What Is Sin?
The best way to define sin is to compare it with something much more familiar—viruses. Most of us have experienced a cold or the flu. Both are fairly minor but viruses have caused large-scale outbreaks throughout history. We have seen examples of these even recently.
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in 1981.
- Swine flu (H1N1) in 2009.
- COVID-19 in 2019.
Each of these outbreaks caused illness and death across multiple continents and people groups. Sin is similar in that you can also point to past outbreaks. The first one happened soon after the earth was formed. When God finished creating the world, He said it was “very good.” There was no suffering, problems or evil.
This was true until the first man (Adam) and woman (Eve) disobeyed God. In that moment, sin arrived and sparked a pandemic of sin. The Bible says, “When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned” (Romans 5:12). This outbreak of sin continues today and it’s the most serious challenge we face.
A virus infects a person by injecting parts of itself into our good cells. Then the virus reprograms those cells to make more of the virus. Sin is a spiritual virus that infects every part of our lives. Once it gets a foothold, it begins to grow. Sin can affect us physically, but it makes us spiritually and morally weak. If left unchecked, it will invade your emotions, conscience, desires and every other part of you. The Bible adds, “And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death” (James 1:15).
It’s possible to overcome sin, but we can’t do it on our own. We need God’s help. “But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:15).
So how do we protect ourselves? How is Jesus the solution to our sin problem? The Bible explains it as, “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus’ sacrifice “cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7) which means “we are no longer slaves to sin” (Romans 6:6) and makes it possible for us to enter heaven.
Would you like to receive Jesus as your Savior and fix your sin problem today?
Step 1 – God’s Purpose: Peace and Life
The Bible says:
"We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
Romans 5:1
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life."
John 3:16
"I [Jesus] came that they may have life and have it abundantly."
John 10:10
Step 2 – The Problem: Sin Separates Us
The Bible says:
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
Romans 3:23
"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 6:23
The Bible says:
"There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death."
Proverbs 14:12
"But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear."
Isaiah 59:2
Step 3 – God’s Remedy: The Cross
The Bible says:
"For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus."
1 Timothy 2:5
"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring us to God."
1 Peter 3:18
"But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Romans 5:8
Step 4 – Our Response: Receive Christ
The Bible says:
"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with Me."
Revelation 3:20
"But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God."
John 1:12
"If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."
Romans 10:9
Here is how you can receive Christ:
- Admit your need. (I am a sinner.)
- Be willing to turn from your sins (repent) and ask for God's forgiveness.
- Believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the cross and rose from the grave.
- Through prayer, invite Jesus Christ to come in and control your life through the Holy Spirit. (Receive Jesus as Lord and Savior)
We suggest a prayer like this one:
"Dear God, I know I am a sinner. I want to turn from my sins, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ is Your Son. I believe He died for my sins and that You raised Him to life. I want Him to come into my heart and to take control of my life. I want to trust Jesus as my Savior and follow Him as my Lord from this day forward. In Jesus' Name, amen."
Did you pray this prayer?
