Ripples and Redemption Part 1 - A Deeper Dive
The Journey from Sin to Salvation
Scripture: Genesis 16:1-4, 2 Samual 11:1-5
Message Recap
This week, we begin a two-part series in which we’ll examine the collateral damage associated with sin and the power of redemption in our journey toward salvation. We have a tendency to avoid frank and honest conversations about sin, but there really is good news: we have received a clear path to salvation, no matter what sins we have committed in the past or those we might commit in the future.
According to one unknown author, the result of sin can be described as follows:
“Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you there longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.”
At its core, sin is a rebellion against God. It’s choosing our way over God’s way, darkness over light, instant gratification over eternal joy and peace.
Sin doesn’t occur in a vacuum, however. One of the greatest lies about sin is that it’s private; it’s something just between you and God. Unfortunately, marriages, families, extended families, and congregations can suffer from the choices that lead to sin. The indiscretion of a prominent leader can even impact entire nations. For this message, we are not only talking about sin at its point of occurrence but also the collateral damage accompanying an act of disobedience. This is the ripple effect.
We all sin. Paul writes in Romans 3:23 that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” And It’s not just between you and God or you and the person you’ve hurt. Think of the impact of sin as a pebble hitting still water. The ripples begin where the stone strikes the water and continue to spread beyond the point of impact. Without anything in their way, the ripples will ultimately make their way to the shore.
The poor choices we make can have long-lasting repercussions on those around us. But the ripple effect can extend the impact of our sin to people we don’t even know. Sometimes, the people hurt are so far removed from our inner circle that we aren’t even aware of the impact on them.
The Bible provides countless examples of how the sin and disobedience of one person causes collateral damage to others. Here are a few:
Achan removes sacred items from Jericho (see Joshua 6 and 7) despite Joshua’s warning from God that to do so will bring destruction (see Joshua 6:18). As a result, the same army that brought down Jericho will lose in a battle with a seemingly weaker opponent. One man’s sin resulted in punishment for the people of Israel.
Eli’s sons disregard the Lord’s offering and take advantage of women who served at the entrance of the tent of meeting (see 1 Samuel 2). The Lord knew of their sins and cast judgment on the house of Eli. The two sons died at the hands of Philistine invaders, and on that same day, the Philistines captured the Ark of the Covenant. All of this resulted from the sin and disobedience of Eli’s sons.
King Solomon was one of the wisest servants of God found in the Old Testament. Yet, late in his life, he slowly turned away from the God of Israel and began to honor and worship the gods of his foreign wives. The Lord was so incensed with Solomon’s actions he tore away the kingdom from Solomon and his descendants, except for one tribe that remained with David. Solomon’s disobedience resulted in his family’s loss of the kingdom and the division of Israel. (see 1 Kings 11)
Paul writes in his letter to the Romans, “12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—” (Romans 5:12 NIV) The sin of one man, Adam, rippled and brought consequences upon all of humanity.
These illustrations underscore the biblical truth that our actions, especially those that go against God’s commands, have consequences that can go far beyond ourselves. They can affect families, communities, and even entire nations. The stories of sin and its consequences are a sobering reminder of the importance of obedience, integrity, and following God’s commands.
It is easy for us to acknowledge our mistakes and apologize to the person immediately impacted by our poor choices. But what about the ripple effect?
This week’s scripture readings describe the sins committed by two men who, without a doubt, had the favor of God. They are Old Testament heroes who exemplify being godly men. We know Abram (who became Abraham) and King David more for their righteous acts than for their transgressions.
God promised Abraham that he would become the father of many nations. Yet as Abraham grew older and Sarah, his wife, had been unable to conceive a child, they began questioning God’s plan. Sarah offered Abraham her servant Hagar in hopes that a family could be created through her. While having children with a servant was acceptable in ancient culture, it was definitely not part of God’s plan for Abraham and Sarah. Hagar ultimately gave birth to Abraham’s son Ishmael. Abraham and Sarah followed their own plan, one that was fully acceptable to the world, rather than being patient with God.
The result of Abraham and Sarah’s disobedience started as resentment. Sarah mistreated Hagar until Hagar fled with Ishmael. Sarah would give birth to a son, Issac, just as God had promised. However, the resentment remained. It is believed by some that Ishmael became a forefather of the Arab people and, by extension, an ancestral figure of Islam. The Jews and the Muslims have been in conflict ever since.
King David had the favor of God like very few. Yet, his lustful temptation led to an affair with Bathsheba that resulted in a child. He lied about the affair and carried out a plan to cover up the matter. The plan resulted in the death of Bathsheba’s husband Uriah. David’s sins were not just personal insults to God; the entire Israelite community felt the repercussions. His people held David in such high regard that his failures caused distrust and disillusionment, ultimately leading to conflict within the nation. Bathsheba was left a widow, and her family had to deal with the aftermath of the unjust death of Uriah. The scandal tore apart David’s family, and relationships were never the same.
While these examples of sin’s ripple effect are large in size and scope, the impact of small sins can be equally devastating. Something as seemingly minor as gossip can ruin close friendships and change how people act toward one another. Whenever we gossip, act deceitfully, or hurt another person, it’s not just about that momentary lapse. Sin is like ripples in a pond. Those actions spread unimpeded and impact more people in more ways than we can ever know.
So, what can we do to prevent the ripple effect of our sins and missteps? The simple but not very useful answer is don’t sin. Unfortunately, by our very nature, we are sinful people. We can take measures to avoid temptation, resist deceit, and push back on the pressures of the world to do things that go against God’s will. But, in the end, we still find ways to disobey and turn away from God. There is good news, however. Just as sin creates ripples that impact far beyond us, so can good deeds. Acts of kindness and righteous decisions create ripples of good in the world. The positive ripples that occur when we seek forgiveness, make amends, extend love, and offer grace can change the world.
We may never see the full impact of our good deeds, just as we likely won’t know the full effect of our sins on others. Nonetheless, we are called to counter our sinful nature with acts that reflect the love and grace of God. Let us be creators of ripples that bring joy, peace, healing, love, and grace to those around us and those beyond.
Are All Sins Equal Before God?
Earlier, we described the examples of sins and consequences taken from the Old Testament as large in size and scope. As such, the ripples of these misdeeds greatly impacted people, both in numbers and degree. Of course, there are less severe transgressions that still go against God’s will. Consider the gossip example we used. But, just because sins can vary in severity, the fact that all sin separates us from God still applies.
Theologians have spent centuries debating whether all sin is equal or if God sees degrees of severity. It is difficult and dangerous to try and rank sins based on their seriousness. Yet it seems obvious that some sins are worse than others. Certainly, in Old Testament times, punishment for sinful behavior varied based on severity. For instance, in chapter 5 of the Book of Exodus, there is a whole section devoted to various penalties for stealing someone’s property. Leviticus chapter 20 is entirely dedicated to the punishment of sins.
In the New Testament, we find Jesus’ teaching that if a servant knowingly acts against their master’s will, they would be more severely punished than the one who didn’t know (see Luke 12:47-48). This is clearly a metaphor for God’s people. He also taught that the hypocrisy of the teachers of the law and the Pharisees was more offensive to God than many of the sins committed by those they led (see Matthew 23:13:36).
Regardless of whether our sins are small or great, they separate us from God. The good news is that Jesus paid the penalty for our past, present, and future sins. Punishment for our transgressions has been replaced with grace. To enjoy a reconciled relationship with the Father, we must only repent and place our faith in Jesus.