirit”. (1 Thessalonians 5:19) One of the ways in which Ruach HaKodesh is quenched and grieved is when we allow sin to go un-repented in our lives. It prevents Him from performing His ministry on our behalf. The word “quench” means to put out (as a fire or light): Extinguish, to terminate. “But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit; so He turned Himself against them as an enemy, and He fought against them.” (Isaiah 63:10) In order for the ministry of Ruach HaKodesh to be fully released in our lives He must have possession of our will. He must own us as it says in 1 Corinthians 6:19, “your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own...” Sin loses much of the help of Ruach HaKodesh in the Christian's life. John Rice writes in his book When A Christian Sins, "The Holy Spirit lives in every Christian's body. Yet, when a Christian sins he sometimes loses all contact with that same Holy Spirit. It seems as if the Holy Spirit, like an ill-treated and offended guest, shuts Himself up in His own small room in the heart and does not enjoy the fellowship of the inmate who has so grieved Him and wronged Him! The blessed Holy Spirit does not leave when a Christian sins, but His work is certainly hindered."

Some of the things that Ruach HaKodesh does for us are as follows:
A) Gives us assurance of salvation
B) Speaks to us
C) Opens our understanding to the things of YAHVEH
D) Guides and directs our lives, imparts life
E) Strengthens our inner being
F) Enables us to pray according to the will of YAHVEH
G) Produces Christ-like fruit in our character
H) Calls us to service and ministry
I) Guides us into our ministries
J) Empowers us to witness, imparts spiritual gifts
K) And guides us through our personal struggles
Can you afford to lose His anointing in these areas because of un-repented sin? It happens!

3.) Sin Brings Reproach on HaMashiach, The Church & The Bible.
One of the worst things that the sin of a Christian does is to bring reproach on the cause of HaMashiach and upon the Name of HaMashiach. How Jerusalem must have buzzed with gossip when Peter denied our Adonai, cursed and swore and quit the ministry! When the prophet Nathan rebuked David for his sin, he told him that his sin had brought reproach and had given his enemies an opportunity to blaspheme. “Then David said to Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said to David, The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die. However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die.” (2 Samuel 12:13-14) The sins of the preacher who falls are blazoned on the front pages of newspapers. “The pastor had a whore". The sins of a normal Christian believer are held up in his own family and in his own community against HaMashiach and the Gospel by those who are the enemies of YAHVEH.  E.g. of person beating his wife, who was on school board. What shame and reproach the failure and sins of YAHVEH's people bring on the whole cause of HaMashiach!

4.) Sin Causes YAHVEH to Turn a Deaf Ear to Your Prayers.
The Bible is quite clear in the fact that YAHVEH delights to hear the prayers of His people. We are plainly invited and promised, in Matthew 7:7: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you.” Most Christians live far below the level of joy and usefulness and provision which YAHVEH intended His children to have, simply because we do not take everything to YAHVEH in prayer and ask our Heavenly Father for what we need. But we are plainly warned that sin shuts up Heaven to our prayers. In Isaiah 59:1-3 we find this solemn statement: “Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.” (Isaiah 59:1-2) “We have transgressed and rebelled; You have not pardoned. You have covered Yourself with anger and pursued us; You have slain and not pitied. You have covered Yourself with a cloud, that prayer should not pass through.” (Lamentations 3:42-44) Any known sins such as un-confessed, un-judged, un-forsaken sins make it so that YAHVEH cannot honourably and righteously give us many of the things we ask for and need.  YAHVEH cannot put Himself in the position of endorsing our sins when He answers the prayers of sinning Christians who do not judge their sins and do not turn from them. As we can see, un-confessed sin that has not been repented of really hinders our walk with our Adonai and brings reproach to those around us. All of us should continually search our ways to see if there is anything hurtful in us. “Let us search out and examine our ways, and turn back to the LORD” (Lamentations 3:40)

In the next teaching we shall continue to look at some more consequences of un-repented sin such as YAHVEH's chastisement, the vulnerability to Satan's deceit, how it prevents us from entering into the fullness of the Kingdom blessing and how un-repented sin can lead to blaspheming Ruach HaKodesh and loss of salvation.