So reads and teaches the 23rd verse of the 6th chapter of the Roman letter. There are four general
definitions of sin given in the New Testament. The first is recorded in the fourth chapter of
James. We begin reading with the first verse, "Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we
will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye
know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth
for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live,
and do this, or that. But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. Therefore to
him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." In this passage the Apostle
condemns the person who makes his plans and announces his purposes without taking God's will
and wishes into account --"to him it is sin." Again, in 1 John 5:17 we read that, "all
unrighteousness is sin." This includes all misconduct, all evil words and even the thought of
wickedness. One cannot make his mind a depository for malice and envy and hatred and still
please God for "all unrighteousness is sin." Next your attention is directed to Romans 14, verses
22 and 23. In part they thus "Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he
alloweth. And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever
is not of faith is sin." Here the word faith is used in a different sense. The picture is that of a
person doing something which he believes to be wrong. Though the thing itself be innocent, the
man has sinned becaue he has compromised his conscience. But perhaps the most common
definition of sin is found in 1 John the third chapter and the fourth verse in which the Apostle
said, "Whoso sinneth trangresseth also the law, for sin is a transgression of the law."
Now for a brief summary. We would remind you again that James says, "We sin when we leave
God out of our plans and purposes." John announces that all unrighteous thoughts, words and
actions are sin. Paul declares that we sin when we compromise our own conscience and John
says we sin when we transgress the law of God.
Recently we spoke to you concerning the enormity of sin and the infamous nature of
transgression [Radio Sermon #16: "The Enormity of Sin"]. Its consequences were pointed out
and the gospel was declared to provide the only means of escape from it. Now before discussing
the wages of sin, please recall that we cannot deserve or merit heaven, for salvation is the gift of
God. Acceptance of the gospel, however, and faithfulness in his service are conditions upon
which the gift may be obtained. In Isaiah 1:18 God said, "Come now, and let us reason together,
saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be
red like crimson, they shall be as wool." 1 John 1:6-7 is in point here, "If we say that we have
fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the
light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his
Son cleanseth us from all sin."
Now consider the consequences of sin. There is a reward for iniquity. The wages of sin is death.
The inescapable certainty of the devil's payday is announced in Galatians 6, verses 7-9, "Be not
deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that
soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the
Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall
reap, if we faint not." It is absolutely impossible to live a life of wickedness here and then appear
at the judgment a righteous person. The person who thinks he can do as he pleases and not be
brought to justice is simply trying to mock God, and that cannot be done. He seems to reason like
this: I have been in many tight places before; I have faced many trying situations. I'll manage to
get by this one, too. Thus he hopes to circumvent the laws of God and in that manner escape and
mock God - - but friends and brethren, it cannot be done!
Let me read it again "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that
shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption." Here is an
idea very unpleasant to contemplate. Just as the word "sowing" in the preceding verse is used in
the figurative sense, so here we have the word "corruption" used in the same manner. Some have
supposed that the corruption suggested means the decay of the physical body, but it cannot be for
the corruption here is limited to the wicked, arrogant, inconsiderate person. He that soweth to the
flesh is the one who shall reap corruption. It cannot be that death is meant here because the good
man as well as the evil will die and go the way of all the earth. With the passing of time each will
reach the portals of death. "Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall
return unto God who gave it." (Eccl. 12). So then the word "corruption" is used for a
comparative purpose. If the thought of a decayed putrefied body in a graveyard is repulsive to the
sensitive mind, how much more is the thought of a decadent, putrefied, decaying soul? The
comparison is simple enough. What repulsion one feels at the thought of the rotten physical
remains of a human being will serve to illustrate the repulsion that God feels at the sight of one
who has wasted his substance in riotous living and has gone the way of the world, the flesh and
the devil. He is going to reap the harvest just as surely as time passes, and the harvest promised
is one terrible to contemplate. It is the banishment of the soul from the presence of God. It means
eternal damnation in a devil's hell.
We read now Revelation 21:8, "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and
murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part
in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." Referring again to
Matthew the 25th chapter and the 41st verse, the Lord, seated upon the throne of judgment, shall
give to every man that which is rightly due. The king shall say to them on his left hand, "Depart
from me, ye cursed, into eternal fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." While hell was not
prepared for man, man may nevertheless forfeit all right to salvation. If he serves the devil here
he will be punished with him hereafter.
And, may we inquire, who is to blame for it? Let James tell us. "Blessed is the man that endureth
temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised
to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot
be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn
away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin,
when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren." James 1: 12-16.
Although there is pleasure in sin, the end is horrible to contemplate. We might, with profit, recall
the words of Solomon in Proverbs 13:15. There he said, "Good understanding giveth favor, but
the way of the transgressor is hard." It isn't always easy, of course, to live the Christian life, but
if the words of Solomon mean anything at all, they convey to us the idea that it is far easier to
make the necessary sacrifice and effort to live an upright Christian life than it is to bear the
burdens of sin. "Good understanding giveth favor but the way of the transgressor is hard."
The truth of this assertion is demonstrated in some of the stories related to the Old Testament.
