"UNDERSTANDING SIN"

Can we talk about sin?


"Sin" (N) Transgression Any action which violates God's Law. Before the giving of the Ten Commandments and the many other Old Testament Laws found in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, and the book of deuteronomy, God occasionally spoke directly to individuals about what He required of them (e.g. Gen. 2:17).

The O T Laws later spelled out in great detail what constituted sin, and what to do to atone for sin. In the Gospels, of the New Testament Jesus further expounds sin as including not only actions but also evil thoughts, such as unfounded anger toward others. Man defines Sin (N) An offense esp. Against God (2) Fault (3) A weakened state of human nature in which the self is estranged from God.

Now that we know what God's definition of sin is, ignorance can know longer be used as an excuss for sinning. We are in the fight of our lives, yes as Christians we understand that no weapon formed against us shall prosper. It's important that as Christians you understand that we don't get a free pass from sin.

Now going back to the Garden Of Eden, Sin crawled in as a Serpent. We are going to have to fight and resist sin in every area of our lives. We are told in James 4:7 "Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." Satan is here now, however, and he is trying to win us over to his evil cause. With the Holy Spirit's power, we can resist the devil, and he will flee from us. It's time to take back ground that we have surrendered to the enemy. It's important that we understand the importants of Ephesians 4:27 "And do not give the devil an opportunity." We must not harbor nor nurture our sin, when we do it's giving the devil a "place" in our lives. As our spiritual and then mortal enemy Satan is scheming for a foothold in our lives.

Earlier I made a reference to the Garden of Eden and satan entering as a slippery snake. Why is it that we don't want to admit sin in our life? (Gen. 2:25) "And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed." Once Adam and Eve Sinned they had a reason to be embarrassed, and to feel shame and then awkwardness followed, creating barriers between themselves and God. Do you feel yourself putting on a Fig Leaf so to speak, to cover your sin?

Satan is our enemy!!! He will do anything he can to get us to follow his evil, deadly path. Adam and Eve learned way back in the garden by painful experience that because God is holy and hates sin, he must punish sinners. Adam and Eve's disobedience and fall from God's amiable
presence affected all creation. In Genesis 6:6-7 "The LORD was sorry that he had made man on earth, and he was grieved in His heart. (7) The LORD said, "I will not blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; For I am sorry that I have made them." It's vital that we recognize when we sin. You may have sin that is out of mind and even forgotten sin. In Psalm 139:23-24 David said "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; (24) And see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way." Wow, Isn't it comforting to know that if we ask the LORD to search our heart and our thoughts and to reveal our sin, you will be continuing on God's "everlasting way."

"SIN WILL FIND YOU OUT" Gen.4:7 "If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it."

We must grasp the fact that Sin is still crouching at our doors today, and maybe even right now for someone. Please understand that we will be victims of sin if we do not master it. Sin offends our holy God and separates us from him. Because God is holy, He cannot ignore, excuse, or tolerate sin as though it didn't matter. People who die with their life of sin unforgiven separate themselves eternally from God. God wants us to live with Him forever, but He cannot take them into His holy presence unless their sin is removed.

"MY LORD CAN SAVE YOU IF YOU TURN TO HIM".
"But your iniquities have made a separation between you and God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear." (Isaiah 59:2)

Please believe (1 John 1:9) " If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness". When we come to Christ, He forgives all the sins we have committed or will ever commit.

Until next week

Jim