Results of Sin

“And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us.” Ephesians 2:1-4

We live in an abnormal world. It is not the way it was in the Garden, nor is it the way it will be when Christ returns as King. Sin has created a malfunction, a disorder in the present world that affects man in three particularly warped means.

Sin has changed man’s relationship to God. Unbelieving man is alienated from God, separated from His life, fellowship, and personal rule.

Sin has changed man’s relationship to one another. Personal relationships are marked by power plays, greed, and selfishness.

Sin has changed our relationship to self. We cannot truly know ourselves as the ancients said for our hearts are deceitfully wicked. We lead even ourselves astray.

The effects of these changed relationships are two-fold - death and conflict. Sin brings death. Death is the inevitable penalty of sin. For the non-Christian, death is both a state and a destiny. There is also conflict. Pagan man and God are not on friendly terms. There is irritating strife with other people and inner frictions as he seeks to fill his meaninglessness with unsatisfying substitutes.

Sin has brought change, not for the better but for the worse. Left untreated, is always deadly.

“For the wages of sin is death...” Romans 6:23