SIN
ROMANS 3:9-23
Introduction:
Sin is the major problem in our lives. We deal with it every day of our lives. The word “sin” appears in the Bible 448 times; “sins” 172 times; “transgression,” 51; “transgressions,” 48; and “trespass” or “trespasses,” 85 times.
The Scriptures tell us in Romans 6:23 that the payment for sin is death, “For the wages of sin is death;” But God did not stop there. He adds, “but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” So there is hope.
Let examine what the Scriptures say about sin.
I. PERSONAL SIN
A. The sin of commission (doing something prohibited), v. 23.
1. Everyone is guilty of this, Romans 3:9, 19, “What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; 19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.”
2. We are all guilty of the same thing, Romans 2:1, “Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.”
B. The sin of omission (failing to do that which is required), James 4:17, “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”
1. The servant that knows his Lord’s will, Luke 12:47, “And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.”
2. That servant that knew not his Lord’s will, Luke 12:48, “But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.”
II. SIN PORTRAYED IN SCRIPTURE
A. Falling short of God’s glory, Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”
1. In Portuguese the expression “come short” is translated “destitute [void] of the glory of God,” 1 Timothy 6:5, “Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute [ void ] of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.”
2. We are called unto the glory of God, 2 Thessalonians 2:14, “Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
B. Going astray like wandering sheep, Isaiah 53:6, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
1. Peter said that we were like sheep gone astray, 2 Peter 2:22, “But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.”
2. We have gone out of the way, Romans 3:12, “They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”
C. Transgressing or overstepping the law, Psalm 51:1, “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.”
1. Transgression of the law is rebellion, Psalm 5:10, “Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee.”
2. They need to be confessed to the Lord, Psalm 32:5, “I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin.”
D. Sin is portrayed as “trespassing” (exercising our own will contrary to God’s authority), Ephesians 2:1, “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;”
1. Alienated from the life of God, Ephesians 4:18, “Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:”
2. Spiritually dead in trespasses, Ephesians 5:14, “Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.”
III. SIN BRINGS HIDEOUS RESULTS
A. It brings physical death, Romans 5:12, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:”
B. After death it brings judgment, Hebrews 9:27, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”
1. This is for those who have not trusted Christ as their Savior, Romans 2:5-6,“But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:”
2. Those whose names ARE NOT written in the Lambs book of life, Revelation 21:27, “And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”
3. There is the SECOND DEATH, Revelation 20:13-15, “And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
CONCLUSION
Remember the second part of Romans 6:23? It says, “but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Christ died on Calvary’s cross to keep men out of hell. Trust Him for salvation.