Great Doctrines of the Bible
Lesson 20
Sin – Its Origin, Characteristics, Results, and Remedy
Introduction
If at the turn of the century the Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy could
say “The distinctive mark of this age is its lost sense of God,” then
we might reasonably say that “the distinctive mark of our present
age is its lost sense of sin.” The farther a man drifts from
God, the less consciousness of sin he has. The holier we esteem God
to be, the more heinous and loathsome sin seems to us. The trend in
our world today is to ignore, deny or make a mockery of sin. Liberal
preachers are denying human depravity. Psychiatrists, by negating sin,
seek to rid people of their guilt complexes. The New Morality says
any immoral conduct is acceptable between consenting adults. The situation
ethics being taught claims that moral behavior should be governed by
situations, not the Bible.
The purpose of this lesson is to urgently call every student back to
the biblical message and concept of sin. We want to view sin as exposed
by the Holy Spirit
and as seen through the eyes of a Holy God. Primarily we want to view sin’s
origin and nature, its devastating results and its only remedy.
The Importance of this Lesson
- While
millions blindly refuse to admit it, our world is reeling and rotting
with disease and destruction caused by sin, crimes of violence
are increasing. Sexual perverts brazenly parade the streets, clamoring
for their rights. Pride, greed, covetousness, cheating, lying are
commonplace. More and more sexual promiscuity is being accepted as
normal human
behavior. Many are living in calloused, open adultery, wantonly
defying the laws of God.
- The only effective deterrent to the rampant, world-destroying
evil is to revive, understand, teach and forcefully proclaim the
Bible message
of SIN.
- We cannot begin to understand the gospel, the Bible, or Christianity
itself until we see clearly why Christ came to the earth.
John 1:29 – “…which taketh away the sin of the
world.”
Hebrews 9:26 – He appeared once to put away sin.
- Many belittle the
word SAVED. Yet, there can be no understanding of the word SAVED until
we see and know the meaning of that from which we
are saved!
Galatians 1:4 – “Who gave himself for our sins.”
Revelation 1:5 – “Unto Him that loved us, and washed us
from our sins in his own blood.”
- Until one has seen sin for what
it is, he cannot possibly perceive the significance of the cross.
2 Corinthians 5:21 – “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who
knew no sin….”
Isaiah 53:6 – “The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us
all.”
1 Peter 2:24 – “Who his own self bore our sins in his own body
on the tree.”
The Lesson
I. WHERE AND HOW DID SIN ORIGINATE?
It is probably best to state here that God never created an angel or
a human being as a robot or mechanical creature who had no will of
his own. God would get no glory from a creature who could do nothing
but adore, worship or serve Him. So, at the beginning, Lucifer (Satan)
had a will of his own, and he exercised it by willfully rebelling against
God to disobey and rebel. In both situations, sin resulted.
- SIN’S
ORIGIN IN THE UNIVERSE
- It began with anarchy and rebellion as Satan
sought to place his throne “above
the stars of God…sit upon the mount of the congregation…I
will be like the most High [God]”
(Isaiah 14:13-14; Ezekiel 28:12-15).
- Lifted up with pride because
of his power and beauty (Ezekiel 28:17; Isaiah 14:13), he rebelled
against his Creator and said, “I will,” AND
SIN ENTERED THE UNIVERSE.
- Of him, Jesus said, “He was a murderer
from the beginning, (of this rebellion) and abode not in the truth,…When
he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the
father of it” (John
8:44).
- While Satan will be cast into the “bottomless pit” prior
to Christ’s millennial reign
(Revelation 20:3) and will be cast into “the lake of fire” at
the end of the millennium (Rev. 20:10), he is not there now. He is
operating today from his own throne in the universe (Revelation 13:2)
as: “the
prince of this world” (John 14:30); “the god of this
age” (2
Corinthians 4:4); and “the prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians
2:2). He is presently God’s great enemy, your enemy as a believer,
and the enemy of all righteousness (Matthew 13:25, 28, 39; 2 Thessalonians
2:4 and Acts 13:10).
- SIN’S ORIGIN IN THE HUMAN RACE
- Through lying, perverting the
truth of God, misrepresentation and deceitfulness, Satan succeeded
in seducing Eve to eat that which
God
had forbidden (1Timothy 2:14). As Adam joined Eve in eating the
forbidden fruit, SIN ENTERED THE WORLD through an act of rebellion
and disobedience
(Romans 5:12).
- Since mankind is one race of people with representative
responsibility, all of us must share in Adam’s failure and
in the consequences of that failure.
