Why does sin matter so much to Christians? If you have spent any significant amount of time around Christians, or the church, then you have likely heard them mention sin. Sin is discussed a lot among Christians because it is the main problem and issue the Bible seeks to resolve. Fortunately, the Bible follows the creation, spread, and defeat of sin. So, understanding what the Bible teaches is the best way to know why Christians are so obsessed with the topic.
The Bible describes the origin of sin in the first three chapters. Initially, God created a perfect and sinless world for humanity to live in. Additionally, God wanted genuine love and a real relationship with humans so he gave them free will, or the ability to choose. If humans did not have the ability to choose love, then man would be just like robots that have programmed responses. Ultimately, mankind chose to directly rebel against God and the rule he gave them. The first humans, Adam and Eve, did this because they wanted to take control from God and have power over their own lives. Today, sin has not changed, and it is still motivated by the desire to be gods and rule over our own lives. So, sin is an open rebellion against God’s design for our lives.
God let Adam and Eve make their decision to rebel, but it came with consequences. According to Romans 6:23, “the wages of sin is death” and since God is life, this means that death is separation from Him. Sin created a gap between God and man on this earth that we cannot bridge. Before sin entered the world, God would openly talk to Adam and go on walks with him. This was possible because God is holy and righteous, and man had not yet been stained by sin. Today, sin is like a virus that corrupts and contaminates anything it touches. Unfortunately, sin has contaminated everyone, so all people are corrupted by it. The Bible echoes this when it states in Romans 5:23 that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” This gap between God and man matters because humans were not designed to live at a distance from God. Moreover, the ultimate separation from God comes after death in what Christian’s call hell. This place is eternal separation from God and everything that is good. Thankfully, God has not left man hopeless in their sin. He came down to restore his relationship with humanity.
God came to the earth as Jesus Christ and lived a life without sin. He was unstained and untouched by it. Nonetheless, he was killed on this earth because people did not believe that he was God as he claimed to be. Then, three days after his death on the cross, Jesus rose from the dead and defeated sin and death. Through placing your faith in Jesus and repenting, He will wash away every sin and forgive you for rebelling against him. This is possible because Jesus Christ took the punishment of death for humanity. Although sin once ruled and separated us from God, Jesus has defeated this foe. In Christ, people are set free from sin so man can now freely love God. Finally, the Bible says that Jesus will come back a second time to permanently eradicate all sin. This life with Jesus, and without sin, is the ultimate hope that Christians have in this life.
Written by Luke Radtke