THE PECULIARITY OF SIN
Sin often wears the mask of weakness or frailty and the face of a masquerade pretending to be morally neutral whereas it is a deadly disease that fatally destroys all things along its course. Sin brings about lust, anger, impatience, selfish ambition, harshness, gluttony, dishonesty, gossip, and all nature of godlessness and wickedness. The sinner is blind to his sins and sees himself as superior to others; it seeks selfish ambitions and self-promotion. The sinner usually develops ways of appearing to be godly without preferring and prioritizing God in his heart. Like the scribes and Pharisees, he works hard to appear in certain ways, always quick to judge and condemn others while he secretly protects godlessness in his heart; a case of external cleanliness but internal filthiness. Jesus said of the hypocrites; “This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me” (Mk 7:6). In short, sin is simply an elevation of self-love. This is in line with Satan’s ambition to have his own throne lifted above the throne of the Most High God, the Creator which he paid for very dearly.
Although Sin has its wages which is eternal damnation and death while wickedness will always shout for judgment; nevertheless, the sinner will not stand and watch others rise in power and influence like the Scribes and Pharisees who could not stand to watch Jesus rise in power, in influence and in authority. “And the scribes and chief priests heard it and sought how they might destroy Him, for they feared Him, because all the people were astonished at His teaching” (Mk 11:18) The sinner does not care about the truth as long as he gets through with his own selfish way. He simply cannot sustain his lifestyle without lying about all things; about God, about sin, about judgment, about Scripture, about salvation, about Jesus, and about anything else. The sinner will always trade away the truth to get what he wants. He lies to preserve his status and comfort and in doing so, he will tell every possible lie to betray the truth, not minding the fatal repercussions and damnable consequences of his ignominious life.
The sinner is driven by unfathomable desires and greedy pursuits for power, notoriety, influence and money. Jesus warned His disciples to beware of the scribes, who love to go in long clothing, enjoy salutations in the marketplaces, take chiefly seats in the synagogues and sit in uppermost rooms at feasts. They devour widows’ houses and, in pretence, make long prayers; the Lord said they would receive greater condemnation;(Mk 12:38-40). The sinner spends most of his time, talents, and treasure taking care of his own needs and desires, shows more concerns for himself and less or none for others. The heart of the sinner is stubborn elevating himself, his understanding and his desires above God. The scribes and Pharisees were skeptical of Christ, refused to accept their own Messiah, while crowds of gentile nations with lesser relationship with God and other bible-illiterate people accepted Christ; (Mk 2:2,6). The Jews refused to embrace Jesus as the Christ and Saviour, instead they accused Him of being the devil (Mk 3:22). He was blasphemed and crucified by His own people but ignorantly for the redemption of all mankind.