- 1 Corinthians 15:22 – “…as
in Adam ALL die.”
- Romans 5:12 – “and so death
passed upon ALL men for that ALL have sinned:”
- Romans
3:9-12 – “they are ALL under sin…they
are TOGETHER become unprofitable; there is NONE good, no,
not one.”
- Romans 5:18 – “Therefore, as
by the offence of one, judgment came upon ALL men to condemnation.”
- In
summary then: as far as the human race is concerned, sin
originated in and with Adam’s will and knowledgeable
act of disobedience and rebellion against God’s Word
and authority. Since mankind is a race with group consolidation
and representative responsibility,
and
since Adam was acting in our behalf as head of the human
race, all
of us must share in his act of rebellion and the full consequences
thereof.
These include physical and spiritual death (1Corinthians
15:22; Ephesians 2:1); spiritual corruption, (Romans 3:9-18;
5:19);
and loss of eternal
life
(Ezekiel 18:4).
II. A DEFINITION OF SIN – HOW ARE
WE TO UNDERSTAND ITS MEANING?
- From DAVIS BIBLE DICTIONARY: “Any want of conformity unto
or transgression of any law of God, given as a rule to reasonable creatures”(1
John 3:4; Galatians 3:10-12).
- From ZONDERVAN BIBLE DICTIONARY:
- The primary Hebrew words for
sin are:
“resha” – meaning transgression and impiety.
“ra” – meaning evil disposition.
- The primary Greek or New
Testament words for sin are:
“hamartia” – meaning missing the mark.
“poneria” – meaning depravity.
“adikia” – meaning unrighteousness.
- C. It is difficult to improve
upon the summary of the meaning of sin found in the notes of The Scofield Bible:Sin
is:
- Transgression – overstepping the law (Psalm 51:1;
Romans 2:23).
- Iniquity – An act inherently wrong whether
forbidden or not (Romans 1:21-23).
- Error – A departure
from right (Romans 1:18; 1 John 3:4).
- Missing the mark – Failure
to meet God’s standards
(Romans 3:23).
- Trespassing – The intrusion of self-will in
the sphere of Divine authority (Ephesians 2:1).
- Lawlessness – Spiritual
anarchy (1 Timothy 1:9).
- Unbelief – An insult to Divine
truthfulness (John 16:9).
- A personal definition:
The sins of the unsaved are acts of rebellion against God proceeding
out of a nature which is in a state of spiritual death. The
sins of believers are
acts of disobedience against the will of God resulting from
failure to: walk
in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16), die daily (1 Corinthians 15:31),
and reckon one’s old nature to be dead (Romans 6:11).
- Biblical definitions:
- 1 John 3:4 – “…Sin is
the transgression of the law.” God
gave the law (The Ten Commandments) that we might know
what sin is (Romans 7:7).
- 1 John 5:17 – “All unrighteousness
is sin.” If
a deed is not absolutely right, it is absolutely wrong. Anything
short of God’s
righteousness is sin (Romans 3:10-12). Apart from Christ,
even our righteousnesses are as filthy rags” (Isaiah
64:6).
- Romans 14:23 – “…whatsoever is not
of faith is sin.” This
verse says, “If it’s doubtful, it’s dirty.” If
you cannot do a thing with absolute faith that it is right,
then it is wrong.
- Proverbs 24:9 – “The thought
of foolishness is sin.” Sin
then is not simply what we do, but what we think. God knows
all our thoughts (Psalm 139:2); and foolish thoughts are
sin in His
eyes.
- James 4:17 – “…him that knoweth
to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” Observe
here that sin is not simply action, but inaction.
III. WHAT IS THE NATURE AND CHIEF CHARACTERISTIC OF SIN?
Many words could be employed to characterize sin, but I think the following
three words are sufficient.
- Sin is DEMANDING.
- Sin is powerful. It is the only thing in the universe
that could demand the death of the Lord Jesus Christ and enforce
that demand.
- Sin is so demanding, it actually enslaves.
- John 8:34 – “Whosoever
commiteth sin is the servant (slave) of sin.”
- Romans
6:16-17,19-20 – whoever yields to sin is the
slave of sin (verse 16); you were the slaves of sin (verse
17); you have yielded
your
members slaves
to uncleanness and to iniquity (verse 19).
- Whether all are aware
of it, or not, all who are “without
Christ” (Ephesians
2:12), are enslaved by sin. It is a merciless tyrant.
