Society is beginning to show signs of honesty in dealing with a major problem. Thousands of lives have been destroyed by a disease that was unknown several years ago – AIDS. We have sought and found help in dealing with other crippling diseases. The difference with AIDS is that it originated with a sinful lifestyle but now impacts the lives of many innocent people. The disease is so destructive that it deserves intense research for a solution. The truth about sin is you can be crippled by it and not know that a cure has been discovered!!
There is another disease that is very much like AIDS in character and danger. That disease is sin – the source of all the heartaches and problems of humankind. The truth about sin is it not an innocent illness that merely makes us uncomfortable anymore than AIDS is like a common cold. The nature of sin is totally destructive to the best there is in each of us.
No one who understands the facts about AIDS deliberately chooses it. This should be our attitude toward sin. We are going to look at three important facts about sin. Isaiah 53 will serve as the foundation of our study.
The Truth About Sin
1 Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? 2 For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes, we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned–every one–to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? 9 And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors, yet he bore the sin of many and makes intercession for the transgressors.
Fact #1: Sin is Extremely Deceitful
It was deceit that sowed the seeds in the beginning. Look at the story of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3. Eve did not know where Satan was leading her. She did know that it was contrary to God’s plan.
Sin usually starts in a very subtle way.
- No one ever starts out to become an alcoholic or a murderer.
- An erosion of principles and standards leads to a plunge in depravity. See the Apostle Paul’s description in Romans 1.
The temptation of Jesus illustrates the deceitfulness of sin. See Matthew 4. This illustrates that sin cannot produce what it seems to promise.
Fact #2: Sin Is Totally Destructive
The Bible gives extensive coverage to this truth.
- Look at the cost of sin upon Noah’s world (Genesis 6-7).
- Look at the high price Paul described in Romans 1:20-29.
- The history of our inhumanity to each other testifies to the destructiveness of sin.
The truth about sin, sin is totally destructive. We wrestle constantly with the problems that sin costs in our society. Just take a look at the nightly news stories of drugs, murder, rape and so forth.
The problem our society faces is that we want to make sin sophisticated and nice.
- There is no honest way to clean up sin and eliminate its consequences.
- Sin is totally destructive. That is its nature. Only God can change that.
Fact #3: There is no cure for Sin
The picture would be bleak except for this truth. Isaiah points out that this is why Jesus would come into the world. Jesus came to deliver us from sin. Look at the price He would pay (v. 5-7).
Look at the cure He would provide (v. 12).
The New Testament emphasizes this truth. See Paul’s statement in Ephesians 2:1-6 and his testimony in Galatians 2:20.
Truth About Sin Conclusion
If someone could provide a proven cure for cancer, heart disease, or some other serious illness, everyone would want to take advantage of it. A cure for the most serious problem for humankind, truth about sin, has been provided. Will you accept Jesus and let Him cure the sin problem in your life?
Click here to print or download the Bible study “The Truth About Sin – Isaiah 53“
