The Nature Of Sin (II.)
Its Effects Or Results
In the beginning of this study we found that sin is "missing the mark" and is defined as transgression of the law. It came into the world as a result of Adam's transgression and has been from that time forward the universal nature of mankind. The grace of God, manifested in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, is extended to us that we might have a way of escape from the derogatory characteristics of sin's condemnation. (Rom. 5:21; 8:1) As we continue this investigation let us turn our thoughts to the results and effects the degenerate nature of sin contains.
Indeed it is that the ruinous power of disobedience separates from God. (Isa. 59:2) The payment for sin is death (Rom. 6:23) and this penalty involves both physical and spiritual separation; (Gen. 3:3,19) The ultimate result, without the atoning blood of Christ, being eternal damnation: "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." (Rev.21:8) Just before the flood the Scriptures tell us "that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." (Gen. 6:5) It seems hardly possible, however, that this situation could have been much worse than is manifest on every hand today.
Sin Is The Popular Thing Today
The following, which I believe I copied from the Guardian some time ago, illustrates very effectively our subtopic:
"Fifteen million sex magazines are read monthly by a third of the American nation, there are more bar maids than college girls, there are three times as many criminals as college students, one million girls infested with social disease, one hundred thousand girls enter white slavery every year, one million babies are born illegitimately each year, one in five marriages ends in divorce, one murder is committed every forty minutes, one major crime is committed every twenty-two seconds, and one hundred thousand unapprehended murderers walk our streets"... (F. B. I. report of a few years ago)
Yet men have the audacity to call this a "Christian nation"; and our coins read, "In God We Trust"! At the same time our radios, TVs and newspapers screech and scream the violence of present-day acts of coercion, mob rule, demonstrations and wanton acts of lasciviousness. Hatred, variance, emulations and wrath are defined as works of the flesh. Emphatically emphasized, such shall NOT enter the kingdom! (Gal. 5:19-21) It would be sinful for a Christian to participate in either NAACP, KICK, or any other organization that advocates violence and coercion.
Our Young People Are Affected
Unfortunately these things effect, much more than we realize perhaps, our young people: An excerpt from "The Cross and the Switchblade" describes certain sections of New York City as it is today: There are social gangs, fighting gangs, homosexual gangs, Lesbian gangs and sadist gangs. The description is given of some who would get together in an empty apartment just for the sheer joy of pulling the legs off a little cat! "Grim as fighting and promiscuity and unnaturalness are to encounter among teen-agers", the book continues, "is one depravity which surpasses them all: dope addiction." The results to support such addictions end in muggings, purse snatchings, shoplifting, housebreaking, armed robbery, auto thefts, and such like to support the damnable habit that once obtained (hooked) can hardly ever be completely cured or broken.
But back home, here in "small-town" U.S.A., our children are still not immune to the influences of sin. As a matter of fact, as I have read in several bulletins, our children are in the Brewers' plan: An article from the March '64 issue of "American Brewer" describes the "problem" of cultivating a taste for beer among the young people. Our youngsters have been conditioned only to pretty-colored soda-pop type drinks, it continues, and are not pre-sold. The following suggestion is made: "We suggest that we develop a sales tool with which to fight and profit a highly palatable, non-, or very low, alcoholic content beer, highly flavored-- a 'gentle' beer--- could one possibility for preparing these new consumers for the step up the current types of beer. With the brewer producing a strong (Malt-liquor) and the medium strength beers, a marketing gap could be tilled with the introduction of the new 'gentle' beer. Women might react well to this also." And on top of this a college professor, from California I believe, suggested recently that since drinking is here to stay it should be taught in our school!
Time and space will not permit the exploration of such things as dances being sponsored by our schools, civic clubs, and many of the denominational churches; nor the fact that our young people are being taught, and that as FACT, the theories of evolution from the classroom.
"Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil." (Eph. 5:14-16)
-2708 Milam West Orange, Texas