The Terrible Consequences of Sin
Sin is a reality we can't ignore, but many people in the world today treat it as a joke or something normal. Some believe that sin is only about obvious wrongdoings like stealing, killing, or drinking. But the Bible gives us a much clearer definition: sin is the transgression of the law of God (1 John 3:4). When we break God's law, we commit sin. And when we do, there are serious, eternal consequences.
God has given us free will, but our choices come with a price. Here are three terrible consequences of sin.
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1. Sin Makes Us Slaves
In John 8:31-32, Jesus told His disciples that if they held to His teaching, they would know the truth, and the truth would set them free. The Jewish people listening to Him didn't understand. "We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone," they replied.
But Jesus clarified that He was not speaking of physical slavery. He said, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin" (John 8:34). Sin holds us captive. It binds us with habits, desires, and behaviors that we often can't break on our own. It promises freedom but delivers chains. The more we indulge in sin, the tighter those chains become, making it harder and harder to break free.
2. Sin Separates Us from God
Romans 3:23 tells us that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." This means sin creates a barrier between us and God. It's not that God can't see us or doesn't want to hear us; it's that sin, by its very nature, separates us from a holy God.
Isaiah 59:1-2 explains this perfectly: "Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear." Sin builds a wall between us and our Creator, blocking our fellowship with Him and making it impossible for us to receive His help. We lose the ability to connect with the very source of life, comfort, and peace.
3. The Wages of Sin Is Death
Perhaps the most terrifying consequence of sin is found in Romans 6:23: "For the wages of sin is death." This isn't just about physical death. The Bible is talking about spiritual death—a permanent separation from God. This spiritual death is the ultimate consequence of being separated from the "glory of God" we just talked about.
Ephesians 2:1 says that we are spiritually dead in our sins and transgressions. When we are separated from God, the source of spiritual life, we are spiritually dead. Sin robs us of our spiritual vitality and condemns us to an eternal state of separation.
The Path to Forgiveness
If sin has such terrible consequences, what can we do? How do we break free from its slavery, tear down the wall of separation, and escape spiritual death? The only way is to have our sins forgiven.
The Apostle Peter gave the answer on the day of Pentecost when he told the crowd what to do after they had heard the Gospel. In Acts 2:37-38, they asked, "What shall we do?" Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
God has given us a clear path. We must repent of our sins and be baptized for their forgiveness. It's the only way to be cleansed, to have the barrier between us and God removed, and to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This gift is a "seal" or "guarantee" from God (Ephesians 1:13-14), confirming that He will give us eternal life—a promise God cannot break (Titus 1:2).
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The terrible consequences of sin are real, but so is God's grace. Through repentance and baptism, we can leave our slavery behind, restore our fellowship with God, and gain the promise of eternal life.
