The Consequences and the Cure of Sin

 

Every temporal and spiritual problem that mankind experiences is because of sin.  Every evil and heartache that society faces is because of sin.  Society tries to suppress the truth of God and exchange the truth of God for a lie (Romans 1:18b, 25a).  They try to redefine sin and live like it does not exist (1 John 1:8, 10) while at the same time encouraging sin (Romans 1:32b).  They even believe they have the cure to all the problems we face.  Politicians think they have the answers.  Educators think they have the solutions.  Economists believe they can make things better.  Many believe religion is the cure.  But, there is only one person who can offer a cure to the consequences of our sin—The Lord Jesus Christ.

 

The Consequences and Cure

 

1.   Condemnation (Romans 1:18a).  The wrath of God is against all unbelievers (John 3:36; Romans 9:22; Ephesians 5:6; 2 Thessalonians 1:7b-9).  A righteous and just God will judge all sin.  This is what all men need to be saved from.

The Cure—Forgiveness (Romans 8:1).  When a person puts their total trust in the Lord Jesus for their salvation, He forgives all their sin (past, present, future) because He paid for all our sins on the cross (Psalm 103:12; Hebrews 8:12) and He credits to that person His perfect righteousness so that he can have a righteous standing before a holy God (Romans 3:21-22).

 

2.   Spiritual Death (Ephesians 2:1).  Every person is born a sinner, totally separated from God.  That is why Jesus had to be born by a virgin and conceived by the Holy Spirit of God.  He was born a perfect man and He lived a perfect life so that He could be our Savior.

Because all persons are born spiritually dead, they have no ability to respond to God-- to believe in God.

The Cure—Spiritual Life (Ephesians 2:4-5).  God has made us spiritually alive.  It is His gift to us so that we can believe in Christ.  He does this because He is “rich in mercy” and He has a “great love” for us.

 

3.   Physical Death (Romans 5:12).  Through Adam, sin entered the human race and death was the result.

The Cure—Immortality (1 Corinthians 15:51-58).  Even though most believers will die, except for the generation at the Rapture of the Church, God will one day resurrect all believers and give them a glorified body.  We will have victory over death.

 

4.   Adamic Nature (Romans 8:7-8).  All unbelievers are totally controlled by their sin nature.  That is why they think and act the way they do.  That is why we need to remember what our lives were like before we became Christians (Ephesians 2:11-12).

The Cure—The Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:16-25).  Even though we still have temptations of the flesh, we have the Holy Spirit who gives us the power to overcome the flesh and obey God.

 

5.   Curse on Nature (Romans 8:19-20).  When sin entered the world, man lost his dominion over nature (Genesis 1:28).  That is why animals attack one another and man, disease is rampant, and we have natural catastrophes.

The Cure—All Things New (Revelation 21:1-7).  God will lift the curse off nature (Romans 8:21) and give us a New Heaven and a New Earth.  Everything will be new.  Everything that sin has destroyed and continues to destroy can be overcome through the Lord Jesus Christ.  Man’s solutions will not help you.  All other so-called saviors will not save you.  Jesus Christ is your holy hope.