"Sin Is A Power" (2)

Sin is a power that is waiting for every man and woman to open the door so it can master us. "Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned." (Rom. 5:12) From the beginning, man chose to sin and as a result, sin entered into our world and spread to all. All have sinned (Rom. 3:23). The result of sin? Death. When one sins, they die spiritually. There is a separation between them and God. Until there is a changing of masters, one cannot overcome their state of death. Jesus is the master that we must come to.

Let's take this a step further. "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." (Jam. 1:13-15) Notice we learn from God that "each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust." It is our own lust, our personal desires that leads us into sin. The word "lust" is the Greek word epithumia which means a longing for, especially for what is forbidden.

Adam and Eve in the garden from the beginning were led into sin by their lusts. "When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate." (Gen. 3:6) Look carefully at "she saw, a delight to the eyes, desirable". Adam followed suit.

When David committed adultery with Bathsheba (II Sam. 11:1-2), we find the same principle at work. He saw, she was beautiful (delight to the eyes) and his lusts pursued her and sin was accomplished. What have we learned? Sin is a choice that comes from our lusts and it always ends in one place: death! Sin accomplished will separate one from God and that's the state of death. We see or want and it stirs us further. At first we might slowly move, but the thought of our lusts stay in our heart and mind. A little movement here, a little there and we draw closer to what we desire. Then, we give ourselves to our lusts (desires) and act upon what we wanted all along. Sin is born and death results. We might not realize it at the time because we find pleasure in fulfilling our lusts, but God has no part of sin, is not the cause of sin and will not fellowship sin. Sin becomes the master and from that point sin controls our thinking, our actions and outcome. Sin is a power and its desire is for us. Only in and through Christ can one overcome sin and its desires.