Ten Things to Remember about Sin (Part 2)

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6. Sin enslaves.

When we lose God as our Master, we will of course become the slave of another master; Sin. In John 8.34, Jesus says:

(34) Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. (John 8:34, NKJV)

Sin is all consuming. With nothing to stop it, sin leads to sin, which leads to more and greater sin, until a person is absolutely and completely controlled by their impulses and desires. They can’t stop, even when it hurts. Even when it kills.

7. Sin brings spiritual death.

There have been a few times that I’ve done something nice for someone, and they offered to pay me. I kindly refused their offer, since I wanted to volunteer.

When you read Romans 6.23, which tells us that “the wages of sin are death,” don’t get the impression that the “wages” there are something that can be refused. You can’t be a “volunteer” for sin. You will get paid.

You can’t pass your “paycheck” along to anyone else, either.

8. We are personally responsible for our sins.

While sin may have entered the world through Adam (cf. Romans 5.12), contrary to popular (Calvinistic) thought, that doesn’t mean that we are liable for his sins. At the same time, no one else can take responsibility for our sins. Each and every one of us is personally responsible for our own actions, our own sins.

We read in Ezekiel 18.20-24 that “the soul who sins shall die,” and that the son doesn’t bear the guilt of the father’s sin, and vice versa. No one can tag their sins on you. At the same time, a bad family life doesn’t excuse someone from the guilt of their sin. Each person bears the guilt of their own sin.

9. Therefore, sin is to be fled, not invited.

Everyone knows that if you walk in front of a city bus driving down the street that you are probably going to get hit. Likewise, we know that there are some sins for which the consequences hit like a city bus. So, instead of stepping out into the street (i.e., indulging in that sin), some folks will try to stand as close to the road as possible, just to “feel the breeze” as the bus passes by.

But you can’t stand that close to a city bus as it passes by without getting covered in the mud it throws up off the road. Believe me. I’ve had it happen.

You can’t “ride the fence,” or cozy up against sin without having it stain you. Instead of asking “what can I get away with," Christians need to be asking “how can I avoid sin?”

After all, Paul writes in Romans 6.1-2:

(1) What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? (2) Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? (Romans 6:1–2, NKJV)

Instead, we ought to “Abstain from every form of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5.22). The word translated as “abstain” literally means “to be at some distance away from.” Don’t see how close you can get to sin; See how far away from it you can be!

10. Christ's blood washes it away.

A discussion of sin wouldn’t be complete without remembering that no matter what we’ve done, if we comply with God’s conditions, the blood of Christ washes our sins away (cf. Revelation1.5).

While our sin might separate us from God, Christ’s blood brings us back to Him. Consider Paul’s words in Colossians:

(19) For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell,  (20) and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. (Colossians 1:19–20, NKJV)

How do we avoid sin?

One final practical note. How do we avoid sin? David gives us a very simple method in Psalm 119.11:

(11) Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You. (Psalm 119:11, NKJV)

As we take God’s Word into our hearts (i.e., our minds) it trains our conscience. A well-trained conscience will not only help in avoiding sin, but will set you up for eternal life! Remind yourself daily of the danger of sin, and give no place to the devil!

-Daniel