There is a great debate in these End Times about sin. The scriptures prophesy about this very thing, and we are seeing it come to pass. There are many across the globe who want particular things to no longer be considered as sin. Many are demanding that society, and even the Church and synagogues, no longer label certain activities as sin. Their argument is that times have changed, and the insistence of faiths in labeling these activities as sin must change also. Some faiths have acquiesced to these demands, although it was not the institution, but God, who set the standard to begin with.
Contrary to how we sometimes think, sin is not an A-Z list, starting with, say, "Adultery", and ending with "Zoroastrianism", with many things listed in between. It is not a matter of man arrogantly or ignorantly shifting an item from the "Sin" column, to the "No Longer a Sin Because Times Have Changed" column, or the "No Longer a Sin Because Everybody Does It" column. Sin is not a list of words and behaviors about which we can debate. It is also not a list of items of which some are considered minor, and others are considered major offenses. All sin results in the same consequence-death: mental, emotional, physical, spiritual death.
So what is sin then? Are there specific things mentioned in scripture as sin? Oh yes, but the definition of sin in both Greek and Hebrew is: to be without a share in, to miss the mark, to err, to be mistaken, to miss or wander from the path of uprightness and honor, to do or go wrong, to wander from or violate God's law, a violation of divine law by thought or deed, to miss the way, go wrong, incur guilt, to bear loss, to lose one's self, to wander from the way, etc. The definitions point to the imagery of an archery target where any arrow that does not strike dead center, or the bull's eye, is "missing the mark". Any archer will tell you that hitting that bull's eye dead center is a difficult feat.
What is that mark or standard that we must reach or hit? Scripture says, "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." (Rom. 3:23, 5:12).
The standard that the Law of God demands is to the holiness, perfection, and glory of God, Himself (Lev. 20:7, 1 Pet. 1:15-16, Gen. 17:1, Mt. 5:44-48). This is the center of the target, the bull's eye, that we are required to hit. No amount of debate, changing times, offence, or insistence can change this absolute and eternal standard. Even if we just miss this mark, this bull's eye, by a slight margin, it is as if we have missed the whole target entirely.
If we do not know the whole Law of God, Jesus gave us this guideline when asked what the most important commandment was:
"...you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the prophets."
Mt. 22:37-40
So we have already reduced a very long A-Z list of items to two. The question is, how many of us fulfill even these two commandments? No, we don't get partial credit for just knowing our neighbor's name! In case any of us have successfully met this standard, which is very doubtful, Jesus continues His point as a wonderful young man comes up to Jesus and asks Him sincerely, what "good thing" is required of him that he may have eternal life. Jesus tells him to keep the Law, the commandments. The young man assures Him that he does this, and has done it from his youth. Jesus then tells the young man that if he wants to be perfect (this is our standard mentioned above), he must sell all that he has, give the proceeds to the poor, and come follow Jesus. Jesus assures him he will have treasure in heaven, but the young man turns away heartbroken, because he knows he can never do it. He is very rich. (Mt. 19:16-26). Does Jesus ask him to do this because we should not own anything? No. Jesus saw in the young man's heart that there was something more important to him than God, something the young man loved more, needed more. It was so important to his life that he could not walk away from it, even for the benefit of gaining eternal life.
According to the guideline Jesus gave us, we are supposed to love God above all else, and with everything within us. Nothing is to be more important to us than our love of God. We may think that we could give up anything if God required it of us, but as God searches our hearts, He can always find something that we love more than Him, even if we don't want to admit it. He could easily show us our shortcomings by pinpointing those things, and asking us to walk away from them. If He were to ask this of us, it would break our hearts, because we wouldn't be able do it in many cases. So we can't really say that we keep even the two commandments Jesus mentioned above.
Jesus also tells us that if we have an A-Z sin list, we must remember that there are subcategories of categories, because even just our thoughts and feelings have the same consequence, and carry the same guilt, as if we actually commit the act. (Mt. 5:21-22, 1 Jn. 3:15). For this reason, if for no other, the law cannot save us, because we cannot keep it. Hebrews 7:19 tells us that the law made nothing perfect.
Does this mean that Jesus didn't think sin was important? No. He would tell those to whom He ministered to go, and sin no more. Sin means death, and Jesus came to destroy the power of death over us. The Good News, however, isn't about keeping the list of sins. Heated debates about changing the definition of sin will come and go, and we get very upset, even angry, by these debates. It is very sad to our hearts to see men's disregard for God, and for His word. We despair as we see the laws of our land changed as a result of this disregard, but we will see the real fruit of righteousness come when we change. We must change. I must change. I am looking for the world to change, but the world is groaning, looking and waiting for me to change. I am looking to manifest to the world the miracles of Jesus, but I must also manifest the greatest miracle of all, the miracle of salvation and renewal and change in my own life.
