Being Right on Sin

Sin.  Everybody does it. It is the norm for a human being. So, what is so wrong about sin? If it is the norm, shouldn't we just accept it? Dr. Elmer Towns says -

*"Sin is the one problem that keeps people out of heaven and destroys peace and happiness in life.  The church is right when it correctly understands and offers God's forgiveness of sin, and when it correctly motivates its people to live above their sin."

We need to understand that sin is not a thing.  Sin is an act and attitude or a response to the standards of God. Even babies display this fact at birth.  For babies, everything is centered upon them - and they let us know it. Sin is not placing God at the center, but putting ourselves (mind, emotions, and will) at the center.

Even as adults we tend to make ourselves the center of the universe (or at least the space where we are) in ways that we make not even realize.  We seek our own comfort, needs, and wants before others often. We have the first couple - Adam and Eve - to thank for introducing this into our make-up, however, we are still responsible for our choices we make today.

In Genesis 3 we read the account of how our first parents rebelled against God. Disobedience to God introduced into them the full array of sin (1 John 2:16), and the punishment for disobedience (Romans 6:23) They in turn passed that on to their children and grandchildren, and down the line to us.

A bleak picture, if it were not that God in His infinite love stepped in and offered a pardon from the punishment. This pardon cost Him deeply - the life of His Son.  It cost Jesus deeply - all my eternity (and yours too) of punishment. In return, we need to accept Him and receive the pardon offered (John 1:12).

Today, pause and thank God for the blessing of forgiveness and restoration that He freely offers to us. Thank Him that He loved us so much that He would do what it took to buy us back from the horrendous pain of sin, and give us the glories of Heaven and Himself.

* Towns, Elmer L. (2009) What's Right with the Church: A manifesto of Hope. Regal/Ventura CA. P. 62.