Is Sin Relevant In Today's World? - By Grant Phillips - http://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips253.html
Have you ever considered the question, "What is sin?" We talk about it. We do it. Some warn of it, but most prefer not to mention it.
Sin used to be the core of a preacher's message not too many years ago. Today, the subject matter of "sin" is often avoided.
We now live in a world where most think God "winks" at sin. He is a God of love and understands our weaknesses. He is a God of love and He does understand our weakness, but does that mean sin is any less offensive toward God?
The Lord God is righteous and without sin. If it were such a minor issue why has God taken so many severe actions against it?
Sin has been defined in many ways, but the best definition in my opinion is best described as "missing the mark." Anything short of God's standard is in violation of His holiness and therefore is sin.
God evicted Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden due to their sin against Him. He flooded the entire world, destroying everything and everyone except eight people due to sin. He destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities because of their sin. Hundreds and multiplied hundreds of examples could be given throughout the Bible of God taking action against individuals, cities, and nations because of sin. Sin is an act of rebellion against a holy God and therefore cannot and will not be tolerated.
The world says however, "It's my mind I can think whatever I like. It's my body I can do with it whatever I want." So we think what we like and shove it in the face of others. We do whatever we like and everyone else be damned. Have you ever considered that if it weren't for local, state and federal laws, our sins would reach their peak of offensiveness? Only the laws of the land deter many from going even further with their wanton aggression against the commandments of a holy and righteous God.
Sin has now become so rampant in our country alone that nothing remains but judgment, and judgment will come.
Some classify sins as small or great. It is true that some sins will reap greater judgment. The Bible demonstrates that. However, any sin is a violation against God and will be judged.
Some may say for example, "I just told a white lie so it really doesn't count." Does God tell white lies? God never lies, whether it is white or black. His Word is always Truth. Perhaps this is why the world hates God so much? You think?
If sin were so unimportant, why did God deem it necessary to take on our form, become a man and die for our sins that some may be saved? He must consider sin to be a very big issue.
God says that we all have sinned and come short of His glory. (Romans 3:23) He goes on to tell us that the wages for sin is death. (Romans 6:23) Since we have all sinned, from Adam and Eve to the last human breathing on earth, then we will all die, unless something can be done about it.
Something was done about it. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him, will have eternal life." (John 3:16) Our penalty for sins must be paid in order that we may receive eternal life. Only God qualifies. Therefore God personally paid for our sins and told us that through Him we can receive the eternal life that sin snatched from us all. Those who believe Him and rest their faith in His Son Jesus will receive eternal life. Those who do not have no hope.
Why must the unbeliever be punished forever and ever, eternally, in hell? We can never pay our sin debt, so therefore, the punishment is never ending. God, on the other hand, has paid our sin debt, and through Jesus, the eternal punishment can be avoided if we put our faith in Him. In its place we receive an eternal reward, and that is life in Jesus.
What about those who are God's children (Christians) through Jesus? How does God deal with our sins? We can never lose our salvation. That is a Biblical fact. So are we Christians given carte blanche to sin and still retain our salvation? Of course not. We cannot lose our position in God's family, but we most certainly can be disciplined as His child. When we as a Christian sin against our Lord, we are as an unruly child that needs to be corrected because we have broken the fellowship between our Father in Heaven and ourselves. Because we are His child, He has provided a way for us to ask forgiveness and be restored to that happy fellowship we once had prior to our disobedience (sin).
Our Heavenly Father tells us, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all our unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)
I've seen children attempt to con their parents into believing that they are sorry for their disobedience, but God cannot be conned. He will know if we are or are not being honest with Him and will act accordingly.
I find the following verse to be quite interesting concerning those of us who are Christians: "That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep." (1 Corinthians 11:30) Could it be that some Christians are weak, some are sick, and some have even died because of this very issue we are now discussing? Think about that. Notice also the next two verses. "For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world." Now obviously this does not mean that this applies to every Christian who is weak, sick or dead. If we are weak or sick, we need to search our own heart. There could be many different reasons for our circumstances.
Mankind has a tendency to follow along with what most everyone else is doing; i.e. the monkey-see-monkey-do mentality. How often have you heard a child say, "But everyone else is doing it?" Maybe you were the child. I'm sure I was.
The world around us is swimming in Satan's cesspool and advancing further and further toward the deep end. Unfortunately, church folks today are jumping in the pool right along with them and saying, "But everyone else is doing it." When God says for us to "Do this" that is exactly what He means. When He says "Do not do this" that too is exactly what He means. It doesn't matter what everyone else is doing. What does God say? If our actions violate His Word, it is sin to us and we place ourselves out of that close fellowship with Him, assuming of course we are a Christian.
Sin does one of two things, depending on where you stand: (1) it provides eternal damnation for all who refuse the only door of eternal life, Jesus Christ, or (2) it disrupts the fellowship of a child of God and our Heavenly Father.
Does God wink at sin? Most definitely not.
If you have not come to Jesus and put your faith in Him to save you, do so now. He died and rose again to be your Savior.
If the Holy Spirit already lives in you because you have put your faith in Jesus, but you have sin in your life that is harming the fellowship between you and our Heavenly Father, go to Him and ask forgiveness, then forsake the sin. Jesus is your Savior already. Worship Him as your Lord.
This is what God has made possible :
"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." (Isaiah 1:18)
Grant Phillips
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