Sin, the transgression of God’s law, has its origin in false views of things. This was the case with our first parents, who would not have sinned had they not been deceived by the tempter.
The deception began with Eve, who saw that the forbidden fruit was beautiful and persuaded that it was good for food.
However, this was a lie as the fruit was never intended for nourishment but rather for trial. In fact, it was not even meant to be eaten, but rather for testing the obedience of Adam and Eve.
The Deceptive Temptation of Eve: The Danger of Indulging in Every Desire
The arch deceiver, Satan, deceived our first mother with a greater lie that eating the fruit would make her wise to know good and evil, just as God does. This unfounded persuasion made Eve desire knowledge, which is a natural part of man’s constitution.
However, this natural propensity must be kept under the government of reason and conscience, and not indulged in every way and on every occasion. While animals are governed by appetite and instinct, man is a moral agent who must obey the law of his Creator.
The consequences of sin are far-reaching and severe. After our first parents sinned, “their eyes were opened Genesis 3:7” to a sense of guilt previously unknown to them. Innocence was lost, and shame and confusion replaced peace and purity.
The guilty pair were now conscious of their great mistake, guilty act, disgraceful condition, and ruined state. They were unable to hide from God’s presence and were seized with terror and consternation.
This led them to flee from the best and kindest of fathers and try to hide in the densest thickets of the trees of the garden.
The Devastating Effects of Sin: Loss of Innocence and Guilt
However, they could not escape the Almighty’s arm and had to face Him. The Creator’s voice was heard in the garden, and the wretched culprits were seized with fear. The guilt caused them to flee from the presence of the righteous Judge.
The Creator was not able to find His creature in its proper place, so He sent forth a voice that was like the most terrible thunder, causing the guilty pair to come forth and meet Him.
From this first transgression, we can understand the deceitful nature of sin. All sins are like streams from a fountain that has been poisoned, and they all partake of the poison of their origin. All sin has some bait, some apparent good, some expectation of pleasure or profit from unlawful indulgence.
In all sin, the mind is under a delusive influence, and right thoughts and motives are forgotten or overborne for the moment. The enticement prevails, and guilt is contracted.
Overcoming Sin through Faith in Jesus Christ
The Bible teaches that sin separates us from God and brings death. However, it also teaches that God loves us and has provided a way for us to be reconciled to Him through faith in Jesus Christ.
Jesus came into the world to save sinners, and through His death on the cross and resurrection from the dead, He paid the penalty for our sins and conquered death.
By putting our faith in Jesus Christ, we receive forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and the power to live a new life free from sin’s bondage.
This is not something that we can do on our own but requires a divine intervention. Through the Holy Spirit, we are born again, and our old self is crucified with Christ, so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin.
Winning the Battle Against Sin: Renewing Our Minds with God’s Truth
We must, therefore, continually renew our minds (Romans 12:2) with the truth of God’s word, which tells us who we are in Christ, and resist the lies of the devil. We must also walk in the Spirit and not gratify the desires of the flesh. This means that we must obey God’s commands and live a life that honors Him.
Living a life free from the bondage of sin and its consequences is a constant battle for many believers. However, it is not a battle that we cannot win.
As we have learned from the story of our first great grand parents, sin’s deceitful nature often masks the true nature of our actions, making us see wrong as right and evil as good.
To overcome sin, we must first acknowledge our weakness and seek God’s help. We need to ask Him to help us recognize and resist the lies of the enemy, just as He helped our first parents in the garden. We need to continually renew our minds with the truth of God’s word, so that we can discern good from evil and make wise choices.
Accountability: The Key to Living a Holy Life as a Christian
Another critical aspect of living a life free from sin is accountability. We need to surround ourselves with fellow believers who can encourage and challenge us to live holy lives.
We must be willing to open up and share our struggles with others, so they can pray for us and hold us accountable. We must also be willing to do the same for others, as this is the essence of Christian fellowship.
In addition to accountability, we need to cultivate a lifestyle of prayer and worship. As we spend time in God’s presence, our hearts are transformed, and our desires align with His. We are strengthened to resist temptation, and we receive the grace to overcome sin.
Living a life free from sin is not always easy, and we may stumble and fall along the way.
However, we should not lose heart, for God is always ready to forgive and restore us. We need to confess our sins and turn away from them, trusting in God’s love and mercy. He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Conclusion
In conclusion, sin’s deceitful nature has been a stumbling block for humanity from the beginning. However, we can overcome it through faith in Jesus Christ, accountability, prayer, and worship.
We can choose to live holy lives and walk in the freedom that Christ has won for us. Let us, therefore, run the race with endurance, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author, and perfecter of our faith.
