Whatever Became of Sin?
Title: Whatever Became of Sin?
Category: Devotion
Subject: Sin; Boldness
Whatever Became of Sin?
Dr. Karl Menninger, a world renowned psychologist, wrote a book 35 years ago titled Whatever Became of Sin? (1973). His point is that the discussion of sin is no longer in vogue.
“It says something about our times that we rarely use the word sinful, except to describe a really good dessert.”1 Bill Maher explains, “Everything that used to be a sin is now a disease.”
Dr. Karl Menninger writes, "Recognition of the reality of sin offers . . . real hope."2
Paul straightforwardly deals with the subject of sin in Romans 6:23. He writes, “For the wages of sin is death. . .” (Romans 6:23 a) This speaks of the severe consequence upon guilty sinners.
The death penalty is often up for debate in this country. Mankind is under a death sentence without genuine repentance and faith.
Dwight L. Moody said, "If I can get a man to think seriously about death for five minutes, I can get him saved."
In Romans 11:22 Paul writes about the goodness and severity of God: “Therefore consider the goodness and the severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off."
Paul also writes in Romans 6:23b,“. . . but the gift of God is eternal life. . .” This refers to the supernatural conversion of repentant sinners.
“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
Charles Haddon Spurgeon writes, "Repentance is not a thing of days and weeks . . . to be got over as fast as possible. No, it is the grace of a lifetime, like faith itself. That is not true repentance which does not come to faith in Jesus and that is not true faith in Jesus which is not tinctured with repentance."
John writes in the third chapter of the gospel that bears his name: “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God” (John 3:17-21).
Romans 6:23 concludes with this phrase, “. . . in Jesus Christ our Lord.” This focuses on the steadfast confidence for forgiven sinners.
From Philippians 3:3-11 we discover that Paul does not have self confidence, but a steadfast confidence in the Lord. Paul explained to Timothy his timid son in the ministry, “I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day” (2 Timothy 1:12b).
Dr. Adrian Rogers shared in a radio broadcast on January 15, 1999: "Sometimes when I am interviewed on television the interviewer thinks he is going to put me in a hot box. Make me seem like I am a racist or make me seem like I am a bigot. And so he will eventually ask this question if he is pretty shrewd he will say, 'Do you think a Jew without Jesus is lost?’ Now you can just imagine if you are in front of the modern urbane audience and being interviewed like that, what a question like that says. Because if you say, 'Yes, I believe that a Jew without Jesus is lost.' You number one are looked at as a racist and number two as a bigot. Isn't that right? Of course [it is]. If you say, 'No I believe he's saved.' What you have done is absolutely dishonored the Lord Jesus Christ who died for the sins of all people."3
Paul boldly confesses, "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek" (Romans 1:16). Note that Paul specifically defines the gospel in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.
Someone wisely stated, "Many people know the lingo, but don't know the Lord."4 Make sure you know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord and may we continue to ask and answer the question: “Whatever became of sin?”
1A Treasury of Humor, Lowell D. Streiker (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., 2000), p. 375
2Inspiring Quotations Contemporary & Classical Compiled by Albert M. Wells, Jr. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1988), p. 187 #2471
3Adrian Rogers, Romans Series Tape # 2047PT2 Romans 2 WMOB 1360 AM, Mobile, Alabama, 01/15/99
4Pulpit Helps (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publications, January 1999), p. 6.
By Dr. Franklin L. Kirksey, pastor
First Baptist Church of Spanish Fort 30775 Jay Drive Spanish Fort, Alabama 36527
Author of Sound Biblical Preaching: Giving the Bible a Voice
http://www.webspawner.com/users/franklinlkirksey
Available on Amazon.com and WORDsearchbible.com
“Giving the Bible a Voice” on WNSI Sundays @ 10:30 AM http://www.wnsiradio.com and on Streaming Internet Radio fkirksey@bellsouth.net (251) 626-6210 /
© February 10, 2008 All Rights Reserved
Dr. Karl Menninger, a world renowned psychologist, wrote a book 35 years ago titled Whatever Became of Sin? (1973). His point is that the discussion of sin is no longer in vogue.
“It says something about our times that we rarely use the word sinful, except to describe a really good dessert.”1 Bill Maher explains, “Everything that used to be a sin is now a disease.”
Dr. Karl Menninger writes, "Recognition of the reality of sin offers . . . real hope."2
Paul straightforwardly deals with the subject of sin in Romans 6:23. He writes, “For the wages of sin is death. . .” (Romans 6:23 a) This speaks of the severe consequence upon guilty sinners.
The death penalty is often up for debate in this country. Mankind is under a death sentence without genuine repentance and faith.
Dwight L. Moody said, "If I can get a man to think seriously about death for five minutes, I can get him saved."
In Romans 11:22 Paul writes about the goodness and severity of God: “Therefore consider the goodness and the severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off."
Paul also writes in Romans 6:23b,“. . . but the gift of God is eternal life. . .” This refers to the supernatural conversion of repentant sinners.
“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
Charles Haddon Spurgeon writes, "Repentance is not a thing of days and weeks . . . to be got over as fast as possible. No, it is the grace of a lifetime, like faith itself. That is not true repentance which does not come to faith in Jesus and that is not true faith in Jesus which is not tinctured with repentance."
John writes in the third chapter of the gospel that bears his name: “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God” (John 3:17-21).
Romans 6:23 concludes with this phrase, “. . . in Jesus Christ our Lord.” This focuses on the steadfast confidence for forgiven sinners.
From Philippians 3:3-11 we discover that Paul does not have self confidence, but a steadfast confidence in the Lord. Paul explained to Timothy his timid son in the ministry, “I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day” (2 Timothy 1:12b).
Dr. Adrian Rogers shared in a radio broadcast on January 15, 1999: "Sometimes when I am interviewed on television the interviewer thinks he is going to put me in a hot box. Make me seem like I am a racist or make me seem like I am a bigot. And so he will eventually ask this question if he is pretty shrewd he will say, 'Do you think a Jew without Jesus is lost?’ Now you can just imagine if you are in front of the modern urbane audience and being interviewed like that, what a question like that says. Because if you say, 'Yes, I believe that a Jew without Jesus is lost.' You number one are looked at as a racist and number two as a bigot. Isn't that right? Of course [it is]. If you say, 'No I believe he's saved.' What you have done is absolutely dishonored the Lord Jesus Christ who died for the sins of all people."3
Paul boldly confesses, "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek" (Romans 1:16). Note that Paul specifically defines the gospel in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.
Someone wisely stated, "Many people know the lingo, but don't know the Lord."4 Make sure you know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord and may we continue to ask and answer the question: “Whatever became of sin?”
1A Treasury of Humor, Lowell D. Streiker (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., 2000), p. 375
2Inspiring Quotations Contemporary & Classical Compiled by Albert M. Wells, Jr. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1988), p. 187 #2471
3Adrian Rogers, Romans Series Tape # 2047PT2 Romans 2 WMOB 1360 AM, Mobile, Alabama, 01/15/99
4Pulpit Helps (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publications, January 1999), p. 6.
By Dr. Franklin L. Kirksey, pastor
First Baptist Church of Spanish Fort 30775 Jay Drive Spanish Fort, Alabama 36527
Author of Sound Biblical Preaching: Giving the Bible a Voice
http://www.webspawner.com/users/franklinlkirksey
Available on Amazon.com and WORDsearchbible.com
“Giving the Bible a Voice” on WNSI Sundays @ 10:30 AM http://www.wnsiradio.com and on Streaming Internet Radio fkirksey@bellsouth.net (251) 626-6210 /
© February 10, 2008 All Rights Reserved
