Romans 3:23
Let’s begin this topical discussion on sin by looking at “sin” by summarizing sin and defining sin. Merriam-Webster School Dictionary (p 847) defines sin “as an offense against God.” Zondervan’s Pictorial Bible Dictionary (p 796) gives many Hebrew and Greek meaning of the word “sin”. The Hebrew meaning is missing; pesha’, transgression; awon, perversion; ra’, evil in disposition; resha’, impiety; and the Greek definition is “hamartia, missing the mark; parabasis, transgression; adikia, unrighteousness; asebeia; impiety; anomia, contempt and violation of law; poneria, depravity; epithumia, lust.” From the above definitions, we see sound correlations in each language. However, Merriam-Webster’s definition and what we have come to know as sin gets to the heart of the matter.
Therefore as we begin our summary definition of sin will give us a profound picture of sin and just who we have sinned against. Sin is:
(a) A transgression against the divine boundary between good and evil, or overstepping the law (Psalm 51:1, Romans 2:23).
(b) Iniquity, is an act of inherently wrong, whether the wrong is forbidden or not (Romans 1:21-23). These two verses speak about man thinks himself wise when in actuality he is not. Second, man thinks of himself wise to the point of him changing the image of a holy God and this within itself is a sin. It goes against the first commandment, where God explicitly states “Thou shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3).
(c) Depart from the right (Romans 1:18; James 3:4). What is the right? It can be seen as the righteousness of God and can be viewed as a divine attributed and a provision of God for saving sinners (Romans 3:21-8:39). Another right is God’s sovereignty and wisdom in dealing with the problem of unbelief both in Israel (Jews and Gentiles). Therefore God is just in enacting His wrath on humanity, but His love and mercy He gave man a way out. What was that way? Salvation through Jesus Christ.
(d) Missing the mark, humanity’s failure to meet God’s divine standards (Romans 3:23). This verse clearly states that all we (humans) are sinners in the eyesight of God and only His Son’s blood can declare us right in the eyesight of God.
(e) Trespass is the intrusion of self-will into the sphere of divine authority (Ephesians 2:1). This verse tells us that Christ has made us alive again through His shed blood at Calvary. Thank God for Jesus!
(f) Our lawlessness or spiritual anarchy (1Timothy 1:9). What is spiritual anarchy? The word “anarchy” within itself means total chaos and absolute break down in order or form of government. In this scenario the believer/righteous spirituality is based on God’s divine order and when humanity deviate from His sovereign order, then there is anarchy. Another school of thought is sin runs rampart.
(g) Our unbelief is an insult to the divine veracity of God (John 16:9). What was the cause of humanity’s unbelief? Simply --sin.
The writer has outlined sin and its definitions, now let’s summarize sin in three short answers, which are as follows: (a) it is the act or the violation of, or the want of obedience to the revealed will of God (NJV), (b) the absence of righteousness, and (c) by nature an enmity toward God (NJV partial paraphrasing).
Now let’s look at who originated sin and how it entered the earth? Sin was originated by Satan himself (Isaiah 14:12-14). What do we know about Satan? He was in charge of the choir in heaven and wanted to be equal with God and was thrown out of heaven. When Satan left heaven, he brought a third of the kingdom with him and made destroying God’s plan of salvation his priority. He tempted Eve and thus sin entered earth through Adam and Eve, thus destroying God’s perfect harmony between Himself and humanity (Romans 5:12). Sin became universal, meaning it was and is everywhere; with sin comes penalties of both a physical and spiritual death (reference Genesis 2:17; 3:19; Ezekiel 18:4, 20; Romans 6:23). Is there a remedy for sin? Yes, it is found in the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ who was the only one worthy to be man’s propitiator. Jesus can only be our propitiator if we accept Him in faith.
Why would God give His only Son to be man’s propiator? The answer is found in John 3:16, which states, “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.” This verse shows the true heart and purpose of God and that was to redeem man from his sinful state of affairs. The true heart of God is love for He is love and it was man’s unbelief in God that resulted in man falling prey to Satan’s snares which ended in a great sacrifice on the part of God and Jesus Christ. Man’s redemption or our deliverance came at a price that humanity could never repay; this was Jesus’ shed blood on Calvary’s cross. What love form God! It is God’s love, grace and mercy man has been reconciled back to God.
Have humanity ever considered the true meaning of God’s grace? Dr. Charles Stanley of Atlanta, GA defines grace as being, “God’s righteousness at Christ’s Expense. Ponder this statement for moment and ask yourself am I worthy of such sacrifice and love? Also, ask yourself, what can I do to express a heart of gratitude for what God has done in my live? Living holy lives would be my answer and obeying God’s commandments and commission, and then be a witness for Christ everywhere I go (Acts 1:8, Matthew 28:18-20).
In closing this dialogue on sin, we have looked at the definitions of sin and summarized sin, and then we looked at its cost? What and who did it cost to redeem us from its clutches. It is cost God and Jesus to redeem mankind. It is God’s love and wisdom; He left the Holy Spirit, who lives in each believer as our compass guiding us to heaven so mankind will spend eternity with God. Sin and Satan is bad, God and His righteousness is good. Which do you choose? Choose God!
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