- When a person
is without Christ, living without God, all that he is and all that
he has is under the control of the sin principle
reigning
in him.
Romans 6:17 – “…ye WERE the (servants) of sin…” Romans
6:20, “When ye WERE the (servants) of sin.” Outside
of Christ, sin demands your time, your wealth, your health, your
talents,
your personality,
and your soul.
- Sin is DESTRUCTIVE.
- Bible evidence:
- James 1:15 – “…sin, when it
is finished, bringeth forth death.” That is, both physical
and spiritual death result from sin (Ephesians 2:1-5; Romans
8:6).
- Romans 3:15-17 – “Their feet are swift to
shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the
way
of peace have they not known” (Isaiah
59:7-8).
- Matthew 7:13 – Broad is the way that leads
to destruction – for
both time and eternity.
- Proverbs 16:18 – “Pride
goeth before destruction….”
- Practical observations:
Sin is a mighty destroyer. It destroys all it touches. Words
cannot be too severe or drastic to describe the destruction
caused by
sin in this
world.
- AIDS, the dreaded acquired immune deficiency syndrome,
is a cocked and loaded pistol pointing at the head
of humanity. It is
the silent
holocaust
that could
bring the entire world to the brink of destruction.
In the world,
millions already have the virus and millions will die
in this century. This disease
is at least 90% sin-related.
- Add to AIDS the misery,
pain, shame, and death caused by herpes, syphilis, gonorrhea, and other
such diseases
caused directly
or indirectly by sin.
- Homes are wrecked by sin. Today,
50% of all marriages end in divorce. Alcohol and immorality play major
roles in their destruction.
- The destruction caused by suicides, murders,
and violent crimes cannot be estimated.
- 50% of all highway fatalities
are attributed to alcohol.
- Sin blinds men’s minds (Ephesians
4:18) and sears their consciences (1 Timothy 4:2).
- Finally, sin destroys
the soul and sends a man into eternal hell (Revelation 21:8;
Romans 6:23; Matthew 10:28; Mark 8:36).
- Sin is DECEITFUL.
“
If sin were not deceitful, it would never be delightful.” Anonymous.
None could enjoy the pleasures of sin, even for a season,
if he were not blind to its devastating consequences and
the horrors
of hell.
Sin never seems to be what it is. It never tastes the same
at the
end as
at the beginning.
- James 1:15 – “…Sin,
when it is FINISHED, bringeth forth death.”
- Sin
makes the heart deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9).
- The deceitfulness
of sin hardens the heart (Hebrews 3:13).
- The deceitfulness
of sin causes men to act deceitfully.
- Sin deceived Herod Agrippa
into believing he could accept the worship of man. An angel
smote him “because
he gave not God the glory,” and
he “was eaten of worms”
(Acts 12:21-23).
- The deceitfulness of sin caused Jezebel
to think she could defy the God of Israel. But the dogs
licked
up her blood
in the streets
of Jezreel
(2 Kings 9:30-37).
- Sin deceived Ananias and Sapphira
into thinking they could lie to the Holy Spirit
(Acts 5:1-11).
- Voltaire, the French skeptic who thought
the Bible would cease to exist, is said to have cried on
his
deathbed, “I
wish I had never been born!”
- Lord Byron, the
British poet, was deceived into believing he could
live a sensual, profligate life
and get by.
He wrote near
the end
of his short life, “The flowers of life are
all gone. The worm and the canker and the grief are
mine
alone.”
- Galatians 6:7 says, “Be not deceived;
God is NOT mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that
shall he also
reap.” Numbers 32:23
says, “…be sure your sin will find you
out.”
IV. HOW DID GOD DEAL WITH SIN? (Know the meaning of these words for
the exam
- Remember that Jesus Christ was sent by God into this world
to condemn sin in the flesh”
(Romans 8:3); put sin away (Hebrews 9:26); and save sinners (1 Timothy
1:15).
- The question is HOW? How did God judge sin, put it away and
provide salvation for the sinner? The answer is found in three words – SUBSTITUTION,
IMPUTATION, AND RESURRECTION. Get these three words and ideas firmly
fixed in your mind.
- SUBSTITUTION – means that Christ died for
my sins IN MY PLACE.
Galatians 2:20 – “…who loved me, and gave himself
for me.”
- IMPUTATION – means that Christ died for my
sins vicariously, on my behalf.
2 Corinthians 5:21 – “For he (God) hath made him (Christ)
to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness
of God in him.”
