Mere Missions

108 • M ere M issions : M oving F orward to M ultiply

and led them into rebellion against their Creator (Gen. 3.1-7). They sought to be the ruler of their own domain and lives. This rebellion against the rightful Ruler and Creator of all things has incurred His wrath and He is justified to judge, condemn, and mete out punishment to the rebels and their rebellion (Gen. 3.8-19). The verdict is guilty on all charges and the punishment was quick, severe (pain and death), and leading to banishment from the righteousness, joy and peace of His rule and reign (Gen. 3.22-24). Everyone must be confronted with the terrible truth of sin and the wrath of God upon sin. (Rom. 1.18; 2.5; 3.23; 6.23; Gen. 3.21-24; Rom. 3.10-18; 2 Thess. 1.7-9; Rev. 19.15b). All of humanity is infected and bound in sin (Romans 3.23) making us enemies of God (Romans 5.10). This is a crisis of incalculable magnitude as the wrath of God could be poured out at any moment (Rom. 1.18; 2.5; Rev. 14.9-11; John 3.36; Jon. 3.7-9). Sin is a cancerous infection that has ravaged the entire human race and threatens its very existence. The plight of man in his fallen condition is pathetic. His maimed, paralyzed, blighted, darkened, blinded, enslaved, fearing, dreading, hating, fleeing, scheming, and plotting condition and attitude make man the most miserable and the most dangerous of all creatures. . . . Sin is moral perversity, social evil, a false direction of mind, affection, relationship and life. . . . Sin is man confronting God in rational (or irrational) disbelief, in volitional disobedience, in brazen self-love, self-rule, self-redemption, self-worship. . . . One sin is incipient war with God and all good, a league with the devil and all evil, a potential hell replacing heaven. It is not merely assault upon the throne of God; it is the blow struck full at the face of the Father.

~ George Eldon Ladd, A Theology of the New Testament.

Sin cannot be overstated. God’s wrath is justified.