Sin

I did a lesson on this subject years ago and I want to touch on it again today.  Sin is something most people don’t want to talk about but it is our biggest problem and every person that ever lived was, and is, affected by it; the only exemption was Jesus who never sinned.  Every one of us was born with a sin nature which separated us from God.  We didn‘t ask for it but we inherited it from our ancestors, Adam and Eve.  Because of it we all have sinned many times and we all have fallen short of the glory of God.

Many times we hear of terrible things taking place and the sin nature is the underlying factor in most of these cases.  Sin has become the dividing factor between good and evil.  It seems like we are faced daily with temptation and sin.  At one time all of us were slaves to sin, condemned to a life of slavery with no other hope but death, condemnation, judgment and everlasting suffering!  In our own power and strength we could do nothing to change that verdict, we were totally helpless.  This is what we have as Adam’s sons; ruin, sin, death and separation from God, disobedience, judgment and law.  We all start out this way and many die this same way, what a sad end.

The Word says this in Romans 5:12-14, “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned— for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.”  Many think it isn’t right, or fair, to be condemned and judged for Adam’s sin, but what about our own sins, they deserve judgment.  Being sinners we need mercy, not fairness.  In unregenerate man sin dictates many of our emotional responses, resulting in our bad attitudes and our sinful actions.  

The Word says these things and other things as well, about our condition as sinners:

Romans 3:23, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Romans 3:10, “as it is written, ‘There is none righteous, not even one.’”

Isaiah 64:6, “But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our

righteousnesses  are like filthy rags; we all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”

Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal

life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Up to this point this is a pretty dim picture, but if you are reading this and are looking for good news and a way out of this dilemma, keep reading there is hope and very good news.

God is an all-knowing God and He knew we could never be reconciled to Him by anything that we could do; so He took it upon Himself to work out the details and bring fallen man back into fellowship with Himself.  The Bible says this in John 3:16-17, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”

And in 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”  Praise the Lord!

It says this in Romans 5:15-21, “But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many. The gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification. For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.

So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

In the Lord we receive these things; a new life, a new nature and a new freedom by breaking sins hold on our lives, and many more things.  Thank the Lord!  I put the first part of a verse earlier in this Tidbit, now I want to put the whole verse in; it is this, in Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Christ willingly allowed Himself to be crucified, die and be buried for all who would believe on Him.  Then He rose up on the third day because the grave could not hold Him, and through His shed blood we find a cleansing for our sins when we receive Him by faith.  The Word says this in Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

This is the Good News, there is none better.  If you have a desire to have a relationship with Jesus, He has made a way, the Word says in Isaiah 55:6, “Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near.”

While speaking to one of the churches in Revelations, Jesus said this in chapter 3 verse 20, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”

I believe this invitation is for all who will come to Him by faith, so if you feel He is knocking on the door of your heart, ask Him to come in and be your Lord and Savior.  I don’t think it ever hurts to ask Him to forgive you of your sins and to cleanse you with His precious blood from all unrighteousness.  Then thank and praise Him for what He has done. Something to think about!  God bless and have a super day!