Introduction: Now that we have learned just how destitute we spiritually are in comparison to God, Christ will now teach us the next character trait of the Christian. This second trait is sorrow over sin which brings about actions within us to combat it in ourselves and others.

Today it seems that nothing is considered sin by the average person. Especially if it is something that they themselves are involved in. Even in our Churches the things that once were rebuked as sin, rebuked not only from the pulpit but also from the pew, are now becoming widely accepted in "Christianity," so-called. It was not too many years ago that almost all Christians looked down on the sexual sins of adultery and fornication. And the natural result of those sins, having a child out of wedlock, was once considered a stigma and a blight. Even the sexual sins of the mind which, most often, were (and are) committed with the help of pornography, were viewed as something no "decent" person would be involved with. The tool of this sin, pornography, was considered something "dirty." "Dirty" magazines that only "dirty old men" or "dirty young men" would look at. And most Christians considered them something that would pollute the minds and souls of those that got involved with them.
Leaving this "casual sex" crowd and moving to what modern society calls a "committed relationship," there was a time when the idea of unmarried men and women "living together" in a sexual relationship would have been consigned to the level of something from the dung-heap of society. Instead of a "committed relationship," as it is euphemistically called today, it was once known as "shacking up" and would have been cause for Church discipline and the disfellowshipping of any church members involved in it. And even those others involved in such immorality, who by and large were not "Church-goers," would have been looked down upon, even by lost society at large, as at least being "low class." And most people, Christian or not, would have considered them to be part of the low-class "bar crowd" of drunks, whores, and whoremongers. Those views and reactions against such immorality now seems to have gone by the wayside. And this is true both in lost society at large and, more appallingly, in the Churches.

Then turning to the other type of sexual sin. Not too many years ago only a few fringe ultra-liberal "Christian" churches and a very few individuals in American society in general would have accepted homosexuality as normal and acceptable. Most people, both Christian and non-Christian, considered such sexual behavior a "perversion" or an "abomination." Even the secular field of psychiatry considered it, and treated it, as aberrant behavior.

Much of the material one comes across when researching psychiatry and its diagnosis of, or lack of diagnosis of, homosexuality concern the controversial changes that were made in DSM-II (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) which had replaced DSM-I. This manual is used to properly categorize illnesses, both physical and mental, for purposes of diagnosis. Most of the material online concerned the pros and cons of the removal of the classification of homosexuality as aberrant behavior from the manual. However, on closer examination of the DSM-II and the language before and after the changes, several more editions have now superceded that one, one will find a bit of ambiguity in the original language in the manual. That aside, it still was a tremendous break with the traditional psychiatric evaluation of homosexuality as a disorder. To understand psychiatry's original and long-standing stance on homosexuality, one needs to go back to DSM-I, first published in 1952, which was produced to replace the 5 competing classification systems extant at that time. And those systems ranged in usage and origin from that time back to, or replaced various classification systems traceable back to, at least the 1880 census with its 7 varieties of mental disorders. In the DSM-I you will find the following classification:

OOQ-x63 Sexual deviation

This diagnosis is reserved for deviant sexuality which is not symptomatic of more
extensive syndromes, such as schizophrenic and obsessional reactions.

The term includes most of the cases formerly classed as "psychopathic personality
with pathologic sexuality." The diagnosis will specify the type of the pathologic
behavior, such as homosexuality, transvestism, pedophilia, fetishism and sexual
sadism (including rape, sexual assault, mutilation).⁽¹⁹⁾

The DSM-I clearly showed that up until 1952, even secular psychiatry considered homosexuality to be aberrant and even "pathological" behavior in the same classification with "transvestism, pedophilia, fetishism and sexual sadism (including rape, sexual assault, mutilation)."

