THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY SEARCHER
"Search the scriptures: for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. " (John 5:39)

VOLUME 6, NUMBER 19, MAY 14, 2006

WHAT DOES SIN DO?

            In an article such as this it is not possible to fully examine this subject and that is not my intention.  My purpose is to simply look at several things the Word of God indicates that sin does in the hope that it will stimulate each of us to further study of this most important subject.

It Kills

            Let’s go back to its introduction into the world.  Remember when God placed Adam into the Garden, He said to him in Genesis 2:16-17, “Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”  The primary idea was that of spiritual death, separation from God.  However, it is also true that sin is the reason that physical death entered into the world.  When Adam and Eve ate of that fruit of the prohibited tree, part of the consequence was that they were driven from the Garden.  The reason for that is found in Gen. 3:22-23.  It says, “And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.”   Because of sin, they lost access to the Tree of Life.

It Deceives

            There is a statement made concerning Moses in Hebrews 11:24-26 that is pertinent to this point.  The passage says, “By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.”

            Sin is in most cases enjoyable.  If it were not, most people would not participate in it.  That is one of the most insidious aspects of the violation of God’s law.  It does not present itself as it truly is.  The pleasure is presented, but the consequences rarely are.  I am reminded of Paul’s words in Romans 7:11, in which he wrote, “For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.”

It Enslaves

            This truth concerning sin is clearly pointed out in several places.  For instance, consider just a portion of a discussion that Jesus had with certain Jews in John 8.  In verses 31-34 we find, “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.  They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were in bondage to any man, how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?  Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.”

            Paul makes the very same point in Romans 6:16.  He wrote, “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”

            Those who give themselves over to sin often think they have found freedom in so doing.  Oh, they are tragically mistaken!  Bondage in sin is the worst bondage of all.  Most people who are in bonds of a physical sort recognize that they are in bondage.  Most in bondage to sin actually think that they are free.  Physical bondage on earth will end – either with release or death.  Spiritual bondage to sin, if not repented of, does not end.  Death will simply usher in the eternal consequence of it.

It Never Satisfies

            Just think of the horrible description Paul gives of the unsaved Gentiles in Ephesians 4:17-19.  “This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.”

            Sin simply never satisfies.  The more a person engages in it, the deeper down the slope of degradation he or she will slide.  It is similar to building a tolerance for a particular drug.  In order to attain the same effect the person has to take more and more. 

Sin affects others.

            Think about David.  Think about Achan.  Man does not live in a vacuum.  What we do has consequences that often radiate out like the ripples caused by a stone thrown into a pond.   In Joshua 7:1, we find, “But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against the children of Israel.”

            Because of what Achan did, 36 soldiers of Israel died at the hands of the men of Ai.  Also, Achan himself, plus his sons and daughters, were stoned with stones and burned.  It is just plain foolish to think that sin has no consequences outside of ourselves.  We do not live in a vacuum.

            There is so much more that could be mentioned, but hopefully this little bit will wet our appetites to learn more.

                                                                        Greg Litmer