On sin

What is sin?

Sin is the willful choice to disobey God. When we choose to break a promise, when we cuss someone out, when we physically assault someone, when we fiddle about with someone else's spouse or go fornicating, when we bring harm to children and direct our abuse at anyone, we sin.

Sin is the opposite of God's character and purpose. It is the opposite of doing good. And it is willful.

There are those out there who probably believe that if Adam and Eve weren't tempted, they wouldn't have sinned. The problem is that this belief is based on the fact that a foreign element (i.e. Satan) was involved. But the problem was not that Satan spoke to them; he tries to attack everyone. The issue is, why did they listen? God specifically warned them not to eat of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, or they would die. Even if they didn't understand what the word "die" meant, it was obvious that something very, very bad would happen if they disobeyed. And... they chose to do just that; disobey. Instead of trusting God, they chose to listen to the serpent in the garden. And all of creation has been paying the price ever since.

The blame can't be all pinned on the devil. The devil tempted Adam and Eve, yes, but the question is, why didn't they trust God instead of (to their eyes) some random snake? The devil's words were in direct contradiction to what God said. No, Adam and Eve didn't instantly drop dead upon eating the forbidden fruit, but they died spiritually, becoming aware of their just separation from their Creator, and they were doomed to die physically from that moment on too. God took pity on them and covered their nakedness and allowed them to live out their days, but something drastic had to be done to deal with sin.

Some might point to the system of sacrifices during the years of the Israelite confederacy, monarchy, and dual kingdoms as being the answer, but this has its issues, as this link makes quite clear;

Nowhere in the Old Testament is it ever claimed that sins were “taken away” (i.e., completely removed) by animal sacrifices. The root of the Hebrew word translated “atonement” in the Old Testament is kaphar, which has the idea of “covering,” not total removal. This word is also used to refer to how Noah’s ark was to be covered with pitch.

...Tens of thousands of animals were ceremonially slaughtered by Jewish priests for centuries, the spilling of their blood vividly illustrated the deadly seriousness of sin. However, these sacrifices were essentially like a bandage, only acting as a covering for sin. They did not, and could not, remove sin, as Hebrews 10:4 clearly states.

They also pointed forward in time to the only One that could remove sin—Jesus Christ who shed His precious blood to accomplish that purpose.

Sin is not merely a concept but a reality. We've all done immoral things and all deserve judgment, and greatly so, having inherited it from Adam and Eve. But God graciously acts so that this might not be the end of it.

5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith,

[b]Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not,
But a body didst thou prepare for me;
6
In whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hadst no pleasure:

7
Then said I, Lo, I am come (In the roll of the book it is written of me)

To do thy will, O God.

8 Saying above, Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein (the which are offered according to the law), 9 then hath he said, Lo, I am come to do thy will. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10 [c]By which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every [d]priest indeed standeth day by day ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, the which can never take away sins: 12 but he, when he had offered one sacrifice for [e]sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13 henceforth expecting till his enemies be made the footstool of his feet. 14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. 15 And the Holy Spirit also beareth witness to us; for after he hath said,

16
[f]This is the covenant that [g]I will make with them

After those days, saith the Lord:
I will put my laws on their heart,
And upon their mind also will I write them;

then saith he,

17
And their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

(Above from the ASV version, which is public domain, at biblegateway.com.)

Sin is evil, and its effects - on the human soul, upon the mind, upon the body, upon relationships and everything humans do - are terrible and awful to behold. But the Good News is, God is not done yet - with us, or with the universe.

The Lord Jesus Christ came into this world to live the sinless life we could not, so that, as both God and a perfect sacrifice without blemish, He could one and for all time destroy sin through His crucifixion, burial, and resurrection from the dead. All who love and willingly submit to Him can be saved from the eternal torment we deserve for offending a Holy and infinite God. He continues to spread His message day by day throughout the world, and there is no defeat in Him. Or, as abideinchrist.com says;

The sacrificial death of Christ turns away the wrath of God from everyone who believes on Christ as their Savior. He is our propitiation; He is our mercy seat; His death alone is all-sufficient to save. Christ is the mercy seat who was sprinkled with His own blood.

Jesus Christ was the priest who offered up the perfect sacrifice of Himself on the cross for our sins. He died in our place (2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 1:4; 3:13; Eph. 5:2, 25; Matt. 20:28; Rom. 5:6, 8).

The Lord is coming back, on a day and hour we do not know. On Judgment Day, sin will be destroyed utterly, and for those who trust in His death and resurrection, there will no longer be pain, tears, or misery (Revelation 21:4). For those who believe, there is an enduring hope, despite the existence of evil now, that it will be destroyed in the end.

For now, the hand of repentance and forgiveness is still out there for anyone who would grasp it while there is still time to do so. I pray that the audience does not simply brush it away.

May the Lord Jesus save, watch over, and guide you all.