#11 The Sin Problem and Salvation
- Mar 28, 2025
- 7 min read
Updated: Apr 12, 2025
What exactly happens after death? Judgement? Hell? Nothingness? Clouds, harps, and Angels? Silence and 'Sleep'? A return to dust? Is being trans a sin?
Is there more to life than just what we have here on earth? If there is no life after death, and this life is all that there is, then gosh, let us all party on! Eat drink and be merry for tomorrow ye shall die. Could there be more than just our life on earth?
I can only look to what the Bible says on the matter:
Hebrews 9:27
"And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment"
It is a truth that we will all die in our own time and place. I find it really interesting that one of the earliest books of the bible, Genesis speaks of man's lifetime, and it is remarkably accurate.
Genesis 6:3
And the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not always strive with man, for he also is flesh; yet his days shall be a hundred and twenty years.”
It seems the Bible is right on track with that assessment. The oldest people in the world rarely exceed 120 years old. It is rare to even see seniors reach the age of 100.
James 4:14
For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
This is perhaps my favorite Bible verse. It is evident as you age that each year feels as if it passed by even faster than the last. Looking back as a senior citizen, my life seems shorter than I ever imagined it would be. Life is truly short, like a vapor or a mist. It is a bit of a shock now to realize my life is mostly behind me. This is not good. Why must we die?
"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"
1 John 1:10
If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Romans 5;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"
The Bible says death is because of sin. The sinful nature of man is a problem, sin brings along with it the consequence of death. It is like an unfortunate chain reaction. And I have never heard of anyone who has not died. We all have to die as well. It is pretty clear according to the Bible, we all sin. And that sin brings death. And after death, judgement. We all together, have the 'sin and death' problem.
John 8:1-11
1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst 4 they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. 5 Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” 6 This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. 7 And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9 But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. 10 Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”
Jesus was likely writing each person's sin in the ground. He suggested that those without sin should cast the first stone. Jesus' writing convicted each person, that they were not without sin. Her accusers had all gone away, as they all recognized they all had sin.
And Jesus' answer to the woman when he was finally alone with her was that "neither do I condemn you." Jesus demonstrated his mercy and forgiveness toward even the woman who the law said should be stoned.
Romans 5:18-19
18 Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. 19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
Paul in his letter to the Romans is discussing and contrasting Adam to Jesus. The first man's disobedience caused all men to inherit a sinful nature. And in contrast Jesus justifies all men and makes them righteous. The apostle Paul says our answer to the sin problem is Jesus. Jesus covers our sin and is our salvation.
I believe there is more to life than just our time here on earth. Eastern religions teach of reincarnation or of reaching a higher 'Zen-like' plane of existence. Christianity, including Catholic Protestant and Non-denominational, teaches eternal life. Mormons and Muslims believe in the afterlife. All religions generally do. You would be in the small minority to believe when the physical body dies, that is all there is to it. The bible is full of mentions of eternal life.
John 3:16-21
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
Folks will dismiss Christianity because they believe people are basically good, and a good God would not condemn. But God doesn't actually send anyone to hell. John explains we choose to separate ourselves from God. We keep ourselves intentionally distanced from God because of our own fear of being exposed and for our unbelief.
I can't condemn anyone, nor judge you, even if you are trans like me. In many circles of influence, transgender people are considered the most scorned and evil in all of society. I won't tell you that you are going to hell, as I can't know if you are among those who are called to be saved.
Matthew 25:41
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
I can only tell you what the Bible says: Jesus said Hell was prepared for the Devil and those who are his. And the Apostle John says we judge ourselves for not believing in Christ. You don't have to be worried at all if you believe in and accept Jesus Christ.
Are we willing to step into the light, or continue to hide in the darkness? Jesus does not condemn even those who deserve death if you believe in him and accept him as Lord.
I hid and stayed away on purpose for a while myself. I always kept my trans feelings, ideas, and acting out completely in the closet and secret. My truth is I always felt guilty of wanting to be a female and that it was sinful for me to covet it. I know the feeling, the state of mind of hiding. All I ever did for the longest time was to hide it and keep God at a distance. My crossdressing and acting out was always done in secret. I also did not want Christ, until later when I did.
I remember at Church confirmation service (confirmation in the church meant becoming an adult in the Church and supposedly receiving the Holy Spirit) that at the age of twelve... I sure 'didn't want any' Holy Spirit at that time. And because I didn't want it, I knew I didn't receive it at that ceremony. 'Whew, dodged that bullet!', I thought to myself.
To come out of hiding, you have to step into the light, and need, and want Christ on your own. Not for church members, society, peers, family, or anyone else. I did not become saved through church attendance and ceremonies, and I did not accept Christ until ten years later. In my college years I chose Christ. I admitted I had that sin problem and needed Christ's salvation. Accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and my savior is the best thing that I ever did. I can't imagine my life without my faith, and without knowing I am a child of God.
God loves us so much he sent his only son to die for us all. Jesus did not come to condemn the world but to save it.
Don't separate yourself from God. He wants to you in Heaven for eternity. Choose Christ!
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Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. In Your Name. Amen.
(The sinner's prayer / Billy Graham)
