Note 8 at Jn. 5:14: In saying this, Jesus shows that sin causes the tragedies that come into our lives. Although it isn't always our personal sins that bring these problems (Jn. 9:1- 3), the sin of someone is always at the root of the problem (Example: Herod killing the infants [Mt. 2:16]. The infants and their parents didn't occasion this by anything that they did. It was the fear that raged in the heart of Herod that caused this mass murder.).

When it is our own personal sins that are involved, there are two reasons that these "worse things" come upon us. (1) It's the judgment of God upon sin (Lev. 26:15-16; Dt. 28:61; Ps. 66:18; 107:17-18; Isa. 13:11; 59:2; 64:7; Rom. 2:8; 6:23), or (2) it is Satan and his forces freed to work in our lives because of sin (Prov. 5:22; Jn. 8:34; 10:10; Acts 8:32; Rom. 6:16; 2 Tim. 2:26; 1 Pet. 5:8; 2 Pet 2:19). Problems, diseases, etc. are never God blessing us (Dt. 28:1- 14 contrasted with vv. 15-68), or God's method of correction (Jn. 15:3; 2 Tim. 3:16).

The New Testament believer who has been born again will not come under this punitive judgment of God (Nah. 1:2; Rom. 5:9; 1 Th. 1:10; 5:9). Jesus bore that judgment so we wouldn't have to bear it (Isa. 53:4-6,11; Rom. 5:8-10; 1 Cor. 15:3; Gal 3:13). Therefore, the reason sin is still damaging to the New Testament believer is that it looses Satan to work in our lives (Rom. 6:16).