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Benjamin Lee <- Back Grace & Self Control Benjamin Lee February 15, 2026 Grace & Self Control Benjamin Lee 00:00 / 31:38 Download Outline File Download Presention File self, control, self-control, selfcontrol, grace, gracious Request a File Looking for an outline or powerpoint file for a specific lesson? Let us know! Request Now Have any questions? Ask Us!

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James gives a simple warning that cuts against how most of us naturally think. He describes people who confidently say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a city, spend a year there, engage in business, and make a profit.” James isn’t condemning planning or hard work. He’s addressing the attitude behind our plans—the confidence that says, “I’ve got this. I’m in control. My future is secure because I’m smart enough to build it.”  James reminds us of the truth we forget too easily: life is fragile, and we do not know what tomorrow holds. The Problem Isn’t Planning—It’s Self-Confidence In James’ day, men often traveled to find the best market for their business. They would leave home, invest time and resources, and take risks in hopes of returning successful. It required confidence, but it also carried great uncertainty. James uses that kind of plan as an illustration of a deeper problem—people speaking as though life is guaranteed and success is assured. But James makes it clear that we have no control over how long we live or what tomorrow brings. That’s why he says the proper mindset is, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.” He isn’t insisting on certain words, but on an attitude that recognizes God’s authority over our lives and our plans. What Is Your Foundation? James’ warning forces us to ask what we are building our lives on. We all understand foundations. Whether it’s a tower, a house of cards, or a home, everything depends on the base. If the foundation fails, the entire structure collapses. James is asking whether our foundation is our education, our job, our discipline, or our ability to work hard. While those things may be good gifts, they are not stable foundations. Jobs disappear, health fades, and plans fall apart. Anything other than God will eventually fail. When Confidence Turns Into Arrogance James calls it arrogance when we boast in our own plans and success, because it ignores reality. We are not in control. That is why he says such boasting is evil. He closes the thought with a striking statement: “To one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.” In context, the right thing is trusting God, submitting to His will, and planning life with His providence in mind. Once we understand the uncertainty of life, choosing to live as though we control it becomes sin. When Planning Becomes Living for This World Right after this warning, James turns his attention to people who have devoted their lives to storing up treasure on earth. That transition is intentional. When confidence is placed in this life, wealth often becomes the goal. Paul addresses the same danger in 1 Timothy 6, reminding us that we brought nothing into the world and can take nothing out of it. Material things do not last. Chasing them can lead to temptation, grief, and spiritual ruin. The issue is not having wealth, but placing hope in it. Riches are uncertain, but God is not. The Better Goal: Be Rich Toward God Paul urges Christians to pursue something far greater—righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. These are the things that last and form a foundation capable of leading to eternal life. Along with that pursuit comes a responsibility to be generous and ready to share. This sharing goes beyond money. It reflects true fellowship—active participation in one another’s lives, meeting needs, encouraging one another, and working together as the body of Christ. The early church lived this out, ensuring no one was left in need and devoting themselves to life together. The Question That Remains All of this brings us back to the heart of James’ message. Who are we trusting to carry us through life—ourselves or God? When things go well, where does the glory go? And when things fall apart, what remains standing? James is not telling us to stop planning. He is telling us to stop trusting ourselves as though tomorrow is guaranteed. If God’s will is our foundation and heaven is our goal, then nothing in this life can ultimately defeat us. “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” That isn’t just a phrase—it’s a foundation.

