Sin

This base runner is coming up short in an attempt to steal second base. He is, in baseball jargon, “a dead duck.” Human beings also fall short due to sin and are, likewise, dead ducks.
Sin is doing what God has forbidden or failing to do what God requires. Every human being is a sinner, as the doctrine of original sin covered on page 4 explains. Scripture verifies this, “There is no one righteous, not even one;” (Romans 3:10). Holy Scripture also tells us that sin is a very serious matter due to the fact that the holy and just God that created the universe has sworn to punish sin. “He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.” (2 Thessalonians 2:8). For God to be holy and just, he must be true and execute justice on sin. The punishment that God has decreed for sin is: “They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power” (2 Thessalonians 2:9). Scripture further tells us that man, without the aid of God’s mercy and grace, cannot respond…. “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day (John 6:44 ). Therefore, it is apparent that man is a sinner and cannot save himself. The answer to this dilemma lies in Romans 6:23 which states: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Thank God for this amazing grace which rescues sinners from the grip and power of sin.