“A Scriptural view of sin is one of the best antidotes to that vague, dim, misty, hazy kind of theology which is so painfully current in the present age…A Scriptural view of sin is one of the best antidotes to the extravagantly broad and liberal theology which is so much in vogue at the present time…A Scriptural view of sin will prove an admirable antidote to the low views of personal holiness, which are so painfully prevalent in these last days of the Church. We must return to first principles. We must go back to ‘the old paths.’ We must sit down humbly in the presence of God, look the whole subject in the face, examine clearly what the Lord Jesus calls sin, and what the Lord Jesus calls ‘doing His will.’ ” – The Biblical Illustrator
Whatever happened to sin? Has it become a nonentity in our culture?What is sin? What does the Bible say about it? How should every Christian view it?What does Jesus call “sin”? As a Christian in this Laodicean age, do you really care?
In this Bible Message, we are going to examine a few Scriptures and see what we can glean from our study.
First of all, 1 John 5:17 says – “All unrighteousness is sin…”
What is sin? It is everything that does not conform to the holy law of God. It is every act that is contrary to justice. It includes all violation of right – all wrong doing.
Robertson’s Word Pictures offered this comment – “The world today takes sin too lightly, even jokingly as a mere animal inheritance. Sin is a terrible reality…”
The Biblical Illustrator added – “A right knowledge of sin lies at the root of all saving Christianity.”
Secondly, 1 John 3:4 says – “…for sin is the transgression of the law.”
What is sin? The Greek word oftentimes used for “sin” is “hamartia” which means – “a missing of the mark.”
You ask – what is the “mark” to be aimed at? It is God’s will.
In 1 John 3:4, John describes “sin” as breaking the law – in other words, as “lawlessness.” It is the violation of the law which includes our relation to God, men and things around us, and ourselves. It is the opposite of doing righteousness. It is the “transgression” of God’s will – doing contrary to or without it.
Sin is the violation or careless disregard of God’s law. It is rebellion against His will – a deliberate setting of yourself against Him.
It is not something to be taken lightly. It is an evil thing – a thing of great enormity – “a terrible reality.”
The Biblical Illustrator said this in comment – “Sin is the poverty, depression, or sinking of any people.”
It also added these words – “Sin is that vast moral disease which affects the whole human race, of every rank, and class, and name, and nation, and people. ‘A sin,’ to speak more particularly, consists in doing, saying, thinking, or imagining, anything that is not in perfect conformity with the mind and law of God. The slightest outward or inward departure from absolute mathematical parallelism with God’s revealed will and character constitutes a sin, and at once makes us guilty in God’s sight.”
Then, we look at Proverbs 14:34 which says – “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.”
Here, Solomon described “sin” as being – “a reproach to any people.” It definitely has an adverse effect on them.
What he was saying is this – “sin” lessens and diminishes a people. It has the ability to reduce the most populous nation to a handful. It sinks and depresses the spirits of a people. It strips them of the “heart” to think, labor, or bring about constructive designs or plans. It destroys the wealth of a nation – bringing about poverty and shame. It deprives a people of their freedoms. And, lastly, it provokes the displeasure of God – drawing down His wrath and judgments.
Sin is not something to be taken lightly. It is an evil thing – a thing of great enormity – “a terrible reality.”
It makes people miserable. It degrades them among their neighbors – rendering them despicable among them…bringing on their ill-will… and causing them to insult and trample on them.
John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible had this to say in response – “…where vice reigns, iniquity abounds, profaneness, impiety, and immorality of all sorts prevail, a people become mean and despicable; they fall into poverty and contempt; are neither able to defend themselves, nor help their neighbors, and so are despised by them.”
Lastly, we turn to Psalm 107:33-34 to see how “sin” is not something to be taken lightly because it is an evil thing – a thing of great enormity – “a terrible reality.”
David said – “He (God) turneth…A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.”
He was talking about a land of fruit – a land that is known to produce abundance. Yet this productive land is said to be “turned” by the Lord into “barrenness” – a barren soil or “saltness” (the abounding salt making it unfruitful).
And it all happened because of “sin.”
Here is a picture of the state and condition of present-day Israel (spiritually-speaking). They were once well-watered with the Word, but ended up rejecting and despising it through their unbelief and hardness of heart. Now, they have become like a desert – barren and unfruitful in the knowledge of divine things.
Generally-speaking, the same came be said of the modern-day Church. Many were once likened unto “well-watered gardens,” but are now “barren deserts” – destitute of spiritual knowledge – the Word of God and the Spirit of God.
What is the cause?
Their own “wickedness” is to blame.
Read what The Pulpit Commentary had to say – “God does not capriciously withdraw his blessings from a land. If he turns a fruitful land into a barren one, we may be sure that the inhabitants have provoked Him by their sins.”
Sin is not something to be taken lightly. It is an evil thing – a thing of great enormity – “a terrible reality.”
It has its terrible consequences.
In closing, we leave you with our opening quote – “A Scriptural view of sin is one of the best antidotes to that vague, dim, misty, hazy kind of theology which is so painfully current in the present age…A Scriptural view of sin is one of the best antidotes to the extravagantly broad and liberal theology which is so much in vogue at the present time…A Scriptural view of sin will prove an admirable antidote to the low views of personal holiness, which are so painfully prevalent in these last days of the Church. We must return to first principles. We must go back to ‘the old paths.’ We must sit down humbly in the presence of God, look the whole subject in the face, examine clearly what the Lord Jesus calls sin, and what the Lord Jesus calls ‘doing His will.’ “
When it comes right down to it, the question to ask yourself is this – “Do you have a Scriptural view of ‘sin'”?
This is your “antidote” for “a vague, dim, misty, hazy kind of theology” …an “extravagantly broad and liberal theology”…or a “low view of personal holiness” that is “painfully current”… “so much in vogue” …and “painfully prevalent” in “the present age”…”at the present time” … and “in these last days of the Church.”
Once again, we repeat – Sin is not something to be taken lightly. It is an evil thing – a thing of great enormity – “a terrible reality.
“Do you agree?
May God Bless His Word,
Connie
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. (Isaiah 54:17)
© COPYRIGHT Connie Giordano – All Rights Reserved