Sin affects every level of human existence, including the sinner's relationship with God, with other human beings and with the environment.
The effects of sin on individuals
Lack of peace of mind
Isaiah 57:20–21 See also Job 15:20–35; Psalm 38:5–8; Proverbs 13:15–22; Lamentations 1:20–21
But the wicked are like the storm-tossed sea, for it cannot be still, and its waves churn up mire and muck. “There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”
Bondage to a continuing habit of sin
John 8:34 See also Proverbs 5:22; Romans 6:16; 2 Timothy 2:16
Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.
Physical death
1 Corinthians 15:56 See also Genesis 2:17, Genesis 3:19; Proverbs 21:16; Romans 5:12–14, Romans 6:21–23; 1 Corinthians 15:22; James 1:15
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
The sinful life is equivalent to death
Ephesians 2:1 See also Romans 7:9, Romans 7:13, Romans 8:10; Colossians 2:13
And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,
The effects of sin on the sinner before God
Uncleanness
Isaiah 64:6 See also Psalm 106:39; Isaiah 6:5; Jeremiah 2:22; Lamentations 1:8; Matthew 15:18–20 parallel Mark 7:20–23
Each of us has become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.
Guilt
Ezra 9:6 The prayer of Ezra. See also Genesis 3:10; Psalm 38:3–4, Psalm 44:15; Isaiah 59:12–13; Jeremiah 3:25, Jeremiah 14:20
and said: “O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, because our iniquities are higher than our heads, and our guilt has reached the heavens.
Separation from God
Isaiah 59:2 See also Deuteronomy 31:18; Isaiah 1:15, Isaiah 64:7; Ezekiel 8:6; Hosea 5:6; Micah 3:4; Ephesians 2:12
But your iniquities have built barriers between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He does not hear.
The effects of sin on Israel
Proverbs 14:34 See also Joshua 7:1–16 Achan's sin; 1 Kings 8:33–40 the consequences of sin for Israel; Isaiah 1:4–9 the plight of Judah; Romans 1:21–32 the condition of humanity
Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.
The effects of sin on the world
The ground cursed
Genesis 3:17–18 See also Jeremiah 12:13; Romans 8:20–22
And to Adam He said: “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat, cursed is the ground because of you; through toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it will yield for you, and you will eat the plants of the field.
The land polluted
Leviticus 18:25 See also Genesis 4:10–12; Numbers 35:33–34; Psalm 106:38; Isaiah 24:4–6; Jeremiah 3:1
Even the land has become defiled, so I am punishing it for its sin, and the land will vomit out its inhabitants.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.