- RESURRECTION – speaks of power over
sin! We too, as believers, have been raised up to sit with Him
in the heavenlies (Ephesians
2:6), where we share the power of his resurrection (Philippians
3:10). Through
the power of a risen Christ we can reckon ourselves to be dead
unto sin, but alive unto God (Romans 6:11; Romans 6:1-22).
- CONCLUSION
- Through SUBSTITUTION we are saved from the CONDEMNATION
and GUILT of sin
(Romans 8:1).
“ Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
In my place condemned He stood,
Sealed my pardon with His blood
Hallelujah, what a Savior!
- Through IMPUTATION we are saved from the CORRUPTION
and GRIME of sin. My sins were charged or imputed to him (2 Corinthians
5:21; Isaiah 53:6; 1
Peter 2:24); and when we put our faith in Him, His Righteousness is imputed
to us
(Romans 4:1-8, 22-25).
- Through RESURRECTION we are saved from the CONTROL
and GRIP of sin
(Romans 6:1-14).
- SUMMARY
- You and I were guilty sinners and worthy of death (Romans
3:23; 6:23).
- But God, who is rich in mercy (Ephesians 2:4), not
wanting us to die for our sins, sent Jesus into the world (Hebrews
10:7)
to become the
sacrifice
for our sins (Hebrews 10:10,12).
- Literally He took our place (Galatians
2:20), bore our sins (1 Peter 2:24) and put them away from the
eyes of a holy God (Hebrews
9:26).
- When Christ died, God made Him to be sin (2 Corinthians 5:21).
He actually became
sin in the eyes of God. On the cross He bore ALL your sins and
the sin of the whole world
(1 John 2:2). Here your sins were judged and God’s justice
was completely satisfied. He can now remain just and yet be the
justifier of all who believe
(Romans 3:26). Sin has been conquered. Christ arose as victor.
He was
raised for (actually, because of) our justification (Romans 4:25).
- Forgiveness and redemption have been secured (Ephesians 1:7;
Acts 10:43;
1 Peter 1:18) and power has been made available to live triumphantly
(Philippians 4:13; 2 Corinthians 2:14; Romans 8:2-4).
V. HOW YOU CAN OVERCOME SIN AND LIVE TRIUMPHANTLY
- To be delivered
from sin’s guilt and condemnation you must:
- Recognize and acknowledge
your sinfulness (Isaiah 64:6; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 7:24).
- Repent.
Change your mind. Turn from your sin to Christ (Luke 13:3; 1 Thessalonians
1:9).
- With your heart receive and confess Christ as your Savior
and Lord (John 1:12;
Romans 10:9-10).
- Place your faith fully in Him and in His finished
work at the cross. Rest in and be satisfied with that which satisfied
a holy God (Acts
16:31; Romans
4:25). (Read also John 20:31; Romans 5:1; and Philippians 3:9).
- To
be saved from sin’s power and live triumphantly, you must:
- Consider yourself to be a living dead man. Bear in mind
that you were “crucified
with Christ” (Galatians 2:20). You died when He died. Your
old nature was crucified with Him. You were buried with Him,
and you were raised with
Him to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:1-8). Therefore, RECKON
ON THIS, Believe it! Claim it! (Read Romans 6:11-13.) Do not
let sin reign, but rather “yield
yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead and
your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.”
- Learn
to walk “in the Spirit.”
- “Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the
lust of the flesh” (Galatians
5:16).
- It is the power of the Holy Spirit that makes Christ
a reality. He makes us free “from the law (the governing
principle) of sin and death” (Romans
8:2-4).
To walk in the Spirit we must:
RECOGNIZE His person (John 16:13-14).
REALIZE His Presence (John 14:17).
RELY UPON His POWER – Totally and always – (Acts
1:8; Zechariah 4:6).
- Exercise a constant, steadfast faith in
Christ.
- By faith we overcome the world (1 John 5:4).
- By faith
we defeat Satan (Ephesians 6:16).
- By faith we are kept
by the power of God (1 Peter 1:5).
- By faith we claim
the presence of Christ (Ephesians 3:17).
- Faith gives
us courage to face the storms of life (Matthew 8:26).
- Faith frees us from the cares of material necessities
(Matthew 6:30-34).
- Faith enables us to live without
worry or doubt (Matthew 14:31-33).
- Finally, all of the
above will be realized if you will meditate daily upon
the Word
of God, develop
a
strong and
steadfast prayer life, seek
the fellowship of dedicated Christians and witnesses
to lost souls faithfully concerning your
faith in
Christ.
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