The Sinfulness of Sin

"Sin is the transgression of the law." (1 John 3:4)

"And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all His commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: and all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God…." (Deut. 28:1-2)

"But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all His commandments and His statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee: cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field. Cursed shall be thy basket and thy store. Cursed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy land, the increase of thy cattle, and the flocks of thy sheep. Cursed shalt thou be when thou comest in and cursed shalt thou be when thou goest out. The Lord shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke, in all that thou settest thine hand unto for to do…thou shalt betroth a wife, and another man shall lie with her: thou shalt build an house, and thou shalt not dwell therein: thou shalt plant a vineyard, and shalt not gather the grapes thereof….thy sons and thy daughters shall be given unto another people, and thine eyes shall look, and fail with longing for them all the day long: and there shall be no might in thine hands…because thou sevedst not the Lord thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things...shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest: but the Lord shall give thee there a trembling heart and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind: and thy life shall hang in doubt before thee, and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life…" (Deut. 28:15-66)

"It is one thing to recognize the effects of sin on mankind, it is another thing to see it in its essential character as rebellion against God. Man through sin has not only become "wounded and debilitated", he has become alienated from God; he has been brought into an attitude of positive antagonism to God. Sin therefore is not something which appeals to pity only, a mere misfortune; it is that which deserves punishment, for it is rebellion against the purity and goodness and majesty of God." [Evan H. Hopkins "The Law of Liberty in the Spiritual Life"]

Sin which is disobedience to the commandments of God is rebellion against a good and holy God. And just as it is here on earth (when laws are broken, consequences follow) so it is in heaven.

If you have a party that makes way too much noise after 11 pm at night, you can be cited for disturbing the peace because you have broken a law of the city that you live in.

If you are found to be speeding in excess of the speed limit, the state troopers can ticket and fine you because you broke a law of the state.

If you cheat on your income taxes, the federal entity known as the IRS can fine or even imprison you because you broke a law of the federal government.

If you are found guilty of committing war crimes, you can be imprisoned or even executed because you broke an international law.

So why would any of us think that by breaking one of God's laws, our Creator and the Creator of the universes, we will escape punishment? Such a thought isn't even logical. And to reject the possibility of punishment to come by the good and just Ruler that God is, is the height of arrogance and a blatant denial of reality!

The disciple John says "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us….if we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us." (I John 1:8-10)

In the book of Romans, Paul says "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) ALL means ALL. We have all sinned [Jesus excluded since he is God AND man.] That means we haven't lived up to His standards; that means we have broken His laws. We have all sinned at one time or another, and most likely we will sin again before we are dead and buried.

So now what?

Now that we know we have sinned (which means we are "sinners") against God (remember that even if we sin against a brother, we sin against God), what is God's response to us?

It's very clear.

The bible tells us:

"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." (Galatians 6:7)

"Now the works of the flesh[sin] are manifest, which are these: Adultery, fornication uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, enyings, murders, drunkenness, reveling, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." (Galatians :19-21)

And then there is this:

"He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."

That's very bad news. And contrary to some who think they will be able to sit down and reason with God when the time comes to be judged for our lives that He gave us, it just ain't so! Not according to His Word. So, again I say, now what?

"Now what" is what is known as the Good News or the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Tomorrow.