“Whatever else man is, he is
not what he was meant to be,” observed G. K.
Chesterton.
Can you say that you have never
desired to do anything forbidden?
How would you respond to a given situation if you
had the opportunity to commit your favorite sin and
no one would ever find out? What
would you do if God did not deliver you from your
favorite temptation?
Sin deceives because it begins
with an attitude of the heart (Matt. 5:21-28). It
takes God off His throne and enthrones sinful man.
When we do this over a period of time our hearts
become hardened against the things of God. "The
heart is deceitful above all things and desperately
wicked." It can no longer recognize God when He does
speak through His Spirit.
Not only does sin harden the
heart of the sinner (Heb. 3:13), but it results in
death (Rom. 5:12, 21; 6:16, 23).
The LORD God has said clearly,
“My spirit shall not strive with man forever” (Gen.
6: 3).
The New Testament uses the
Greek word hamartia to describe the state of sin
from which the acts of sin proceed.
The Bible tells us that sin is universal.
“All have sinned and come short of the glory of God”
(Rom. 3:23). Every individual is
“sold into bondage to sin” (7: 14).
The Scriptures locks up all men under sin and
throws away the key (Gal.3: 22). "If we say we are
not sinners, we are liars” (I John 1:8, 10).
Every individual is involved in personal sin.
It is the universal state of mankind.
Every individual is in the
control of sin (Gal. 3:22; Rom. 3:9).
Sin rules over man like a cruel king (Rom.
5:21; 6:14). Man is totally under
the dominion of sin (John 8:34; Rom. 6:17, 20; 6:
6).
What is the evil inclination
that is so destructive to mankind?
It is an insult, a blasphemy to God (Heb.
3:13). Sin is an evil desire
(James 1:15). It reaches out for
that which is wrong. Sin is
lawlessness, meaning it wants to be done with all
restraints and controls (I Jn. 3:4).
It is an injustice, unrighteousness and evil
to God (I. Jn. 5:17). Sin makes a
person worship himself. It
prevents God’s moral standards and substitutes man’s
cultural values. Sin is to accept
the world’s standards instead of God’s.
Because sin is so evil and
destructive, there is only one cure for sin
regardless of human opinions. God
sent His Son Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, to “save
His people from their sins" (Matt. 1:21).
Sinners need to be rescued by Jesus Christ
who gave His live for the sinner.
Ancient ink had no acid in it;
therefore it did not bite into the vellum or
papyrus. It could be sponged off
when a new writing surface was needed.
The atoning death of Jesus wiped our record
clean (Acts 3:19).
The blood of Jesus alone washes
us from all sin (Acts 22:16; Heb. 1:3; 2 Pet.
1:18-19; I Jn. 1:7). Only Jesus
Christ has the power to cleanse us.
God in His mercy draws a veil
over our sinful past and never looks at it again
(Rom.4:7).
God does not reckon sins
against the person who believes that Jesus Christ
died for his sins (Romans 4:8).
We could never pay our sin debt, but God in grace
and mercy removes our debt and writes “paid in full”
by Jesus Christ across the ledger.
Jesus has set us free; He has
“released us from our sin” (Rom. 6:18, 22; 8:2).
Jesus has emancipated and liberated the
sinner.
Moreover, Jesus has “cancelled
our sin” (Heb. 9:26). He has
cleared out debt, and we are forgiven (Matt. 9:2;
Mk. 2:10; Lk. 7:47; Acts 2:38, 10:43; Col. 1:14; I
Jn. 2:12).
Jesus Christ has released us
from the penalty and punishment of sin, and He has
clothed us with His own perfect righteousness (2
Cor. 5:21).
Selah!
Message by Wil Pounds (c) 2006
Anyone is free to use this material and distribute it, but it may not be sold under any circumstances whatsoever without the author's written consent.
Unless otherwise noted "Scripture quotations taken from the NASB."
"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE" © Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission." (www.Lockman.org)Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible copyright ©1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://www.bible.org/. All rights reserved.
Wil is a graduate of William Carey University, B. A.; New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Th. M.; and Azusa Pacific University, M. A. He has pastored in Panama, Ecuador and the U. S, and served for over 20 years as missionary in Ecuador and Honduras. He had a daily expository Bible teaching ministry head in over 100 countries from 1972-2005. He continues to seek opportunities to be personally involved in world missions. Wil and his wife Ann have three grown daughters. He currently serves as a Baptist pastor and teaches seminary extension courses in Ecuador.
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