“They received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” ~ Acts 17:11

“An Abomination To God!”

Introduction to Bible Study Outline #5

In considering the question of sin, we are faced with two startling facts.

• The first fact is that man makes so little of sin. To some it is an illusion (a religious mirage) the invention of some fanatic. It is denied, joked about, and laughed at by man. Many who believe sin to be a fact, continue in it with little thought of its penalty.
• The second fact is that God makes so much of sin. God said, "The person who sins will die" (Ezek. 18:20 OT). "The wages of sin is death" (Rom. 6:23). All sins are an abomination to God (Prov. 6:16-19 OT), and He hates those who do iniquity (Ps. 5:5 OT). Moses said, "... everyone who acts unjustly is an abomination to the Lord" (Deut. 25:16 OT). Sin is an evil force. Its presence cannot be escaped in this life, but it can be overcome by the power of God.

Proceed to the Index of Bible Study Outline #5 to continue your study.

Index of Bible Study Outline #5

The Origin of Sin Read: Jude 1:6 What is Sin Read: I John 3:4 How Sin Entered Into The World Read: Rom. 5:12 The Result of Sin Read: Eph. 2:1 God’s Remedy for Sin Read: 2 Cor. 5:21

I. The Origin of Sin
Read: Jude 1:6

The origin of sin is one of the mysteries of the Bible. "The secret things belong to the Lord our God" (Deut. 29:29 OT). Its origin is one of the "secret things" that will remain wrapped in obscurity. Sin was first noted in the heart of Satan. He was created a perfect being, "... Until unrighteousness was found in you” (Ezek. 28:11-19 OT). Satan fell from perfection when he exerted his will above the will of God. Five times he said, "I will" (Is. 14:12-17 OT). It was his will over God's will ...this is sin.

It is believed that Satan, when first created, was the ruler of this earth (Gen. 1:1 OT), and that he fell through self-will; and at his fall, the earth became "formless and void" (Gen. 1:2 OT). Isaiah tells us that God created the earth "and did not create it a waste place" (Is. 45:18 OT). He did not create it a chaos. The earth was a perfect creation in (Genesis 1:1 OT). Something happened that caused a catastrophe and the earth became "formless and void" (Gen. 1:2 OT), but it was not created thus. It is believed that some of the angels, along with Satan, sinned by leaving their first estate. This does not provide that Satan was the originator of sin, but it does reveal sin in the heart of Satan before God created man.

II. What is Sin
Read: I John 3:4

It is impossible to deny the existence of sin, when the whole world is in conflict between good and evil. If sin were not a fact, there would be no crime; we would not need jails or prisons. We would need no locks on our doors, or vaults for our valuables.

To some, sin is being indiscreet; or it is a weakness of the flesh. To others, it is the absence from good. To the so-called scholar, sin is ignorance; and to the evolutionist, it is the nature of the beast.

The latest theory is that sin is a disease to be treated by science, because man is not a sinner, he is only sick. To others, sin is a form of selfishness, but God declared that:

• Sin is lawlessness (1 John 3:4).
• Sin is falling short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23).
• Sin is revolting against God (Is. 1-2 OT).
• Sin is unbelief; it makes God a liar (1 John 5:10).
• Sin is going your own way, planning your life according to your own will, without seeking the will of God (Is. 53:6).
• All unrighteousness is sin (1 John 5:17).

Sin is a folly to deceive you, a force to destroy you, and a fact to condemn you. Sin is a volitional act of disobedience against the revealed will of God.

III. How Sin Entered Into the World
Read: Rom. 5:12

“... through one man sin entered into the world" (Rom. 5-12). The fall of man is found in Genesis 3:1-24 (OT). When Adam sinned, his seed became perishable (1 Pet. 1:23). Therefore, we are sinners, because we are born in sin (Ps. 51:5 OT).

You do not teach children to be bad, but you do have to teach them to be good. You do not have to teach them to lie, but you do have to teach them to tell the truth.

"So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men" (John 3:18). "All have sinned" (Rom. 3:23). Sin entered the world through our first parents m the Garden of Eden, and "all have sinned" because all are sinners.

Man sins by choice, because he is a sinner by nature. Therefore, the dominion sin has over you is according to the delight you have in lt.

IV. The Result of Sin
Read: Eph. 2:1

“... the wages of sin is death.” As a result of man's sin, there are three deaths. Keep in mind that death does not annihilate-it only separates. In the Garden of Eden, it separated man from God spiritually; this is spiritual death. In natural death, it separates the Spirit and the soul from the body; this is physical death. In final death, it separates man from the mercy of God forever; this is eternal death!

• The wages of sin is spiritual death. Just as sin separated man from God spiritually and drove him from the presence of God out of the Garden, so sin will separate you from God (Is 59:1, 2 OT). The only way back to God is to confess your sins to him (1 John 1:9) and forsake your sins (Is. 55:7 OT), that you may be restored to fellowship with God.
• The wages of sin is physical death. Physical death is a result of sin. Death had no claim on man until man sinned. Now all die, because all are in sin. Death is universal, and since we have a universal effect, we must have a universal cause, and that is universal sin. All men die, the good and the bad, the young and the old, and man will continue to die until death is destroyed by the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 15:26) and is swallowed up in victory (1 Cor. 15:54-57).
• The wages of sin is eternal death. "The person who sins will die" (Ezek. 18:20 OT). This is eternal separation from the love of God (Rev. 20:14). Once the soul passes beyond the portals of Hades he is lost and lost forever. He will continue to exist, but without hope. He is damned and damned to all eternity. Eternal death is eternal separation from God (Luke 16:19-31).

V. God’s Remedy for Sin
Read: 2 Cor. 5:21

Man, not willing to accept God's remedy for his ruin, strives to bring about his own salvation by human means.

• He strives for self-righteousness, when he needs to be made the "righteousness of God" (2 Cor. 5:21 and Is. 64:6 OT).
• He strives to reform, when he needs to be regenerated (Titus 3:5).
• He strives to turn over a new leaf, when he needs a new life (John 10:10).
• He strives to be justified by the Law when he needs to be justified by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Gal. 2:16).
• He strives to clean up the old man, when he needs to be made a new man in Christ (Eph. 4:24).
• He strives to be saved by good works, when he needs salvation by the grace of God (Eph. 2-8, 9).

The only remedy for the ruin of man is the Son of God, being made sin for us on the cross. The only way to receive this remedy is by faith in Him as personal savior (John 20:30, 31).

Proceed to Bible Study Outline #6

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