The Bible refers to “sin” in [a number of ways]. They all address various facets of what it means to be sinful. Sin is primarily a matter of our connection to God. People choose their own idea of good and evil and act according to it, disobeying God’s instructions because they question His kindness and wisdom. They frequently do evil deeds in place of doing what is right. Take Matthew 15:19, for instance, which states, “For evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, and slander come from the heart.”
This quote demonstrates how sin affects a person’s real actions as well as their intents and inner selves. The Bible considers sin to be a transgression of God’s law (1 John 3:4).
Where does sin come from?
The earth was flawless when it was created by God. Adam and Eve, the first humans, were sinless. They were made in order to exalt God. They coexisted peacefully with God, each other, and the entire creation. Thus, sin and evil were not created by God. However, the Bible tells us how [sin and destruction entered God’s creation] as early as the third chapter.
Adam and Eve were allowed to eat from every tree in the Garden of Eden apart from one tree. God warned them: “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die” (Genesis 2:16-17). However, He did not take away the possibility of disobedience. Adam and Eve had the choice to obey God or not to obey Him. Satan, the opponent of God, made Eve doubt God’s goodness by telling lies about Him. He made her discontented with her position as a human, and told her that by disobeying God, she would become like God herself: “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:5).
Sadly, Eve chose to believe Satan rather than God, which led her to consume the fruit that God had forbade. Adam instantly joined her in her rebellion, and they soon came to understand that everything had changed—not in the way Satan had predicted, but in the way God had shown. They learned the definition of evil directly from experience.
How did sin spread to other people?
Children born to Adam and Eve also inherited their sinful nature, as did all of their descendants—that is, all people. According to the apostle Paul, “many were made sinners by the one man’s disobedience” (Romans 5:19). Alternatively said, “Death came into the world through one man, and sin through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned,” according to Romans 5:12.
“Behold, I was born in iniquity, and my mother conceived me in sin,” declares King David in Psalm 51:5. He meant that he was a sinner before he was born, not that his mother had given birth to him outside of marriage. All individuals “have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” due to our inherent sinful nature from Adam (Romans 3:23). Sin has an impact on all of us and prevents us from living moral lives.
Why did God allow sin and evil to enter creation?
Many people wonder why God allows evil to exist. We will never be able to come up with a fully satisfying answer, because we are not God and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9). However, we can be sure that God uses evil to bring glory to His name. This may not sound comforting, but ultimately, what counts is that God’s name is glorified. God allowed Jesus to be crucified: the most evil deed that has happened on the surface of this earth; and yet the deed through which God has saved sinners and has brought back life and light and hope to a world lost in darkness. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8) and open the way for the Kingdom of Heaven to take root in the hearts of those who are born of God (1 John 3:9)!
What are the consequences of human sin?
The relationship between God and man is distorted by sin. “Your sins have hidden His face from you, and your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God,” the prophet Isaiah tells his people (Isaiah 59:2). That is a serious issue since human flourishing can only occur in the presence of God.
Sin leads to death
God is offended by sin and becomes enraged. As a result, God forewarned Adam and Eve of the consequences of their disobedience, saying, “You shall surely die” (Genesis 2:17). “For death is the price of sin…” (Romans 6:23). This is an eternal, spiritual, and bodily death.
- Physical death is evident wherever we look: individuals pass away, get sick, etc.
- Spiritual death indicates that no one can achieve their original life purpose, which was to glorify God. People are wicked and depraved. “nay one understands; nobody seeks God; nobody is righteous, nay, not one. Everyone has turned away; collectively, they have lost all value; not a single person acts morally (Psalm 14:2–3); Romans 3:10–12.
- Eternal death implies that after death, sinful people should face eternal punishment. Without God, they have to spend all of eternity in the terrifying pit of hell.
Creation is affected by sin as well
According to Genesis 1:27–28, humans were designated to be stewards of God’s creation. Creation was impacted by their revolt as well. According to Genesis 3:17–18, the ground was cursed and now bears thorns and thistles. Animals either murder one another or perish in natural calamities. The source of all the violence and suffering we witness in the animal kingdom is human sin, not something that existed when God created the universe.
Does sin have the final word?
When God first encountered Adam and Eve, it was not just to punish them but also to provide a means of escape. He declared that the children of the woman will destroy Satan (Genesis 3:14–15). This child is Jesus, as we discover later in the Bible (see, for example, Colossians 1:13; Colossians 2:6–15; Hebrews 2:9; 2:14–15; 1 John 3:8). Although He is God, He took in human form to atone for humanity’s transgressions. God’s wrath was appeased since He bore their suffering and death in their place. Anybody who places their faith in Jesus is delivered from both God’s wrath and the guilt and power of sin.
Struggle against sin
Believers will have to cope with the effects of sin as long as they remain on this planet. Additionally, individuals must struggle against the wicked impulses that still lurk in their hearts. As soon as we acknowledge our sins, we ought to confess our sins and beg God’s pardon (1 John 1:9). To live a life of holiness that pleases God is only attainable by the power of the Holy Spirit.
On the new earth, the consequences of sin will be gone
Sin will finally be vanquished at the end of time. It will be flawless when Jesus establishes a new earth. There will be an end to all the terrible consequences of brokenness and sin, such as sobbing, pain, and grief (Revelation 21:3-4). There, as it was from the beginning, God’s children will live in perfect harmony with their Creator.
Sin does not hold the last say. It is God’s unending love.
