The Bible is filled with illustrations of people who learned the hard way that sin carries a high price tag. Look at King Saul, Samson, David, and Judas. Our society has worked hard at bringing the biblical condemnation of sin to an acceptable level. We have attempted to relieve the personal guilt that the high cost of sin brings.
The Bible is the standard of responsibility against which we will be measured, It is the biblical standard (not the social one) that determines our eternal destiny. Every person is a moral creature that will either enjoy the pleasures of heaven or the punishments of hell. There are only two options – God’s way or sin’s way.
Second Corinthians 5:19 reads, “God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ.” God enables all who accept Jesus to live in a way that pleases Him. Sin is expensive. Those who fail to come to the Cross and follow Jesus are left to their own devices and the consequences of a sinful life. In today’s scripture, Paul describes the cost of the sinful life. Read Romans 1:18-32
Romans 1:18-32
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. 26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. 28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they know God’s decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.
The Bible Demonstrates the High Cost of Sin
Look at verse 18. God has no patience with sin. While God is love, He is not just love. He offers love to the repentant or justice to the rebellious.
Verses 24-29 hold frightening possibilities.
- Beginning at verse 24, Paul speaks to all kinds of immorality.
- In verse 29, Paul goes beyond immorality to a frightening picture.
- This is a serious picture of the outcome of sin.
- Not one of us wants to be a part of a society like that described in verse 29.
The Bible gives many illustrations of God’s attitude toward sin.
- While most everyone in Sodom and Gomorrah was guilty of the same lifestyle, God did not change His attitude (Genesis 19). Look at the severity of His attitude toward sin as described in Numbers 15.
- Look at the response to Achan’s sin in Joshua 7. It is important to note that in each instance the entire family and community of the sinner suffered.
According to His Word, sin is a very serious matter with God.
What Has Changed?
God’s Word has not changed.
- It is still the standard against which we will be measured.
- Multiplications of violations of God’s law will not change the outcome.
The processes of sin have not changed.
- Sin may seem to begin innocently but constantly craves more satisfaction.
- Paul tells us the payoff doer sin in Romans 6:23
Is There a Solution?
Yes! The forgiveness of Jesus and living the Christian lifestyle. Christians keep the commandments. Living this way solves the ugliness as described in verses 29-31.
This may seem to be an oversimplification, but it is true. Accepting Jesus is the alternative to paying the high cost of sin.
The High Cost of Sin Conclusion
None of us wants to pay the high cost of sin as described in this scripture. Sin as a lifestyle is a slippery slope that carries a high price tag. The only alternative is to give our hearts to Jesus Christ and live His way.
Click here to print or download the Bible study “The High Cost of Sin”
