by John Del Giudice
Sin or Sins?
When we think of sin we tend to think of it in terms of single, isolated acts—to steal is one sin, to lie is another sin. However, this gives us an improper view of the exponentiality of our sinfulness. If we were asked to give an account of the sins we’ve personally committed in the past we might come up with merely a handful of sins that we are consciously aware of—if that. But sin is never a single transgression. What I want to illustrate is that each sin that we commit contains a multitude of other sins with it. And because we have a low view of the proliferation of our sins, it causes us to have a low view of God’s grace in saving sinners.
Adam and Eve
When we think of the first sin ever committed, the one that resulted in the Fall of humanity, it may seem on the surface level, that the eating of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil was a very minor infraction. One may object that the severity of the punishment was disproportionate to the seeming triviality of the crime. Adam ate fruit of which he was forbidden to partake and that resulted in spiritual death (being severed from communion with God), an inherently sinful and depraved nature to all his posterity, physical death and corruption, and ultimately eternal death in the lake of fire! (Rom. 5:12). Very much was included and involved in Adam’s transgression than is commonly supposed or recognized.
This idea was developed from “The Doctrine of Human Depravity” by Arthur Pink, in which he suggests that it had wrapped up in it “the breach of the whole Law of God.” Adam violated all Ten Commandments of the moral Law in that one act. The first commandment he broke was by choosing him another “god” when he followed the counsel of Satan. The second, in idolizing his palate, making a god of his belly by eating the forbidden fruit. The third, by believing not God’s threatening, therein taking His name in vain. The fourth, by breaking the sinless rest in which he had been placed. The fifth, thereby is dishonoring his Father in Heaven. The sixth, by slaying himself and all his posterity. The seventh, by committing spiritual adultery, and preferring the creature above the Creator. The eighth, by laying hands upon to which he had no right. The ninth, by accepting the serpent’s false witness against God. The tenth, by coveting that which God had not given to him.
And what was true of Adam is true of us as well. Understanding that our sins are not merely single, isolated instances, but rather an exponential list of innumerable transgressions we can see how true it is when in Job 15 it says that we “drink iniquity like water.” I would submit to you that each individual sin we commit is a breach of the entire Moral law. This is why James says in chapter 2 verse 10 that “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.” This is no exaggeration.
Jesus illustrates this point in His Sermon on the Mount where he indicates that sin is more complex than just the act itself. Another example is Proverbs 30:9 where stealing is linked to taking the Lords name in vain.
We’re in Bad Shape
The more we see and understand how aggregated our sins are, how they compound and increase exponentially, the more clearly will we see how desperate our condition is. The reason why most people do not heed the warning to come to Christ and use the opportunities that each day provides to find salvation in His grace is because they do not see the need for a Savior. And why don’t we see the need for salvation? Because we don’t know how great our sin is. If we examine ourselves in our own eyes, or in comparison to other people the assessment is not so bad, in fact many if not most would consider themselves to be a “good person.” But when we view sin from God’s perspective in light of what scripture reveals we’ll see the true wretchedness of our condition.
Jesus the Savior Deals with Our Sin
I do not intend to make you feel discouraged by this topic. Do not think that your situation is hopeless. I have presented this realization to you in hopes that you will seek the Savior. Just as a doctor must deliver the unpleasant news to a cancer patient, in the same way I am telling you of the cancer of sin that will eventually lead to your eternal death if it goes untreated. This is the good news of the Gospel. But it is only good news to a dying sinner who recognizes the cure the message contains. In 1 John, we read that “the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). The wickedness of sin cannot be overstated. The severity of sin, and God’s justice requiring payment thereof, is what sent Jesus to the cross. It took the blood of Christ as the only way of pardoning the guilt of sinners. Do not think lightly of your sin, and yet neither be dismayed. Jesus promised that “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out” (John 6:37).
This Applies to You
Two concluding remarks by way of application:
First, we have to view sin on a personal basis, and how it applies to our lives individually. We think of sin in the same way that we think of death. When we hear that everyone will one day die, it doesn’t really have much significance to us other than conceptually. But when we come to face our own mortality, when we are lying on our own bed, then the enormity of reality sets in, and the significance of what we’ve always known intellectually becomes an experiential personal reality. All have sinned, yes, but that doesn’t mean that there is a shared culpability, as in a teacher who condemns the behavior of an entire class, yet as a result cannot punish a single pupil. No rather we must understand this on an individual basis because you will be judged as one. Just as much as “all have sinned” means “you have sinned” likewise “every knee shall bow” also means “your knee shall bow, and your tongue shall confess.”
Secondly, this message applies to Christian and non-Christian alike. To the unregenerate it reveals their personal need of a Savior. And to the regenerated soul who is putting their faith in Christ it exposes the depths of our depravity and heightens the grace of God in that He moved toward us in love and called and saved us through no merit of our own, but that He may be glorified through saving hopeless sinners, of which we once were. Moreover, as we grow in grace, understanding the exponentiality of sin, it should create a desire in us not to do anything contrary to God’s will. Our desire as children of God should be to “purify ourselves, just as He is pure” (1 John 3:3). May the Lord add His blessing to these words and apply them to the needs of each individual hearer.