Sin

Posted on January 22, 2018 by Graeme Wilson in Freedom Fighters

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So – think about it. When was the last time you heard a message in your church or Bible study about sin? Growing up I heard it regularly – but in our “Christian” world, we don’t seem to address this topic very often, even though the Bible deals with this word from cover to cover.
In fact, we have taken it another step downwards  — in some ways, we have relabeled what the Bible calls sin to make it more politically correct. We have taken the negative connotations of sin and spun them more positively.
It has become the elephant in the room that we don’t like to talk about, think about, and certainly, we do not want to have someone address it in our lives.
The Bible is pretty clear and direct. In fact, I have often remarked that the Bible doesn’t beat around the bush on any topic. God’s Word is quite direct and clear. We don’t usually have to question, “What was God really saying about …”
We need to remind ourselves often that God’s position on our sin has never changed and never will.
God hates sin.
God doesn’t tolerate sin.
God doesn’t want us to sin.
God made a way for us to deal our sin.
God sent His Son to take our sin upon Himself.
Dr. John Maxwell shared this truth some years ago. I think we should write it everywhere we can as a reminder:
Sin will always take me further than I want to go.
Sin will always cost me more than I want to pay.
Sin will always keep me longer than I want to stay.
If we really believed it – wouldn’t we live our lives differently?
I just read these two truths about sin in Dr. Paul David Tripp’s devotion, New Morning Mercies:
Sin does two very significant things to us all. First, it causes us all to insert ourselves into the center of our worlds, making life all about us. In our self-focus, we are all too motivated by our wants, our needs, and our feelings, and because we are, we tend to be more aware of what we don’t have than of the many wonderful blessings that we have been given. But there is more; because we are self-focused, we tend to be scorekeepers, constantly comparing our piles of stuff to the piles of others. It’s a life of discontentment and envy. Envy is always selfish.
There is a second thing of equal significance that sin does to us. It causes us to look horizontally for what can only ever be found vertically. So we look to creation for life, hope, peace, rest, contentment, identity, meaning and purpose, inner peace, and motivation to continue. The problem is that nothing in creation can give you these things. Creation was never designed to satisfy your heart. Creation was made to be one big finger pointing you to the One who alone has the ability to satisfy your heart. Many people will get up today and in some way will ask creation to be their savior, that is, to give them what only God is able to give.
Tripp, Paul David. New Morning Mercies: A Daily Gospel Devotional (Kindle Locations 465-474). Crossway. Kindle Edition.
Ouch! That is something for me to grasp in my heart and life. I am praying that I will be more aware of my sin this year and rejoice that my sin has been paid for by the blood of Jesus Christ – past, present, and future.
Bill Welte
President/CEO America’s Keswick
Written by Bill Welte, President/CEO of America’s Keswick: Bill has been married to his child sweetheart for 40+ years and has four married kids and 11 amazing grand kids. He loves music and is an avid reader.
The Daily Bible Reading: Genesis 30-31| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here
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Think About This: Think About This: My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought; my sin, not part, but the whole – is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more! Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul. – Horation Spafford

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:
A horse is a vain hope for safety; Neither shall it deliver any by its great strength. Psalm 33:17
 
 
 
 

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