Today, secular psychiatry refuses to recognize homosexuality as deviant behavior. And this has been one of the driving forces behind society's acceptance of this particular sin as an "acceptable alternate lifestyle." Because so many Christian children have been trained and molded by the public school system over the years from the early 1970s to now (2009), including indoctrination into this new psychiatric stance on the issue; and because of psychiatry's influence in the public and political arena, with the latter, the political arena, wielding total control over the public school system, those combining factors have fueled the public school system's accelerating stance that all children need to be indoctrinated into acceptance of this deviant lifestyle as normal and acceptable. Those same children, radicalized by the public school system and now grown to adulthood, have permeated the churches with acceptance of homosexuality as normal behavior. And many of those radicals are even pastoring in churches. This radical influence "in" our churches, and now, even "from" our churches, has even gone so far astray from biblical precepts that now more than half of those who claim to be "Christians" believe that homosexuality is an "acceptable alternate lifestyle" (66% - Barna Research). Even among "born-again" Christians it has now climbed to an unbelievable 34%! And on the issue of perverting marriage to include homosexual marriages, 66% of mainline white Protestants believe that gay marriage should be legalized and 30% of "Christians" believe that Church weddings for homosexuals should be allowed and that the clergy should be performing the ceremonies.

I have picked these "hot topics" for a reason. There are many many more, but these will do. All of the research from all of the various groups show that moral decay is rampant in America. These "hot topics" were chosen to show not only how accepting of immorality Americans in general have become, but to also show the moral decay in Christianity at large and how it has even filtered down, to a lesser extent, to those who claim to be "born-again" Christians. And the reason this has happened is because of the lack of true Christian Character amongst "Christians" who used to be at least some kind of check and restraint on society at large.

This moral decay in Christianity was prophesied by God in His Word. He even warned that in the churches where sound doctrine is preached, many will turn away from the truth and turn to preachers that will tickle their ears.

And the falling away from the truth, not falling away from Salvation since that is an impossibility but falling away from the truth, will not be just in the pew but it will be even in the pulpit. This has already become part of the perceptions of society at large who in large measure now believe that "Preachers are just a bunch of phonies that are after your money." Such a misperception has been fueled by such caricatures of "Christian leadership" as Jimmy Swaggart, Jimmy Baker, and Benny Hinn, among many others. Also fueling these misperceptions are such things as the denomination-wide turning of a blind eye to the sexual dalliances of the preachers in the Pentecostal movement and the phony faith healers of the Assemblies of God. And, yes, even the acceptance of mean-spirited, dictatorial pastors in some of the Independent Baptist churches has served the devil's purpose in fostering these perceptions in society.

Mat 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

2Co 11:13-15 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

God warned that this would be an accelerating process right up to the Rapture and the revealing of anti-Christ, the Wicked one of Satan, and the loosing of total evil on this world. (II Thess 2:3-10)

Except the falling away come first:
ean mh elqh h apostasia proton. Negative condition of the third class, undetermined with prospect of determination and the aorist subjunctive. Apostasia is the late form of apostasiV and is our word apostasy. Plutarch uses it of political revolt and it occurs in 1 Maccabees 2:15 about Antiochus Epiphanes who was enforcing the apostasy from Judaism to Hellenism. In Jos 22:22 it occurs for rebellion against the Lord. It seems clear that the word here means a religious revolt and the use of the definite article (mh) seems to mean that Paul had spoken to the Thessalonians about it.

And at the root of this accelerating problem in our churches that is helping to fuel the acceleration of the problem in society at large is (1) the lack of a biblical worldview in Christians and (2) the concomitant disappearance of true Christian Character from God's people brought about because of that erroneous and ungodly worldview.
According to the scriptures we are the ones that are keeping ultimate evil at bay. The Holy Spirit working through Christians is the restraining force for good in the world today. And only with a biblical worldview, and specifically that view as it concerns ourselves and our view of sin, will Christians be fit for God's use in the matter. The "great falling away" that will happen prior to the rapture and the revealing of that man of sin. And that is speaking of a widespread apostasy- which is now upon us. Many who claim to be God's people have strayed so far from biblical Christianity that one has to wonder if the majority of them are even saved. (James chapter 2) When they fall away, as so many of them are now doing, are they falling away from God (which we have seen in the course on Eternal Security is an impossibility for someone who is truly from "Religion?" God will not allow His own to fall away even from biblical "Religion" to the extent seen in "Christianity" today. He guarantees that for His own, "Be sure your sin will find you out." And that means that Christians straying from the plain principles of the Bible will be found out and exposed as sinners living in an ungodly fashion. Bible speaks of a saved) or are they falling away

He promises chastisement of His wayward children and gives a warning of the danger signaled by the lack of such chastening.

