Let’s get into sin. The Bible teaches two major types of sin. One is what you think, do or say that is wrong, or conversely, when you don’t think, do, or say the good. “All have sinned” (Romans 3:23). That’s a general statement but Jesus lists some specific sins in Matthew 5 and Mark 7:21-22. Picture Jesus hanging on the cross, looking at you, and asking, “What specific sins did you do that I’m dying for?”
OK, we’ve done some sinful things. It’s the second major type of sin where things get nasty. Sunday many of you will hear, “sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned” (Romans 5:12). That “one man” is Adam and his disobedience in the Garden of Eden corrupted all humanity. You’re not a sinner because you sin; you sin because you’re born a sinner. The proof is death. Disobey the God of life and what do you get? Death.
You have free will in many areas of life but, as they say, you can’t avoid death and taxes. You can’t avoid death because in spiritual matters your will is bound, captive, no way out, no free will. Sinning comes naturally to you and me. So when Jesus resisted the temptations of Satan, Matthew 4:1-11, a story many of you will also hear Sunday, Jesus’ will is not bound to sin like ours but to the holiness of God. He’s the “second Adam,” our Hero. “For as by one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous” (Romans 5:18).
“The benefits of Christ cannot be understood if we do not know what sin is.” (Martin Chemnitz, Loci Theologici, 478).
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