We have a terminal disease in which there is no earthly remedy – only a divine response can save us. Do we realize the seriousness of sin? The Apostle Paul pointed out the systemic nature of sin:

as it is written: “THERE IS NO RIGHTEOUS PERSON, NOT EVEN ONE; THERE IS NO ONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NO ONE WHO SEEKS OUT GOD; THEY HAVE ALL TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME CORRUPT; THERE IS NO ONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.” (Romans 3:10-12)

Paul then pointed out the pervasive nature of sin:

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (Romans 3:23)

We were born with a sin nature and we sin daily in word, thought, and deed. Later on Paul declared that the wages of sin is death. When we fail to realize the serious nature of sin, we may think we can overcome sin in our own strength – the flesh cannot overcome the flesh. That’s why Paul castigated the Galatians:

You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? (Galatians 3:1-3)

When we minimize the seriousness of sin we may think that we can overcome it in our own strength. This was a problem among the religious leaders in Jesus’ day. They minimized the definition and power of sin so they could appear blameless by the power of their own strength. Jesus destroyed this way of thinking in the sermon on the mount as He identified that it’s not just right actions, but it also entails the attitude of the heart. When we see sin as God sees sin, it creates within us a crisis experience and we exclaim with the prophet Isaiah, “Woe is me for I am undone.” This was the revelation Paul came to in his inability to overcome sin in his own strength:

Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin. (Romans 7:24-25)

The good news is that Jesus has paid the price for our sin:

being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, (Romans 3:24)

The word justified means that we have been declared righteous through the redemptive work of Jesus. Paul used the word gift to indicate that it is not through our effort or achievement, but it is an act of God’s unmerited favor. God accepts us just as we are, but He loves us too much to leave us as we are. We are justified in a moment and we are sanctified over a lifetime.

We cannot save ourselves – that’s why we need a Savior. Our sin problem is not a cause for despondency because Jesus Christ has enabled us to walk in victory. Our next lesson will expand upon God’s remedy for sin.