For many today, it would seem that there is no such thing as “sin.” For others, it is just a social problem here and there. Sin is very real to the extent that it brought God’s condemnation on the entire human race. As human beings, we are not only sinners by nature (how we were born) but we are also sinners by practice. King David said, “I was brought forth [born] in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceive me” (Psalm 51:5). This means that from the point of conception, man has the sin nature.
Sin is described as “an immoral act considered to be a transgression against divine law.” From a Biblical perspective, sin is “missing the mark,” which means man’s failure to meet the divine standards. Sin is also lawlessness and rebellion against God. The Bible says, “Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4). God’s Word concludes that sin is lawlessness. We see the disastrous results of sin and its consequences all around us. Immorality and lawlessness across America is practically a daily occurrence, which few of us can deny.
Because the human element is present in everyone of us, no one is exempt from the inborn sinful nature, and the tendency to practice sin. The Bible clearly states, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Through disobedience, Adam, the first man God created, sinned. God has declared, “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, so death spread to all men because all sinned” (Romans 5:12). This means that we inherited the sin nature from our forefather Adam.
Sin affects our thought processes, our words, and our actions. It begins in our mind, mainly in the form of temptation, and will go into action depending on our response. Temptation is not of itself a sin. However, it becomes sin when we yield to the temptation. Jesus Himself was tempted by Satan (Mark 1:13), but at no time did Jesus ever yield to the temptation because “He knew no sin” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
There is a very strong statement recorded in the Bible regarding the consequences of sin, which reads, “Be sure your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23). In context, this statement pertains primarily to what Moses said to the children of Gad and the children of Reuben, “If you will take up arms to go before the LORD for the war … until he has driven out his enemies before him and the land is subdued before the LORD … and this land shall be your possession. But if you will not do so, behold you have sinned against the LORD, and behold your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32-20-23). However, the principle definitely applies today. God’s word is absolutely true and timeless.
Recently, many women have been coming forward and reporting to the news media that they have experienced sexual assault and harassment by men in various “prominent” positions. The alleged perpetrators of these crimes include members of the United States congress, other politicians, news anchors, and various professional personnel. Some of these crimes were committed many years ago and perhaps “forgotten.” The sins committed by these men “have surely found them out” because they are now being reported. God’s word certainly applies today and everyday.
David committed adultery with Bathsheba and also murdered Bathsheba’s husband. Perhaps he thought he got away with it. However, God asked Nathan to go and talk with David about his sin by using the story of a rich man who took and killed a poor man’s only lamb. David was upset against the man in the story, and he told Nathan that the man who had done this should die. Nathan responded, “You are the man” (2 Samuel 12). Here again we see “your sin will find you out.” David subsequently repented of his sin and God forgave him.
God will always forgive us of sins we commit. But there is a pre-condition that we must first confess and repent of the sin. The Bible says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).