So far we have witnessed the beginning of human sin through Adam and Eve, the breaking of sin’s power through the Messiah but we are not yet done with sin. While our relationship with God is partially restored and are guaranteed eternal life for nothing more than trusting Jesus, sin still influences us every day. Sin may be broken, but it still works in us even after we trust Jesus. When will sin end? The answer to that question has two parts, when will we be done with sin and when will sin be destroyed? That’s the topic of today’s post.

Paul answers the first question, when will we be done with sin, in his letter to the Philippian church:

But our citizenship is in heaven – and we also await a savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform these humble bodies of ours into the likeness of his glorious body by means of that power by which he is able to subject all things to himself. (Philippians 3.20-21)

Paul teaches us that believers are completely rid of their sin nature when they receive their resurrected bodies. This occurs at the first resurrection, when Jesus comes to call all those who have trusted him to heaven. Those who have died in their faith are resurrected and then those still living are also taken and we receive a body like Jesus’, one that is righteous and without a sin nature. What a great day that will be!

There is some confusion over what happens next, depending on what one thinks about when this event occurs. The timing of the resurrection is hotly debated, some believing it will occur before the anti-Christ takes power, some that it will be during his reign and others after. Regardless of your understanding, some time passes before Jesus reigns on earth in what is commonly called the Millennial Kingdom (known as such as the event of Christ’s reign lasts one thousand years). We will not get bogged down by this discussion here as it has little to do with our topic of sin.

After the millennial reign of Jesus, Satan is released from bondage and the second resurrection occurs -- all those who died without having trusted the Messiah will now be brought forth from the grave for judgment. The heavenly city (the New Jerusalem) descends, and those still trapped in their sin and rebellion against God, together with Satan and his legions, will attempt to assault the city but the wrath of God will descend upon them in a fire that will consume them and the rest of the planet. Their eternal souls will then be translated to the Lake of Fire for the remainder of eternity, and the Earth will be made new. This marks the end of sin altogether, for everything that fell under its curse will have been destroyed and made new.

I know this is a little confusing, any discussion of End Times events usually is and I may have oversimplified the matter in an attempt to redact everything that has no relevance too our discussion of sin. The chart below may aid in understanding, but don't get too caught up in the details. The take-away here, however, is that a day is coming when we will no longer have cravings to defy God, that our inclination will be toward righteousness, just as Adam and Eve were before their fall. Then, about a thousand years later, sin and all its effects will be wiped from existence and we, together with our God and Savior, will inhabit the world God intended for us from the beginning.