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The New Testament warns of “the deceitfulness of sin” (Heb. 3:13). Its “deceitfulness” is one thing that makes sin so dangerous. While there is a certain measure of pleasure in sin (Heb. 11:25), it is actually unprofitable (Prov. 22:8). And, “the way of transgressors is hard” (Prov. 13:15).
Sin is progressive. For King David, a moment’s lust led to adultery, lies, and murder. No wonder he wrote, “For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me” (Ps. 38:40; and, “my sin is ever before me” (Ps. 51:3). Even though he gained God’s forgiveness, David’s sin brought to him a lifetime of sorrow.
Sin destroys the soul. “For the wages of sin death” (Rom. 6:23). “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23).
The good news is that there is a Savior who will “redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous for good works” (Titus 2:14). For the Christian, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1). And the child of God should always remember, “But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). “We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1). To continue to overcome sin in our lives we must “abhor that which is evil” (Rom. 12:9), and “abstain from all appearance of evil” (1 Thess. 5:22). The apostle Paul further advises that Christians “put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Eph. 6:11-17).
Mark Hanstein