Bible Question:
I am looking for advice on how to explain the consequences of sin to people. How do I explain sin to a non-believer and that it is bad in a way that makes sense to them! I know we’re called to faithfully proclaim the good news of Jesus with the aim to persuade. How do I explain that sin provokes Gods wrath and He will punish us for our wickedness.
Bible Answer:
Imagine that you jumped off a one hundred-twenty floor skyscraper and you are rapidly falling to the concrete road below. As the seconds pass, you can sense that gravity is causing your fall to accelerate. You are going to smash the ground with an incredible force breaking just about every bone you have. You are going to die. Then at about the thirty-third floor, you realize that you made a mistake. As you fall past the twentieth floor you ask God to forgive you and as you pass the tenth floor God says, “I will forgive you.” Splat! Splat! Splat!
What Is Sin?
The illustration is a good definition of sin and its consequences. God tells us that sin is lawlessness. In 1 John 3:4 God says,
Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. 1 John 3:4 (NASB)
That is, sin is disobeying God’s commands. As the person in the illustration was falling to the concrete pavement below he or she realized that he or she had violated God’s command and asked for forgiveness. In violating God’s command the person committed sin.
God tells us that we commit sin by ourselves and He holds us responsible. For example, in James 1:13-15 we discover that neither God nor the devil makes us sin. We choose to sin and God holds us responsible for our sin or disobedience.
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. James 1:13-15 (NASB)
What is sin? Here are two lists of sins. Neither one is exhaustive, but each one will give us some good examples of sin.
And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; 32 and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them. Romans 1:28-32 (NASB)
Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21 (NASB)
These are examples of sin. Now it is possible that someone might think that they do not sin, but listen to Romans 3:23,
. . . for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23 (NASB)
What Are The Earthly Consequences of Sin?
Most non-Christians are not aware that God has left clues that He exists. Romans 1:19 reveals that God has placed within every man and woman a sense that He exists.
. . . because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. Romans 1:19 (NASB)
In Romans 1:20-22 God says the universe itself gives evidence that He exists, and those who reject the evidence are fools. How else can someone discover a God who is invisible?
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools . . . Romans 1:20-22 (NASB)
God tells us that those who completely reject Him are given over to their fleshly lusts, including their sexual urges.
Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. Romans 1:24 (NASB)
This is judgment on those who reject God; later at the great White Judgment, they will be judged and sentenced to hell.
The Minor Prophets (Joel – Malachi) record announcements of God’s judgment on the entire nation of Israel and Judah because they committed sins and rejected God. The examples are too numerous to cite. Here is just one example,
Listen to the word of the Lord, O sons of Israel,
For the Lord has a case against the inhabitants of the land,
Because there is no faithfulness or kindness
Or knowledge of God in the land.
There is swearing, deception, murder, stealing and adultery.
They employ violence, so that bloodshed follows bloodshed.
Therefore the land mourns,
And everyone who lives in it languishes
Along with the beasts of the field and the birds of the sky,
And also the fish of the sea disappear.
Hosea 4:1-3 (NASB)
Notice that God announces that the reason for the bloodshed, violence, misery in the land and famine is because they have rejected Him and are committing sin. God knows how to make non-Christians and Christians miserable when we sin and reject Him.
What Are The Eternal Consequences of Sin?
The answer to the question, “What are the consequences of sin? was already revealed in Galatians 5:21 above. One who commits sin will not go to heaven. God said in that verse, “. . . will not inherit the kingdom of God.” And Romans 1:32 warns, we “. . . are worthy of death.” Romans 6:23 says,
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 (NASB)
The consequences or wages of sin is what happened when the person hit the concrete road in the opening illustration after falling one hundred-twenty feet. Splat! Splat! Splat! In the spiritual sense, every person who rejects God’s forgiveness will also go splat! Splat occurs when such a person rejects Christ. They will go to hell or the lake of fire where they will suffer forever. That is what we mean by splat!
Conclusion:
How can one escape the consequences or wages of sin? Romans 6:23 told us that we can only escape through Jesus Christ. Four chapters later we discover how Jesus can forgive our sins and rescue us from eternal condemnation.
. . . if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” Romans 10:9-11 (NASB)
The phrase “for with the heart a person believes” means that we can escape eternal judgment if we believe Jesus Christ died and was resurrected from the dead. John 8:24, 58 and 10:33 reveals that Jesus was God. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 tells us,
. . . that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures . . . 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (NASB)
Romans 10:9-11 also tells us that we must submit to Christ as our Lord or master. Someone who truly believes in Christ will want to do that. That is the proof of true faith. And lastly, we are told to admit these truths with our mouth. Again, one who truly believes in Chris will want to do this.
We have defined sin, discovered the consequences of sin and found out how to escape those consequences. We have also discovered that we do not need to go splat after we die. We can escape certain spiritual death. Now realize that you have already jumped off that one hundred-twenty floor skyscraper and you are falling if you are not a Christian. What will you do?
Suggested Links:
Searching For GodWhat is the biblical definition of sin? — 1 John 3:4
Is salvation by grace through faith alone?
How can I be at peace with God?
Heaven, Paradise, Sheol, Hell & Hades