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The Consequences Of Sin And Its Solution

In 1973, the world-renowned psychologist Karl Menninger made headlines by writing the book, “Whatever Became of Sin?” It might be more accurate to say that he made “sermon headlines” by this title since countless preachers made reference to Dr. Menninger in their sermons. However, the secular press’ reaction to his book was at best minimal. Menninger’s main point was that public discourse about sin, which played a great part in our nation’s heritage, had seemingly fallen out of vogue, possibly contributing to a growing sense of personal moral irresponsibility in the 1960’s and 1970’s.

Living in a world where evil men and imposters proceed from bad to worse (2 Timothy 3:13), it does seem as if the word “sin” has disappeared from the human vocabulary. Even today, the idea of not preaching on the “sensitive” issue of sin, is even finding its way into the Lord’s church.

However, our responsibility as Christians, is not to join the majority in a world of evil who would seek to circumvent the issue or attempt to whiten up the blackness of sin (Isaiah 5:20). As disciples of Christ, our obligation is to:

“Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible” (Ephesians 5:11-13 NIV).

With these thoughts in mind, let’s ask ourselves: (1) “What are the consequences of our sins?”; and (2) “How does God deal with our sin problem?”

Sin Hurts God — Too often when people sin they begin by mourning over the “consequences” of their sin, such as disgrace, poverty, disease, and emotional discomfort, instead of shedding tears because they realize they’ve sinned against a holy God (Matthew 5:4; cf. James 4:8-9; 2 Corinthians 7:9-10; Ecclesiastes 7:3; 2 Samuel 12:13; Matthew 26:75).

When David had been confronted with his sin, he confessed to God, “Against You, You only, I have sinned and done what is evil in Your sight” (Psalm 51:4). David declared later in Psalm 51:17, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart — These, O God, You will not despise.” David’s heart was broken because he realized he had broken the very heart of God. Sin hurts God!

Sin Hurts Others — It’s utter selfishness to the core when people argue that their refusal to submit themselves to God only negatively affects them. What utter foolishness this argumentation becomes! Try reasoning this way with parents who have shed tears at the funeral of their fifteen year old son, whose life was taken due to the drunk driver who thought his drinking wouldn’t hurt anyone but himself.

Try convincing a broken-hearted woman whose world has been devastated by the adultery of her husband, and now she is forced to explain to her three children why their father left her for another woman. Sin hurts others!

Sin Is Expensive — How much pain and heartache could be avoided if only people would recognize the high price of sin. Sin will take us farther than we ever wanted to go, keep us longer than we ever wanted to stay, and cost us more than we ever intended to pay (2 Peter 2:10-19; John 8:34; Romans 6:16; Romans 6:23; cf. Romans 5:12; James 1:15). Sin is expensive!

Sin Will Be Dealt With By God — Too many ignore sin and its wages (Romans 6:23) and think that somehow their sins will go unnoticed or be overlooked by God. Too many want to sow “wild oats,” and then pray for crop failure. God’s spiritual law of sowing and reaping doesn’t work that way.

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life” (Gal. 6:7-8).

God will deal with sin and the sinner who refuses to repent:

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10).

Let’s not kid ourselves — our sins will be brought into judgment; even those things we think that others don’t know about — “For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether it is good or whether it is evil”? (Ecclesiastes 12:14). Sin will be dealt with by God!

Sin Can Be Forgiven — What good news this brings to our ears! Not that we have sinned, but that God in His grace will abundantly pardon any and all sins if we will truly confess them and forsake them (1 John 1:9; cf. Psalm 32:5; Isaiah 55:7). The Psalmist tells us about the forgiving nature of God when he states:

“For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You” (Psalm 86:5; cf. Psalm 130:7).

Is there any greater message that brings us hope like the good news that God forgives?

When all is said and done, the tragedy of sin is best seen in the price God was willing to pay for its removal (John 3:16-17). If sin is trivial, then Christ’s death is trivial. However, the inspired writer Peter tells us that Christ’s death was certainly not trivial:

“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ ….” (1 Peter 1:18-19 NIV).

Dear reader, Jesus’ sacrifice for sin is the solution to our sin problem, and that’s the gospel truth! (Hebrews 10:7-14; cf. Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:12-14; Hebrews 9:11-14; 1 John 1:7).