Before a person can truly be saved, he must understand his lost condition and need for a Savior. This can only be accomplished by having a proper understanding of sin.
The Nature of Sin
1 John 3:4 states, “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” From this verse, we learn that sin is simple disobedience to God and His commandments. It is vitally important that we read the Bible so we can know what God’s laws are and do our best to abide by those laws. The word sin in the New Testament is translated from the Greek word hamartia. Another aspect of sin can be found when we examine the definition of hamartia, which means “to miss the mark.” The “mark” or standard of God is perfect holiness, and all of mankind has fallen way short of hitting this mark.
The Origin of Our Sin
According to Romans 3:10 and Romans 5:12, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned,” and “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.” No one is devoid of sin because every person is born a sinner; at conception, all men inherit the sin nature of Adam.
The Result of Sin
God hates sin; therefore, the result of sin is separation from God. A holy and perfect God cannot commune with or tolerate sin. One of the most sobering verses in the Bible can be found in Isaiah 59:2: “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” We also see that sin has affected the intellect of man so he cannot understand spiritual things. We read in Romans 3:11, “There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.” Man needs a revelation of God, and that can be found in Jesus Christ and the Word of God.
The Judgment of Sin
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” – Romans 6:23 God is holy and just; therefore, He must judge sin. That judgment or penalty of sin is death and hell. Even though God is a just and compassionate God, we must never forget His righteous judgment. Since every man is a sinner, the entire human race is destined to spend eternity in the lake of fire. The good news is that Jesus has paid the penalty of sin for us all, and eternal life in heaven can be ours if we simply place our faith and trust in Christ. Have you accepted that free gift of heaven? If not, you can do so today!
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Lankford Oxendine, GSBC Vice President
Bro. Oxendine serves as the Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs at Golden State Baptist College. He has been teaching at GSBC since 2001. He also teaches the College Sunday school class at NVBC.
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