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Foundations of Faith |
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· Why Should I Have Faith When Evil And Suffering Are In The World? |
The Problem of Sin
Introduction
1. “Sin” is the most horrific word in the Bible and in human experience! It is sin that imperils our souls and makes our rescue from Hell so necessary. It is sin that causes such pain in the heart of God.
2. Dr. Karl Menninger, in his book, Whatever Became Of Sin, takes preachers to task for soft-pedaling when it comes to the subject of sin, and then adds that a preacher “cannot minimize sin and maintain his proper role in our culture.” Of course, any effort to minimize sin is to minimize the very reason why Jesus came from Heaven to earth – to save us from our sins.
3. Although there is a time and place for preachers to talk about specific sins, there is also a time and place to help the church understand the larger issue of sin’s gravity.
Body
I. How is sin to be defined?
A. Let’s pursue a blended approach (academic and practical) to defining sin:
1. The primary words for sin in the original language revolve around two main concepts:
(1) To sin is to “miss the mark” (as when a player aims for a goal and misses, or when an archer shoots an arrow and it falls short of the target). And then
(2) To sin is to “transgress” (as when a player steps out of bounds on a field/court of play).
2. So the basic idea of sin is easy to grasp. Sin involves a person straying off course or failing to achieve a goal.
B. Now there are a couple of ideas that need to be understood about sin that make this both a deeply spiritual issue and a relationship issue that, if not remedied, places us in the grip of Hell itself (and deservedly so)!
1. If sin is missing the goal or straying off course, then there must be a pre-determined boundary or goal: Romans 4:15; 1 John 3:4
2. Sin is more than just external behavior; it arises from the attitudes, the motives, and the will of each human being: Matthew 15:18-19; Jeremiah 17:9
C. Adding to this: The situation is even worse because the problem of sin is universal (Romans 3:9-18, 23).
II. This raises a question that is tremendously important: Why do we sin?
A. It is my guess that the cause of sin among human beings bears a relationship to the origin of sin (which we read about in Genesis 3:1-8). Paul cited this connection in Romans 5:12-21. How were we infected by Adam’s sin?
B. Some are of the opinion (and they teach it as the truth) that all of Adam’s offspring (including you/me) become sinners by inheritance; that we are sinners by nature; that we are hopelessly and totally depraved (hence the idea of total depravity).
C. But there are a several problems with this idea. I will mention some of them briefly:
1. Paul wrote: “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned…” (Romans 5:12) Paul did not say: “Death spread to all men, because Adam sinned”, but “because all sinned.” My sin is what brought death into my life as a consequence of sin!
2. Paul said (Romans 5:19): “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.” If righteousness comes conditionally (by way of influence) – and it does – why not unrighteousness (or sin)?
3. Paul said we are made sinners by Adam’s offense (so there’s a connection to be sure), but he never says how we are made sinners. Several scriptures (including Romans 1:18-32 and Ephesians 2:1ff) indicate that we become sinners by allowing ourselves, through varying degrees of consciousness, to fall under the influences characteristic of a sinful environment (which was introduced into the world by Adam)!
4. The impression of a sinful environment on the mind has proven to be a powerful influence (shaping our thoughts and personalities from even our earliest years).
– Still, the Bible places the onus responsibility for your sin on you: Ezekiel 18:4; James 1:12-18; 1 John 2:1.
– We have no one to blame for our sin but ourselves!
D. Some of the wrong things people believe about sin:
1. One of the ideas that people have is that all human beings are basically good (in their hearts). But consider: Matthew 18:1-5; 19:14; Genesis 6:5; Jeremiah 17:9; John 2:24-25; Romans 7:18
2. Another idea contends that we must sin because we are human (on the basis that no one is perfect).
– One of the problems with this is that it fails to recognize the way the Bible deals with the subject of sin (which is primarily a decision of the will to transgress God’s law).
– Another problem with this idea is: If our humanity is inescapably tied to sin, then salvation from sin must include salvation from our humanity. But Jesus didn’t come to dehumanize us. Instead, He appealed to our humanity (our will; our autonomy) in order to save us Ephesians 2:8; Matthew 23:37.
E. So here’s the conclusion I believe the evidence demands: The vector of the fall (in Genesis 3) has been entirely negative! One writer said it this way: “Sin, at bottom, is as simple as it is dreadful: sin is simply telling God to “buzz off”! He claims us for Himself, and we say, “Leave me alone!”
III. What are the consequences of sin?
A. The worst and most serious consequence of our sin is our estrangement from God!
1. To be a stranger to God is to be dead to God (Ephesians 2:1).
2. Isaiah 59:1-2; Psalm 51:4; Romans 5:6-11; Matthew 25:41
B. A second consequence of sin is our estrangement from others!
C. A third consequence of sin is our estrangement from ourselves (Hebrews 3:13; Luke 15; John 8:34). Someone said once: “Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.”
IV. No sermon on the subject of sin would be complete without a discussion of the remedy for overcoming sin!
A. Acts 8: Philip preached Jesus to an Ethiopian official from Isaiah 53
B. To overcome sin, a person must first recognize his/her own personal sin and personal guilt (Psalm 51; Acts 8; 1 Timothy 1:15).
C. And then steps must be taken – as directed by God – to have your sins expiated (or satisfied; or atoned for)! Jesus Christ came into the world to do this (Gal.4:3-7), and the effects of His sacrifice come to us on the basis of an obedient faith (Romans 1:5; 3:21-26)! This is the essence of the gospel! See also Mark 16:15-16; 1 Corinthians 15:58; 1 John 4:19. This is the only remedy God has provided for the problem of sin.
D. Several years ago, Wendell Winkler came out with a book called Studying Sin Seriously. In this masterful book he highlighted a number of aids that we can utilize in overcoming temptation and sin! Among them:
1. We can use the Bible to help us overcome sin (Psalm 119:9; John 17:17; Psalm 119:11).
2. We can utilize prayer in overcoming temptation and sin (Ephesians 6:13-18; Matthew 6:13).
3. We can also cultivate a reverential fear of God in our desire to overcome sin (Exodus 20:20; Proverbs 3:7; 2 Corinthians 5:11).
4. Regular self-examination will help us to overcome sin (2 Corinthians 13:5). Also, be careful about who our friends are (1 Corinthians 15:33). Also, knowing that God is watching us, and that we will give an account of our lives before Him (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).
Conclusion
1. The problem with sin is that it will keep you out of Heaven. Even worse than that, you will find yourself in Hell forever.
2. Do you want to defeat the problem of sin in your life? Then adopt one simple disposition: Humility before God! See Luke 18:13.
3. Your Savior is imploring you to turn from your sin!
– Do it to avoid Hell!
– Do it to allow the Lord to make you fit, by His grace, for Heaven!
– Finally: James 4:7-10
Content by Brian Giselbach
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