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Christianity for Dummies - 5 - Sin

by Michael Russell
November 2002

Based upon a sermon series by Pastor Jim Henry, senior pastor of First Baptist Orlando, and enhanced with my personal commentary. Apologies to the book publisher for the title.

Today's lesson is about sin. Why are we in the condition that we are in. Unfortunately, sin is not a popular topic. Today's politically correct attitude tends to excuse sin as being some 'medical condition' that can be treated by some theraphy or blaming someone else. Curious thing about blaming someone else, usually if you point to someone else, there are three fingers pointing right back at yourself. *smile*

1. Condition

What is the human condition and how did we get here?

1.1. The deprived state that we find ourselves.

Romans 3:10-18 As it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one. Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit. The poison of vipers is on their lips. Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know. There is no fear of God before their eyes.

1.2. Where did it come from?

It starts with doubt.

Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden?'"

It then proceeds to distorting God's word.

Genesis 3:2-3 The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.'"

In concluded with open rebellion against God.

First, we see that it was not the woman who rebelled. She was simply deceived by the devil (serpent).

1 Timothy 2:14 And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner.

Finally, we see that Adam was not deceived and ate the food even though he knew what it was. So, this was willful.

Genesis 3:6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

1.3. It all starts with pride.

Isaiah 14:13-15 You said in your heart, "I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High." But you are brought down to the grave, to the depths of the pit.

2. Contamination

Sin has contaminated the whole human race.

2.1. All are affected.

Romans 3:9 What shall we conclude then? Are we any better? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin.

Romand 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

2.2. One sin or many sins, it doesn't matter.

James 2.10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.

3. Expression

How has sin made itself known?

3.1. People are alienated from God.

Romans 1:21-23 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

3.2. People are enslaved.

John 8:34-35 Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever."

3.3. People are in conflict with others.

1 John 3:15 Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.

4. Consummation

What is the end that awaits people?

4.1. The Wrath of God

Romans 1:18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness,

4.2. Hell [future]

Matt 10:28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

2 Peter 2:4-5 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment; if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, ...

4.3. Depravity and approval of evil [present]

Romans 1:28-32 Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

5. Solution

Fortunately, God provides a solution. To those who accept, there is salvation from the destination of hell.

Hebrews 9:26-28 Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.