The Sin Problem
How would you define the word ‘problem’?
The Oxford Dictionary says that it’s ‘A matter or situation regarded as unwelcome or harmful and needing to be dealt with and overcome.’
If you were to ask ten passers-by on the street what they thought was the big problem affecting them and their community, you would more than likely get many different answers. One may say Brexit and all of its ramifications; the other may say knife crime; the third may say low employment, and the list would go on. All of these problems are very important. Why is this? Because they are to do with people’s lives, and are not just statistical numbers on a screen or printed page. In your opinion, what is the greatest problem in the world today?
If we were to ask the Bible what is the greatest issue facing us today, what would it say? Well, when you look into this question, the Bible tells us that the greatest problem is the one with the greatest consequence. That problem is sin.
Why is this?
Romans 6:23 says:
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The consequence of this thing called sin is death. Now someone might ask, “But don’t we all die regardless of sinning or not?”. This is true. However, this verse is specifically speaking about the second death which is only experienced by those who reject God’s free gift of salvation which He offers to every single person. In that death individuals are forever separated from their loving Creator and put out of existence; the opportunity of living forever with their God in a world without sin, pain and suffering will be lost.
(For more information, you can read our recent studies called What Happens When We Die? Pt. 1+2 & Hell: It’s Not What You Think Pt. 1+2)
Sin not only can bring pain and suffering in this life, but the results reach beyond it.
Isaiah 59:1, 2 says:
1 Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:
2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
Sin separates us from our God. Does this mean God turns His back on us when we sin? No way. If that was the case, He would not have made a plan to save us, or provided and preserved the Bible which explains to us how we are to be saved, and also be knocking on the door of hearts every single day to let Him in so that we can experience the goodness He has for us:
Romans 5:6, 8
6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Psalms 12:6, 7
6 The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
7 Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
Revelation 3:20, 21
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
So, where does the fault lie in this separation between God and the person He created?
Let’s look at Genesis 3:8-10
8 And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.
9 And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.
When Adam and Eve sinned it literally changed the way their minds functioned. The position of these two drastically shifted in their relationship with God. They went from trusting and loving God to being afraid of their Creator. Sin separated them by distorting their view of God, and marring their natures so that it was impossible for them in their sinful state to be in the presence of a holy God . Today, the world is full of people who see the God of the Bible as something He is not - Jesus came to right this wrong.
God does not forsake us because of our sin; but we separate ourselves from God by sinning.
We have seen from the Bible what the consequence of sin is for ourselves and in our relationship with God, but what about the effect it has on the people around us, and the wider society?
Jesus says in Mark 7:20-23:
20 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.
21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
Jesus is letting us know that sinful thoughts lead to sinful acts: families are broken because of adultery; STIs are passed on through fornication; murders effect whole communities and generations – they can also lead to a cycle of violence; pride is the reason we see road rage, arguments and a lack of forgiveness; and the list can go on and on. The terrible things that happen in our communities and in the world at large first start in the minds of people who are still held captive by sin. An evil mind will produce evil thoughts, which will result in evil acts on others. The problem actually begins within us.
So, if sin is a problem, what is the solution?
Matthew 1:21 says:
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Simply put, the solution to the sin problem is Jesus and all He has to offer! He came to save us from our sins.
What method has Jesus chosen for us to learn how He will save us from sin?
Romans 1:16 says:
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Our Saviour Jesus Christ has chosen the gospel, because like the verses above say, it is the power of God that results in salvation! Why is this the case? Verse 17 gives the answer. The gospel of Christ reveals to us the righteousness of God! God’s righteousness is what we need. The gospel is a very precious thing to those who understand its worth.
Let’s conclude this study with a simple analogy:
When we are extremely sick, what is the most important thing the doctor should do?
Give a correct diagnosis of the sickness.
Why?
So that the remedy / treatment will be correct and effective.
What would happen if the diagnosis is wrong?
The remedy / treatment won’t work. It could even make the sickness worse.
This is exactly the same with salvation:
If our diagnosis / definition of sin is correct, then we will search the scriptures for the correct gospel remedy which is divinely designed to treat and heal the sin sick soul, solving the problem.
If our definition of sin is incorrect and not based upon what is said in the Bible, then the gospel remedy we decide to choose will be wrong. It will not be able to help you, which means, no salvation.
THE REMEDY DEPENDS UPON THE DIAGNOSIS
This is why we need to know what the nature of sin is:
What is sin?
What are we condemned for?
What is the gospel designed to save us from?
In what way does the gospel of Christ heal us?
Please join us on this journey as we allow the Bible to answer these questions.
by LetterBox Bible