Hating sin is not a popular idea. It sounds harsh, extreme, and uncomfortable. But Scripture makes it clear that a casual attitude toward sin is dangerous—not just to our lives here, but to our relationship with God. The question isn’t whether sin exists in our lives. The real question is how we view it . Why We Sin—and Why It’s So Dangerous Paul lists the works of the flesh in Galatians 5, and among them is selfish ambition. At the heart of sin is desire—what we want, what feels good, what brings momentary pleasure. Sin thrives when we refuse to let go of worldly desires. These things don’t just exist quietly in our lives. They destroy  things that matter—our influence, our relationships, our peace, and our joy. David is a sobering example. Driven by the flesh, he entered a sinful relationship, attempted to hide it with lies, and ultimately arranged the death of an innocent man. It’s easy to point fingers at David, but the pattern is familiar. Many of us have experienced how one lie leads to another, how sin multiplies when it’s protected instead of confronted. Paul warns that the danger goes far beyond earthly consequences. In Romans 8, he says that setting the mind on the flesh is death. Living according to the flesh leads to death. Those who practice these things will not inherit the kingdom of God. The flesh is hostile toward God and cannot please Him. That should frighten us. When something pulls us away from God, it cannot be treated lightly. If I want God—and I do—then anything that stands between me and Him must go. Completely. Developing the Right Attitude Toward Sin Paul doesn’t tell Christians to manage sin, minimize it, or coexist with it. He tells us to kill it . “If you live according to the flesh, you will die,” he says. “But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” Sin isn’t something to trim back—it’s part of the old self that must be destroyed. That’s why Paul uses such strong language. In Galatians 2:20 he says he has been crucified  with Christ. That word matters. Crucifixion wasn’t just death—it was humiliation, brutality, and public disgrace. It was reserved for the worst criminals, the lowest of the low. The goal wasn’t merely to end a life, but to utterly destroy the person—physically, emotionally, and socially. Paul chooses that word on purpose. When he says the old self is crucified, he’s describing an intense hatred for sin. Not something politely removed, but something torn out, beaten, exposed, and executed. Sin is not worthy of existence in the life of a Christian. When the crowd shouted, “Crucify Him!” they were declaring Jesus unfit to live. Paul teaches us to shout that same verdict at our old self. Acting on That Attitude Hatred for sin must turn into action. Paul makes it clear: the flesh will die either way. It will either die as it destroys you—or you will put it to death by the Spirit and live. In Colossians 3, Paul lays out the pattern. First, we set our minds on things above. Then we put to death what belongs to the flesh. And finally, we clothe ourselves with qualities that reflect Christ—compassion, humility, patience, love. These are not accessories. We “put them on” so they define us. This is what replaces sin. A Christian life is not empty space where sin used to be—it is filled with Christlike character. Living as Light Paul develops this further in Ephesians 5. Sin is described as darkness—something that must not remain hidden or tolerated. Christians are no longer darkness; we are light. That means we walk differently. We search for what pleases God. We fill our lives with goodness, righteousness, and truth. When we live this way, light exposes darkness—both in the world and in ourselves. Paul tells us to make the most of every opportunity because the days are evil. Every moment is a window—a chance to walk in the light before that opportunity closes. That’s why we must understand the Lord’s will, fill our minds with His truth, and let it guide our decisions. A light-filled Christian is careful, intentional, wise, and focused on what matters most. Why This Matters Sin is not something to tolerate, excuse, or negotiate with. It is deadly. If we love God, we must hate what separates us from Him. That hatred isn’t born out of anger—it’s born out of love. Love for God. Love for life. Love for what Christ died to give us. The old self must not reign. It must be crucified. Because only when sin dies can we truly live.

“Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.” The Hebrew writer provides in this one verse a great deal of information about marriage that will benefit us all. Marriage : The Union of Marriage is from God, Genesis 1-2. God has designed and defined what marriage is (one man and one woman who both have the right before God to be married). Marriage is a blessing and has been around from the beginning. The first marriage was Adam and Eve. Jesus goes back to Adam and Eve as He spoke about marriage, separation, and divorce, Matthew 19:1-6. Marriage is to be held in honor among all. We quickly see the kind of respect and honor one should have with respect to marriage. It is not to be quickly rushed into. “This includes respect for one’s own marriage as well as the marriage of others.” [1] And the marriage bed is to be undefiled. Each husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the church. Each wife is to submit to her husband. The marriage bed (refers to the sexual union) that’s to be enjoyed between a husband and wife. “The sexual relationship is only for those who are married (1 Corinthians 7:2; Matthew 5:32; Matthew 19:4-9). God has created this relationship in the beginning, and it just as much a part of God’s design for the world as the sun and the moon (Genesis 2:24). Sexual infidelity was common in the ancient world, possibly more so among Greeks than Romans. In ancient Greek culture, it was assumed that a man would have both a wife (for bearing children) and a mistress (for sexual pleasure). Augustus outlawed adultery among Romans, but this probably only had the effect of making the practice more discreet. However, even some pagans bemoaned the loss of morality that adultery signaled. Christians ought be known as people who neither condone nor practice fornication (Ephesians 5:3). [2] “…For fornicators and adulterers God will judge…”  Those who engage in fornication and adultery face judgment before God. Godly repentance is necessary. “Fornication and adultery are not just sins against one’s flesh (1 Corinthians 6:18), they are also the manifestation of a worldly and fleshly mind and heart (Matthew 15:19) that really cares nothing for what God says. A lack of respect for God’s design for marriage betrays a preference for the gratification of the flesh rather than pleasing God, and is a step toward complete renunciation of Jesus. Conversely, having the proper attitude toward marriage is part of having a mind that is set on the things of God (Romans 8:6). God is the ultimate judge. Sometimes, people get away with things, but God sees all. He will judge accordingly. [1] Rober McAlsister commentary on Hebrews page 494 [2] Ibid