“Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear” (Isa. 59:1-2). 

From Genesis 3 to Revelation 22, the Bible is a discussion of the solution to the problem of sin.  Since all have sinned (cf. Romans 3:23), it would serve one well to understand how sin gets a foothold on the hearts of men and what happens when such takes place.  Consider three fundamentals about the subject of sin.

1.  Entices.  James wrote, “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (James 1:14-15).  One of the greatest devices that Satan has in his weaponry is deceit.  Such was his approach with Eve in the garden (cf. Gen. 3:13; 1 Tim. 2:14).  Satan knows that sin must be viewed as having some kind of appeal and reward if the trap is to work.  The naïve and ignorant are especially vulnerable to this.  For example, Solomon wrote of a young man, “For at the window of my house I looked through my casement, And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding” (Prov. 7:6-7).  The last statement made concerning this example is “Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life” (Prov. 7:23).  The Lord God’s description of sin is that which should produce a repulsive attitude (cf. 2 Peter 2:22).  Satan must bait man into seeing sin opposite from what God says.

2.  Enslaves.  Giving oneself over to a life of sin makes one a slave to it.  Jesus plainly stated, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin” (John 8:34).  Paul wrote to the Romans, “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” (Rom. 6:16).  Paul wrote to Timothy, “In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will” (2 Tim. 2:25-26).  Paul saw sin from the proper perspective when he said, “For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin” (Rom. 7:14).  Applying the redemption in Christ sets man free from the slavery to sin (cf. Rom. 6:17-18).  Serving a loving Savior is a much greater master than Satan and sin.

3.  Endangers.  Every page of the Bible cries out that a life in sin is a life that is dead (cf. Eph. 2:1) with the ultimate end being the second death (cf. Rev. 20:6, 14).  Sin endangers personal well-being (cf. Gen. 4:7).  Sin brought the flood upon the old world (cf. Gen. 6:5-7; 2 Peter 3:5-6).  Getting close to sin is like getting close to a poisonous viper (cf. Rom. 3:13).  Sin’s price was the life of the sinless, Son of God in order for man to live (cf. Rom. 5:8-10).  The Bible is filled with passages of warning concerning sin and ruin if the warning is not heeded.  Solomon wrote concerning those who reject true wisdom from God, “But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death” (Prov. 8:36).                        

Jimmy Clark

“What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man that thou visitest him? (Psalm 8:4). 

While it is fundamental to know the Godhead, it is equally fundamental that man know himself, especially as he lives before God.  David ponders in Psalm 8 the nature of humanity and how it is that God is interested in sinful man among all the created things of God.  The Bible truly will show a man how he really is if he will consider.  The word of God is as a mirror to reveal it (cf. James 1:23-25).  Consider three basic concepts concerning humanity that God wants man to know and appreciate.

1.  Finite.  Only God is limitless.  David wrote, “Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite” (Ps. 147:5).  Therefore, anything that God chose to create would be finite in nature.  God through the Bible reminds mankind of human limits.  “Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah” (Ps. 39:5).  Jeremiah said of man, “O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps” (Jer. 10:23).  Sin’s entrance into the world brought man to his lowest level.  Paul wrote to the Roman brethren, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Rom. 5:12).  Man’s limits in contrast to God’s infinite being and attributes should keep humility alive.

2.  Free to Choose.  It was the good pleasure of God to create mankind as free moral agents.  Such is an outgrowth of the great love of God.  Man is not forced to obey and serve God, but he is given the opportunity to do so of his own free will.  Choice is clearly indicated in the words to Adam and Eve in the garden, where it is written, “Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Gen. 2:16-17).  Sin comes through choice as James wrote, “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (James 1:13-15).  The sovereignty of God is not hindered in the giving of free choice to mankind.

3.  Focus of Redemption.  Combining the concepts of finite beings with the capability to choose incorrectly would ultimately bring sin and its consequences into the world.  God foreknowing that sin would enter into the world had the scheme of redemption purposed before the beginning of time (cf. Eph. 3:10-11).  The sparing of the physical lives of Adam and Eve when they sinned meant that someone would have to die in their place that they might live.  It is written in the book of Hebrews, “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man” (Heb. 2:9).  Therefore, redemption from sin and the cemetery was and is the focus of the Bible.  The single-minded focus of Jesus in his work is found in the words “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).  Redemption shows that humanity is special in the heart of God.                    

Jimmy Clark

“Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth” (Prov. 27:1). 

If ever there was a year to confirm the truth of Proverbs 27:1, it would be 2020.  Who, except God, could have foreseen at the close of 2019 the magnitude of such a difficult year as 2020?  So many are talking about being glad to put 2020 behind them.  However, one is not guaranteed that the year ahead will be less difficult than any other.  How shall the child of God see 2021 from a Biblical perspective?

1.  Seek Spiritual Things.  2020 definitely manifested an upheaval against materialistic thinking.  Unemployment, closures, uncertainty concerning the virus, lockdowns, etc. abounded.  If one’s life in 2020 was centered on things temporal, then disappointment and frustration were a constant presence.  Jesus taught about the true purpose of life and its blessings.  “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof” (Matt. 6:33-34).  Life is truly to be lived to be “rich toward God” (Luke 12:21).

2.  Seize Opportunities.  Paul wrote against the background of the first century struggles, “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is” (Eph. 5:15-17).  2020 had its opportunities to do good, especially to those who needed encouragement and help.  Every year brings both obstacles and opportunities.  John wrote to Christians in their opportunities to overcome.  “I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one” (1 John 2:13-14).  Victories and virtuous opportunities are always before the eyes of God’s people.  It is simply a matter of seeing the opportunities and seizing the moments.

3.  Secure Oneself in God.  Confidence within the Christian is found only in God.  Paul wrote, “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God” (2 Cor. 3:5).  Again, “Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord” (2 Cor. 5:6-8).  One of the psalms points man to his strength in God.  “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God” (Ps. 42:11).  2020 was a year of shaken and disturbing thoughts on many fronts.  It is a blessing to know that the God of all wisdom and power is the solid refuge in any time of trouble (cf. Ps. 46:1).  Whatever 2021 holds, the child of God has optimism because of God.                                                                                             

Jimmy Clark