In the previous episodes of the programme, I have discussed with all of you on a variety of topics: (1) Relationship between God and the man, (2) Interpersonal relationship between people, (3) Relationship between humans and material things, and (4) Relationship with oneself. Today, we will explore the relationship between man and sin.

We have entered the post-modern era. People of the post-modern era avoid the topic on sin as they think that it will have negative effects. Therefore, we will try to discuss optimistic and positive topics. This is the spirit of post-modernism. Why is this so? For these people, sin is seen as the weakness of humans so we do not have to place too much importance on it or discuss too much about it.

If people are not deeply aware that they are sinners, how will they take sin seriously? Or how will the problem of sin be solved? In the same way, how will he experience the salvation that Jesus Christ has accomplished on the cross in the Christian faith? That, it is done for his sin? If a person is not aware that he is sick, how will he take his own illness seriously and seek help for healing?

The concept of sin in the Bible is different from how the average Chinese perceives sin. One day, a sister-in-Christ from my church said to someone in the car park, “You are a sinner. You need to repent and believe in Jesus.” That person was extremely furious and his face looked very scary. Why? It was because his view on sin is different from the concept of sin in the Bible. You said that I am a sinner, which means that I should go to the prison.

Dear Brothers and Sister, this is the concept of sin in the Bible: “Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.” 1 John 3:4 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23 from the ESV Bible. The sin mentioned here refers to the breaking of the laws of God and not reaching the standard of God and as a result, falling short of the glory of God. We, the Chinese, believe that sin is the result of doing something illegal and being put in the prison. Or, sinning is committing evil things and hurting other people. We have given equal emphasis to committing sin against God and doing something illegal. This is not the meaning of sin in the Bible. Of course, a lot of illegal things are also about committing sin but committing sin and doing illegal things are different.

Sinning is failing to reach the standard of God, not attaining the requirements of God, not doing what He has commanded and instructed. For example, God tells us not to steal, not to be greedy and not to commit adultery, but we commit all these things. That is sin. Therefore, what God requires is complete, perfect and a hundred percent. However, we cannot reach it on our own so “we are all sinners”. This is what it means. Sin, in the original Hebrew language, means “missing the mark”. A person may commit a sin but may not break the legal law. For example, if a person knows what is good but does not do it and also does not commit evil, he is not doing something illegal. However, in the context of the biblical standard, he has already sinned because he has not attained the standard of God. If we know what is good, we should do it. If we do not do it, it is a sin!

How did the human ancestor fall into sin from the beginning?

We will explore further on how the human ancestor fell into sin which has also resulted in us falling into sin today. According to Genesis 3:6 in the Bible, Adam and Eve came to the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and saw that the fruit was a delight to the eyes so they desired to eat it. They went to pluck the fruit from that tree. Why? It was because the devil said to them, “When you eat it, you would be wise like God, knowing good and evil.” He had a desire, that was a proud desire, to be like God.

Aren’t we humans like that nowadays? According to 1 John 2:16 in the ESV Bible: “For all that is in the world - the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life - is not from the Father but is from the world.” We have desires of the flesh - desire to possess, eat, drink, play, be happy and enjoy. We have the desires of the eyes and wish to steal and look at those things that bring us pleasure. Today, we have the pride of our lives, that is, to relish in glorifying ourselves. We wish to be above others and be lofty. However, all these things tempt us to fall into sin.

It is easy for people to be tempted and fall into sin because of the desire from within us and this desire will grow gradually. The Bible tells us: “When it is conceived, it will bring forth sin.” What kind of consequences do sin bring?

Genesis 3:7 in the ESV Bible tells us “Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.” In verse 10: And he (Adam) said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” After Adam and Eve had sinned, they could no longer accept their nakedness so they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths to cover their ugliness. When they heard the voice of God, they did not have peace in their hearts. It was their conscience that was not at peace.

People have conscience. When we sin, our conscience is not at peace and we start to blame ourselves - how can we do things to hurt other people, bring pain to our family and cause disruption in our society? A conscience that is not at peace is the consequence of sin. What comes after is the onset of self-hatred and self-condemnation, resulting in self-destruction which will deteriorate. Sin controls people and condemns people so people cannot accept themselves. Sin causes people to blame themselves so they feel guilty and painful. Thus, there is a breakdown in relationship between oneself.

In Genesis 3:12-13 from the ESV Bible, Adam said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” After the man had sinned, he put the blame on another person in the attempt to cover up his sin. Adam shifted the blame to Eve and Eve put the blame on the serpent. The humans are reluctant to take the responsibility after they had sinned. This is the portrayal of the breakdown in interpersonal relationship between people – there is none who is willing to take responsibility for his own wrongdoing. On the contrary, I push the responsibility to my wife, husband, child, father and mother... and this inevitably causes the breakdown in relationship among family members. In the same way, I will push the responsibility to my colleagues, supervisors or subordinates at the workplace, resulting in tension and breakdown in our relationships.

In Genesis 3: 9 -10 from the ESV Bible: “But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, “Adam, where are you?” And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid.” There were signs of tension and breakdown in the relationship between God and the man. He was reluctant to see God and hid himself behind the tree in the forest. After the humans had sinned, we start to deny the existence of God and avoid Him. We even simply say that God does not exist. In this way, I do not need to bear responsibility towards God. This is the start of atheism. Adam was the first atheist.

What is the final consequence of sin? According to Romans 6:23 in the ESV Bible: “The wages of sin is death.” Revelation 20:14: “Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire.” In the same way, the wages of sin is to be thrown into the lake of fire that will burn forever. Genesis 3: 17 -19, and to Adam God said: “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life.” In addition, “till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” In reality, in chapter 2, God has already told the man not to eat the fruit from that tree, for in the day that you eat of it, you shall surely die. The death here refers to returning to the dust. It is the consequence of breakdown in relationship between God and man. Mankind ultimately has to be separated from God for eternity. 

After Adam and Eve had eaten the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, their relationship with God was broken. Such a brokenness in relationship between them and the eternal God is called death, spiritual death. Their bodies will also perish in future and finally, for eternity in the lake of fire that will burn forever.

Just like the illustration of the rotating electric fan. When I pull the plug out to cut off its source of electricity, I say that: the electric fan is dead. However, it is still moving. It will gradually slow down and finally, stops moving. The sinner is just like that. On the surface, he is alive but in reality, he is separated from God and ultimately, will die for eternity.

Dear Brothers and Sisters, we need to know that there are consequences for sinning. Just like what the Bible tells us: “The wages of sin is death.” Let us stay away from sin, focus on seeking God and rely on Him to live righteous and good lives which are according to His will. This is what pleases God. So lest sin brings about guilt, sadness and condemnation in us nor brokenness in relationship with others and with God. That will only move us towards death for eternity. Remember, return to God and reconcile with Him.

Let us pray together.

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for your Word and for instructing us so that we clearly know what sin is about and its consequences. May we be warned and are also be willing to heed the warning to return to you, relying on the help of the Holy Spirit to live righteous lives that bring glory to you. May we have clean hearts and are blameless. May we have harmonious interpersonal relationship with others and reconcile with God. May our lives be steadfast, free from anxiety and have freedom. This is our prayer. May the Lord hear us. In the holy name of Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.

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