The Problem of Sin

Introduction

The story is told of a small-time crook who would mug little old ladies for the cash in their purses. One Sunday, in 1966, this crook messed with the wrong little old lady. According to the Chicago Tribune, the mugger bumped into a ninety-four-year-old woman in Greenwich Village and snatched her wallet. NYPD picked him up later that day, and as they drove him to the station, Police lieutenant Robert McKenna told the suspect, “you just robbed the mother of the biggest mob boss in New York.”

The ninety-four-year-old woman was Yolanda Gigante, described by authorities as head of the nation’s most powerful Mafia family.

The police lieutenant later said, “when the perp heard that, he just slumped down into the backseat of the car. He had a sort of stunned, resigned look on his face, sort of saying, ‘How could I be so stupid?’”

This crook realized that crime had taken him somewhere he did not want to go. He probably realized that his sin was going to cost him much more than he ever dreamed.

Sin will always take us further than we want to go and cost us more than we want to pay, and so it was with Adam and Eve, what began as doubt and an inflamed lust, became sin and cost them more than they could ever imagine.

In John 8:34 Jesus said, …Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

Sin is a slippery slope, we never know where it will take us until we are already there. Sin’s problem is that it will take us further than we want to go, keep us longer than we want to stay, and cost us more than we want to pay. Sin carries with it some inherent problems.

Let’s notice two things about sin’s problem, first:

Sin’s effect (Genesis 3:7-11)

Sin effected Adam and Eve in several ways and since by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners (Rom. 5:19), these same problems of sin are with us today. What were the effects of sin upon Adam and Eve? We know that Adam’s disobedience, his sin, brought death into the world, but it also brought much more and each of us share in the effects of Adam’s sin so let’s first notice the effect of sin:

Upon Man (Genesis 3:7)

The first effect of sin upon man was that his eyes were open, suddenly Adam and Eve were conscience of sin. Before the fall, Adam and Eve lived in innocence, like a small child who has no concept of right and wrong. We could say that Adam and Eve had suddenly reached the age of accountability. No longer were they innocent, but know they knew right and wrong.

The second effect of sin upon man was he knew he was naked. This was not only an awareness of their physical nakedness, but also an awareness of their spiritual nakedness, that is, they became aware of their nakedness before God.

Hebrews 4:13 tells us, Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. Adam and Eve realized that God could see everything, that they were naked, an open book before God.

Do you realize that your sin is not hid from God. There will come a day when you will stand before God, naked, open, as an open book, nothing will be hid; all will be revealed in that day. For the Saved it will be at the Judgment seat of Christ where we are judged according to the things we have done after salvation, it will be a judgment of reward or loss of reward. But, for the unsaved it is a judgment of punishment. Revelation 20:12 tells us, And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

Realizing the effects of sin upon his life, Adam and Eve did two things to try to hid their sin from God. First, they tried to Cover their sin. In Genesis 3:7 we are told the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made them aprons.

The aprons of fig leaves was man’s way of trying to cover his sin through the works of his hands. It is a picture of man’s self-righteousness and works. But, we know that our works will never save us. Titus 3:5 tells us that it is Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Isaiah tells us that all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. Our good works, our religious rites and rituals, the works of our hands to try to cover our sin and earn God’s favor are nothing but filthy rags in the sight of God. Ephesians 2:8 tells us that we are saved, not by our works, but by God’s grace.

Since the very beginning man has tried to cover his sin with the works of his hands, but God requires more than any mortal man can give.

The first thing Adam and Eve tried to do was cover their sin by the works of their hands. The second thing they did was to try to Hide from God.

Maybe Adam and Eve realized that their works were not enough. Maybe they realized that even though their works hid their sin, their nakedness from man, it did not hide it from God. When God came calling Adam and Eve, they tried to hide from the very presence of God.

God’s presence will always bring shame to the sinner. There is an old saying, Sin will keep you from the Bible or the Bible will keep you from sin. This is so true. When the Bible is preached or taught and the presence of God becomes manifested in His Word, the sinner begins to look for a place to hide.

