The extent of mankind’s sin problem is far greater than I think we will ever know. It has affected every aspect of the world we live in from little children to the elderly. Sin is not a general term either; it is specific and expressed as such in God’s word. Paul, in his letter to the Romans, spends a large amount of time explaining to the Romans what sin has done and how it separates humanity from God. Unfortunately sin has a way of disguising itself to look like something that is not threatening or harmful. One can clearly see this in just about any television show you can find on TV.
Television is one of the greatest forms of communication we know in the world, and it is also, I believe, one of the biggest sources of sin as well. The content to which we allow to come into our homes through the television is candy coated and looks good, but comes on subtly and has a very deadly sting. Our children are bombarded with sinful actions, bad language and lack of moral values in many of the shows that are aired, and if we are not teaching them differently, to them it seems like a normal part of life. It is no wonder that divorce, suicide and drug addictions have become a common thing.
The consequences of such lazy guarding of the heart, is manifested again through the actions of our youth and even ourselves. What we put into our minds eventually comes back out in our actions, attitudes and mouth. The eyes are the window to the soul, we must guard what goes in. Paul’s letter to the Romans detailed many of the sinful acts that the world and humanity were involved in and he also laid out the consequences of those said actions. Romans 1:18- 25 says this; “18The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
21For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
24Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. (NIV) Paul is very clear as to the reason for God’s anger, and goes on in subsequent verses to explain what will happen because of their choices.
The “lostness” of humanity was and is so great, that God had to provide the ultimate fix, the final sacrifice, Jesus Christ. Through the shed blood of the sacrificial Lamb of God, the separation from God that existed in sin was removed, and the narrow road was again open for us to commune and exist under God’s love and protection.
First the sinfulness of humanity had to be recognized and dealt with. God’s righteous anger was great and He was inclined to give men and women over to their sinful lusts and desires. However; in His grace and mercy, He provided a way for us to be reconciled to Him through His son, Christ. Through faith in Jesus Christ we could be forgiven of our sins and looked upon as the righteous creation He intended us to be. This faith was not based on merit, culture, social status or any other means of separation; rather is was available for all humanity. Paul states, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 17For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith." (NIV)
Lastly the Holy Spirit is promised for the true believer as a helper. The Spirit of God resting upon men as a constant companion, one to intercede on our behalf, to God the Father. Paul does a fantastic job detailing how and why we are lost, and what we must do to be saved. Through his passion and love for the gospel of Christ, many were saved and many more will follow.
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