p. 1 | The Evilness of Sin by X.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Aug 23, 1899

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 25, No. 34.

The Evilness of Sin

By X.

Sin.—The root idea of sin is "missing the mark." God's mark of character is His own perfection. His requirement is, "Ye shall be holy; for I Jehovah your God am holy." Lev. 19:2; 1 Peter 1:15, 16. As a rule of action, a standard of character, God gave man His holy law; for "the law is holy." Rom. 7:12. Missing this mark is sin; for "sin is the transgression of the law"—an inspired definition. 1 John 3:4. As the law covers all holiness, any departure from it is sin. The same great truth is expressed in these words: "They are all gone out of the way;" "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Rom. 3:12, 23. The glory of God is His goodness, His holiness. Ex. 33:18, 19. Coming short of God's glory is missing the mark.

The Evilness of Sin.

No one paragraph can describe its satanic deceitfulness, its awful badness. Suffice to say, in the language of Scripture, that "all unrighteousness is sin;" and "sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." As the tempter presents sin, oftentimes clad in gorgeous beauty, oftentimes the picture of slumbrous and dreamy ease, of great wealth and luxury, of pomp and power, of fame, of pleasure, it does not seem death. Its first deviation is so small, the stultification of conscience so slight, and the reward seemingly so great and full of possibilities for good to a self-blinded vision—sin does not look to be evil. And yet, the beautiful dress is but a cloaking of corruption. Under the fair mask of the tempter is the hideous, repulsive form of death. Its soft, pleading voice is but the breathing of incipient decay, luring to a destruction as deadly as itself. Sin is the leprosy of the soul. It comes so stealthily, so deceptively, so insidiously, paralyzing the nerves—thus stupefying those sentinels of warning—that the soul is loth to believe it present till its ravages are apparent; and then oftentimes leaden despair or damnable lust dooms the brightness of life remaining. Sin is satanic. Its fruit is a devil and his angels.

Jesus put forth His hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

All that Satan is in deception, in craft, in malice, in cruel malignity, to be ended at last in eternal death, sin is responsible for.

Its Detector.

There is but one detector of sin in all the universe—God's Word, God's law, as it is in Jesus. "By the law is the knowledge of sin." Rom. 3:20. "Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law; for I had not known lust [coveting], except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet." Rom. 7:7. Man may by his own light seek his own heart; he will return deceived and disappointed. "The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is desperately sick; who can know it?" Jer. 17:9, R.V. Only God, as the next verse declares: "I the Lord search the heart." "For the Word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart." Heb. 4:12. Would you know sin?—With open heart study God's law, the great moral mirror. Let the living active word reveal the condition. Take in simple trust the diagnosis of the Great Physician.

Not flattering

Not flattering to any soul of man is the result of God's examination. Many an ailing body fears to go to the skilful physician, fearing that the verdict will be tuberculosis,—the great white plague,—Bright's disease, leprosy, or some other "incurable" malady. But if such a course is unwise in a physical matter, how much more in the spiritual world! Go, then, to the Great Physician. He will say first of all that you are "desperately sick," with all the rest of humanity; for "all have sinned." All are afflicted with the

moral leprosy. And in many cases, "the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the soul of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores." Isa. 1:5, 6. Believe it; this Physician will not deceive; and He points out your true condition that He may heal you; yea, your "incurable" disease He will heal, if you will only believe. He will save even "to the uttermost."

Will He Do It?

Will He Do It?—Most surely He will. Speaking of the sinner, He declares, “I have seen his ways, and will heal him.” Sinful tho we are, how we naturally repulse the vile and base and criminal! Mankind in all ages have fled from the leper. But when Jesus Christ walked the earth He revealed His wondrous love and power in His treatment of this type of sinner. Among those who came to Christ, in whose hearts His name and work had kindled hope, was a leper. Others were brought by friends; the leper was forced to come alone. Those who saw him approach, shrank from his presence, the disciples of Christ among the rest. But the leper sees but one Person, Jesus, the Great Physician. He presses forward as rapidly as his decaying body will permit. Jesus does not flee from him; hope kindles. He falls at the Master’s feet, with the half-doubting prayer, “Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean.” And the merciful Jesus puts forth the hand ever extended to bless, and touches the leper, and with voice which thrilled every diseased fiber, responded, “I will, be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.”

For you, sinful soul, is this written. You are the leper; Jesus is the Great Physician. Go to Him in all your uncleanness, and you shall have cleansing. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” You do not need to wait. The leper was immediately cleansed. The word of Christ cleansed him through and through. So Jesus said to His disciples, “Now are ye clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.” God’s cleansing is yours now, by the power of His grace, if you will appropriate it by faith. With open arms and nail-pierced hands He freely offers the treasures of His grace, purchased at an infinite price, that you might be free from sin; and “if the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” X.