God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). It is difficult to understand the blessing of what he did until we understand what is sin and the consequences of sin.
What is sin?
- John says that sin is lawlessness (1 John 3:4) and all unrighteousness is sin (1 John 5:17). In the bible, God has given us instructions for how to live our lives, and we sin when we don’t live by those instructions.
- Bible says we have all disobeyed God’s word. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23)
What are the consequences of sin?
- Sin separates us from God.
- But your iniquities have made a separation between You and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear (Isaiah 59:2).
- Entry into the kingdom of God will not be permitted.
- Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, and I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19-21).
- Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).
- Sinners will be cast away from God on judgement day into everlasting punishment for their sin and disobedience to his word.
- Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast our demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness’ (Matthew 7:21-23).
- A blood sacrifice is required for the forgiveness of sins.
- Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins (Hebrews 9:22).
- Jesus had to shed his own precious blood for the forgiveness of our sins.
- For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins (Matthew 26:28).
- In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace (Ephesians 1:7).
