John 15:22
The Charge Is Sin
Most today have seen enough television to know how a court works. Some law
enforcement agency brings a suspect before the judge and charges him with breaking
the law. Then, a prosecutor seeks to prove the charge is true while a defense
attorney seeks to prove it is not. When both have done their part, as best as
they can, a jury determines whether the law was broken and the suspect is either
condemned or freed by a judge.
God, who happens to be the Law Enforcement Officer, the Prosecutor, the Defense
Attorney, the Jury, and the Judge, has issued a charge against all of mankind.
That charge is that we are guilty of sin.
The truth is that God the Prosecutor has a solid case against us. The charge is
sin,
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
It turns out that we have been under surveillance by God the Law Enforcer for
sometime—actually, since the day God created us.
Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by
sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
During that time, ample evidence has been collected.
Jesus is saying in John 15, that one of the reasons He came was to show us just
how sinful we were. He did that both in word and deed. In word, Jesus taught us
what sin is. In deed, Jesus showed us what sinlessness looks like. Now, no one
can say that didn’t know they were a sinner. The "cloke" of sin—ignorance—has
been removed.
Things are pretty bad. Not only has God the Law Enforcer arrested and charged us
and God the Prosecutor has put together an air-tight case against us, but God the
Judge has already degreed the judgment which will be carried out if we are found
guilty.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
That means damnation. We are charged, being prosecuted, and under an eternal
judgment. Our only hope is if God the Defense Attorney can convince God the
Jury that—somehow—we are not guilty. To be honest, the case doesn’t look to
good for us. The evidence is undeniable. We are guilty.
Now, let us break off this train of thought for a few minutes and let’s consider
more carefully the charge that has brought against us. The charge is sin. I
wonder if we understand the charge.
Lost people probably don’t. That’s why they are still lost. They’re too busy
denying the existence of God and His laws to even consider the charges. But do
we?
There are several different Greek words which describe this accusation. Let me
share a few.
I. The first word is translated SIN or SINS.
A. It is used over 500 times in the Bible.
B. Sin is the word most often used to describes the broad category of our
condition.
1. Sin means "to miss the mark." For whatever reason, you missed the
intended goal.
2. The word does not take into account the reason why you missed the
mark, only the result.
3. You could have missed the mark intentionally or accidentally.
a. It does not matter.
b. The charge would still be sin.
c. I recall a time when I was very young, our family had gone to
my father’s old stomping grounds, Pickens County. I imagine
we had gone to visit family, I don’t recall; but out on those
back-wood roads, dad had stopped and pulled out some type of
weapon. I can’t recall for certain, but I think it was a low
caliber pistol. He set up a few cans and tried his hand at
shooting them. Mother was there and she even fired off a few
rounds. I’m sure that Jimmy was there too. He probably took
his turn and finally it was my turn. I don’t recall how bad
my shooting us, but I do know, I missed the target—every time.
The truth is that I was too young to hold the weapon, let
alone steady it, aim it, and hit the target. However, none of
that is important. What is important is that I missed the
target. In Bible language, I sinned.
C. Please, keep this word in your mind.
1. The charge against us is SIN.
2. Sin the broad term used to describe our condition.
3. It deals only with the results and not the reasons.
4. The charge against us is that we have sinned.
II. The second term that I give you is usually translated TRANSGRESSION.
1Jo 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the
transgression of the law.
A. Transgression is more specific than sin.
1. Transgression actually defines what sin is. but it still does not
deal with intent or motive—just results.
2. Transgression mean "breaking God’s law" or "going beyond God’s
boundaries."
a. God is the Designer. He knows what our boundaries are!
b. If we assume to be more than we are, through pride or
rebellion, or if we refused to be what He created us to be,
through laziness or rebellion, then we step outside of the
boundary and we have committed transgression.
B. Some truths:
1. You can be deceived into transgression.
1Tim 2:14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the
transgression.
