Sin Separates Us From God

Kenneth W. Craig

Sin has dire consequences for God’s creation. Sin involves us in three deaths that influence our relationship with God and His universe.

Spiritual Death

Because God is holy, any sin — regardless of its motivation, magnitude, or consequences — must result in separation from a holy God. “Your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you” (Isaiah 59:2; see Heb 1:13). Because He is holy, God must turn His face away when we sin. This separation from God, the essence of spiritual life, is so dreadful it is referred to in the worst possible term, spiritual death (Ephesians 2:5: “Even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ — by grace you have been saved.” See also Colossians 2:13; Romans 6:23; 1 Timothy 5:6). When our spiritual relationship with God is severed, it is as if the spirit inside our “container” has died.

Mortal Death

Spiritual death is not the only result of sin. We all experience consequences of the first sin of humanity. Before sin, man existed in a perfect state of spiritual fellowship with God. As a result of Adam and Eve’s first sin in the Garden of Eden (refereed to as “the fall”) we will all die a mortal death (Genesis 3:19). Our “containers” will not live forever. Mortal death will befall us all and is a reminder of the seriousness of sin. Other consequences of the first sin were pronounced as well. Man has to work in difficulty and women will have pain in childbirth. The earth is no longer a perfect place but now produces natural disasters which affect all creation (see Genesis 3:14-24). All of this occurred because of the first sin.

While spiritual and mortal death are consequences suffered by each individual, nothing has been don that would deal with sin, that is, remove sin or restore man’s spiritual relationship with God.