I'm beginning a new series called 'Back to Christian Basics.' In this series, we'll thoroughly explore each topic from a biblical perspective to strengthen our relationship with Jesus.
We begin with the basics of Christianity, and the first topic is 'Sin.' Let's explore what Sin means.
Origin of Sin
Sin originated with Lucifer, also known as Satan. He was originally one of God's angels, gifted with wisdom and beauty. However, he turned wicked, rebelled against God, and was cast out of Heaven to Earth. The world, now under Satan's influence, is tainted by Sin. Ezekiel 28:13-17 (NIV)
Satan (who is referred to as the Serpent in Genesis 3) introduced sin to humanity in the Garden of Eden. There, he tempted Adam and Eve with the allure of being 'you will be like God.' He led them to disobey God's command, resulting in their sinning before God.” Genesis 3:1-7 (NIV)
Definition of Sin
Anyone who violates God's law is committing Sin. This is explained in...
1 John 3:4 (NIV) 'Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. '
Romans 3:23. (NIV) 'for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, '
1 John 1:8 (NIV) 'If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. '
World and Sin
Romans 5:18-19 (NIV) 'Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. '
When Adam defied God, it had an impact on all of humanity. His sin opened the floodgates of sin and death for 'all people.'
Sin is contagious and spreads. After Eve sinned, she didn't stop; she gave some to Adam, leading him to also sin. Genesis 3:6 - When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
When we embrace the pleasures of the world and live according to its ways, we become enslaved to Sin. Romans 6:16 (NIV) 'Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? '
Read my Blog “Depraved Mind” to understand how Sin enters into man.
What are the type of Sin
1) Sins of commission(You shall not murder, lust, etc.)
The first sin committed by humanity was an act of defiance. God had instructed Adam and Eve not to eat a specific fruit, and despite knowing God's command, they deliberately chose to disobey (Genesis 3:6). They actively engaged in a sinful act.
When King David committed adultery and subsequently arranged for Uriah's death to conceal his wrongdoing, both of these actions were deliberate sins of Commission (2 Samuel 11)
We all bear the burden of committing intentional sins, known as sins of commission, by knowingly engaging in actions that go against God's commandments.
2) Sins of Omission
James 4:17 (NIV) 'If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.' We experience sins of omission when we neglect to fulfil our responsibilities. Instances of sins of omission include not practicing charity and not keeping promises or vows.
3) When we sin, our actions provoke God's anger, and we will be held accountable for our deeds on Judgment Day. We will be required to answer for both our deliberate sins (Sin of Commission) and our neglectful omissions (Sin of Omission) in the presence of the Lord.
4) Sin is a Sin, Bible defines these Sins. There is no distinction between small sins and big sins.
Colossians 3:5-6 'Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. '
Galatians 5:19-21 (NIV) 'The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. '
How do we Sin
Deception is a weapon Satan employs to introduce sin into our lives. He is a skilled deceiver, having perfected this craft for over a thousand years. We are powerless against his cunning tactics, but none of his deceitful schemes succeed when it comes to God.
He deceived Eve by saying Genesis 3:5 (NIV) “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
Temptation is when he entices us to commit sin. The desire to sin begins within our hearts and minds.
Satan tempted Eve - Genesis 3:6 (NIV) - When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom”
Our Self yields to Sin - We willingly give in to sin, allowing ourselves to commit wrongdoing, much like how we submit ourselves to God.
The responsibility for committing a Sin rests with each person; we cannot attribute our actions to Satan's deception and temptation. God has granted us the ability to distinguish between what is good and evil.
When you commit a sin, whether it's an omission or commission, you bear the responsibility for that sin, and on Judgment Day, you will be answerable to God.
James 1:13-16 'When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. '
Impact of Sin
Every time we engage in a sinful act, it is documented in the 'Book of Life.' On Judgment Day, we will be evaluated based on the balance between our sins and righteous deeds.
Hebrews 9:27 (NIV) 'Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, '
Revelation 20:12-14 (NIV) 'And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. '
The wages of Sin is Death in the Lake of fire (Hell) - Romans 6:23 (NIV) 'For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.'
