227. Sin

“But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.” Gal. 3:22.

1. Sin in the body. 1 John 1:8. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” 1 John 1:8. Sin is crouching at the door, and its desire is for you. Gen. 4:7. Sin is present, but it must not rule. Rom. 6:13-14. “Reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin.” Rom. 6:11. Do not let sin reign by obeying its lusts. When we live and walk in the Spirit, sin (the body of sin) will be destroyed as sin is condemned and put to death in the flesh of Christ. Rom. 6:6; 1 John 1:7; Rom. 8:3.

2. Sin outside the body. “Every sin (transgression) that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.” 1 Cor. 6:18.

Under Point 1, sin is not reigning. Under Point 2, sin rules, producing evil deeds and transgressions. In the first case, where we have sin but do not obey it, there is no condemnation; but whenever we obey its lusts, we also come under judgment and condemnation to the same degree that we have taken pleasure in its lusts. Heb. 11:25. Sin gives pleasure—that is why it is so common—whereas obedience brings about suffering and victory. Rom. 8:18-23; Heb. 2:10; 1 Pet. 4:13 and 17. The more a person obeys sin, the more corrupt he becomes, as it is written: “The old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts.” Eph. 4:22. But by striving against sin, we will be renewed in the spirit of our mind and will put on the new man, which was created according to God in true righteousness and holiness. Eph. 4:23-24.

Sin as transgression, with all of its diverse manifestations—namely, the works of the flesh, the deeds of the body, and dead works—has been adequately explained by the brothers, so I will not say any more about that for the sake of space.