And for the lost and saved together, because II Tim 4:1-4 is not specific to either of the two groups, God says that willful rebellion will be openly exercised as people in general "heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;" and that will lead us to widespread rebellious apostasy.
A sign of that apostasy that is fast coming upon us to heights, or depths if you will, heretofore undreamed of, is the loss to those who claim to be "God's people" of the ability to rightly discern truth from fantasy, godly living from ungodly living, morality from immorality. And a lack of Christian Character figures largely in the equation as does the looming biblical possibility that most of them are not even saved but are simply "religious" and, thus, do not have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to guide their discernment concerning such things.

The world is already at the point of moral destitution which is spoken of in the book of Romans. Not only do they allow the evil things that ought not to be, but they take pleasure in those that do those things. (Romans 1:21-32)

Rom 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

This inability to any longer discern between right and wrong, the inability, or unwillingness, to follow the precepts of God within the bounds of a biblical worldview rather than a secular worldview, has a direct bearing on the character of each of those who call themselves a child of God.

The first biblical precept we studied concerned our perception of ourselves and the reality of our condition before a Holy God. We learned we are to understand and develop the attitude that we truly are "poor is spirit," i.e., we are to fully understand and believe our destitute condition before Him.

We will now study the second character trait of a Christian- our attitude toward sin. And both of these, the first and the second character traits, need to be ingrained into the very fabric of our character to the point where they will prompt actions concerning them. This second character trait will not only address sin in general but, on a more personal level, it will address our proper attitude toward our own sin. Finally, we will see the biblical attitude we should have concerning the sin of the world. And we will learn, infused in all of these areas and our attitudes concerning them, that a proper attitude, a biblical attitude, will always stimulate us to proper action.

As you study this section, meditate on it, assimilate it, make it an integral part of your personal character as you are required to do with all of the beatitudes. Without this meditation this whole study will be nothing but an academic exercise. Contrariwise, study plus meditation, which must include prayer, will afford you a better chance of gaining the tools, and the power of God, to change what is necessary within you to bring about the further development of true Christian character; i.e., it will change the essence of who you are, what you think, how you act, and further the transformation of you into a better tool for the master's use.

1. All sin is against God.

        Ps 51:4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done
                      this evil in thy sight...
           We can commit sinful acts or allow ourselves to develop sinful attitudes toward
       other human beings; but, when it comes right down to it, commission of "sin" is
       ultimately and exclusively against God. Sin is a violation of God's commands;
       and, therefore, all such violation can only be committed against God alone as the
       lawgiver, judge, and enforcer. Oh yes, other human beings are the recipients of
       the consequences of our breaking God's law: they are the ones we murder, lie
       to, steal from, gossip against, etc. However, they are only the recipients of the
       consequences and the actions brought about by breaking God's law, but still, they
       are not the one who's law we are breaking. The Bible mentions instances where one
       person says he has sinned against some other human being; but, upon examination
       we see that it is referring to a sinful act toward that person.
          Ultimately, however, we must realize that because we have transgressed the Law of
       the one who made the Law that we broke, and the maker of that Law was God, then
       the one we have actually sinned against is God alone.

2. All have sinned and, therefore, all have sinned against God.

Rom 3:23 "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"

    3. Sorrow over sin.
            We must realize its seriousness, its depth, and its cost.
            This is a Holy God we are sinning against. One who will not tolerate sin of any
         kind or amount. He hates it. In fact He hates sin so much that He sent His only
         begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die as the only holy, perfect, righteous sacrifice that
         alone could satisfy His righteous demand that this abominable affront to His holy
         person, which is known as sin, be paid for.

a. Sorrow over its seriousness. It sets us apart as enemies of God.

Ro 5:8 talks about, "... while we were yet sinners..."

