The consequences of sin - What are they?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Sin is anything that is opposed to God. It is rebellion against God's rule and results in spiritual separation from Him. Because God is life, the result of sin is lack of life - both physically and spiritually. Because of Adam’s rebellion in the garden (Genesis 3:6), everyone on earth is born separated from God and faces the consequences of sin. Without Jesus, sin results in eternal death. However, sin has consequences beyond an eternity in hell.

During this life, sin leads to bad choices resulting in broken relationships, unfulfilled promises, and addictions to things that cannot ultimately satisfy us. Even for a believer, sin results in symptoms of spiritual death. When we sin, we experience a break in our relationship with God. As a result, we may experience confusion, loneliness, guilt, purposelessness, or the like. This is what spiritual death feels like. For believers, this is not a permanent state, but it is a consequence of unconfessed sin.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden tree, were banished from the garden and brought the curse upon all Creation (Genesis 3:6).
• Isaiah 59:2 warns that sin separates us from God, “But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he does not hear.”
• Sin has consequences (Psalm 38:3; Proverbs 11: 31, 14:12; Isaiah 1:4; Ezekiel 18:20).
• Cain killed Abel and was driven into the wilderness (Genesis 4:8-16).
• All of humanity grew in rebellion and was wiped out by a flood, with only Noah and his family to survive (Genesis 6:17).
• Ham made a mockery of his father’s nakedness and brought a curse on his entire family line (Genesis 9:22-25).
• Jacob tricked his brother Esau twice (25:29-34; 27:18-29) and was tricked by Laban (Genesis 29:21-25).
• Pharaoh denied God and lost his firstborn (Exodus 12:29) and his army (Exodus 14:27-28).
• Israel rejected God’s words and spent 40 years in the wilderness (Numbers 14:21-23).
• Moses disobeyed and was kept out of Canaan (Numbers 20:11-12).
• Achan kept some of the forbidden treasure from Jericho (Joshua 7:1) and brought defeat on all Israel (Joshua 7:4-5), then was stoned along with his entire family (Joshua 7:24-26).
• Samson chased after Delilah, and was tricked into losing his strength (Judges 16:17-21).
• King Saul disobeyed and lost his family’s claim to the throne (1 Samuel 15:26-28).
• David committed adultery and murder (2 Samuel 11), and his son died (2 Samuel 12:16-19).
• Solomon chased after many wives and his heart was turned to idolatry (1 Kings 11:3), and Israel was divided after his death (1 Kings 11:31).
• The northern kingdom was idolatrous and wicked, and eventually disappeared into the Gentile kingdoms (2 Kings 17:21-23).
• The southern kingdom was also idolatrous and was conquered by Babylon, Persia and Rome (2 Kings 24:10-16).

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23).
• Galatians 6:7-8 reveals the consequences of our sin. It says, “ Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. .”
• Jesus became sin (2 Corinthians 5:21) and took the punishment of God’s wrath on Himself to save mankind (1 Peter 2:24).
• People in the New Testament dealt with the consequences of their sin: Ananias and Sapphira, though saved, lied to the church about their offering and died (Acts 5:1-10); Saul was arresting Christians (Acts 8:3) and was confronted by Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-6); Peter was showing partiality to the Jews and was rebuked by Paul (Galatians 2:11-14); some in the church of Corinth were getting drunk and gluttonous at the agape communion meals and had died (1 Corinthians 11:27-30); one Corinthian was sleeping with his stepmother and was put out of the church (1 Corinthians 5:1-2).

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

God's rule is for our good. He knows what is good for us and what is not, and our rebellion against God is really rebellion against what is best for us. Ultimately, those who reject Christ’s sacrifice face the greatest consequence of sin: eternal separation from God and bearing the full weight of their own sin for eternity.

Those who have been saved by trusting in Christ for the forgiveness of sins are given eternal life (1 John 5:11-12), and this abundant life begins now (John 10:10). While on earth, the Christian life is a foretaste of what is to come (1 Corinthians 13:12), but sin disrupts this. Even for a believer, sin results in symptoms of spiritual death.

Our salvation is secure in Christ, but when we sin we break the fellowship we enjoy with Him. Although Christ took the punishment of sin for us on the cross, sin still carries natural consequences. If you lie, people will lose their trust in you. If you show up late for work, you might lose your job. If you break the law, you will bear the consequences of the law. However, God is faithful and just to forgive us and restore that fellowship (1 John 1:9). We simply need to confess our sins, repent of what is sinful, and seek restoration with God. He promises to forgive.

UNDERSTAND

• God is all good. Sin is anything we think, say, do, or feel that is against God.
• The consequence of sin is death.
• How does recognizing the consequence of sin impact your view of it?

REFLECT

• Sin always costs you more than you are told. Sin entices you whether it’s your desires, actions, or thoughts, but in the end it always has negative consequences. The ultimate consequence of sin is death.
• Sin is rejecting what is best for you. Even if it is pleasurable or worth it for a moment, sin cannot fully and continually satisfy.
• If you are an unbeliever, the consequence of your sin is death, eternal separation from God and bearing the weight of your own sin.

ENGAGE

• What natural consequences are there for sin?
• What do we learn about God in giving us consequences for sin?
• What consequences do believers avoid regarding sin? What consequences do they have for their sin?