The Worst Sin
Mankind has inhabited this planet we call earth for thousands of years. In this time, we have managed to do both good and bad things. Human beings have accomplished many amazing and noble things. Unfortunately, we also have the capability to commit revolting atrocities.
Any catalog of human misdeeds would include war, torture, terrorism, genocide, tyranny, murder, rape, bigotry, hate, blasphemy, vandalism, theft, lying, and other forms of dishonesty. Perhaps you would add other things as well.
Rid humanity of these deeds, and, our world would seem to be utopia. Missing in this and virtually all other such listings of misdeeds is the one sin that is the mother of them all. This missing sin is the one the Bible elevates above all others. The one, and only sin that, condemns people who commit it, to hell fire.
What could possibly be worse than war, torture, tyranny, murder, rape, etc.? Worse than these horrific deeds is the mindset that conceives them. It is the mindset of unbelief.
Unbelief is the mother of all sins. Unbelief breeds independence from God, and causes us to rebel and turn on our fellowman. Unbelief, according to the Bible is the sin at the top of God’s list of sins.
Rev. 21: 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
John 3: 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
John 3: 36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
John 8: 24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
2 Thess. 2: 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Unbelief was the first sin ever committed by Mankind. Satan cast doubt into Eve’s mind in the Garden of Eden, and that doubt led Eve to unbelief that God meant what he had said to her and her husband Adam regarding the forbidden fruit. (Gen. 3:1-5)
Unbelief caused Cain to bring the wrong sacrifice and ultimately kill his brother Abel. Unbelief doomed those people Noah warned of the impending flood. Unbelief caused the Jews to reject Jesus of Nazareth and so they had him crucified.
When a person plots a crime in the mind, there is some point when that person ceases to believe in the rule of law, and the stated consequences of offense. They disbelieve they will be caught and brought to justice.
Marriages end in divorce when one or both spouses cease to believe in the sanctity of their marriage. Unbelief is the mother of all sin and sorrow in this world.
Unbelief is the great disease of humanity. It disables, debilitates, and eventually destroys everyone infected by it. Unbelief prompts the hopeless to commit suicide, reckless acts of violence, and insanity.
All of the great errors of humanity have at their conception this sin of unbelief. Evolution could not have been hatched, in the mind of Charles Darwin and others were it not for a blatant unbelief in God. There would be no tyrants if men truly believe they are accountable to God.
Abortion would not exist if mothers, medical professionals, politicians, and citizens believed the Bible’s statement that life begins at conception. There would be no murder if everyone believed human life is sacred, as it is declared to be in the Bible.
Homosexuality and all of the many sickening forms of deviant sexuality would cease if people believed God has declared these things an abomination to him.
One might interject at this point; there are many, many belief systems in the world. And it can be argued most people believe in something or someone, or some ideology of some kind.
Surely, this is true of humanity: there are indeed many forms of belief in the world. Humanity is unique in all of creation in our capacity to believe in a stated system of values. The remainder of creation lives on the basis of adjustment to their environment rather than any system of moral values or beliefs.
At the top of this issue of belief obviously is the object of that belief. Not all beliefs are equal. Nor is the issue sincere belief alone. It is vital; it is essential one’s belief, be established upon absolute truth.
Virtually all practitioners of religion and politics are sincere in their belief in the dogma of their particular system. Karl Marx actually believed in the nonsense that came to be known as Marxism. Joseph Stalin believed in socialism, Mao tae Sung believed in Communism.
Osama Bin Laden passionately believes in Islamic fundamentalism. The Pope believes in Roman Catholicism. Barrack Obama seems to believe destroying America as we have known it is good for the future of the world.
The KKK believes the world would be better without blacks. Arabs believe the world would be better without Jews. The point is, all of these people believe something, and believe it passionately. They are so convinced of their beliefs; they are taking decisive steps to impose their beliefs on the rest of us.
On this, much we all agree: not every one of these above belief systems CAN be the correct belief! Some in this list must be wrong! The issue remains, how is it to be determined who is right, and who is wrong?
Some would say the view of the majority is right. Well, history proves that in many instances the majority has been wrong. Others would say science should be the arbitrator of correctness. Yet, again, science has been wrong many, many times.
There are those in the world today that embrace rationalism as the great discerner of wisdom. Yet, one individual’s rational view will certainly eventually infringe upon another person’s rational view of things, and there will be conflict.
Does anyone among us still believe human government is the answer? Insanity is defined as, repeatedly doing a thing the same way, and expecting a different result.
