The Greatest Problem of Mankind

If someone asked, “What is the greatest problem facing the world today?” most people would reply as it being poverty, war, disease, or corruption. Others might mention climate change, injustice, or a lack of education. But the Bible reveals a far deeper, and more destructive problem. A problem that no government, medicine, or technology can solve, and that problem is sin. Sin is indeed the greatest problem of mankind.

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Sin is not a minor flaw in human nature. It is the root of every sorrow, the source of every separation, and the reason why humanity stands guilty before God. Sin destroys relationships, steals peace, blinds the heart, and ultimately brings death. It is the greatest problem of mankind because it separates us from the only One who can give true life, God Almighty Himself.​​ Isaiah proclaimed- “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.”- Isaiah 59:1–2 (NKJV).

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Before we can appreciate the good news of salvation, we must first understand the bad news of sin.

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1. What Is Sin?

The Bible defines sin clearly: “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.”- 1 John 3:4 (NKJV)

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Sin is lawlessness. It is a deliberate choice to violate God’s law, to step outside His will. Whenever man disobeys the law of God, man commits sin. Sin is not merely doing something “wrong” by society’s standards, but it’s disobeying the Creator who made us. The word “sin” literally means to miss the mark. The apostle Paul wrote: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”- Romans 3:23 (NKJV). Every accountable person has sinned. We have missed the mark of God’s holiness. God’s standard is perfection and anything less is sin.

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Sin can be expressed in many ways:

• In thought - impure or hateful desires (Matthew 5:22, 28).

• In word - lying, gossip, or foolish talking (Ephesians 5:4; Colossians 3:9; Matthew 12:36–37).

• In action - theft, immorality, violence, or neglect of good (Ephesians 4:28; 1 Corinthians 6:18-20; James 4:17).

 

In God’s eyes, sin is not measured by how big or small it seems, but by the fact that it opposes His will. And in actual fact, on the sight of God, there is nothing like a big sin or a small sin. God sees every disobedience to his word as sin.

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    2. The Seriousness of Sin

The seriousness of sin lies in who it is against. Every sin is ultimately against God. David recognized this when he repented of his sin with Bathsheba and declared; “Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight.”- Psalm 51:4 (NKJV). Sin offends the holiness of God and provokes His righteous judgment.

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The Bible says:

 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”- Romans 6:23 (NKJV)

The “wages” of sin, what sin earns is death. This includes:

• Physical death, which entered the world because of sin (Genesis 2:17; Romans 5:12).

• Spiritual death, which is separation from God in this life (Ephesians 2:1).

• Eternal death, which is separation from God forever (Matthew 25:46; Revelation 21:8).

 

Sin is not a sickness that heals with time. It’s a spiritual disease that leads to eternal destruction if untreated. The only we can we treat sin is accepting Jesus Christ into our lives for His blood to cleanse if we are not Christians. For Christians, we treat our sins by repenting and asking for forgiveness from God- (1 John 1:9).

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     3. The Nature of Sin

Sin comes in two main forms:

     a. Sins of Commission - This means doing what God has forbidden. Whenever we engage in what the word of God has instructed us not to do, we commit sin.

Examples include but not limited to;

 i. You shall not steal - Exodus 20:15 
 ii. You shall not commit adultery - Exodus 20:14 

 iii. Do not forsake the assembly of the saints - Hebrews 10:25

 iv. Do not tell lies - Colossians 3:9

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     b. Sins of Omission - This means failing to do what God commands. Most of the time, people look at what God has said we shouldn't do, and desist from those acts. To them they are not coming any sin. However, these same people will refuse to do what they know is good such as studying the scriptures, visiting widows and orphans, etc. Refusing to do the right thing is also a sin on God's sight. “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.”- James 4:17 (NKJV)

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Jesus also showed that sin begins in the heart. Even if an action is not committed outwardly, the inner desire or hatred is still sin in God’s sight: “But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment….”- Matthew 5:22 (NKJV).

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Beloved, sin corrupts from within. It darkens understanding, hardens the conscience, and blinds the heart (Ephesians 4:18–19).

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   4. The Universal Universal Nature of Sin

Sin is universal. It affects every person who knows good and evil. No one can claim to be sinless. “There is none righteous, no, not one.” - Romans 3:10 (NKJV) Even the most moral or religious person needs forgiveness. It is very obvious that the human problem is not a lack of knowledge or good intentions, it is not a lack of money, etc, but it is a broken relationship with God caused by sin. “All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way.”-  Isaiah 53:6 (NKJV). 

This verse captures the heart of sin — self-will instead of God’s will. 

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Conclusion and Reflection 

As we have seen from this lesson, the greatest problem of mankind is not poverty, it is not diseases, neither it is war or any other thing. Sin is indeed the greatest problem of mankind. The reminder of this course will introduce you to the origin of sin, its consequences, and what God has done to solve our greatest problem as humans.

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Please take a moment to think about the following:

1. How does the Bible’s definition of sin differ from the world’s definition?

2. Why is sin the greatest problem of mankind?

3. What happens when people try to ignore or excuse their sin?

4. How does realizing the seriousness of sin prepare your heart for God’s message of salvation?