Fighting the Sin Virus

“Fighting the Sin Virus”
Based on Romans 5:12-19
First delivered Mar. 1, 2020
Rev. Dr. Kevin Orr 

            We can’t avoid hearing about it. Covid-19, commonly called Coronavirus, has the world’s attention. It has all the markings of a pandemic. It is engaging public health services throughout the world. The CDC has a page dedicated to releasing the facts of the situation and what citizens, organizations, businesses, and communities can do to prepare. The spread of the coronavirus is impacting global markets. And, as is everything these days, coronavirus is being used as another means to score political points.

            Why Covid-19 has our attention is that it is a new pathogen that has never infected humans before. It is a new infectious disease. Scientists and medical professionals are having to learn more about this virus and how best to treat it. Because it is new and we don’t know for sure how contagious this virus is or how long someone is actively sick with it causes the need to put people in isolation and consider the possibility to minimize large public gatherings, the temporary closing of schools, the restriction of travel. Although the possibility of any of us catching the virus here is low, the threat is serious. Our prudent response is to do the things we should always do to avoid getting sick. I also recommend you check in with cdc.gov for the latest updates, where you can find solid information.

            I chose to start this message by addressing coronavirus because it is likely something that is on all of our minds. But I also wanted to start there because this passage we heard this morning from Paul’s letter to the Romans is on the subject of sin. And when I think of sin I often think of sin as like a virus. Sin is more than doing bad things or having bad thoughts. It’s much deeper than that. Sin is a pathogen, a parasite, a virus. It is an entity that invades our bodies and souls, working its corrupting influence on us, distorting who we are as those created in the image of God. Sin is an infectious disease of the soul.

            Sin is much more contagious and deadly than Coronavirus or any other infectious disease. We don’t know for sure how Coronavirus spreads from person to person. And we do not yet know the mortality rate for this virus. It could be anywhere from 2% to 5% or more. Many people infected with Coronavirus may only have a mild illness and go undetected. Sin, however, is highly contagious. Now, let me just stop and make sure you understand that what I am doing here is using infectious disease as an analogy for sin. I am obviously not saying that sin is a literal infectious disease. What I am saying is that sin, both in how it spreads and its impact on us has parallels to an infectious disease. That said, if we use Adam as the original host for sin, from Adam the pathogen has spread to every human being. We believe that Jesus is the only human being who was never infected with the sin virus. Every other human has the sin virus in their system. Some would even say it is like a genetic mutation, that we are born with it. The only point I am making is that every human being is infected with sin. The intent of this virus is to work spiritual death in every human being. Sin is a soul killer.

            As we sit here, researchers are scrambling to develop a vaccine against Covid-19. We don’t know how long it will take but a vaccine will not be available any time soon. There are also no medications to treat it. There is nothing for doctors to prescribe. Those who are infected have to ride it out as their bodies do what our bodies are designed to do, attack foreign pathogens and heal itself.

            As for the sin virus, there is no vaccine. But a medicine that cures sin has already been provided. Paul argues that just as the one transgression of Adam was enough to impact every human being, leading to condemnation, so the one righteous act of Jesus is enough to cover the sin of every human being. Because Jesus, the sinless one, died on a cross, this action was the sin virus killer. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross is the medicine that goes to work, destroying the sin virus, delivering people from spiritual death, and bringing about spiritual healing and restoration. This saving act that Jesus performed on the cross, according to Paul, is made available to all people. Jesus did not die for some people. He did not die only for the so-called chosen people. Jesus offered up his life for the sake of all people for all time. This medicine that cures the sin-sick soul is available to all, free of charge, and universally effective.

            But, there are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to applying the medicine of Jesus’ sacrifice to cure us of the sin that plagues our souls. Although the medicine is available to all and is universally effective, the medicine itself must be received to have its effect. As Wesleyan Christians, there are two things that we do not affirm. We do not affirm universal salvation, the idea that all people are saved whether they want to or not. Nor do we affirm limited salvation, the idea that only some people have been chosen by God to be saved and the rest of us are out of luck. We affirm that Jesus died for the salvation of all people, that it is God’s desire that every person be saved, but each person has a role to play in their own healing. Trusting in Jesus for our salvation makes a difference. Willfully rejecting Jesus’ sacrifice for your healing has a consequence. How we respond to the offer of salvation, the healing of our sin-sick souls, has consequences.

            The other thing to remember is that the medicine we receive by trusting in the sufficiency of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross is not limited to one shot, or like taking one pill. I am currently on antibiotics to fight an ear infection. Two pills a day for ten days. It is explicitly written on the instructions, I must take all the pills, even if I am feeling better. That’s fine. But it sure would be more convenient if I could take one pill instead of twenty spread over ten days. That’s not how it works. These antibiotics have to be built up over time to reinforce what our bodies naturally do. Antibiotics are sort of like reinforcements. And it is a process to get things going.

            In the same way, the healing from sin that we receive by trusting in Jesus’ sacrifice is an ongoing process. We don’t just say “yes” to Jesus one time and then we are good to go. Sin, just like a virus, is pernicious. What Jesus did on the cross is the sin killer. But sin reproduces itself and spreads very effectively. You may have noticed that after you accepted Jesus as your savior you didn’t all of a sudden stop sinning. The fact is that the medicine that Jesus provides for us is not a single dose but a lifetime therapy.

            We learn from Paul that when we believe and trust in the saving power of Jesus’ action on the cross, that we are justified, made righteous, before God. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross covers all our sin. But before the sin can be covered by the medicine, it has to be uncovered. The sin in our life has to be exposed. We learn in Paul’s letter to the Romans that the law serves as a tool to identify sin. The law has no power to overcome sin. It is a diagnostic device. The working out of our salvation, the work of healing our sin-sick souls, requires our participation. We have to do the work of exposing our sin to the healing power of Jesus. This is where confession and repentance comes in. Our spiritual healing is a process of ongoing examination and repentance. Especially now, in this season of Lent, we are invited to examine our conscience, acknowledge our sin, and trust that if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

            Finally, I want to encourage you to be honest with yourself and honest with God about the continuing presence of sin in your life. This is not something that we should be shy about or feel a lot of guilt and shame about. Remember, sin is a foreign substance. It is a virus. We will sometimes say, “I am a sinner.” That’s true, but that doesn’t mean you were created in the image of sin. You are created in the image of God. Your true, pure self reflects the image of God. Sin is a distortion of who you truly are. So, don’t get it twisted. Acknowledge sin for what it is, a virus that needs destroyed. Expose your sin before God. Acknowledge it freely. Do not be afraid. This is how this therapy works.

            Hear these words from the psalmist which we find in Psalm 32:3-5:

While I kept silence, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not hide my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord”, and you forgave the guilt of my sin.

            Does this resonate with you? Do you know the feeling of bearing the weight of a heavy conscience? There is no reason to keep your sin secret from God. There is no reason to hide it. All that does is prevent the healing power of Jesus to get in there and kill off that sin virus. Expose it. Expose your sin to the saving grace of God’s forgiveness so that you can be healed. Release yourself from the burden of unconfessed sin. Receive the healing balm provided by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.