Sin is contagious - Sin has a ripple effect on others. It impacts your family, friends, and those around you. In the Bible, Sin is often likened to 'Yeast,' where even a small sin can spoil our relationship with God.- Galatians 5:9 '“A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.” '
Getting Rid of Sin
Old Covenant - In the Old Testament, people were required to adhere to all the commands given by Moses. If they transgressed these commandments, they had to offer sacrifices to purify themselves. Deuteronomy 12:26-28 (NIV) 'But take your consecrated things and whatever you have vowed to give, and go to the place the Lord will choose. Present your burnt offerings on the altar of the Lord your God, both the meat and the blood. The blood of your sacrifices must be poured beside the altar of the Lord your God, but you may eat the meat. Be careful to obey all these regulations I am giving you, so that it may always go well with you and your children after you, because you will be doing what is good and right in the eyes of the Lord your God. '
New Covenant - In the Old Covenant, sins were cleansed but not completely removed. Therefore, God sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, into the world. He lived a perfect and sinless life, offering Himself as a sacrificial offering, much like a blameless lamb (as described in Isaiah 53:7) for our sins. The book of Hebrews, in chapter 9 / 1 John 2:2, explains how Christ's death atoned for our sins and introduced the new covenant to us.
1 John 2:2 (NIV) 'He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. '
Hebrews 9:26 (NIV) “... But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. '
Hebrews 9:28(NIV) 'so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.'
Isaiah 53:7 (NIV) He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
Confession of Sins -
If we genuinely repent from our hearts and confess our sins with a simple prayer like, 'Jesus, I believe you died for my sins. I confess, repent, and ask for forgiveness for my sins'. - 1 John 1:9 'If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. ' He will forgive our Sins and purify us from our unrighteousness acts by his mercy and grace.
Repent and Confess - To genuinely repent, you must feel sorry for your sins; just confessing them is not sufficient. Without true remorse and repentance, sin can remain in you and lead to your destruction. Luke 13:3 'I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. '
Thru Christ we have freedom from our Sins - There is no other means to get rid of Sins, “Consider Yourselves to be Dead to Sin” as Jesus has conquered the Death Romans 6:9-11 (NIV) 'For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. '
“count yourselves dead to sin” - Sin's control over us is gone, and we can start a new life. We used to be controlled by sin, but now we are free from it, living in Christ and following the path of righteousness.
“In Christ Jesus” - When Paul adds 'in Christ Jesus' to his words, it becomes a vital addition, packing profound meaning into just a few words. The life we now experience is connected to God through Christ Jesus. We find no true life outside of Him; all the divine life we enjoy is found in Jesus Christ alone. This is why He is the source of all life.
Blood of Jesus - Through the blood of Jesus, we are cleansed, purified, and set free from the sins of our past. Furthermore, once sin is removed, we have the assurance of an eternal inheritance in God's kingdom.
1 John 1:7 (NIV) '… the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. '
Hebrews 9:14-15 (NIV) 'How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. '
Rejoice in Heaven when Sinner repents
When we study the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15, it provides insights into what happens when a sinner repents before God.
Luke 15:17-20 ' “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. '
Luke 15:31-32 ' “ ‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ ”'
Six Stages when a Sinner comes to repentance
Stage 1 - 'When he came to his senses' - This realisation often occurs when we reach a point of utter emptiness in our lives and recognise that only God can help us.
Stage 2 - The spirit of repentance is bestowed upon us when we find ourselves at a breaking point - 'Repent and Confess' - acknowledging, 'I have sinned against heaven and against you.'
Stage 3 - Humble yourself to God - “I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ “
Stage 4 - Act of Obedience - “So he got up and went to his father”
Stage 5 - After we repent and confess, God welcomes us despite our imperfections. We may still have many flaws when we stand before Him, but He is a compassionate Father who says, 'I have a changed heart; I will embrace him and hold him in my arms.' - “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. '
Stage 6 - Heaven celebrates when a lost sinner repents and is found back to kingdom of God- But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ ”'
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