The Seriousness of Sin

In our last study we discussed one of the foundational truths in regards to sin--the penalty for sin. But now we turn our attention to the second truth--the power of sin.

The fact of the matter is that sin is a powerful destroyer of every good thing God wishes to give you. When we as believers allow sin to have the preeminence in our lives, we have just forfeited ourselves of God’s best! One preacher says the hardest part about sin is not what you get in return but what you miss.

Regardless of what our heart tells us, there is a seriousness to sin we must not overlook. Notice what sin does in the life of a Christian:

Sin will BLIND you.

What would you say if during the Olympics races this past week, one of the racers took his spot on the starting block with a blind fold on? You’d say, “What in the world is he doing? There is no way he is going to win looking like that!”

When we allow sin into our lives as God’s children we are in essence doing the same thing. We are trying to run the race of the Christian life with a blind fold on!

Hebrews 12:1-2 reminds us, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 - Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Sin will BIND you.

I remember playing one of my favorite games during a school pep-rally. We called it “All Tied-up.” It was an intense combat between the boys soccer team and the girls volleyball team. The girls got it easy (as always) and got to play a normal game of volleyball. But the boys had the hard part. They had to play with one leg tied to another guy on their team. As you could imagine there was no shortage of laughs from the crowd and plenty of skin was left on the gym floor.

That is much like sin. It binds your hands and feet, crippling you from accomplish God’s will. It literally deters your spiritual growth and put you back in the bondage that Christ delivered you from. This doesn’t mean that you need to get saved again every time you sin, but it does mean you need to evaluate who is the master of your life--who calls the shots. (see Romans 6)

Sin will REMIND you.

If you are a warm blooded human being you do not like being reminded of your past failures. It preoccupies your mind and sends you spiraling into a whirlwind of regret. This is one facet of the ministry of the devil. If you haven’t noticed yet, he loves to be the small whisper in your ear of that time you failed the Lord. He tempts you to do wrong and then the moment you give in he becomes your accuser!

When the devil reminds you of your past, just remind him of his future! Tell him, “The Lord rebuke thee…” (Jude 1:9)

Paul knew what is was like to battle the devil and to forget his past.

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14)

Don’t let the blows of your past prohibit the blessings of the future.

Sin will FIND you

You’ve heard the phrase, “What goes up must come down!” This principle is the same in regard to sin in your life. When you give into temptation there will be consequence for your actions. Sometimes I think many people live with the delusion that their words, actions and thoughts do not bare any weight! They say silly things like, “This sin will only hurt me!” Or “Well, I guess I got away with that one!”

But what secrets can you keep from God? “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.” (Proverbs 15:3)

Reaping and sowing is a part of nature as much as it is a part of you! Proverbs 22:8 warns us, “He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.” When sin is brought in, it can only bring destruction.

That is the power of sin! It destroys and under-delivers every time. But remember “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” (I John 4:4)

(Outline used by permission from Pastor Dave McCoy)

This article is a part of the mini-series...