SIN: ITS ORIGIN, REMEDY, AND FINAL RESULTS.
By H. Harris
WHERE and with whom did sin originate?
"Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee." Eze. 28:15.
Note.—In Eze. 28:1-19 Satan is spoken of under the figure of the king of Tyrus, and we have his origin and final destiny. How did sin enter the world?
"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." Rom. 5:12. What is sin?
"Sin is the transgression of the law." 1 John 3:4. Of what law is sin a transgression? Answer.—The law of ten commandments. Ex. 20:1-17. Compare with Rom. 7:7. How may we know we have sinned?
"Therefore by the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified in his sight; for by the law is the knowledge of sin." Rom. 3:20. How many have sinned?
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Rom. 3:23. Where does sin exist?
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked." Jer. 17:9.
"But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies." Matt. 15:18, 19. What is the remedy for sin?
"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Rom. 5:8.
"Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners." 1 Tim. 1:15. See also Eph. 1:7. Can we repent of sin, of ourselves?
"Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins." Acts 5:31. Is there power in forgiveness?
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9.
"I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin." Ps. 32:5. See also Ps. 103:11-14; Prov. 28:13; Micah 7:18, 19. Is there a time coming when mercy and forgiveness will no longer be extended?
"He that is unjust, let him be unjust still; and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still; and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still; and he that is holy, let him be holy still." Rev. 22:11. What wages does the sinner receive?
"The wages of sin is death." Rom. 6:23.
"The soul that sinneth, it shall die." Eze. 18:4.
"Sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." James 1:15. What becomes of the finally impenitent?
"Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power." 2 Thess. 1:9.
"For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be; yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be." "But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs; they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away." Ps. 37:10, 20. See also Mal. 4:1-3. Is everlasting destruction eternal misery? and can the wicked be tormented forever and ever, without a place of existence?
What is meant by everlasting fire? Ans.—A fire that is everlasting in its effects.
What is meant by unquenchable fire? Ans.—A fire that cannot be quenched until the substance upon which it preys is consumed. These and similar terms mean complete and utter destruction. See Jer. 17:27; 2 Chron. 36:19, 21. When do the wicked receive this punishment?
"For the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished." 2 Peter 2:9. See also Job 21:29, 30; John 5:27, 28. Since people do not receive their final punishment at death, where are they? and what is their condition?
"For in death there is no remembrance of thee; in the grave who shall give thee thanks?" Ps. 6:5.
"His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish." Ps. 146:4. See also Ps. 115:17; Job 14:10-13, 21; Eccl. 9:5, 6, 10; Isa. 38:18. Since the dead lie unconscious in their graves, exercising no power of mind, can the doctrine taught by Modern Spiritualism of the natural immortality of the soul and the return of the departed spirits of our dead friends, be true? Who only has immortality?
"The blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; who only hath immortality." 1 Tim. 6:15, 16. If God only has immortality, how and where may we obtain it?
"To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life." Rom. 2:7.
"Our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel." 2 Tim. 1:10. When does man receive the gift of immortality?
"Thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just." Luke 14:14. See also 1 Cor. 15:51-54. Can we depend on God's word?
"Heaven and earth shall pass away; but my words shall not pass away." Mark 13:31.
"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." James 1:17.