[peopleoftheway]

HEART DISEASE has been termed by the medical profession as man's number one enemy, and cancer second. However, as we turn to the Word of God, we find an enemy revealed that is far more subtle, dangerous, and universal than any disease that has plagued humanity. This enemy has caused ruin to the human race and also robbed God of glory. The hiss of the serpent can be heard in its pronunciation. It is called -- "SIN."

Now I trust that you will be interested enough to read this little tract carefully, for you, and all of us, are involved in the subject of sin. "Fools make a mock at sin" but "Wise men lay up knowledge" (Proverbs 14:9; 10:14). To be unaware of the tactics of this enemy is like being unarmed in the day of war.

GOD'S DESCRIPTION OF SIN

Society looks upon murder, adultery, stealing and lying as forms of sin, and rightly so. But did you ever consider that things you may count harmless, God reckons as sin? His thoughts are not your thoughts, for His thoughts are higher than your thoughts (Isaiah 55:8,9). I'm sure the following verses will prove this:

"An high look, and a proud heart, ... is sin"
(Proverbs 21:4).

"The thought of foolishness is sin"
(Proverbs 24:9).

"But if ye have respect to persons,
ye commit sin" (James 2:9).


THE SCOPE OF SIN

Certainly all must confess, "I have sinned against Thee" (Psalm 41:4). Doctors report that cancer claims one out of four people. Do you know God reports that sin seizes four out of four? Yes, 100% of us have been taken!

"For ALL have sinned, and come short
of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).


GOD'S VIEWING OF SIN

Does God see our sin? Those in Noah's day said, "Thick clouds are a covering to Him, that He seeth not" (Job 22:14). However, God saw not only their wickedness, but even the thoughts of their heart (Genesis 6:5)! God is Omnipresent - everywhere at once! Your actions, words, and unspoken thoughts are constantly viewed by His eye. "Thou hast set our iniquities before Thee, our secret sins in the light of Thy countenance" (Psalm 90:8).

"The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
beholding the evil and the good"
(Proverbs 15:3).


THE EFFECTS OF SIN

What tremendous effects sin has in the life of every mortal! The first effect was seen in the garden of Eden. Through Adam's sin, a separation took place. "He drove out the man" (Genesis 3:24). Thus man became a separated creature from his Creator. This state exists today and can be seen in the fact that man's desires are not Godward. He loves pleasure but not prayer, sports but not Scripture. His actions prove that he is "without God in the world" (Ephesians 2:12). To him, there is no beauty in Christ that he should desire Him (Isaiah 53:2).

"Your iniquities have separated
between you and your God" (Isaiah 59:2).

Sin, as a master, doles out wages to its slaves. It drags the body to the grave and plunges the soul into hell, a place of conscious torment (Luke 16:19-26).

At the resurrection of damnation (John 5:28,29), it will accuse the sinner, call for his punishment, and occasion his final and eternal confinement, body and soul, in the lake of fire.
"This is the second death" (Revelation 20:11-15).

"The wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23).


GOD'S CURE FOR SIN

God hates sin but loves the sinner! Sin calls for punishment; divine justice demands it, but God has a cure! In order to save us from our sins, He had to punish the Lord Jesus. At Calvary, nailed to the cross, "He was wounded for our transgressions" (Isaiah 53:5). "He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself" (Hebrews 9:26).

No human effort, no matter how sincere, can put away sin. Only the blood of Christ can avail.

"The blood of Jesus Christ His Son
cleanseth us from all sin" (I John 1:7).

"Whosoever believeth in Him
shall receive remission of sins" (Acts 10:43).