No 20

(Sin)

What do you think of when you see the word sin? When I see the word sin I visualize a small child disobeying his or her parents by not sitting down and when finally doing so thinks : “I’m sitting down but in my head, I’m standing up”. Is this the type of sin Jesus died for? How about murder, stealing, lying, etc, etc…. They are all sins and none are worse than others in God’s eyes; of course, some bear irreparable consequences, but Jesus died for all these sins, so we’re OK. Sin is inherent in us when we are born; we don’t have to tell a child to be bad, it already knows how to be bad. We must tell a child to be good. Jesus often used children as examples or as illustrations in teaching His followers. So how is one able to have victory over sin; any sin? NEWS FLASH!!! We already have victory over sin – Jesus Christ; it’s up to us to seize it. But then you say “How come I still sin?” Good question. Once there was a town in the United States where the people wanted to rid themselves of sin; they were true Christians and desired to eradicate sin from their lives. They stopped having any contact with the outside world (TV, newspapers); they watched themselves when temptations came and were doing pretty good up until they realized that there was one area that they had forgotten – inside themselves! We have a sinful nature as long as we are in these bodies. The Bible says in 1 John 2:16 that “16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” When we are true Christians, we are not to be discouraged about sin in our lives – “9 if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9. This verse was written by the Apostle John to Christians. In coming studies we will look at the “three greatest sins” in detail.