It is obvious then, that belief alone is insufficient. Sincerity alone is not enough. One’s intentions may indeed be noble honorable, and sincere, yet one’s belief system can be absolutely flawed and wrong.
I realize immediately, there are many who are not going to appreciate or even kindly consider the Bible as the one and only source of absolute truth in the world. In fact, such an assertion is sure to provoke a firestorm of vehement animosity and anger directed at me.
Yet, in all of the history of the world, no volume has so weathered the sands of time, and critical analysis as the Holy Bible. Whether you agree with me as to its inerrancy and divine inspiration, it is arguably the greatest book on human nature, behavior, and government the world has ever known.
It has proven to be exceptionally accurate in all of its assertions and prophecies. It exalts all races, genders, and cultures to equal status. It renders law fairly and justly to all peoples.
It calls for freedom, justice, equity, and order for everyone. It punishes violence and evil. It provides for prosperity and advancement of individual, family, and society. It makes everyone accountable to one Supreme Being rather than a flawed person or human system.
The world can do a lot worse, than adopt the Bible as the supreme authority in the world.
But let’s get back to our topic of unbelief, the greatest sin a human being can commit. We have considered the possibility, and reality that other belief systems exist. Why then is unbelief in the God of the Holy Bible the greatest sin?
While there are numerous other “holy books” in the world, only the Bible declares itself, inspired of God and a closed revelation of divine truth.
2 Tim. 3: 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2 Peter 1: 19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
Rev. 22: 18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
Revelation 22:18, 19 effectively render any claim of a “holy revelation” later than John’s Revelation, an imposter and counterfeit. This invalidates the Quran, the book of Mormon, and many others including the papal edicts which the Roman Church claims to carry the weight of scripture.
Many stumble over the Bible’s rigid and specific dogmatic claims. They prefer a faith that admits the possibility of error and future revelation. In reality, they want a book that is evolving rather than finished.
I agree the Bible makes some astounding claims and assertions. It draws a narrow, straight line between right and wrong, and leaves room for worship of only one person Jesus Christ.
To the Bible’s detractors I want to point out, that only a book based upon absolute truth would dare take such a narrow position. Unless its claims are true, no book could hope to survive a single generation of scrutiny, let alone thousands of years of vicious attacks.
There are more ancient copies of the Bible than any other book ever written. How can this be unless it has proven itself reliable over the eons of history?
God could have provided more specific answers than he provided. He could have given us a more detailed record of many things. But the fact remains in everything he did provide none of it has successfully be refuted or disproved in six thousand years of history.
God chose to limit the details for a specific purpose. He consistently states this purpose throughout the Bible. He has chosen to redeem humanity, based on faith rather than human accomplishment or some other method.
It is his right and power as the Creator to choose how he reveals himself to Mankind. I am amazed at how infuriated humans are at God’s insistence upon faith in him, when we demand the same thing every day.
We go to the doctor and the doctor exams us and begins to explain in medical terms what is wrong. We do not understand very much about anything he or she tells us, but we are encouraged by our doctor, the greater medical profession, and society to just trust and believe what our doctor says is true.
Scientists do the same thing. They announce a new discovery or fact, and they explain it in terms no layman can understand, but we are encouraged to accept what the scientists tell us.
Our government’s leaders do this all the time, so do corporations, and all sorts of other entities. We are supposed to accept their word and works as factual, yet we take the opposite stance with God and the Bible!
The other day someone suggested that science is different because scientists post their methods and findings and other scientists prove their work. This person suggested somehow that the Bible is different from this process.
Scientists post their words and works in terms only other scientists can possibly comprehend. The Bible, even the King James Version (English) is written on a six grade reading level and is open for the entire world to read, study, critique, and prove in the real world.
The Bible has made statements so dogmatic that virtually anyone can understand the claim made, and yet the world’s powerful and elite cannot prevent it from fulfilling its statements.
The Bible has been critiqued, more than any volume the world has ever known. And it has been validated in the everyday lives of hundreds of millions of people in every culture, every age group, and every century in history.
It has been retranslated, and abridged to include study helps, but the original text has not been altered in any way since it was first written. Not one single assertion in the original has been omitted, changed, or amended except in the liberal translations produced by people that publically attack the doctrines of inspiration and inerrancy.
Pagan religions and cults could not exist if everyone believed the Bible. Radical extremists could not kill and plunder if everyone believed the Bible. Murder would end, abortions would cease, if the Bible was hallowed throughout the world.
