Sin is a term that is commonly used to describe the act of disobeying God’s commands. However, in reality, it is a much deeper and more complex issue than that. This discourse aims to illustrate the different views that sinners have of sin, the reasons why these views are limited, and the actuality of sin in biblical context.
To begin with, it is important to understand that sin is not just a simple act of disobedience. It is a violation of God’s holy and righteous nature, and an offense against His character.
This is why sin is often described as a transgression, a rebellion, or a trespass against God. It is a deliberate choice to go against His will and His ways.
1 John 3:4 (ESV), “Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.”
I. The Limited Views of Sin
Sinners tend to view sin as a minor issue, something that can be easily overlooked. However, this is far from the truth.
Below are the reasons why sinners tend to have limited views of sin:
Limited View of Their Own Feelings and Intentions
Sinners tend to have a very limited view of their own feelings and intentions when committing a sin. They often believe that they have no evil intention, and that they have not opposed God in any way.
Proverbs 21:2 ESV – “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart.”
However, the reality is that the whole course of their affections has been opposed to God, and they have been hardening themselves against all the kindness of God expressed in the gospel.
Meager Conceptions of the Divine Law
Sinners often forget that God is a Spirit, and that He brings the thoughts and desires, as well as the actions of the hands and motions of the tongue, under the control of His law.
They imagine that God makes little account of what passes within, and do not regard the law as a transcript of the heart of God.
Infirmities Incident to Human Nature
Some sinners refer all their sins to the common infirmity of the species, and they feel as little sense of personal guilt as they do for not having the power of angels.
However, this attitude towards sin is not only dangerous but also flawed. Each individual is responsible for their own actions and decisions, and to dismiss personal sins as a result of a collective infirmity is to deny oneself the opportunity for growth and improvement.
Comparison with Greater Sinners
Sinners often diminish their conception of their guilt by comparing themselves with greater sinners.
Instead of looking into the mirror of God’s law, they measure themselves by the standard that a sinful world has set up. In this way, they hinder all just apprehensions of guilt.
Different Light and Circumstances
Sin appears very different according to the different light and circumstances in which it is seen. For example, a man in the midst of sinful associates takes less account of sin than he does in the society of the godly.
Sin, when seen from a dying bed, appears more dreadful than when death and judgment are put far away. And still more dreadful and odious will it appear when the light of heaven pours its rays upon it.
Delay of Punishment
The delay of punishment goes to confirm men in the opinion that sin is a trifle. If every sin were followed immediately by its due visitation of God’s displeasure, how would the world’s opinion of sin be changed!
Ecclesiastes 8:11 ESV – “Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil.”
II. The Reality of Sin
In biblical terms, sin is much deeper and more complex than what sinners believe. Below are the reasons why sin is more profound than sinners’ limited views:
Different Effects
Sin is different in its effects from what sinners believe. The kingdom of God is a kingdom of spirits, and rebellion of spirit as effectually invades this kingdom as the fire and sword of civil war does an earthly realm.
Violation of God’s Law
Sin is a violation of God’s law, which is a transcript of the heart of God. It is a rebellion against God’s sovereignty, and an attempt to dethrone Him.
Offense Against God
Sin is an offense against God. It is not just a violation of His law, but an affront to His person. Sinners, therefore, are not just lawbreakers, but rebels against God Himself.
Separation from God Sin separates sinners from God.
Sin separates sinners from God. It creates a gulf between God and humanity, a gap that can only be bridged by the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ.
The separation caused by sin is a serious consequence that has eternal implications. Sinners are separated from God not just in this life but also in the life to come. The Bible says that the wages of sin is death, and that the ultimate consequence of sin is eternal separation from God.
This separation is not just a physical separation, but also a spiritual one. Sinners are cut off from the source of life and light, and are left in darkness and death. The Bible describes this separation as a chasm that cannot be bridged by human efforts.
III. The Consequences of Sin
The reality of sin leads to dire consequences for sinners. The Bible teaches that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Sin brings about spiritual death, which is eternal separation from God, who is the source of life.
This separation is not just a physical separation, but a spiritual one, which leaves the sinner in a state of spiritual darkness, emptiness, and hopelessness.
Sin also leads to moral decay and corruption. It destroys the moral fabric of society and promotes selfishness, greed, and immorality. It leads to the breakdown of families, the increase of crime, and the proliferation of social vices such as drug abuse, sexual immorality, and violence.
IV. The Solution to Sin
Despite the dire consequences of sin, the good news is that God has provided a solution for sin through His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus came into the world to save sinners and to reconcile them to God. He lived a sinless life, died on the cross for the sins of humanity, and rose again from the dead on the third day.
Through faith in Jesus Christ, sinners can be forgiven, justified, and reconciled to God. They can be transformed from sinners to saints, from enemies of God to children of God.
The Apostle Paul wrote, “For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Conclusion
In conclusion, sin is a reality that affects all humanity. It is a violation of God’s law, an offense against God’s person, and a rebellion against God’s sovereignty. Its consequences are dire and far-reaching, leading to spiritual death, moral decay, and social disintegration.
However, the good news is that God has provided a solution for sin through His Son, Jesus Christ. Through faith in Him, sinners can be forgiven, justified, and reconciled to God, and can experience the abundant life that God intends for them.
