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Genesis 3:6
And when the woman saw that the treewas good for food, and that itwas pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to makeone wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

Genesis 4:5-8
But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell…

Job 15:35
They conceive mischief, and bring forth vanity, and their belly prepareth deceit.

sin, when.

Genesis 2:17
But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Genesis 3:17-19
And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursedis the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eatof it all the days of thy life; …

Psalm 9:17
The wicked shall be turned into hell,and all the nations that forget God.

it gives birth to sin
The birth of sin from desire indicates a progression from internal temptation to external action. This reflects the biblical understanding that sin is not merely an act but a condition of the heart (Romans 3:23). The language of birth suggests inevitability once desire is fully embraced, highlighting the importance of resisting temptation early. This concept is mirrored in the story of Cain and Abel, where God warns Cain that sin is crouching at the door (Genesis 4:7). The birth imagery also contrasts with the new birth in Christ, emphasizing the need for spiritual rebirth (John 3:3).

and sin, when it is full-grown
The idea of sin maturing suggests a process where sin becomes more entrenched and dominant in a person's life. This reflects the biblical theme of the deceitfulness of sin, which hardens the heart over time (Hebrews 3:13). The growth of sin can be seen in the lives of biblical figures like King Saul, whose initial disobedience led to a complete rejection of God (1 Samuel 15). The concept of sin maturing also warns of the cumulative effect of sin, which can lead to greater bondage and separation from God.

gives birth to death
This final outcome of sin is consistent with the biblical teaching that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Death here refers not only to physical death but also to spiritual death, which is eternal separation from God. The imagery of birth leading to death is paradoxical, emphasizing the destructive nature of sin. This concept is rooted in the Genesis account, where sin leads to the curse of death (Genesis 2:17, 3:19). Theologically, this underscores the need for salvation through Jesus Christ, who conquers death and offers eternal life (1 Corinthians 15:54-57).

Desire itself is not yet sin, but it is the seedbed where sin takes shape. Scripture warns that unchecked desire quickly turns dangerous:

•Matthew 5:28 reminds us that “everyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart,” showing how inward longing precedes outward action.

•Romans 7:8 speaks of “sin, seizing its opportunity through the commandment,” illustrating how desire can be stirred toward rebellion when we entertain it.

•Galatians 5:16 encourages believers to “walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” The preventive remedy is a Spirit-directed life that redirects desire toward God.

Once desire is welcomed, it moves from conception to delivery—actual sin. The Bible paints this progression clearly:

•Genesis 3:6 traces Eve’s journey from seeing the fruit as “desirable” to the decisive act of eating.

•Mark 7:21-23 lists the evils that “proceed from within and defile a man,” confirming that inward desire produces outward deeds.

•Romans 6:12 urges, “Do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its desires,” highlighting personal responsibility to refuse sin’s rule.

Like a birth, the moment of sin feels immediate, yet it is the culmination of earlier compromises in the heart.

Sin is never content to remain small; it matures. What starts as a single act can solidify into a habit and then a character. Consider:

•Psalm 1:1 traces a downward path—walking, standing, sitting—increasing comfort with wickedness.

•Proverbs 14:12 warns, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death,” exposing how sin’s maturity deceives.

•Romans 1:28-32 shows sin expanding into a catalog of corrupt behaviors once people “did not see fit to acknowledge God.”

The picture is of sin growing like a child into adulthood—stronger, more settled, more destructive.

The final stage is inevitable unless interrupted by repentance and grace. Death appears on multiple levels:

• Spiritual death—separation from God here and now (Ephesians 2:1).

• Physical death—part of the curse introduced through sin (Romans 5:12).

• Eternal death—the “second death” inRevelation 21:8 for those who persist unrepentant.

Romans 6:23 states the conclusion succinctly: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Only Christ’s atonement breaks the cycle, substituting life where death naturally follows.

James 1:15 sketches a sobering yet straightforward progression: entertained desire becomes deliberate sin; deliberate sin, left unchecked, develops into a lifestyle; that lifestyle culminates in death. The verse calls believers to interrupt the cycle early—guarding the heart, refusing the first surrender to sinful desire, and clinging to the life Christ freely offers.

The one effect of sin, more especially that of the flesh here alluded to, must be Death. The act itself is mortiferous, the result inevitable; just as much so, and as naturally, as the work of poison on the body. There are antidotes for both, but they must be given in time; the door of mercy stands not always open, nor will the "fountain opened . . . for sin and uncleanness" (Zechariah 13:1) flow on for ever. "Because," says the Wisdom of God (Proverbs 1:24-26), "I have called, and ye refused . . . I also will laugh at your calamity." "The wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23), and their paymaster is the devil.