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Sin is such an old-fashioned word. Does it really have any relevance today? Or has humanity managed to advance past its religious hang-ups and reach a point where it can determine for itself what is right or wrong?
Unfortunately, sin is a problem that affects us all. Ever since the creation of humanity, the sin principle has corrupted or influence everything that happens on planet Earth.
It is vital then that as Christians we learn how Jesus dealt with the power and effects of sin.
Rom 3:9-10 What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin. (10) As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one;"
Rom 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Gal 3:22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
All have sinned; there is no such thing as a person who has not sinned.
The Bible definition of sin is: "Whatever is not from faith is sin." (Rom 14:23)
Rom 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned;
Sin entered the world when Adam disobeyed God and ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. See Gen 3:1-19
When Adam sinned, sin became an inextricable part of his nature, and since all humans reproduce in their own image (Gen 5:3), we pass on that sin nature to our descendants.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
The key to receiving forgiveness from God is to take responsibility and admit to the sin.
Rom 6:4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Rom 6:6-7 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. (7) For he who has died has been freed from sin.
Rom 6:11-12 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (12) Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.
Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
The power of sin cannot be overcome through self-effort; it must be overcome through faith in Christ.
Since we were crucified with Christ, sin's power has no more claim on us - unless we let it. Water baptism is where we outwardly identify ourselves as being partakers of co-crucifixion (with Christ on the cross).
It is up to us to exercise faith that our old sinful nature is dead, and that we are now alive as a new creation.
Rom 6:16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?
Sin is a choice, so we can also choose not to sin.
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The ultimate result of sin is death.
1 Cor 6:18-19 Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. (19) Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
In one sense, all sins are equal in that every sin leads to death, no matter how small.
But it is equally obvious that some sins are worse than others; telling a small lie to save yourself from embarrassment is clearly less serious than being a serial killer!
Paul supports the idea that some sins are worse than others when he says that sexual immorality is in a class of its own; therefore, our sexuality is important.
1 Cor 15:56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.
"The strength of sin is the law", meaning that when you try to live your life by adhering to a list of dos and don'ts, instead of relying on the Holy Spirit, then the power of sin becomes stronger.
Most people have experienced a situation where they've decided not to do something again, but find that its attraction is even stronger.
2 Cor 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
On the cross, Jesus became sin for us, not only so that we would be forgiven, but that we might become the very righteousness of God.
Heb 4:15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
2 Cor 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Jesus was completely sinless; this is what qualified Him to give His life in our place and bring to us forgiveness of sin.
Had Jesus sinned only once, He would have been a sinner and unable to redeem all of humanity.
If you like these Topical Bible Studies, don't forget to check out our Expository Bible Studies too.