Our broken relationship with God is the biggest consequence of sin. Sin takes humans captive and spiritually kills them, making them powerless to reclaim any positive relationship with God by their own effort.

But if, somehow, our sin could be removed—if someone else could take the punishment we deserve, if it could be paid for and forgiven—then we would be free to enjoy a restored relationship with God. Thankfully, Jesus offers this, and we’ll discuss this in the following chapters.

I think it’s important to grasp how devastating sin is, not only with our minds but also with our hearts. Sin cuts us off from our creator, the being that knows and loves us more than any other ever could. We know God loves humans because he created them in love to bless them, but sin ruins our positive relationship with God. Sin ruins the only thing that really gives human life ultimate purpose—relationship with the God who made humans to be most satisfied and fulfilled in a loving relationship with him. In sin, humans are born with the most important thing missing: the right relationship with God they were created to find their highest satisfaction, purpose, and enjoyment in above all else. The involvement of sin in humanity ruins the most important purpose of God’s creation for humans—it ruins their ability to enjoy all of life with him.

Humanity deserves judgement from God because of their own sinful decision-making. Because Adam and Eve chose to reject God’s instruction with their free will, they prepared themselves and their ancestors to suffer the consequences. This consequence is exactly what they chose—to be cut off from God, to no longer live under His rule, and to attempt to become god-like in their rejection of Him. As sinners, we participate in the original desire of Adam and Eve to reject God in an attempt to steal his throne. It should be easy for any human to admit that we have a deep desire to make ourselves into false “gods”. We’re God’s enemies who consistently reject him, ignore him, rebel against his good instructions, destroy his world, and desire his divine authority for our own selfish ends. Disobedience against God is a curse that dominates the bodies and behaviours of humans. This is why humans are enemies destined for God’s judgement.

Chapter Summary:

• Our broken relationship with God is the biggest consequence of sin. Captive to sin, we’re powerless to reclaim any positive relationship with God by our own effort.

• If our sin could be removed or forgiven somehow, we’d be free to have a positive relationship with God again and no longer suffer judgement. Jesus offers this by his work on the cross, which we will discuss in the following chapters.

• Sin is devastating; it ruins the highest purpose God made humans to have in creation—a positive relationship with him.

• Because of participation in sin, humans are destined for judgement.