SIN

The Bible makes clear statements about sin. It states that sin is real in our lives. The result of our sin is very serious ... separating us from God ... on our own to face an eternity away from His presence. However, God provided a remedy. He offers that remedy to us as a free gift.

THE REALITY OF SIN. Sin is anything that does not express or conform to the goodness of God. It can be a thought, Matthew 5:27-28 ... a deed committed, John 8:34 ... or a deed omitted, James 4:17. The words for sin in the Bible mean missing the mark, transgressing the Law, rebelling, defiance, disobedience, wickedness, evil, and unrighteousness. Sin can be against others or against ourselves, 1 Corinthians 6:18. Ultimately all sins are against God, Genesis 39:9, Psalm 41:4 and 51:4, and Romans 8:7. Three categories of sin are described in the Bible. The first category is imputed sin described in Romans 5:12-21. It is guilt by association with the human race ... in Adam all sinned. The second is our inherited sin nature referred to in Ephesians 2:3 and Psalm 51:5. This is our natural tendency to sin. That natural tendency brings us unavoidably to the third category, personal sin. Personal sins are those that we commit in thought or deed ... in attitude or action.

THE RESULT OF SIN. The reality of sin in each of our lives is unavoidable. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23. It is also unavoidable that we must deal with the consequences, or results, of that sin. One result is that we are alienated from God. We are His enemies, Romans 5:10. We are separated from Him. "But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God." Isaiah 59:2. We stand before God guilty, judged, and condemned. On our own without God's intervention, we stand condemned to an eternity "away from the presence of the Lord," 2 Thessalonians 1:9 ... and condemned to "disgrace and everlasting contempt." Daniel 12:2.

THE REMEDY FOR SIN. Sin and its accompanying condemnation are humanly unavoidable. However, God has provided the remedy for sin in the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. "While we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly."  Romans 5:6. "He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross." 1 Peter 2:24. "For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all." 1 Timothy 2:5-6. "Everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins." Acts 10:43. Everyone will deal with the sin problem in one of two ways: (1) by eternal separation from God, or (2) by God's solution received through faith in Jesus.

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Disciplemaking 1, copyright 2003, is available free from www.MyDisciplemaker.org where you can study online or print free copies. You may copy this course, any any part of it, for free or at-cost distribution ... without change to the content ... and with this copyright policy attached. Published by www.ActsOneEight.org. Bible Quotations are from the NASB unless noted.