Ro 5:10 says that at that time, "... we were enemies..." of God.
(Col 1:20-22; Jas 4:1-4)

b. Sorrow over its depth. It is immeasurable.

In Jer 17:9 God tells us that our heart is,

                "... deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"
                And since the sin that we do is first conceived as iniquity (def. perversity) in our heart,
             then the deceitful and desperate wickedness of our heart shows us the immeasurable
             depth of our sin. Just as the depth of the deceit and wickedness of our heart is beyond
             the measure of the knowledge and understanding of any man; so too is the depth of our
             sin. It is beyond the knowledge and understanding of any man. It is immeasurable.
        c. Sorrow over its cost.
             It cost the life of God's only begotten Son.

Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his ___ _________ Son,
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Rom 5:8-10 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were
yet sinners, Christ ____ for us. Much more then, being now justified by his
blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were
enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more,
being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

B. Sorrow over our sin.

    1. It dooms us to Hell and an eternity in the lake of fire. (Ro 6:23; Rev 20:12-15)
           Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast
                        into the lake of fire.

2. Once we mourn (feel sorrow) over our sin then we are led to repentance.

II Cor 7:9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye
sorrowed to repentance:

3. And salvation.

II Cor 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to
be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

4. And then we are blessed.

Ps 32:1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

5. And comforted. (Remember the story of Lazarus and the rich man?)

         Lk 16:25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst
                  thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted,
                  and thou art tormented.

a. We must mourn (realize the depth, and seriousness of our sin), we must sorrow
over it, we must feel regret and a desire to be free from it.

a. In the Army, during wartime, you wouldn't be comforted for consorting with the enemy,
you'd be executed.

d. But if we don't listen, and we force His hand, then He will take us out. (I Cor 5:1-5)

2. We must mourn over the world's sin but not get discouraged. (Ezekiel 9:1-11)

a. Those to be spared. God set a mark on the forehead of those that,
Ezekiel 9:4 "... sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done..."

b. Those are to be spared when the slaughterers come.

      Eze 9:1 "He cried also in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause them
            that have charge over the city to draw near, even every man with his
            destroying weapon in his hand."
      Eze 9:2 "And, behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which
            lieth toward the north, and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand;"

c. Those that "sigh and that cry" were not to be touched in the slaughter.

d. Everyone else, man, woman, and child, were to be slaughtered.

c. Mourn over the world's sin, yes, but do not be discouraged.

God is keeping the books. He is keeping track of everyone and everything.

e. The righteous will be comforted and the unrighteous will be punished.

f. All are included: (Refs. are in Ezekiel and are for reference only, you do not have to
read these whole chapters unless you want to do so.)
1) Chapters 5-12, the people.
2) Chapter 13, the prophets.
3) Chapter 14, the elders.
4) All who mourn (sigh and cry) will be comforted.
5) Those who do not mourn (sigh and cry) will be slaughtered.

D. Mourning plus action brings many things.
1. When we mourn over our sin then we must do something about it.
a. We repent and believe in Christ. Then God can save us and comfort us.
b. Then after we are saved, mourning plus action brings grace and power.

you up."
c. Mourning, plus humbling ourselves and drawing nigh to God, brings the grace

and power of God lifting us up in our Christian lives.
2. When we mourn over the world's sin then we must do something about that also.

Mourning plus action ("Go ye...") is obedience to God and brings assurance
of His presence in our lives. ("... I am with you alway...")

E. How to be comforted.
1. Do we want comfort in our trials and suffering, in our sorrow over our own sin and
the sin of this world and what that sin is doing to this world?
2. Then we must turn to God, and Him only, for that comfort!

You will be required to quote it from memory for the Scripture
Memorization practice Test and for the Lesson One Test.
You will not include the quotation marks nor the scripture
reference, Matthew 5:4, in your answer.

You will also be asked if you meditated on the precept taught in this Beatitude.

LESSON TWO TEST
Lesson test is "open book" except for the verse memorization question
which must be answered from memory alone as a closed book question.

You cannot proceed to the next Lesson until the day after you have
passed this Lesson Test and found all of the correct answers
in the textbook to all questions missed on this test
even though you received a passing score.