By Kathy L McFarland
If a person has the sins of the devil, he cannot love Jesus Christ, understand His message, or even hear His Word. A sinner is blinded, and the Gospel is hidden from them. Sin makes a person a slave and condemned to die. The LORD God punishes the sinner, and the natural effects of sin cause moral depravity, perverse living, depression and distress. This chapter reveals the results of living in the filthy condition of sin.
John 8:38-45
I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham. But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.
42. If a person has the sins of the devil, he cannot love Jesus, understand the message of Jesus, or even hear the Word of Jesus.
2 Corinthians 4:1-4
Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
43. Satan blinds the minds of the sinners which do not believe in the Gospel of Christ. The Gospel is hidden from them that are lost by their own blindness.
John 8:34
Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
44. A person who commits sin is a slave to sin.
1 Timothy 3:1-7
This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
45. A sinful and proud person, who holds a position of authority in Christianity, can receive the same condemnation from the LORD God as the devil will receive.
46. A sinful and disgraced person, who holds a position of authority in Christianity, can fall into the trap of Satan.
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
47. The wages of sin is death
Psalm 38:1-11
(A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance.) O LORD, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore. There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin. For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me. My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness. I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long. For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh. I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart. Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee. My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me. My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off.
Psalm 38:1-2
LORD, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore.
48. The LORD God reprimands a sinner with His wrath.
49. The LORD God disciplines a sinner with His hot displeasure.
50. The LORD God wounds and brings down a sinner through painful pressuring.
51. The LORD God’s anger over sin prevents a sinner’s body from being wholesome healthy and fit).
Psalm 38:3-4
There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin. For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.
52. A sinner does not have peace in his body.
53. A sinner’s perversity, i.e., moral evil, multiplies continuously, overcoming the sinner’s will.
54. The sins of a sinner become a heavy burden that is too heavy for the sinner to carry.
Psalm 38:5
My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness.
55. The pain and injury resulting from the sin causes moral offensiveness and corruption because of a sinner’s foolishness. A sinner will try to escape the terrible feeling of sins through immoral actions or allowing the sin to overtake and eat away the goodness of his soul.
Psalm 38:6-7
I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long. For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh.
56. A sinner is a perverted person that does wickedness and wrong.
57. A sinner is depressed and humbled by his sin.
58. A sinner has a deep and dark sadness even in the light of day.
59. A sinner’s confidence and hope are dried up (health and fitness from clean living) in his body.
Psalm 38:8
I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.
61. A sinner is sluggish and forcefully crushed because of sin.
62. A sinner’s feelings, will, and intellect are distressed and cause the sinner to moan.
Psalm 38:9
Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee.
63. A sinner’s lust and sighs are known by the LORD God.
Psalm 38:10
My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me.
64. A sinner’s feelings, will, and intellect palpitate with their sin. This abnormal conflict between the heart and sin causes irregular exertion, fear, and anxiety.
65. Spiritual illumination and enlightenment leave a sinner.
Psalm 38:11
My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off.
66. Close family, friends, and neighbors stand away from the sinner and his sinful wounds.