God Never Said That: Part 3 - "It Doesn't Matter What You Do" with Craig Groeschel - LifeChurch.tv

God Never Said: “It Doesn’t Matter What You Do as Long as You Don’t Hurt Anyone”

Scripture References

Primary text

• 1 John 1:8
• Romans 6:1
• Romans 6:23

Other references

• Romans 3:10
• Luke 20:47
• John 19:11
• 1 Corinthians 6:18

Overview

The message dismantles the popular claim that our actions are harmless as long as no one seems to get hurt. Scripture shows that sin is real, universal, and carries both earthly and eternal consequences—but God always provides a way out through Jesus. Pastor Craig walks the church through three common cultural lies about sin, exposes their danger, and calls believers to live in the freedom Christ offers rather than rationalizing continued disobedience.

Main Points

1. Cultural Lie #1: “I’m not a bad person.”

• Comparing ourselves to others is the wrong standard; measured against a holy God, every person is sinful.
• 1 John 1:8 declares that claiming to be without sin is self-deception.
• Quick diagnostic: lying, stealing, and lust all reveal our guilt (“lying, thieving adulterers”).

• Illustration: Congregation asked to point to the “biggest sinner”; awkward laughter exposes discomfort with calling anything sin.

2. Cultural Lie #2: “All sin is the same.”

• All unforgiven sin separates us from God and leads to death (Romans 6:23), yet not all sins carry the same consequences on earth or in eternity.
• How we live influences:
  1. Earthly consequences (e.g., losing ministry position, relational fallout).
  2. Rewards in heaven.
  3. Degrees of punishment in hell (Luke 20:47; John 19:11).
• Sexual sin receives special warning because it is “against your own body” (1 Corinthians 6:18).

3. Cultural Lie #3: “Since I already did it, I might as well keep doing it.”

• Romans 6:1 rejects the idea of continuing in sin so that grace may abound.
• Spiritual maturity is measured by obedience and fruit, not information accumulation.
• Many Christians are “educated way beyond their level of obedience.”

4. Sin’s Progression and Cost

• Sin grows best in the dark; secrecy hardens the heart and widens the gap between sin and repentance.
• Ongoing disobedience erodes intimacy with God and dulls sensitivity to His voice.

• Story: Pastor Craig misjudges traffic, is flipped off by a driver with a Life.Church bumper sticker, and confronts him at a stop-light—highlighting differing degrees of wrongdoing (gesture vs. violence) and contrasting consequences.

5. The Way Out: Jesus, Friend of Sinners

“Jesus is a friend of sinners.”

• He came for the sick, not the healthy, and offers forgiveness and new life.
• 1 Corinthians 10:13 (referenced verbally) assures believers that God is faithful and always provides “a way out” of temptation.
• Stepping into the light—confession, repentance, and reliance on the Holy Spirit—breaks sin’s power.

Key Truths

• Every person is sinful when measured against God’s holiness.
• All unforgiven sin separates us from God, yet different sins carry different consequences.
• Continuing in known sin produces misery and hardens the heart.
• Spiritual depth shows up in obedience and Spirit-produced fruit, not just accumulated knowledge.
• Jesus always offers a path to freedom; there is “always a way out” for those who turn to Him.

Response

• Confess specific sins to God and trusted believers; bring them into the light.
• Flee sexual temptation instead of trying to manage it.
• Shorten the gap between conviction and repentance—respond quickly.
• Pursue obedience as the true measure of spiritual growth.
• Rely on the Holy Spirit’s power, not personal willpower, to walk in freedom.

Closing

Sin is not a private, harmless matter; it threatens our intimacy with God and damages us and others. Yet the same God who reveals our sin has already provided rescue. Grace is greater than bondage, and the Spirit that raised Christ now lives in believers.

“He who the Son sets free is free indeed.”

Prayer

The pastor led the congregation in two prayers: first, a corporate confession asking God to expose hidden sin and provide strength to take the “way out”; second, a salvation prayer in which newcomers surrendered to Jesus, asked for forgiveness, and received new life by faith.