Vol. 11 No. 2 – October, 2013

The Enslaving Power of Sin

Mike Johnson

Man today often pictures sin as a pleasant delight.  Sin, according to many,  is not something to be “avoided” but is something to be “pursued.”  The moral teaching of God’s Word is often looked upon as “old-fashioned,” and those who try to adhere to the high standard of the Bible, and stand upon their convictions, are viewed as “judgmental” and “narrow minded.”

In contrast, the Bible teaches that sin separates a person from God (Is. 59:1-2), and it will cause one to be lost eternally (Rom. 6:23, Ezek 18:20, Mt. 25:46).  The seriousness of sin needs to be understood, and sin should not be looked upon in a frivolous way.   Proverbs 14:9 tells us that it is the fool who “makes a mock at sin.”

Sin also  can have an “enslaving” power.  In John 8:34, Jesus said, “ . . .  Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.”  In Romans 6:16 Paul said, “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”   The  Greek  word (doulos) translated “servant” (KJV) is the same in both verses.  It means “slave,” and is thus rendered by many translations.   It is easy to become a slave to sin!

Consider some ways in which the enslaving power of sin can be seen.  The alcoholic, for example, craves alcohol as a thirsty man craves water.  The enslaving power of alcohol can cause a person to lose his job, his family, and his reputation.   Drug addiction, like the use of alcohol, violates many Biblical principles.  The enslaving nature of commonly used “recreational” drugs is seen as people will frequently turn to crime, even stealing from their own families, to support their “habit.” Cigarette smoking, although generally legal, is another enslaving sin.  Others are addicted to gambling which frequently has very devastating earthly consequences.  Still others are addicted to a “worldly” lifestyle in spite of the teaching in such passages as I John 2:15 which says, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”  Christians are to practice “self control” (II Pet. 1:6), and Paul said that he would not be mastered by anything (I Cor 6:12- NASB)The story has been told about a blacksmith who, many years ago, was imprisoned.  In the dark dungeon, a brief ray of light flickered in.  The man glanced down at the chains on his feet and hands and saw his own initials on the links of chain.  Years before, he had forged the links not realizing that one day he would be bound by them.  Like many people today, the man became a victim of his own devices.

Are we victims of our own devices?  “Sin” is a terrible MASTER who pays a wage of spiritual death (Rom. 6:23).  Do we allow sin to enslave us?  We must not  allow it to do so!