Topical Bible: Afflictions: Sin Visited With

◄ Afflictions: Sin Visited With ►

Jump to: Torrey's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

In the biblical narrative, afflictions are often depicted as consequences of sin, serving as divine retribution or correction. The Scriptures provide numerous instances where sin leads to suffering, both for individuals and communities, illustrating the principle that disobedience to God's commandments results in various forms of distress.

Old Testament Examples

1. Adam and Eve (Genesis 3): The first instance of sin leading to affliction is found in the account of Adam and Eve. Their disobedience in the Garden of Eden brought about the curse of labor pains, toil, and ultimately, death. Genesis 3:16-19 describes the specific afflictions: "To the woman He said, 'I will sharply increase your pain in childbirth; in pain you will bring forth children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.' 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.'"

2. The Flood (Genesis 6-9): Humanity's widespread wickedness led to the catastrophic affliction of the Great Flood. Genesis 6:5-7 states, "Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great upon the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was altogether evil all the time. And the LORD regretted that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the LORD said, 'I will blot out man, whom I have created, from the face of the earth.'"

3. Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19): The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed due to their grievous sins. Genesis 19:24-25 recounts, "Then the LORD rained down sulfur and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the LORD out of the heavens. Thus He overthrew those cities and the entire plain, including all the inhabitants of the cities and everything that grew on the ground."

4. Israel's Wilderness Wanderings (Numbers 14): The Israelites' rebellion and lack of faith resulted in forty years of wandering in the wilderness. Numbers 14:33-34 records, "Your children will be shepherds in the wilderness for forty years and suffer for your unfaithfulness, until the last of your bodies lies in the wilderness. For forty years—one year for each of the forty days you explored the land—you will bear your guilt and suffer the consequences of your sins."

New Testament Insights

1. Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5): In the early church, Ananias and Sapphira faced immediate divine judgment for lying to the Holy Spirit. Acts 5:3-5 describes, "Then Peter said, 'Ananias, how is it that Satan has filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and withhold some of the proceeds from the sale of the land? Did it not belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? How could you conceive such a deed in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God!' On hearing these words, Ananias fell down and died."

2. The Corinthian Church (1 Corinthians 11): The Apostle Paul warns the Corinthian believers about the consequences of partaking in the Lord's Supper in an unworthy manner. 1 Corinthians 11:29-30 states, "For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep."

Theological Reflections

The Bible consistently presents afflictions as a means by which God addresses sin, either as a direct consequence or as a form of discipline intended to bring about repentance and restoration. Hebrews 12:6 affirms, "For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son He receives." This perspective underscores the holiness of God and the seriousness of sin, while also highlighting His desire for His people to return to righteousness.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

2 Samuel 12:14
However,, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born to you shall surely die.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 89:30-32
If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments;
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Isaiah 57:17
For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Acts 13:10,11
And said, O full of all subtlety and all mischief, you child of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Mysterious visits.
... Lord Jesus, Thou Thyself hast visited me. ... "Peace! perfect peace! in this dark world
of sin? ... We have no thought of foes, or fears, or afflictions, or doubts. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/till he come/mysterious visits.htm

Forgiveness of Sins in the Church
... each according to the measure of his sin. ... washing of regeneration, tortured by divers
evil afflictions. ... temporal punishments, which are visited upon sinners in ...
/.../augustine/handbook on faith hope and love/chapter xvii forgiveness of sins.htm

Letter cclx. To Optimus the Bishop.
... bodily infirmity, and from the many afflictions which have ... to give Cain an opportunity
of perceiving his sin. But for God's having visited him he might have ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/letter cclx to optimus the.htm

On Repentance
... of other persons who have been visited with the ... in some measure to the gospel, since
sin itself has ... For God sometimes sends the cross and afflictions, by which ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/disputation 17 on repentance.htm

An Advance in the Exhortation.
... For there he mentions the special sin of neglecting so ... torn by the lions, reproaches
and afflictions alike had ... pitied the brethren in prisons and visited them. ...
/.../the expositors bible the epistle to the hebrews/chapter ix an advance in.htm

The Second Homily. On the Annunciation to the Holy virgin Mary.
... in the flesh, and that the tempter of sin might be ... and their joy into shame." [521]
But our afflictions our Lord ... had made in His own image, but visited him in ...
/.../the second homily on the.htm

Spiritual Liberty
... The afflictions of this mortal life are not punishments for ... hath haunted many a house
where sin otherwise would ... who, when she lay a-dying, was visited by her ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/spiritual liberty.htm

Abraham, his Trial in Egypt; his Humility
... Humbleness, looseth sin, [858]300 ... Paul especially, why, [934]396; benefitted by
afflictions, [935]403; crouched to vain-glory, [936]416; thence exiles, [937]418 ...
/.../abraham his trial in egypt.htm

A Prospect of Revival
... Sin is the cause of sorrow, and when sin is put away ... In all our afflictions we may
draw near to the Lord, but ... back it is a proof that God has visited his people ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 62 1916/a prospect of revival.htm

On the Righteousness and Efficacy of the Providence of God ...
... Genesis 1:20, 21.) By the afflictions which were ... from corporal chastisements, yet
he is not visited with them ... the anger of God as the punisher of sin, but only ...
/.../the works of james arminius vol 1/disputation 9 on the righteousness.htm