The world would be a safer place, a more civilized place if humanity believed the Bible. There is not an issue facing humanity today the Bible does not address. All it requires is a simple, child-like faith that God is sovereign, His word is true, and His Son Jesus Christ is King, and the world would immediately be a better place to live.
I know there are people who will read this that will do everything in their power to see that the Bible is never the supreme authority in the world. They would love to rid the world of every Christian, and every Bible on earth. They do not want to even think about God.
Actually, the Bible has a special passage for this kind of person:
Romans 1: 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful;
I also know there are some of these very kind of people who are in places of power and influence throughout the world. They are moving every day to limit the freedom and influence of Christians all over the world.
These people have been around throughout history. Every despot that moved to eradicate the Bible and Christianity from the earth died in failure. It is the very nature of evil, that if evil actually had the power to overcome God and good, it would have already done so.
Evil cannot win. Evil people cannot win. The Bible is completed, it is finished. Anyone who chooses to do so can read the last book, the last chapters, and the last words. God is on His throne forever, and God wins.
There are ultimately two types of people in the world today. There are those who have become convinced the Bible is right, and its claims are true. These people have humbled themselves and confessed themselves the sinners God has declared them to be, and placed their faith in God’s only Son Jesus Christ.
The other type of people are those who refuse to believe, and commit the greatest sin, the worst sin a human being can commit. They commit the sin of unbelief and are condemned by almighty God. (John 3:18)
Some people would say, hey, don’t put me in that other group just yet, I need a little more information before I decide. Read these next words very carefully my friends.
I John 5: 5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. 9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. 10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. 11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
Heb. 10: 26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 28 He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
As I stated before, the Bible has made some profoundly narrow and direct statements. They are either true or false. People like myself are among the hundreds of millions around the world and throughout history who have chosen to confess our sinfulness and choose to believe the Bible as the word of God, and accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.
There is a mistaken belief that Christians want to impose our belief system on the rest of the world. This is patently not true. God does not impose himself upon human beings, and Christians are not in this world to impose ourselves upon other people either.
We share the message of the Gospel and the Bible in obedience to the commands of Jesus Christ who gave us the Great Commission. (Matt. 28:18,19)
You are free to reject the Bible and Jesus, and for that matter, you are free to dislike and even hate me and all other Christians. But you are not free to ignore the truth.
You must decide to believe or reject the truth of the Bible. God is not going to prove himself to you in a science lab, or hit you with a lightning bolt. He has already given you all you need to make the right choice. It is a choice to believe or not believe. It is about simple faith, and that is the only way you can know God.
Today, Christians are very much a minority in America and the world. We have chosen to bow before the Lord Jesus Christ here in this life. But make no mistake about this, everyone who has ever lived including the rich, famous, and power, as well as the renowned scientists and intellectuals will bow down before Jesus Christ, and they will confess that he is who the Bible declared him to be, the Son of God, and King of kings.
Phil. 2: 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Rev. 5: 11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; 12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. 13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
You, my friends are free to disbelieve these words from the Bible, but you do so at the peril of your eternal soul.
The great horrors of hell will be unrelenting forever, yet perhaps the greatest torment of all will be the continual, unabatting thought, “I could have avoided all of this torment if only I had simply believed the Bible!”
God does not require great works, great character, or vast riches. He only requires simple faith in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the one thing every one of us are capable of doing.
Some no doubt will accuse me of writing hateful things in this article. I have only love and compassion in my heart for humanity. I have only written things that are declared to be true in the Bible. I am nothing more than a sinner who came to believe Jesus Christ died for my sins, and I received him into my heart and life.
I am not in the business of judging people. I do not look down on any one for any reason. I share the message of the Bible as an act of love and concern for all mankind.
I ask you to take the words you have read and ponder them in the deepest recesses of your being, and ask whether you are prepared to die in your current spiritual condition.
If you are a believer in the Bible and the Lord Jesus Christ, you are ready to live, and you are ready to die. If you are not a believer yet, I encourage you to bow right now where you are, and pray a simple prayer of faith in Jesus Christ.
If you do not know what to say to God, you can use these simple words, just adopt them as your own, from your heart to the heart of God.
Pray, “Dear God, I believe the Bible to be your word to me. I confess my sinfulness to you, and I ask you to forgive me for Jesus’ sake. I confess him as my Lord and Savior right now. Please come into my life. Thank you for saving me. Amen.”
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