The Seriousness of Sin

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text:  Mark 9:42-50

Mark 9:47-48

And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, ⁴⁸ ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’

(ESV)

Preaching about sin is not a popular topic in many churches today but the main topic of Mark 9:42-50.  In this text Jesus offers illustrations that demonstrate the seriousness of sin.  A word of caution, the illustrations of this text are symbolic and not literal, so Jesus is not telling people to cut off their hands, feet, or pluck out their eyes.  Instead, these illustrate the seriousness with which God takes sin.  However, God extends grace to humanity with the message of the Gospel that provides the bridge between a just God and a gracious God. 

The original sin of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden not only caused eviction from the Garden but also created a rift between humanity and God.  The first indication of the magnitude of this rift is Adam and Eve realizing they were naked.  This nakedness is not just the absence of clothing but the exposure of evil in their hearts.  Typical of people caught in sin, they attempt to cover it up instead of dealing with it (Genesis 3:1-7).  God, however, has another covering in mind, the blood of His Son symbolized by the covering of the skins he provided to cover the nakedness of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:21).  To provide this covering, God had to kill an animal requiring the shedding of blood establishing the doctrine that without the shedding of blood, there can be no remission of sin (Hebrews 9:22).  When the Church fails to teach about the seriousness of sin, it is placing the a leaf on sin instead of applying the shed blood of Christ. 

However, sin is not a club of fear a preacher uses to coerce people into accepting Christ or giving the church money to receive forgiveness from God.  This is legalism or works-based righteousness with the congregation living in fear of committing some sin that eternally separates them from God.  Even when God and humanity became separated in the Garden of Eden, God issued a promise of grace through a savior that would defeat the serpent and forgive their sins (Genesis 3:15).  We now know that the savior was Jesus who said, “it is finished” (John 19:30) meaning our debt of sin was paid in full from the cross.  Preaching against sin is not a club to beat people into submission but something convicting to the conscience that directs people to their need for a savior.  However, failure to preach about sin out of fear of offending those in the congregation guilty of covering their sin cheats them of an opportunity to take off their fig leaf covering up for sin and put on the covering of the broken body and shed blood of Christ.  This is sadly the liberal Gospel preached in many churches today resulting in weak Christians who profess Jesus as Savior but do not demonstrate change in their lives.  The balance of legalism and liberalism in the church is the Gospel. 

Jesus’ symbolic illustrations of the need to cut off hands, feet, or remove eyes that cause us to sin illustrate the hatred God has for sin (Mark 9:42-50).  However, His death on the cross, even though he had no sin (2 Corinthians 5:21), illustrates God's love and attitude of grace towards humanity.  The power of the resurrection demonstrates the stepping on the head of the serpent by the seed of the woman, Jesus, making it possible for people to live in victory over sin.

Sin is a serious issue punishable by death (Romans 6:23).  Sin is also present in the life of every individual meaning we all have separation from God (Romans 3:23).  Left in this state, humanity has no hope but God, Genesis 3:15 promised to provide a substitute for our death penalty, his only Son Jesus (John 3:16; Romans 5:8).  However, to cross the rift of separation from God due to sin, people must accept the substitute death of Jesus for God respects our freedom to choose.  If you have never accepted this gift, I invite you to do so now by praying with me,

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

You have now crossed the bridge of the Gospel reconnecting you with God.  I now encourage you to let others know about what God has done for you by sharing this post and letting them know what has happened in your life.  Sin is a serious issue with God, but God is not interested in condemning people to eternal separation from Him but has provided a savior to bridge the rift of sin and restore His relationship with humanity.  May God bless all reading this and may you have a life-changing encounter with God in your life.