Does Sin Matter Anymore?
“But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” -Isa 59:2 (KJV)
What do you mean? I go to church most Sundays and sometimes sing in the choir. I say hello to my neighbor and treat most people nice. I am not mean-tempered and don’t get angry that often. I read my Bible once in a while. I don’t, for the most part, cus or swear … too much. My thoughts are kind of clean most of the time; I don’t lust too often. How can you say that sin doesn’t matter anymore?
I would presume many people would respond this way if they really [wanted to] confront this question. But what does God think about the attitude of people concerning their sin? What is sin? In the Bible, sin is referenced over 400 times as enmity – opposition or hostility – towards Almighty God (Rom 8:7). Sin is iniquity – our spiteful thoughts, our gross immoral behavior against a Holy God. Sin reeks and is impure (Titus 1:15), and causes one to remain in darkness (1 Jn 1:6). Sin is dragged around as cords of vanity as if it were a cart rope (Isa 5:18 KJV). Sin is bondage and those that dwell in it are slaves to it (Prov 5:22). It is sin that separates us from our Creator God and makes us enemies of Him (Rom 5:10, Col 1:21). Sin keeps us outside the warmth of God’s love and throws us into the harsh bitter cold of winter with no protection from its biting and stinging effects. God hates sin because He is holy and righteous. Sin offends God and therefore He cannot tolerate, ignore or condone sin in any form for any reason. Sin matters to God and causes us to be distant from Him. You can be the nicest person and fill your days with doing good for people but if you don’t recognize that your life is sinful and you need a Savior to save you, you will be lost forever. To be blunt and honest, your destination after this life is the hell.
“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” -1 Jn 1:8 (KJV)
In America right now the concept or doctrine of sin is almost extinct. I have noticed that Christian churches that have the name Christian, rarely mention or engage their congregations on this doctrine. A person’s sin must be dealt with every day and the churches need to preach and teach people how to confront it according to scripture before a righteous God. But instead, our American churches have become culture clubs, entertainment shows, with drama-filled sermons from pastors that don’t know the Living God. They have rejected teaching about sin for fear of offending someone. Their Biblical responsibility is to preach sin and make people feel uncomfortable – yes that is correct – but in love, teach that sin separates us from God. It is sin that blinds people to the knowledge of the truth of God and causes a deep and penetrating spiritual darkness to surround them causing them to stumble and fall (1 Jn 2:11). Pastors, elders and those that teach the Word of God better pay close attention to the warning, admonition and corrective action given to the Church at Sardis in Rev 3:1-6. Due to sin this church was a church in name only. Yeah, they cut the grass, composed the bulletin, had meetings, sang in the choir, gave a sermon but on the inside it was really dead in spirit and truth.
“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 Jn 1:6 (KJV)
The pulse of America and the rest of the world is that we don’t need God anymore and we especially don’t need His forgiveness from sin. We have ourselves, our friends and our stuff. We do what is right in our own eyes and so need no one else. Many people fail to realize that the love of this world and its idols (stuff) separates us from the love of God (1 Jn 2:15-16). When all is said and done none of these things will accompany you into eternity – no money, no cars, no bank accounts, no fame, no houses, no corporations, no government, no posse of friends, nothing but your faith in what Jesus Christ did for you and I on the cross of Calvary. It’s all about His death burial and resurrection. He paid the price for our sin with His shed blood and rose again to provide the free gift of salvation and eternity with Him forever. But … there’s a catch… Yes, a condition, a requirement… You must, without question, and in faith and trust, admit that you are a sinner and confess your sin daily (1 Jn 1:9). Then repent (Luke 13:3) and finally live a holy life unto Him. Without these and without holiness you will not enter the Kingdom of God (Heb 12:14). Folks, these are not my concepts, words or doctrines – these are God’s reflected in the pages of scripture (His word, His wisdom, His knowledge, His instruction). We have while we are here in the body (fleshly tents) time to get our lives right with Him. Once we step through the gates of eternity our destination is locked in and sealed whether for heaven or for hell. Where are you at today? Do you recognize your sin and are you willing to confess and repent before God? Some sobering thoughts for all of us to think on.
-BPWatcher
“Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?” -2 Peter 3:11-12
