Musick-al note # 129
The origin of sin lies with Satan himself who set himself against God from the creation of the world. He was able to gather with the angels before God (Job 1:6 and other verses) but the context shows that Satan was against God by tempting Job to do evil. At the very beginning of creation, Satan tempted Eve to disobey God and the world was cursed because of the sins that followed (Genesis 3:17). God had created man in His image with freedom of choice to follow God or self. Satan’s influence over man continues for history reveals that most men have rebelled from God to follow selfish ends but a few have always lived that followed God’s directives. Biblical history reveals that God destroyed those who refused to turn to Him. Yet because the few did follow Him, the Lord turned from destroying the whole world. Satan is still trying to destroy God’s people with lies, half-truths and false doctrines (Revelation 12:9-17),
The Bible is very explicit as to what sin is. Basically it is the transgression of God’s law (1 John 3:4) caused by adding to or leaving out His commands (Revelation 22:18-19). It is “ungodliness” (Romans 1:18-32). It is failure to follow God’s will (James 4:17). When man is following the “works of the flesh” he is living a worldly life (Galatians 5:19-21). As to what causes man to sin, the basis seems to be selfishness, greed, lust of the flesh, lust of the eye and the pride of life (1 John 2:16). James said that “the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil (1 Timothy 6:10). When man does what he wants to do without regard to other people, sin becomes evident. Jesus said all evil things come from within (Mark 7:20-23) and James said it comes from the desires of man brought to fruition. Sin comes from seeking to satisfy self and a failure to obey God. Every man is tempted (James 1:14), but only those who follow that temptation to its end will sin (James 1:15), Jesus was tempted in all points as we are but He did not sin choosing the correct way to live (Hebrews 4:15).
God still wants all men to be saved, not lost (2 Peter 3:9) and His Word was given to draw all men to Himself through faith in Jesus (John 20:30-31, Luke 6:46). Paul said in Romans 8:1 that there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. The key words are ‘in Christ Jesus’ for outside of Christ no one can be saved (John 14:6). Paul wrote that the way into Christ is being baptized into Him (Galatians 3:26-27).
Gordon Musick
Musick-al Notes 