The Truth About Sin

by Dr. Charles Stanley

(Hear “In Touch” with Dr. Charles Stanley weekdays at 9:05 a.m. and Sundays at 7:05 p.m. on WXAN 103.9 FM.)

Sorrow, frustration, and complete discouragement filled the young man’s heart as he told his story. He had fallen to a temptation he thought no longer gripped his emotions. For the moment, the consequences of his sin seemed unbearable. Would he lose his family? His job? And the hope of another chance with God?

Sin will take you further than you ever wanted to go. It will promise you more and deliver nothing but heartache and fear. Like a drama played out on the stage of life, sin promises contentment and satisfaction, but it delivers nothing but the opposite. Ask anyone who has experienced the ramifications of sin’s powerful blasts, and you quickly will receive a sorrowful list of consequences due to sin’s handiwork.

Deception: Sin’s Folly

One of the most deceiving aspects of sin comes when we mistakenly believe we no longer have a problem with temptation. Oswald Chambers illustrates this, “Joab stood the big test, he remained absolutely loyal and true to David and did not turn after the fascinating and ambitious Absalom, but yet towards the end of his life he turned after the craven Adonijah.

“Always remain alert to the fact that where one man has gone back is exactly where anyone may go back. (1 Corinthians 10:13) You have gone through the big crisis, now be alert over the least things; take into calculation the ‘retired sphere of the leasts.’”

Peter admonishes us to, “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, stand firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world” (1 Peter 5:8-9).

One of the first lessons we need to learn when facing sin is that we need a Savior. We can do nothing apart from Him, and certainly we cannot face the tempter of our souls victoriously without God’s strength and protection.

All sin is rebellion against God. It drives a wedge between you and the one who loves you with an eternal love. Sin should break our hearts because it hurts the heart of God.

Most of us would say that sin’s origin was here on earth in the Garden of Eden. But actually, sin began with Lucifer’s fall due to his pride and rebellion against God. (Isaiah 14:13)

Temptation gained its first foothold in the Garden when the serpent (Satan) tempted Eve to doubt God’s goodness and plan for her life. Sin always entices us to act independently of God. This is what Satan did in heaven. He drew one-third of the angels away from God in an effort to overthrow the Lord.

When we take a serious look at the times we have yielded to temptation, we quickly see that those were the times when we chose to act independently of God by disobeying His Word. Sin blinds us to the truth of God and leaves us feeling ashamed, fearful, and separated from the Lord.

After debating the issue of his own sin and personal lack of ability to conquer the temptations that plagued him, the apostle Paul cried out to God, “Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?” (Romans 7:24).

There was and is only one answer, and in the next verse Paul exclaims, “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (v. 25). Only Christ has the power and the ability to break sin’s grip of death on our lives.

Sin Has Affected Us in 3 Ways:

It enslaves us spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Before the fall, Adam and Eve did not know the power of sin. Only after they yielded to sin did they discover the dramatic impact of sin.

It impairs our relationship with God and other believers. This was demonstrated in the Garden after the fall. Adam had enjoyed sweet fellowship with the Lord, but sin introduced shame and fear into that relationship. For the first time, Adam hid when God came to meet him.

Sin deceives us into thinking that God has distanced Himself from us. This is sin’s greatest deception: fear of the one who loves us most. The enemy has one mission: destroy man’s relationship with God. The enemy will do anything to keep us from knowing and experiencing the intimate, saving love of God.

Sin also drives a wedge between us and other believers. When our fellowship with God is hampered, we quickly discover that the sweetness of our fellowship with other believers disappears.

It exposes the lost man to the wrath of God. God’s grace is the only way an unsaved person can experience eternal salvation. Those who have never accepted Christ as their Savior are under the penalty of sin, which is eternal death and separation from God.

The Only Cure for Sin

God’s grace is the only cure for our sin. Paul writes: “The free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many” (Romans 5:15).

According to God’s law, sin demands a sacrifice. This is why God instituted sacrifice for sin. In the Old Testament this was carried out through the obedience to the Law. However, the coming of Christ, God’s Son, eternally changed this. No longer are we commanded to offer certain sacrifices for certain sins. Christ is our atoning sacrifice. (John 1:29) His death on the Cross was sufficient payment for our sins—past, present, and future.