Adam realized that when He was in God’s presence, he was an open book, so the logical solution in Adam’s mind was to hide from God. What a silly thing to think that you can hide from God. God is an omnipresent God, He is everywhere, knows all things, sees all things. Proverbs 15:3 tells us, The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

Each of us will stand before God as an open book and be judged according to our works, the saved for reward, the unsaved for punishment. Which group will you be in? the first effect of sin upon man was that man’s eyes were opened and he went from a state of innocence to conscience. The second effect of sin upon man was that man realized that his sin would find him out (Numbers 31:23).

The effects of sin upon man was more than Adam and Eve wanted to pay, but sin would take them even further. Next let’s consider the Effect of Sin:

Upon Man’s relationships

Sin affected Adam and Eve’s relationship with both one another and with God. Sin has a way of breaking fellowship and straining relationships. Since the beginning sin has affected every relationship man has had, both physically and spiritually.

That is the consequence of sin, broken fellowship. Adam’s relationship with Eve would not be what it was in the beginning, things had changed, not only physically, but also spiritually. Now, Adam was to be the head and Eve was to submit to her husband. Now, that did not mean that Adam was to Lord over Eve, but Adam was in the place of responsibility, he would be held accountable for what went on in the home.

As husbands and fathers, we will give account to God for our home. I believe that is why God called to Adam and why He spoke to Adam before He did Eve. Yes, it was Eve who first ate, but it was Adam who was responsible for the home. Now that Sin has entered there would be a struggle in the home, a power struggle. Is that not how homes are today, even Christian homes? The wife trying to control the husband and make all the decisions. The children trying to control the home? That is the result, the effect of sin on man’s relationships with others. Sin’s effect on man’s relationship with others, especially in the home, will be clearly seen when we get to Genesis 4.

But the greatest effect of sin upon man’s relationships was upon his relationship with God. Although the Word of God does not tell us that God came down and walked with Adam every day, it appears that He did, why else would Adam hide? But no longer would that be the case. Sin not only separated man from the presence of God, it also separated him from the blessings of God. No longer would man be allowed to live in his garden paradise. Sin robbed man of his fellowship with God and his home with God.

This is just what sin has done in the life of every human born after the fall. In our fallen, unsaved state, we cannot fellowship with God. You may come to church and get a “good feeling” because of emotions. You may have a “spiritual experience.” But if you have not been born again you cannot experience fellowship with God and you do not have a home with God, no matter how good you are. Adam’s sin may not have seemed like a big deal from man’s perspective, he just ate a bite of a fruit. But, that fruit was the one thing that God had forbidden. Adam’s sin was not eating fruit, it was disobeying God and his disobedience had consequences for the rest of humanity, Romans 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

The effects of sin upon Adam and Eve were great. Because of their disobedience their eyes were opened and their relationship, with each other and with God was forever changed. But Adam’s disobedience did not just affect him, it affected all who would come after him. As we saw in our last lesson, sin loves company and our sin will affect others.

Adam’s sin brought a curse, upon the serpent, Adam, Eve, and the earth. Let’s notice last of all:

Sin’s Curse(Genesis 3:12-20)

The curse of sin was not just for Adam and Eve’s lifetime, but all those who followed after would be the beneficiaries of this curse. Like begets like, right? Apples beget apples. Dogs beget dogs. Humans beget humans, and since Adam and Eve are now sinful humans they beget sinful humans. The fall not only affected those who originally sinned, but all of creation from that time forward.

Let’s look at the curse:

On the Serpent

I do not think the serpent before the fall looked like serpents or snakes today. The text makes it appear that the serpent in the garden may have had legs as we read, And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: (Genesis 3:14). The serpent was to live a life slithering upon the ground.

The most important part of the curse upon the serpent is found in verse 15. Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. This is the first mention of the virgin birth. Her seed, that is, the seed of the woman. Now, I’m no biology expert, but I do know this, a woman does not carry the seed, the man does. So, in this verse we have the very first promise of the virgin birth of Jesus Christ.

Isaiah made mention of this virgin birth of Messiah when he wrote, Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Isaiah went on to tell us, in Isaiah 9:6, Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given… Who is this child, who is the Son given to us? It is Jesus Christ, the Son of God given for the sin of the world. John 3:16, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (emphasis mine).

