By Jerry Batson, Th.D.
Special to The Alabama Baptist
The fact of sin forms the basis for giving attention to the doctrine of salvation as Theology 101 has done for a number of weeks. In weeks to come we will give thought to the doctrine of sin, the reality of which makes necessary the reality of salvation.
Before considering some of the ways the Bible describes sin we consider this week the convergence of three powerful proponents of sin, whether of sinful attitudes, sinful thoughts or sinful actions. All of us live daily in the vortex formed by these powerful compulsions seeking to lure us into sin. The three work together to become a formidable, unrelenting and unholy trinity. They are commonly referred to as the world, the flesh and the devil.
The world
This common term is sometimes reserved to refer to the spiritual forces that come against us from society around us as enticements to adopt its ways of thinking and acting. “The spirit of the world” is the way 1 Corinthians 2:12 summarizes society’s negative influences. Ephesians 2:2 voices a warning about walking “according to the course of this world.”
Sadly much of life today unfolds under the indictment expressed in the title William Wordsworth gave to a poem, “The world is too much with us.” The world’s shallow glamour and glitz, its enticements and standards, as well as its definition of pleasure and its thoughtlessness about God and His commands lure people into behaviors that are polar opposites of godliness.
We may call it peer pressure or rename it political correctness. The Bible gives God’s summary judgment about the world’s role in tempting people into sin with the charge, “The whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one” (1 John 5:19).
The flesh
Just as “world” sometimes carries a meaning beyond a literal reference to the created order so “flesh” sometimes conveys a meaning beyond the physical component of our bodies. That meaning is of an inward disposition to do wrong. We sometimes refer to this as our bent toward sinning.
In fact, Romans 7:23 describes this inclination toward or openness to sin as a law or principle that works in human beings, making us prisoners of sin. Galatians 5:17 cautions that the desires of the flesh are contrary to those prompted by God’s Spirit and then continues by listing a sampling of sinful deeds that flow from the flesh: sexual immorality and lewdness, idolatry and witchcraft, hatred and discord, envy and selfish ambitions, heresies and dissensions, murder and drunkenness and so on (Gal. 5:19–21).
The devil
From the beginning the Bible simply asserts the existence of the devil as the enemy of God and opponent of all that is upright and praiseworthy. The devil is described as deceptive and dangerous. He is portrayed as a lion seeking whom he might devour. He casts a powerful influence for evil and has the distinct advantage of being invisible. His strategy includes using the world and its enticements while also taking advantage of our inborn inclinations to do wrong to complete the unholy trinity that works together to multiply sinful thoughts and deeds.
A popular comedian in the 1970s popularized the phrase, “The devil made me do it.” But while the devil tempts, suggests and allures he does not make us sin. We choose to sin. He may plant an idea but we nurture the idea into willful action. At the end of the day we are the guilty party and the ones standing in need of salvation.
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