His demonstrated grace and forgiveness of mankind in no way is an excuse to continue in sin. Instead, it is a call for a deeper commitment of love and fellowship with God.

What we could not do for ourselves, God did for us. There is no way for man to free himself from the bondage of sin. Trying to be good, disciplined, and committed will never earn us enough credit in God’s eyes. The only way we can stand in His presence as forgiven and cleansed from all sin is through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Confession alone does not atone for sin. We must identify with Christ’s death on the Cross, and the only way to do this is by accepting Him as our Savior. He saves us from sin and eternal death.

God’s Provision for Sin

As long as we live, sin will fight for dominance in the life of the believer. The lost man is helpless to defend himself against the evils of temptation. Therefore, sin can easily lay claim to his life through passions and lusts. However, those who believe in Christ have a supernatural strength residing within them. Because their lives are hidden in Christ, they can say “no” to sin and “yes” to holiness and purity in Christ.

The way we do this is through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus understood the power of temptation. He faced temptation and came away the victor. The way He dissolved the power of the enemy was through the Word of God.

This is our only defense against the schemes of Satan. While believers are no longer under the penalty of sin, they will have to endure the war that Satan wages against each child of God.

Is there a temptation that you have been struggling to conquer? You can overcome this, but only through faith in Jesus Christ.

God has provided a way for you to experience the goodness of His grace for eternity. In Romans 8:1, He tells us there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Once we come into the personal, saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, we are no longer under the condemnation of sin. Christ had destroyed the power of sin.

John writes: “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world” (1 John 2:1-2).

Christ’s love for us is so great that He continues to intercede on our behalf. Therefore, when God views our lives, He only sees the faithful atoning work of Jesus Christ flowing through our lives.

While sin hurts the heart of God, it does not shock or surprise Him. He knew all about you before you were born and, still, He has chosen to love you for all eternity.

The truth about sin is this: it always destroys, separates, and leaves us feeling abandoned without hope. However, we have a deliverer. Jesus Christ has overcome the world and along with it He has conquered sin and death. (John 16:33) The same power God equipped Jesus with is ours. “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you” (Luke 10:19). Christ lives in us and enables us to live victoriously.

If You Have Fallen Into Sin:

Ask God to apply His forgiveness to your life. Agree that what you have done is not right or in keeping with His holiness. Pray that He will restore the sweetness of your fellowship with Him.

When we sin, we step outside of God’s perfect will for our lives. However, we are never outside His perfect love. Sin stirs the Holy Spirit to deliver a swift sense of conviction to our hearts. When we suffer in sin, this is God’s way of gaining our attention and drawing us back to Himself.

Be determined to turn away from sin. (John 8:7) This is true repentance. The pattern of sin must be broken once it gains a foothold in the life of a believer. Remember even a tiny foothold can quickly become a broad and powerful stronghold. If you feel like this has happened in your life, know that Christ stands ready to deliver you. Be tough with sin. It is tough with you and only seeks to destroy your potential. Therefore, do not resist God’s Spirit even if this means talking with your pastor, a trusted Christian counselor, or friend.

Apply the Word of God to your heart. Never trust your feelings. Trust the Word of God and what it says about you as a forgiven, eternally beloved child of God. If you do not read the Bible daily, ask the Lord to give you a love for His Word. Study it, meditate on its truths, and allow God to speak to your heart through its teaching. (Matthew 4:4) The Word of God was Christ’s victory over Satan, and it is yours too. (Luke 4:1-13)

Use your failure as a tool to share your faith with others. You may or may not tell all the aspects surrounding your salvation or deliverance from sin. However, God can and will use your life to encourage others who have fallen into sin. Peter is a rich example of this. His denial of Christ has been used repeatedly by God to demonstrate His eternal love and forgiveness.

Even though Peter fell, Jesus lifted him up and commanded him to continue on in His work for the kingdom of God. (John 21:15-17) God saves us so we will bring glory to His name. He forgives us so we will understand our personal need for a Savior. He encourages us so we will not give up and we might continue on to encourage others who have fallen.