The Consequences of Sin
More Than One?
As we move onto our next week in hamartiology, we’re going to start addressing some of the more frequently asked questions surrounding the idea of sin. Now that we know what sin really is and where it ultimately came from, we can officially start diving into the topics that many people today ask. This is why today we will discuss what the consequences of sin really are. Right away, before you think that the answer to this question is obvious, I want you to consider the words of Barry Cooper. He says, “Sin affects every part of us: our hearts, souls, strength, and our minds. Like toxic waste dumped at the source of a river, making everything downstream undrinkable, sin affects every part of every human being.” Is this what you thought a biblical view of sin’s consequences looked like? If not, it’s because our view of what sin can actually do is not nearly correct. For the rest of this post, we will be diving into scripture to see just how exactly sin affects us. And the answers may not be what you think. Let’s begin.
Eternal Consequence
For starters, let’s talk about the obvious consequence of unrepentant sin. What this essentially means is sin that has not been forgiven because we have not repented and believed in the gospel of Jesus Christ to atone for our sin. Paul tells us in Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God Is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” This is why we previously mentioned that the answer to this topic was obvious. Clearly, if our sin has not been atoned for, then the consequence of our sin is hell. If Jesus isn’t the one who pays the price for our sin, then it must be us. And God has made it unmistakably clear how we would be paying this price if we choose not to repent and believe the gospel. I know this is the main thought that may have come into all of our heads when we first read the title of this post, but this is exactly why I wanted to start with this consequence. The absolute worst consequence that sin can have in our lives is separating us from God for eternity. When we view sin lightly or think that we can abuse grace because Jesus has already paid for all of our sin, just remind yourself of what your life would look like and where you would be if Jesus hadn’t come and paid the price for your salvation. Your hope and joy would be absolutely decimated! Dare I say that Christians would be beyond depressed that they wouldn’t even be able to function. This is the harsh reality of sin that isn’t atoned for. That is why the only overcomer to the terrible consequences of sin is the glorious good news of the gospel. Yes, sin that isn’t paid for is ultimately going to be paid for by our lives, but this harsh reality shouldn’t lead us to despair, it should lead us to Christ.
Relational Consequence
Furthermore, there are other consequences outside of eternity that we experience from sin right here on earth. There are a plethora of examples all throughout scripture of how God disciplines us when we sin in order to teach us through times of our disobedience, and this is an example of a good consequence. Sure David may have not liked the consequence he had to pay when he committed adultery with Bathsheba and killed her husband, but the fact that this sin didn’t end in his death or eternal separation from God just speaks to how great our Lord’s mercy and grace is towards those who repent. But what about the consequences of sin itself apart from God’s discipline? What are the effects that sin can have on us in the active moment of our sinning? This question also has multiple answers. Shame is probably one of the most instant consequences we experience when we knowingly sin against the Lord. Sin also can affect our lives in great ways by harming those close to us. If you were to cheat on your significant other and therefore commit adultery, you could lose your family as you know it because of this one disgraceful act. In fact, look at what Paul warns about sexually immoral sins in 1 Corinthians 6:18 “Flee sexual immorality. Every other sin that a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.” It is clear that there is something about sexual sin that affects not just our walk with the Lord, but our physical lives as well.
However, even when sin is not related to sex, it can still have a different effect on our lives. This leads us to the effects sin has on us and God directly. Peter tells us in 1 Peter 3:7 “You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.” This is a great example of how our sin can impact our walk with the Lord. When men don’t love and lead their wives like God has called them to, their very own prayers to the Lord are impacted! This warning isn’t just for disobedient husbands either. Look at what the prophet Isaiah says in Isaiah 59:2 “But your wrongdoings have caused a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.” It is clear that when we sin and continue to live in our sin, we separate ourselves from God. This is why even when shame is at its greatest when we sin, we must run back to Christ. It may not feel like the right thing to do because of how undeserving we are of His love, but this is why God’s grace to us is not dependent on our ability to not sin, but rather on the perfection of Jesus Christ. When all is said and done, it is clear that sin leads to Hell when it’s not repented of, but it impacts even more than that. Our walk with the Lord, our relationships with other people, and even our own lives are affected in a plethora of ways that we may have never realized. I hope and pray that as you biblically look into what the Bible says about a particular sin, you realize its destructive power, and that as a result, you are filled with gratitude for the gospel.
Sources
[1] Blue Letter Bible. (n.d.). Blue Letter Bible. https://www.blueletterbible.org/
[2] The Noetic effects of sin | Ligonier Ministries. (n.d.). Ligonier Ministries. https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts/simply-put/the-noetic-effects-of-sin
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