In considering the question of sin, we are faced with two startling facts. The first fact is that man makes so little of sin. To some, it is an illusion-a religious mirage-the invention of some fanatic. It is denied, joked about, and laughed at by man. Many, who believe sin to be a fact, continue in it with little thought of its penalty.
The second fact is that God makes so much of sin. God said, “The soul who sins shall die” (Ezekiel 18:20). “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). All sins are an abomination to God (Proverbs 6:16-19), and He hates those who work iniquity (Psalm 5:5). Moses said, “…All who behave unrighteously, are an abomination to the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 25:16). Sin is an evil force. Its presence cannot be escaped in this life, but it can be overcome by the power of God.
I- THE ORIGIN OF SIN (Jude 1:6)
Notes: The origin of sin is one of the mysteries of the Bible. “The secret things belong to the Lord our God” (Deuteronomy 29:29). Its origin is one of the “secret things” that will remain wrapped in obscurity.
Sin was first noted in the heart of Satan. He was created a perfect being, “…till iniquity was found in you” (Ezekiel 28:11-19). Satan fell from perfection when he exerted his will above the will of God. Five times he said, “I will” (Isaiah 14:12-17). It was his will over God’s will – this is sin. It is believed that Satan, when first created, was the ruler of this earth (Genesis 1:1). , and that he fell through self-will; and at his fall, the earth “was without form, and void” (Genesis 1:2).
Isaiah tells us that God created the earth “not in vain” (Isaiah 45:18). “He did not create it a chaos.” The earth was a perfect creation in Genesis 1:1. Something happened that caused a catastrophe and the earth became “without form and void” (Genesis 1:2), but it was not created thus.
It is believed that some of the angels, along with Satan, sinned by leaving their first estate. This does not prove that Satan was the originator of sin, but it does reveal sin in the heart of Satan before God created man.
II- WHAT IS SIN (I John 3:4)
Notes: It is impossible to deny the existence of sin, when the whole world is in conflict between good and evil. If sin were not a fact, there would be no crime; we would not need jails or prisons. We would need no locks on our doors, or vaults for our valuables. To some, sin is being indiscreet; or it is a weakness of the flesh. To others, it is the absence from good. To the so-called scholar, sin is ignorance; and to the evolutionist, it is the nature of the beast. The latest theory is that sin is a disease to be treated by science, because man is not a sinner-he is only sick. To others, sin is a form of selfishness, but God declares that;
(1) Sin is lawlessness (I John 3:4)
(2) Sin is falling short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23)
(3) Sin is rebellion against God (Isaiah 1:2).
(4) Sin is unbelief; it makes God a Liar ( 1 John 5:10)
(5) Sin is going your own way, planning your life according to your own will, without seeking the will of God ( Isaiah 53:6)
(6) All unrighteousness is sin ( 1 John 5:17)
Sin is a folly to deceive you, a force to destroy you, and a fact to condemn you. Sin is a volitional act of disobedience against the revealed will of God.
III- HOW SIN ENTERED INTO THE WORLD (Romans 5:12)
Notes: “…by one man sin entered into the world.” The fall of man is found in Genesis 3:1-24 When Adam sinned, his seed became corruptible ( 1 Peter 1:23) Therefore, we are sinners, because we are born in sin ( Psalm 51:5) You do not have to teach children to be bad, but you do have to teach them to be good. You do not have to teach them to lie, but you do have to teach them to tell the truth.” Therefore as by one man’s offense judgment came to all men resulting in condemnation” (Romans 5:18 ) According to the Word of God, all men are judged sinners; all are condemned already (John 3:18). “All have sinned” (Romans 3:23) Sin entered the world through our first parents in the Garden of Eden, and “all have sinned” because all are sinners.
Man sins by choice, because he is a sinner by nature. Therefore, the dominion sin has over you is according to the delight you have in it.
IV- THE RESULTS OF SIN (Ephesians 2:1)
Notes: “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23) As a result of man’s sin, there are three deaths. Keep in mind that death does not annihilate; it only separates. In the Garden of Eden, it separated man from God Spiritually; this is spiritual death. In natural death, it separates the spirit and the soul from the body; this is physical death. In final death, it separates man from the mercy of God forever; this is eternal death.
(1) The wages of sin is spiritual death. Just as sin separated man from God spiritually and drove him from the presence of God out of the Garden, so sin will separate you from God ( Isaiah 59:1-2) The only way back to God is to confess your sins to Him ( 1 John 1:9) and forsake your sins ( Isaiah 55:7) that you may be restored to fellowship with God.
(2) The wages of sin is physical death. Physical death is a result of sin. Death had no claim on man until man sinned. Now all die, because all are in sin. Death is universal; and, since we have a universal effect, we must have a universal cause, and that cause is universal sin. All men die-the good and the bad-the young and the old – and man will continue to die until death is destroyed by the Lord Jesus Christ ( 1 Corinthians 15:26) and is swallowed up in victory ( 1 Corinthians 15:54-57).
(3) The wages of sin is eternal death. “The soul who sins shall die” (Ezekiel 18:20). This is eternal separation from the love of God (Revelation 20:14). Once the soul passes beyond the portals of Hades, he is lost and lost forever. He will continue to exist, but without hope. He is damned and damned to all eternity. Eternal death is eternal separation from God ( Luke 16:19-31).
V- GOD'S REMEDY FOR SIN (2 Corinthians 5:21)
The only remedy for the ruin of man is the Son of God being made sin for us on the cross. The only way to receive this remedy is by faith in Him as personal Savior. (John 20:30-31)
Notes: Man, not willing to accept God’s remedy for his ruin, strives to bring about his own salvation by human means.
(1) He strives for self-righteousness, when he needs too be made the righteousness of God (Isaiah 64:6).
(2) He strives to reform when he needs to regenerated (Titus 3:5).
(3) He strives to turn over a new leaf, when he needs a new life (John 10:10).
(4) He strives to be justified by the Law, when he needs to be justified by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Galatians 2:16).
(5) He strives to clean up the old man, when he needs to be made a new man in Christ (Ephesians 4:24).
(6) He strives to be saved by good works, when he needs salvation by the grace of God (Ephesians 2:8-9).
The only remedy for the ruin of man is the Son of God being made sin for us on the cross. The only way to receive this remedy is by faith in Him as personal Savior. (John 20:30-31)
By: Porter Barrington
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