Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the Lord said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.” [Genesis 6:5-7 NKJV]

A true understanding of sin and its effects are not only essential, but it is the first step to salvation and life.

Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. [Genesis 6:5 NKJV]

1. Sin is an internal matter.

The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” [1 Samuel 16:7b NLT]

But the words you speak come from the heart—that’s what defiles you. For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. [Matthew 15:18-19 NLT]

Sin is an internal matter and we all are infected.

2. Sin is pervasive.

Even our best is always spoiled by our essentially sinful nature.

“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?” [Jeremiah 17:9 NLT]

3. Sin brings judgment and death.

And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the Lord said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.” [Genesis 6:6-7 NKJV]

Now God saw that the earth had become corrupt and was filled with violence. [Genesis 6:11 NLT]

Wickedness always manifests itself in violence.

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. [Romans 6:23 NLT]

But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. [Genesis 6:8 NKJV]

4. Sin is conquered.

Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God. [Genesis 6:9b NLT]

It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. By his faith Noah condemned the rest of the world, and he received the righteousness that comes by faith. [Hebrews 11:7 NLT]