WHY SIN IS UNREASONABLE

"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" (Romans 6:1-2)

Devotion 6 of 23

"WICKEDNESS"

In a most remarkable response, the entire city of Samaria heard, and believed the Gospel as preached by Philip. With "one accord" the city "heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did" (Acts 8:5-6). It was a time of singular and magnificent glory. In the wake of Divine influence, "unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. And there was great joy in that city" (Acts 8:7-8). In that city was a man given to occultic practices. This man was unusually influential. Bewitching the people with his sorceries, he had caused astonishment among the people of Samaria "for a long time" (Acts 8:10-11). So powerful was the effect of the preached Gospel in that city, however, that "Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip" (Acts 8:13).

Characteristically, Satan extended himself to corrupt the effects of the Gospel in Samaria. He found an appropriate vehicle in none other than the new believer Simon. Later, when the Apostles came to Samaria and laid their hands on the Samaritans, they received the Holy Spirit. The Scripture records, "And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the Apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying, Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit" (Acts 8:18-19).

The magnitude of this sin is seen in Peter's response to Simon's request. "Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this your WICKEDNESS, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity" (Acts 8:20-23).

Sin has a character of its own, and it is malignant and defiling, corrupting everything it touches. WICKEDNESS comes from a word with a root meaning of badness, i.e. depravity, or malignity, or trouble:--evil, malice, naughtiness. The word means "badness, baseness, cowardice, wickedness, disgrace, and dishonor." Here again, the character of sin is seen. It is to human conduct what rottenness is to fruit and cancer is to the body. For this reason, sin cannot be excused, treated as though it were an innocent expression, or viewed as some form of disease that descends upon people apart from their will.

WICKEDNESS is preeminently dishonoring to God, subjecting Him to reproach. It is also corrupting and defiling to the individual committing it. Sin renders those who choose to live in it unsuitable to be indwelt by Deity or to be used for honorable purposes.

Brief summary

The nature of sin is what makes it unreasonable. It is a violation of God Himself as well as His holy Law. It never brings true advantage, nor yields good fruit. Deception is its mother, and condemnation is its offspring. Temptation is Satan's attempt to make sin reasonable. Those who listen to him will conclude they can be advantaged by transgression. But this is a lie. Neither Eve nor Adam was made better in any way by violating the holy commandment. They soon found how unreasonable sin was. By involving themselves in it, they lost access to Eden's Garden and the tree of life. They no longer could eat of the many trees of that paradise. No longer were they able to walk with God in personal intimacy. Toil, sorrow, labor, and subjection followed in the wake of their transgression. It was totally unreasonable! We do well to learn from them.

PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I ask for grace to see sin as it truly is -- wicked!

-- TOMORROW: THE GLORIOUS EFFECT OF ILLUMINATION --