Sin
by Ray Sullins
Many
times when we consider studying a topic we will ask the following questions
about it: who, what, when, why, and where? For the purpose of this discussion, we would
like to ask the same questions about sin!
WHO SINS?
When
we consider who sins, we find out why man is so interested in this subject. The Bible answers this question very simply in
Romans 3:23, where Paul said, for all have sinned and fall short of the
glory of God. If you notice here
the word all is used! Paul here is talking to the church at
WHAT IS SIN?
If
everyone is guilty of sin, what is sin? Again,
the Bible defines sin very clearly in the New Testament. In 1
John 5:17, John said, All
unrighteousness is sin. If
righteousness describes God, then unrighteousness is just the opposite. So sin is doing the opposite of what God says.
In Romans
6:13, Paul encouraged the brethren not to be instruments of
unrighteousness, but rather instruments of righteousness. Paul continues the thought in chapter 9, verse 14 where he confirms there is no unrighteousness
with God!
WHEN DO WE SIN?
This
is one of the most difficult questions to understand about sin. When does one actually sin? To find the answer to this question, we must
go to James 1:15. In this passage James
said, when desire has conceived, it
gives birth to sin.... So we sin
when we give in to desire. This means we
are guilty of sin the moment we begin to engage in the sin. We are not sinning by just considering sin. For example, lets say that you are
considering robbing a bank. Is it sinful
to consider such? It obviously is not
good, but it is just a thought in your mind. When you begin to prepare, or actually rob the
bank, you have now sinned. So desire
does not always mean you are sinning, but it is when that desire is conceived
or acted upon. However, it is good to
keep in mind that some thoughts in themselves are sinful. A person can actually sin by having certain
types of thoughts. For example, lusting
is a sin which is in the mind and Jesus said, But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has
already committed adultery with her in his heart (Matthew 5:28). Therefore sin
is a result of wrong desire which has been acted upon, or in some cases,
desires which are wrong in themselves.
WHY DO WE SIN?
Many
people today actually believe it is someone elses fault when they sin. We have all heard statements blaming the devil
or even God, for our sins. In James 1:13 we read, Let no one say when he is tempted, I am
tempted by God; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt
anyone. Here we see that God
does not tempt man. So, why do we sin? The
answer is given in the same passage, James
1:14, there we read, But each one
is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. As people, we sin because of our own desires. It is our own human nature that causes us to
be drawn away by desire and enticed to give into that desire. It is not even the fault of the devil. The devil may put temptation in our way, but
we decide for ourselves to consider the temptations. Then we are enticed. When we give in to the desire we are sinning!
WHERE DO SINNERS GO?
The
answer to this question should motivate us to know all we can about sin. In Romans
6:23, Paul said, For the wages of
sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Again in James 1:15, we read, ...and
sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. The Bible clearly teaches that sin brings about
death. This death is a spiritual
separation from God, and eternal punishment. In Revelation
21:7-8, Jesus said, He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and
I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving,
abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars
shall have their part in the
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