by Mark Mayberry
Synopsis: Recognizing that sin is a violation of God's law, let us be mindful of its destructive influence in our lives.
From the dawn of human history, sin has involved a transgression of God's will for humanity. This is illustrated by Adam and Eve's violation of the Edenic injunction, Cain's violation of God's will concerning worship, his subsequent shedding of Abel's blood, the pervasive violence of the antediluvian world, the sexual immorality of Sodom and Gomorrah, the despicable behavior of Lot's daughters, etc.
Just as the serpent tempted Eve through the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life (Gen. 3:1-7; 1 John 2:15-17), Satan foments within our hearts a desire for that which is forbidden (Rom. 7:7-12). Man is enticed through his lustful desires; when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death (Jas. 1:12-15).
Sin denotes failure. As the tribes of Gad and Reuben learned when they sought permission to settle in the Transjordan, they were obligated to fulfill their duty to God and their brethren (by crossing over the Jordan and helping the other tribes conquer Canaan). To do otherwise was to commit sin and incur guilt: Moses said, "But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out" (Num. 32:20-24, esp. v. 23). In other words, we can sin through commission or omission, i.e., doing that which is prohibited (1 John 3:4), or leaving undone that which is commanded (Jas. 4:17).
Sin is a menacing threat. After his sacrificial offering had been rejected, Cain compounded his error by manifesting an evil attitude. The Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it" (Gen. 4:6-7). Let us, therefore, heed the warning of Peter: "Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" (1 Pet. 5:8).
It is damaging and destructive: "He changes rivers into a wilderness and springs of water into a thirsty ground; a fruitful land into a salt waste, because of the wickedness of those who dwell in it" (Ps. 107:33-34). It results in putrefaction: "You will rot away in your iniquities and you will groan to one another" (Ezek. 24:23; cf. 33:10-11).
It is defiling and debasing. Isaiah said, "I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips" (Isa. 6:5). He added, "All our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment" (Isa. 64:6).
Solomon said, "The wicked are captured by their own iniquities, and held with the cords of their sin" (Prov. 5:22). Jesus added, "Everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin" (John 8:34-36).
Sin leads to death (Gen. 2:16-17). After Adam sinned, he was driven from the garden of Eden; God stationed cherubim to guard the way to the tree of life (Gen. 2:16-17); Adam thus began his long, inexorable march to the grave (Gen. 5:5).
Living under the curse of sin and death, we face the consequences of Adam's transgression. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23). Through personal disobedience, each accountable individual ratifies Adam's rebellion and falls under the same condemnation (Rom. 5:18-19). Those who pursue wanton pleasure are the walking dead: "She who gives herself to wanton pleasure is dead even while she lives" (1 Tim. 5:6). As James declared, "When lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death" (Jas. 1:15). Salvation is made possible through Jesus Christ: "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom. 6:23). "For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive" (1 Cor. 15:21-22).
The concept, "Bad company corrupts good morals," applies to both friends and family (1 Cor. 15:33-34). Paul repeatedly emphasized the parallel principle, "A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough" (1 Cor. 5:6-8; Gal. 5:7-9).
Sin spreads like an infectious disease. Describing the danger of empty and worldly chatter, and the insidious influence of false teachers, Paul said, "their talk will spread like gangrene" (2 Tim. 2:16-18). The Greek word gaggraina, occurring only here, refers to "a gangrene, an eating sore" (Thomas 1044). BDAG defines it as "a disease involving severe inflammation, which, if left unchecked, can become a destructive ulcerous condition—gangrene." Louw and Nida say it refers to "a disease involving severe inflammation and possibly a cancerous spread of ulcers which eat away the flesh and bones" (23.165).
In this regard, consider the sad example of Eli, a high priest, and judge of ancient Israel, first mentioned in 1 Samuel 1. During this time, the tabernacle was at Shiloh. Eli and his sons were priests to the Lord (vv. 3, 9). Levitical priests served at the tabernacle, offering sacrifice on behalf of the people (Lev. 17:3-7), and providing spiritual instruction to Israel (Mal. 2:5-8).
While Eli demonstrated a degree of devotion to the Lord, his two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were wicked and worthless men. Instead of being content with God's provision, they demanded more than their fair share, seizing the best of the sacrifices for themselves (1 Sam. 2:12-17; cf. Deut. 18:3-5). Moreover, the sons of Eli were immoral and depraved: "they lay with the women who served at the doorway of the tent of meeting" (1 Sam. 2:22).
Priests were expected to set good examples, especially those who served as high priests. However, Eli failed as a father. Although he verbalized displeasure, his rebukes did not go far enough (1 Sam. 2:22-25). God's word established a procedure by which society could deal with such worthless sons (Deut. 21:18-21), but Eli remained passive in the face of such provocations. Compounding his guilt, he benefited from their corrupt practices. God asked, "Why do you kick at My sacrifice and at My offering which I have commanded in My dwelling, and honor your sons above Me, by making yourselves fat with the choicest of every offering of My people Israel?" (1 Sam. 2:29).
As a result, divine judgment was determined and decreed (1 Sam. 2:26-36). Later, a prophetic pronouncement of doom was delivered to young Samuel against the house of Eli (1 Sam. 3). Judgment came through the agency of the Philistines, who defeated the armies of Israel, slew the sons of Eli, along with 30,000 of their brethren, and captured the ark of the covenant (1 Sam. 4).
The epilogue communicates a tragic implication: "When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell off the seat backward beside the gate, and his neck was broken and he died, for he was old and heavy. Thus he judged Israel forty years" (1 Sam. 4:18). As people age, and become less physically active, they often gain weight. Nevertheless, Eli's excessive weight, which contributed to his death, also reflected moral compromise. God rebuked Eli for tolerating such sin in his house. He made himself fat by eating the choicest of the sacrificial offerings (1 Sam. 2:29). How tragic!
While sin is characteristic of fallen humanity, apart from divine forgiveness, it is a barrier to shared fellowship with the Lord God (Isa. 6:1-7; 59:1-2). It leaves an indelible stain that only God can remove (Ps. 32:1-2; Isa. 1:18-20).
What is the solution? Before the foundation of the world, God formulated the plan of salvation (Eph. 1:3-4). Through craftiness and deception, the serpent deceived Eve; yet, the first Messianic prophecy followed man's fall: "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise Him on the heel" (Gen. 3:15). Note the significance of "her seed": Jesus Christ was born of a virgin (cf. Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:18-25). "When the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons" (Gal. 4:4-5).
Man is a free moral agent, possessing the ability to choose either obedience or rebellion. Moses challenged Israel, saying, "I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live" (Deut. 30:15-20, esp. v. 19). Joshua issued a similar ultimatum: "If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" (Josh. 24:15).
Let us, therefore, choose the path of reconciliation. Recognizing our inadequacy, let us look to Christ for deliverance (1 Tim. 1:15-16). As sinners saved by grace, may we be devoted to performing the work of God, and walking in His ways (Eph. 2:8-10).
Author Bio: Mark and Sherelyn have labored with the Adoue Street Church of Christ in Alvin, TX since 1998, where he serves as the evangelist and an elder. The church website is ascoc.org. His Bible study website is markmayberry.net. He can be reached at mark@truthpublications.com.
