THE TRAGEDY OF SIN

 

Jesus tells us that sin is terrible. It is terrible because it causes division between God and man. “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”. Mark 7:20-23

THE  MEANING  OF  SIN.  –

It is missing the mark. (God’s target). It is a fall. (Drop from a higher

position) An example is that of Judas in Acts 1:25 “That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship,

from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. It is iniquity. (A departure from a

straight  line).  It  is  transgression.  (Crossing  God’s  boundary).  John  makes  it  clear  in  1  John  3:4    “

Whosoever  committeth  sin  transgresseth  also  the  law:  for  sin  is  the  transgression  of  the  law”.  It  is

unrighteousness. (An ungodly way of living). Consider 1 John 5:17  “All unrighteousness is sin: and there is

a sin not unto death”. It is a failure to do good. James 4:17 “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and

doeth it not, to him it is sin.

THREE KINDS OF SINS. –

One is the sin of ignorance. The apostle Paul spoke of himself being

guilty  of  this  sin.  “Who  was  before  a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy,

because I did it ignorantly in unbelief”. 1 Timothy 1:13. Jesus said the Roman soldiers also did not know

what they were doing was wrong. “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.

And they parted his raiment, and cast lots”. Luke 23:34.

 

Another  is  the  sin  of  weakness. This type of sinner has no rebellion in heart. He sins through the

weakness of the flesh as David did in 2 Sam chapter 11.

The third type of sin is that of presumption. This is the sin of pride and/or arrogance. This sinner has

the spirit of rebellion in his heart. He has no reverence for God or His holy law. “Keep back thy servant also

from  presumptuous  sins;  let  them  not  have  dominion  over  me:  then  shall  I  be  upright,  and  I  shall  be

innocent from the great transgression”. Psalms 19:13.

WHAT SIN DOES. – “It defileth the man” that is, it makes him unclean and renders him a sinner. It

is sinful thoughts that defile the mind. It is sinful words that defile the lips. It is the sinful looks that defile the

eye, and sinful deeds that defile the members of the body. The body is God’s temple, so, when we sin we

defile God’s temple. “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye

are”. 1 Corinthians 3:16-17.

SALVATION FROM SIN. –

According to Paul, God is willing to save man. “Who will have all men to

be  saved,  and  to  come  unto  the  knowledge  of  the  truth”.  1  Timothy  2:4.  God  is  also  able  to  save.

“Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing he ever liveth

to make intercession for them”. Hebrews 7:25. “For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is

able  to  succour  them  that  are  tempted”.  Hebrews  2:18.  God    has  the  saving  remedy.  “  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”. Romans 1:16; Mark 16:15-16; Acts 16:30-33.

 

We have all sinned. When we sin, it separates us from God. It defiles us. We can be forgiven of it

because  God  has  provided  the  way.  That way is the Bible. If we follow His way, then we can be saved

eternally.

Bobby Ogles