We believe that no good thing will be denied a righteous man but frightful indeed is the state of
the unrepenting sinner. Think of the trial and hardships which came upon Adam as a result of his
transgression. You will recall that God had placed him in the beautiful garden of Eden and
surrounded him with everything to make life pleasant and worthwhile. He had given him a
companion to be with him and had blessed his life with the wonderful institution of marriage. He
had given him certain responsibilities in dressing the garden and keeping it, and placed certain
restrictions upon him. For example, he said, "Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely
eat:But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that
thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." At the suggestion of his wife, Adam partook of the
forbidden fruit. No sooner had he realized his guilt than a terrible sense of shame and doubt
gripped his mind. For the first time he undertook to hide from the presence of Jehovah. Earlier he
had communed with him as a beloved father and had enjoyed the comforting assurance of his
nearness. Now at the very thought of going into his presence, Adam was horrified.
He realized as never before that, " the way of the transgressor is hard." He decided to conceal
himself among the shrubs of the garden and accordingly skulked away into the brush. Sure
enough, God walked in the garden in the cool of the day as was his custom. He called audibly,
"Adam, Adam, where art thou?" God was not asking because he needed the information, but that
was his way of impressing Adam with the seriousness of his transgression. God was in effect
saying, "Adam, I see you, you may as well come out." Adam in fear and trembling stood before
his God. His embarrassment cannot be described. The shame and the self-reproach are beyond
expression. There he stood dejected, miserable, a loathsome sinner, and God said, "What hast
thou done, hast thou eaten of the tree of which I commanded thee thou should not eat?" And the
man shifted the blame to his wife. She in turn passed it on to the devil, but each of them was
punished, for God is not mocked.
It was a sad day when Adam and Eve, be reason of their sin, were driven from the presence of
God and from the wondrous beauties of the Garden of Eden. Now the man must earn his bread
by the sweat of his brow. Thorns, thistles and briars appeared. Physical disease, suffering and
death came upon them. The pain of childbirth, the uncertainty of life away from God, struck
terrot to the soul. "The way of the transgressor is hard."
Now turn with me to another story. This time it is the story of Cain, the eldest son of Adam.
Genesis 4:3 and following says, "And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the
fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his
flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto
Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell."
A study of the 11th chapter of Hebrews leads us to believe that God had explained to these boys
exactly what he wanted them to do. By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice
than Cain. Since faith comes by hearing the word of God, they must have been fully informed. It
is interesting to notice that Cain's offering was valuable, and on other occasions, acceptable to
the Lord. Fruits of the ground were often presented by the Israelites, as indicated in the book of
Leviticus. The offering which Cain made was what is called in the King James version of the
scriptures a "meat" offering, more accurately a "meal" offering, consisting in part of fruits and
produce. After having described Cain's offering, the 4th verse says, "And Abel he also brought of
the firstlings of the flock." It appears that Abel may have brought the same thing that Cain
brought, but in addition to it he offered also a firstling of the flock. His offering was accepted
because it included everything that the Lord wanted. Not only did it indicate his dedication to the
Lord, but it was intended also to typify the offering of Christ upon the cross.
Well, Cain was very wroth because God did not respect his offering, and his countenance fell.
"And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou
doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door... And
Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain
rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him." 1 John 3:12 declares that he did so because his
own works were evil and his brother's righteous. It is sad to note that the first murder grew out of
religious jealousy and strife. Be that as it may, Cain could not possibly conceal this trespass from
the Lord. God said, "What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from
the ground.And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy
brother's blood from thy hand; When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto
thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth." Truly with Solomon,
again we say: "the way of the transgressor is hard."
Try to imagine the sentiment that must have surged through the mind of Cain. His brother was
dead, and now he, the murderer, was driven from his home and kindred and sentenced to be a
vagabond and a wanderer. He said, "My punishment is greater than I can bear." Truly, the way of
the transgressor is hard.
Our final story is taken from the 7th chapter of Joshua. That worthy general of the Lord's army had sent men to spy out Ai, which is beside Bethaven. The spies came back and said we need only a very few to smite Ai, so there went up three thousand men. But Ai turned upon them, thirty-six of them lost their lives and the people of God were completely routed and fled back to camp. Joshua cried out to God and said, O Lord, what shall I say, when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies." God explained to Joshua that there was sin in the camp, that someone had taken of the things forbidden of the Lord. Lots were cast, the families were examined, individuals were questioned, and finally Achan, the son of Carmi, was brought before the general. "And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me." And Achan recounted how, contrary to the command of Jehovah, in connection with the overthrow of Jericho he had taken that which God had halloweth unto himself. God had said take nothing as your own, yet Achan explained, "When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it." So it was that being taken in his trespass, there was no escape. Gos said take him out and stone him until he is dead. We look upon the dejected face of a man taken in his sin; we look around at the pale features of his wife, his children, his friends who stood by to see the awful consequences of wrongdoing. Again and again he must have pondered in his heart how things might have been and how too late he realized that God is not mocked and the way of the transgressor is hard. It seemed like a severe penalty which was inflicted upon him but God would have us know that we cannot trifle with his laws, we cannot disannul his decrees, and we cannot ignore his solemn commands, "for the wages of sin is death, but the gift of god is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."