The Results of Sin

As I shared with my congregation the Sunday mornings I preached on Ephesians 2:1-3, the Truth in these verses is not very uplifting. After reading them, you won’t be “floating on air” or “feeling good about yourself.” Paul’s message is about the depravity man, his absolute and total sinfulness. The Truth here is not hard to understand, for Paul’s language is quite clear; rather it is hard to accept. It’s hard for all of us to face the stark reality of our sinfulness. Paul declares that there are three results of our sin.

First, there is the positional result, which is that we are dead in trespasses and sins (v. 1). Just as medical students can do anything to a cadaver that they want and that cadaver does not respond in any way because it’s dead to any physical stimulus, likewise, apart from Christ we were “spiritual cadavers.” We could not respond to any spiritual stimulus. We were not “sick in a fever,” “incapacitated,” or even “hopelessly crippled” by sin. We were dead.

Second, there are the practical results of [walking] according to the course of this world (the values, pleasures, inclinations, philosophies, goals, drives, purposes, attitudes, and actions of society), according to the prince of the power of the air (Satan’s control of the world), and according to our own lusts (the desires to satisfy natural drives in ways God forbids, such as sex outside of marriage).

Third, and most significant, however, is the permanent result of sin, namely, the wrath of God (v. 3). Unless we turn to Christ as Savior and Lord, every one of us is under the wrath of God. To speak of God’s wrath is unthinkable in most circles today. It simply is not politically correct or even prudent for ministry. “We should never speak of such a thing,” it is argued, “rather we should speak of love, mercy, and forgiveness and just talk about Jesus can do for you.”

But while Scripture says much about love, mercy, and forgiveness, It also says much about God’s wrath. As God declared right before commanding Noah to build a lifeboat, “My spirit shall not always strive with man” (Gen. 6:3). God is not “infinitely merciful” as many teach today. There will come a time when He will pour out His wrath upon those who reject Him. Our Lord Himself made this very clear. While people love to quote John 3:16, they ignore or overlook 3:36: “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” Instead of opening our “evangelistic campaigns” with such platitudes as “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life,” we should begin as Paul does in Romans 1:18: “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold [i.e., suppress] the truth in unrighteousness.” Paul writes a chapter later that God’s wrath is His “righteous judgment” (2:5). We see this principle, in fact, throughout the Word of God.

Isn’t it interesting that men accept the wrath of God when it comes to gravity and therefore tall buildings, but rebel at His wrath when it comes to moral behavior? Man thinks he should be allowed to break God’s laws with impunity. But just as there is a consequence of breaking the physical law of gravity by jumping off a building, there is likewise a consequence to breaking God’s “moral law of gravity.” Promiscuous sex, a lifetime of gluttony, an abuse of alcohol or drugs will kill you just as dead as a ten-story plunge.

While the sin issue is frequently dealt with in Scripture, it is avoided in our day at all cost. It’s just not stylish to preach about sin; it’s not prudent. But sin is, indeed, the issue. Salvation is not some vague experience that “makes life better,” rather it is repentance from sin that saves the soul from God’s eternal wrath.