SIN: MANS' GREAT NEMESIS
By Cougan Collins
lgchurchofchrist@cableone.net
Like a deadly disease, sin sickens, alienates, and destroys
mankind. Like a cruel beast of prey, sin stalks us, attacks us and ultimately
destroys us. Our only hope is in Jesus, the mighty Savior, who alone can rescue
us from its deadly maw.
* Sin deceives us. Satan deceived Eve, robbing her and Adam and all their
descendants of their immortality and home in paradise (I Tim. 2:14). Knowing
the deceptive power of sin, John warns us, "Let no man deceive you"
(I Jn. 3:7).
* Sin blinds man to the reality of his plight. Sinful man, in his pride, thinks
himself to be wise and smart. He thinks he can handle sin and not be hurt. Sin
looks beautiful, it promises success and glory, but behind the glitter is the
serpent's tooth (I Jn. 2:11).
* Sin humiliates its victims. It robs them of their purity, dignity, and
integrity. It makes fools of even those who are great, famous, and brilliant.
* Sin enslaves its victims (Rom. 6:16-17). This is best seen in the person
addicted to liquor or drugs, to pornography, homosexuality and fornication.
* Sin weakens and enervates man's character. When one yields to sin, his moral
resolve is gradually dissipated until at last his character is destroyed. He no
longer tries to resist sin. He no longer wants to defeat it.
* Sin will callous the heart so that it feels no guilt or shame for its evil
conduct. It is not touched by the suffering and pain it causes, or that it sees
in others (I Tim. 4:1-2).
* Sin destroys people's lives, their reputations, their careers, their
families.
* Sin can even destroy a church. Sin had made the church in
* Sin hurts the innocent. The innocent unborn baby is destroyed by abortion.
Helpless babes and children are abused by sinful adults. Parents suffer because
of the sinful conduct of their older children. Faithful marriage partners
suffer because of the sins of their cruel or unfaithful mates. Innocent
customers are hurt by dishonest businessman. Sinful men launch wars that bring
untold suffering on humanity. Godly souls suffer when the wicked persecute
them.
* Sin alienates man from God, man from his neighbor, and even Christians from
Christians. Before their salvation, the Christians in
* Sin is progressive. Wicked men and impostors wax worse and worse (2 Tim.
3:13). Sin eats away at the heart and soul of man, just as cancer does his
body.
* Sin ends in death. Sin, when it is full grown, brings forth death (
* Sin spreads like a communicable disease. If you spend much time around sin it
will afflict you. "Evil companionships corrupt good morals" (1 Cor.
15:33).
If you would like to learn more about the church you read about in the Bible, then come worship with us because our goal is to be New Testament Christians nothing more and nothing less. Adapted from John Waddey