THE UGLINESS OF
SIN
INTRODUCTION
The ugliness of sin has grown to pandemic proportions as it raises its ugly head of dominance and control in people’s lives. If one compares the godly days of the past, in regards to today, they can readily attest to the fact that sin has gained in popularity by those who have been blinded to its deceptive spirit.
Apostle Paul wrote: If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost (perishing); in whom the god of this world (Satan and his cohorts) has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them (2 Corinthians 4:3-4).
The Ugliness of Sin
Original Sin
It was noted that the first sin in the universe was an act of free will in which man, with adequate understanding of the issues, chose to corrupt the holy, godly character with which God originally endowed upon His creation.
Adam and Eve were created with a holy, godly nature, in fellowship with God; as a result of their sin their nature became corrupt; they become guilty before God, which involved the whole human race in corruption and guilt. Apostle Paul wrote: As by one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned (Romans 5:12).
Pollution of the
Mind
The ugliness of sin has continued to flourish since the original sin; as man has detoured from godly precepts, towards pollution of the mind through acceptance of ungodly ways. Man has dived into recognition of ungodly ways without regard to its consequences. Apostle Paul noted: The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23).
God opened the door to salvation of the soul through His Son, yet the death sentence (both spiritual and physical) still stand for those who decide to cast aside so great a salvation. Apostle John wrote: He that believes on the Son (the Lord Jesus Christ) has everlasting life; and he that believes not the Son shall not see life but the wrath of God abides (remains) on him (John 3:36).
Sin is the Problem
All around us are the signs that modern man refuses to accept the fact that sin is his problem. It was noted that many no longer call homosexuality a sin but an alternate lifestyle. Abortion is now considered an expression of a woman’s right. Warnings of the past have become a reality; highlighted by the fact that such is in greater proportions then when previously stated. Sin is now presented with boldness as nations continue to adopt immorality.
God’s Word condemns immoral and sinful lifestyles; identifies the ugliness of sin and its domineering features. Apostle Peter revealed that God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah for its sin-ridden ways (homosexuality being at the top of the list) as an example to those that afterward should live ungodly (2 Peter 2:6); yet we see such continuing today.
Endangered Souls
Jonathan Edwards sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” contain these words: Consider the fearful danger that you are in: You hang by a slender thread, with the flames of divine wrath flashing about it, and ready every moment to singe it, and burn it asunder.
You have no interest in any mediator, and nothing to hold on to save yourself, nothing to keep the flames of wrath away, nothing of your own, nothing that you have done, nothing that you can do, to induce God to spare you one moment. Those words still ring loud and clear today towards endangered souls who are about to descend into eternity without the benefit of a Savior (the Lord Jesus Christ), unless repentance comes into focus prior to Judgment Day.
Atonement for Sin
I witness a monarch butterfly that had been caught in the snare of a spider’s web; and freed it from its entrapment, for the spider had not yet began its work, and it flew up “freed.” It was a beautiful sight to behold, and that is what God wants to see in His people, freed from the temptations that so readily ensnare them in our modern day culture. God gave His best in providing His only begotten Son (the Lord Jesus Christ), as an atonement for our sins, which frees us from the destructiveness of sin.
The ugliness of what the spider was going to do to such a beautiful butterfly was undone by a moment of kindness and such is the beauty of salvation that frees one from the ugliness of a sin into the beauty of holiness. Apostle Paul noted: Being made free from sin, we become servants (dedicated) to God, having our fruit unto holiness; and the end everlasting life (Romans 6:22).
Sin-Filled Thinking
Prophet Jeremiah cried out: O Jerusalem, wash your heart from wickedness, that you may be saved, How long shall your vain (wicked) thoughts lodge with you (Jeremiah 4:14)? It was noted that such thinking today can arise from many sources: Absorbing immoral movies and television; carelessly surfing the Internet; listening to malicious talk; ignoring the Word of God; giving into a materialistic worldview.
Will we allow the sanctifying Scriptures and the purifying blood of Christ to cleanse our heart and mind or will we persist in sin-filled thinking and experience God's judgment? Sin is a costly business that separates people from God; however, genuine repentance brings forgiveness and restoration with God.
Woe to Inhabitants of
the Earth
The ugliness of sin has been ignored by a world that is hungry for pleasure-seeking activities; with an endearment that was first presented to mankind by a serpent (the tool of Satan). Apostle John revealed: There was a war in heaven; Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought against the angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent called the Devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole world; he was cast out into (to) the earth, and his angels (cohorts) were cast out with him (Revelation 12:7-9). Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, and of the sea. For the devil is come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has but a short time (Revelation 12:12).
Perilous Times
Apostle Paul wrote: This know, that in the last days (which we are in) perilous times shall come. Men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, true breakers, false accusers, incontinent (without self-control), fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady (reckless), high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof; from such turn away (2 Timothy 3:1-5).
The ugliness of sin will feast upon those categories to the hilt through not having the love of God, or His Son, in one's heart or life. God destroyed the evilness of man by a Flood in the days of Noah, He destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah (previously mentioned) due to vile evilness, and one day will deal with the evilness of man as well.
Destruction of Ungodly
Apostle Peter wrote: The world that then was (pre-Flood days of Noah), being overflowed with water, perished; but the heavens and the earth which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against (until) the Day of Judgment and perdition (destruction) of ungodly men (2 Peter 3:7).
Peter revealed why is has not already happened: The Lord is not slack concerning his promise (destruction of the ungodly), as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not wiling that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).
Day of the Lord
will Come
The Day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night (unexpected); in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise; in which the elements shall melt with fervent heat (possible nuclear holocaust), the earth also, and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
Seeing that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in all holy conversation (conduct) and godliness ( not being consumed by the ugliness of sin) (2 Peter 3:10-11). With the world in the vise grips of a possible global conflict it behooves one to take inventory of their present relationship to a heavenly Father and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Hope for the Believer
Apostle Peter gives hope to the believer in Christ: Nevertheless we (the believer), according to his promise look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness. Wherefore, seeing that you look for such things, be diligent that you may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless (2 Peter 3:13-14).
The ugliness of sin does not have to be a part of one’s life; if they are firmly entrenched in God’s Word, living a life in Christ, not being influenced by the world, and aware of God’s standard for His people.
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