Faith & Reason Nexus

Sin brings about various detrimental effects in a person’s life, but the Gospel offers a cure for each aspect. Below is a comparison of the features of sin and the corresponding remedy found in the Gospel:

1. Love of Sin

• Feature of Sin:
  • John 3:19-20: People love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil.
  • Hebrews 11:25: Sin offers temporary pleasure, but it ultimately leads to death.
• Cure through the Gospel:
  • Faith destroys the love of sin:
    • Hebrews 11:6: Without faith, it is impossible to please God.
    • 1 John 5:4: Faith gives us victory over the world and its temptations.
    • Galatians 5:6: Faith works through love, making it impossible to continue loving sin.

2. Practice of Sin

• Feature of Sin:
  • Romans 3:10, 23: All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
  • Sin becomes a regular practice, separating us from God.
• Cure through the Gospel:
  • Repentance destroys the practice of sin:
    • Isaiah 57:7: Repentance leads to a change of heart.
    • 2 Corinthians 7:9-10: Godly sorrow leads to repentance, which brings salvation and no regret.

3. State of Sin

• Feature of Sin:
  • Isaiah 59:1-2: Our sins separate us from God and hide His face from us.
  • Ephesians 2:12: Without Christ, we are without hope and alienated from the promises of God.
• Cure through the Gospel:
  • Baptism destroys the state of sin:
    • Acts 2:38: Repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins.
    • Romans 6:3: We are buried with Christ in baptism, so we can be raised to walk in newness of life.
    • Galatians 3:27: Those baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

4. Guilt of Sin

• Feature of Sin:
  • Psalm 51:2: Sin causes guilt and shame.
  • Romans 6:23: The wages of sin is death, which includes spiritual separation and guilt.
• Cure through the Gospel:
  • Forgiveness destroys the guilt of sin:
    • Psalm 86:5: The Lord is good and ready to forgive.
    • Jeremiah 33:8: God promises to forgive all our iniquities.
    • Ephesians 1:7: In Christ, we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

5. Punishment of Sin

• Feature of Sin:
  • Romans 5:12: Sin entered the world through one man, bringing death and its punishment upon all.
• Cure through the Gospel:
  • Resurrection destroys the punishment of sin:
    • 1 Corinthians 15:22: As in Adam all die, so in Christ all shall be made alive.
    • The resurrection of Jesus guarantees victory over death and the eternal consequences of sin.

Conclusion:

• Sin brings about the love, practice, state, guilt, and punishment of sin. However, the Gospel provides remedies through faith, repentance, baptism, forgiveness, and the resurrection of Christ. Have you obeyed the Gospel and accepted its cure for sin?