Sin is transgression of God's law (1John 3:4). According to the Genesis account, sin entered the world when Eve partook of the fruit of knowledge of good and evil and gave to Adam and he ate of it also (Genesis 3). However, since then, all men have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). There is much that can be said about sin, but three of the things we must keep in mind about sin are:
1. Sin is a terrible master. Paul reminds us that "whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are..." (Romans 6:16). And long ago, the writer of Proverbs said, "the way of transgressors is hard" (Proverbs 1:15).
2. Sin is fatal. Not necessarily physically, but spiritually. James expresses the origin of sin in man and its consequence: "every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death" (James 1:14,15). To this Paul agrees saying, "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23).
3. God has made provisions for the forgiveness of sin in Christ Jesus. Speaking of Christ, Paul said, "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his (God's, h.h.) grace" (Ephesians 1:7). One is baptized into Christ for remission of sins. He must then walk in newness of life serving righteousness (Romans 6:4,16).
Do you seek to serve sin and die or be forgiven and live?