As we continue to read Genesis 3:15 we see the enmity between unrighteous man and the Son of God. And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed;… Who is the seed of the woman? Jesus Christ. Who is the seed of the serpent? Unrighteous man. Look at what Jesus said to the self-righteous, which made them unrighteous, Pharisees in John 8, John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

James also told us of the enmity between the unrighteous and God, James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

Sin brought enmity between the man and God through the serpent. How was this enmity between the seed of the serpent and the seed of the woman manifested. Look again at verse 15, ...it (the seed of the woman) shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Now just like many of the messianic prophecies, this prophecy is in two parts. One part, thou shalt bruise his heel, speaks of Christ’s first coming when the Jewish leaders demanded Christ be crucified and the Roman soldiers placed Him on the cross.

The second part of this prophecy, It (the seed of the woman) shall bruise thy head, speaks of Christ’s second coming when He will bind Satan for a thousand years and ultimately after the battle of Armageddon when Satan is cast into the Lake of fire forever.

The curse upon the serpent, Genesis 3:14-15 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Romans 16:20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. Next let’s consider the curse:

On the Woman

The curse that sin brought upon the woman was her pain in childbirth.  Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. (Genesis 3:16).

Warren Wiersbe writes,

God reinforced His word of hope to Eve by assuring her that she would bear children and therefore not immediately die. But the special privilege of woman as the childbearer (and ultimately the one who brings the Redeemer into the world) would involve multiplied pain in pregnancy as well as submission to her husband. This submission isn't identified as part of a curse or as a mandate for husbands to have sovereign power over their wives. The New Testament makes it clear that husbands and wives who love each other and are filled with the Spirit will be mutually submissive (Eph. 5:18ff; 1 Cor. 7:1-6).

Having seen the Curse on serpent and on the Woman, God now turns His attention to the Adam.

Let’s consider the curse:

On the Man

Since Adam was not deceived (Genesis 3:17a; 1 Timothy 2:14), but sinned willfully, it is Adam’s transgression that brought sin upon all mankind and upon creation. Let’s notice first how Adam’s sin affected all of creation.

Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; 18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; (Genesis 3:17-18).

Adam’s sin brought a curse upon the earth. Never before had Adam had to work for his food. Never before had he known the pain of thorns and thistles and had to fight weeds to grow his food. But now, the ground is cursed because of Adam’s sin.

This truth became very real to me when I started growing a garden on my land. Have you ever tried to grow a garden in an area that is cursed with morning glories? It is impossible to get rid of them. Every day you have to go out with hoe in hand and cut down the weeds that sprung up over night. If you go on vacation, you are done, the weeds, especially the morning glory has taken over and choked out everything else. The land was cursed because of Adam’s sin.

But it also affected Adam’s work. In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread. (Genesis 3:19) No longer would work be pleasant and enjoyable, now it would be laborious and hard. Imagine going from getting up and picking your food off a tree to scrapping around in rocky, thorn ridden ground to grow enough to survive.

Sin affected how man worked, no longer was work a joy and pleasurable, but now it was a hard and dreaded task. But the greatest curse that sin brought upon man was the curse that God had warned man of from the very beginning, death.

Genesis 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

In Romans 5:12 we are told, 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: Death is a result and effect of sins curse upon man. But, …since by man came death, by man also came the resurrection of the dead.

Conclusion

By one man, Adam, sin entered into the world. When sin came it brought a curse upon all mankind, pain and death are the result of sin, but thanks be to God that by one man, Jesus Christ, came also the resurrection of the dead. Death is sure, unless the Lord returns and raptures the Church first, we will all pass through the portal of death. Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: But death is not the end. In 1 Thessalonians 4 tells us of the resurrection and rapture of those who have trusted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

But in Revelation 20 we are told of the resurrection of the unsaved, those who refused to accept God’s free plan of salvation.

Revelation 20:11-15 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 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. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

It is appointed unto man once to die, and after this the judgement. Which group, which resurrection will you be in? The resurrection unto eternal life or the resurrection unto eternal damnation? The choice is yours, accept Jesus as Savior and live forever, or reject Him today and die for eternity. Which will it be?