Our Lord Jesus Christ read the book of Isaiah in a synagogue in Nazareth, his hometown The passage is generally known as the Nazareth Manifesto, the mission statement of the Lord Jesus Christ.
In Luke 4:18-19, a list of five consequences of sin is addressed by the Messiah.
Impoverished:
Sin impoverishes a person. It robs a person of dignity and identity. Even the freedom of choice is robbed from the person.
The desire to do good becomes not possible because sin deprives a person of any strength, willpower, or stamina.
The good news is preached to the poor in spirit, those who believe they could inherit the kingdom of God. (Matthew 5:3)
Heartbroken:
Sin breaks the heart of a person. A broken relationship with God, a broken image of oneself (low self-esteem and inferiority complex), and a broken view of the world are consequences of sin.
Such people are incapable of having hope for the future or trusting others.
God is gracious to those who are broken-hearted and crushed in spirit. (Psalms 34:18) Messiah brings good news to the broken-hearted.
Enslaved:
One who sins is a slave to sin. (John 8:34) The sinful habits become addiction and slavery. Addiction to drugs could lead to death or suicide.
Sinners imprison themselves, and the Messiah proclaims freedom for them.
Blinded:
Sin blinds a person. Satan has blinded the minds of people, unable to perceive God and His attributes or know the way to Salvation. (II Corinthians 4:4)
Sinners grope, and that too in darkness and wrong places, hence stumble and fall.
The Messiah opens the eyes of the blind. Those who share the Gospel open the eyes of the blind as Paul did. (Acts 26:16-18)
Oppressed:
Sin oppresses and exploits a person. A sinner’s guilty conscience and fear of judgment oppress him/her. Spiritual oppression, mental tension, emotional turmoil, and physical fatigue are the result of sin.
David writes from his experience that oppression of sin is like broken bones (Psalms 51:8). The Messiah provides liberty to the oppressed.
Have I experienced forgiveness, freedom, and deliverance in Lord Jesus Christ?
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