2. All transgressions will be judged.
Heb 2:2-3 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression
and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; How shall we escape, if we
neglect so great salvation.
III. The third word is translated INIQUITY.
Mt 23:28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are
full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
A. Iniquity is the word used to show intent.
1. Iniquity means to have contempt for the law.
2. It means to live contrary to the law and hints at doing it on
purpose.
3. It is even translated "LAWLESSNESS" once in the Bible.
B. Even though this word might be used of one who deliberately violates
the law, one can commit iniquity and not fully understand it.
1. As a youngster, I did things that I knew was wrong, but I did not
always understand WHY it was wrong or WHAT the consequences would
really be.
2. It is quite probable that if a person really understood hell and
damnation, they would change their behavior in relation to the
Law.
3. They may know what they are doing is wrong, but they don’t fully
understand just how wrong it is.
IV. The fourth word is translated UNGODLINESS.
A. It means to have an active interest against God, to be anti-God.
B. Truths:
1. You don’t have to hate God to be UNGODLY.
Lu 11:23 He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me
scattereth.
2. Ungodliness earns the wrath of God.
Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and
unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Jude 1:15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among
them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all
their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
3. An anti-God spirit will flourish in the end times.
Jude 1:18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who
should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
V. Final truths - There is much more to say here, but I need to wrap this up.
A. Sin is anything that misses the mark.
1. Some think they are not bad enough to be judged, but the charge
is SIN not ungodliness or iniquity.
2. We have ALL missed the mark no matter whether we did it on purpose,
knew what the consequences were, or intended to show disrespect
for God.
B. There is a judgment for missing the mark.
1Tim 5:24 Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some
men they follow after.
1. Sin is the broadest and most general term for the charges brought
against us, but every sin takes us to the judgment.
2. That is, we will be arrested, charged, prosecuted, and judged for
every sin we commit, no matter how deliberate or wicked it was or
wasn’t.
C. We could realize know what the marks are if we knew the Word of God
better.
Rom 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in
his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
D. Jesus came to remove the CLOKE, but He died to remove the SINS.
Gal 1:4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present
evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:
Let’s conclude by going back to our courtroom. We sit in the defendant’s box.
God the Law Enforcer has arrested us and charged us with sin. God the Prosecutor
has more than enough evidence to convict us. God the Judge has already degreed
that if we are found guilty, we will be damned. Our only hope is in God the
Defense Attorney convincing the Jury that we are not.
But, wait, God the Defense Attorney does something totally unexpected. He does
not argue that we are without guilt; but instead, He agrees with the evidence.
He states plainly that it is undeniable—that we in fact are sinners! Now God
the Jury has no choice but to make the ruling official, and we shall be damned
forever.
As our hearts sinks, realizing that all is now lost, the Defense Attorney
exclaims, "But these very sins have already been charged to a Man who Himself was
tried, found guilty, and punished according to the law!"
God the Defense Attorney then rips open His shirt to reveal a deep scar across His
side and shows the Judge His hands which have the marks of having been pierced.
"I was that Man, and I have already paid for these sins!"
God the Judge looks at the scars and then rereads the charges. "It appears, God
the Defense Attorney, that You are correct for I see here where it is written in
blood, Your blood, that these sins are paid in full. I hereby dismiss the case."
Now wait! What has happened? Get this…
1. The question of our guilt or innocence turns out not to be the issue, but
rather, the fact that someone else has already been charged, tried, and
executed for that guilt.
2. Jesus, who today serves as God the Defense Attorney, was indeed charged,
tried, and found guilty of the sins of all who will trust Him as their
Savior.
3. Because of that, the case never goes to God the Jury! God the Judge
dismisses it for the crimes have been paid in full!
This morning, the charge against everyone of us is sin. You have no cloke to
hide behind. Jesus’ coming took that away from you. There is no question of your
guilt. If your case goes to the God the Jury, you will be damned, but you can
have your charges placed on this Man’s blotter. To do so, you must trust Jesus
Christ as your Savior. Will you do so today?
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