“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