Our Good News is that even though we all fall short of God's holiness, perfection, and glory, Jesus offered Himself as our only hope and remedy. That is our message, and that is the truth we offer. As far as the sins of others are concerned, Jesus instructed us that if we forgive others' sins, they are forgiven, and if we retain the sins of others, they are retained (Jn. 20:22-23). So concerning the sins of others, that is our commandment. The Torah agrees when it instructs in 1 Chron. 7:14 that we are to humble ourselves, as the people of God, turn from our own wicked ways, and repent, seeking the face of God. If we are willing to do this, our whole land can see revival and healing. So why hasn't our land seen this revival and healing? Perhaps because we, God's people, are not following this instruction. If we are going to measure guilt and failure, what greater failure can there be than to keep revival from our land because we, the people of God, cannot, or will not, humble ourselves individually in repentance?
Jesus asked how we can see to remove the mote in our brother's eye, when we have a beam in our own eye. First, we must remove the beam from our own eye. Otherwise, He used the term we all dread to hear: "Hypocrites". Once our hypocrisy is revealed, our whole testimony, our whole message, becomes worthless and ineffective to others.
Jesus was challenged by the religious folk with the accusation that He did not keep the law. On one occasion, He was asked about the stoning of an adulterous woman, caught in her guilt. As the encounter ends, Jesus says to let the one among them who is without sin cast the first stone. As her accusers leave, he instructs the woman to go and sin no more. (Jn. 8:4-11). What do I do about these sayings of Jesus? Do I read past them as quickly as possible, and go on to the next scripture? I had better not. What is He telling us? Is He saying that it doesn't matter if we sin? No. When He says, "Judge not, that you be not judged." (Mt. 7:1), how do I incorporate this into my thoughts on sin? Jesus said it is the one who was forgiven much, who loves the most (Lk. 7:47).
My real condition is this: sadly, while I quickly gloss over my own shortcomings and sins, I am very quick to see and condemn in my heart the sins of others. While my own mind and heart are full of destructive thoughts and feelings, I ignore them to focus on the failings of others. All the while, I have the key to revival and healing in my very hand, not just for myself, but for my nation, but I do not use it. How will I face God with this reality? I had it in my hand the whole time, yet I would not use it.
Our whole nation, and even the nations of the world, are being destroyed not by an enemy from without, but by an enemy from within, which is our own sin and rebellion. The Word tells me that the remedy begins with me, and my own repentance for my sins, my own salvation. This is the beginning point, the spiritual turning point. No, I will not compromise what I know is the truth of God's Word, no matter what society may demand. However, that truth needs to not just come out of my mouth, but through my life, as well. In fact, that truth will be most powerfully exhibited when it comes through my life.
The Apostle Paul mourned and wrestled with the fact that he was a wretched man because, even though he tried his hardest, and desired it with his whole heart, he could not be perfect (Rom. 7:19-25). If the Apostle Paul examined himself in this manner, then I think the rest of us should have plenty to keep ourselves occupied. He urged his own churches to examine ourselves (1 Cor. 11:28).
For this very reason, which is our own failing unto death, our Father sent His only Son, who allowed wicked men (all of us) to open His body, and His veins, so that His blood could cover us, cover our sins, cover our shortcomings, and bring us to the mark of the holiness, perfection, and glory of God, and to give us life instead of death if we will accept His provision for us (Jn. 3:16-18, Jn. 17:22).
Does that mean that any effort to avoid sin is hopeless, and therefore should not be even attempted? Does it mean that those who demand that certain things now be removed from the "Sin" column are right after all, because it is impossible to accomplish? No, our knowledge and awareness of our sin, even in list form, can be the first step to change, even as that same knowledge of it condemns us. When we are aware that we fall short, and our hearts' desire is to please God, and to be free from the calamities and death from sin, God can do a changing work in us. Paul said that many in the church had been guilty of certain sins, but were now cleansed (1 Cor. 6:9-11). However, while we are flesh, this conflict will be in us, and with us daily in some form. That A-Z sin list reminds us of how far short we fall, and how widely we miss the mark. It reminds us daily of how very thankful we are that Jesus became our righteousness to make up for the lack of righteousness within each one of us. He is the One who becomes the holiness, perfection and glory of God in our place, and on our behalf, as we continually miss the mark. Changing the sin list will not change the reality, as some might hope or contend, but God can change the reality:
Who then can be saved? "Jesus looked at them and said to them, With men, this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." (Mt. 19:26).
Our Father has given His Son for our sin.
"How Can It Be?"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ben2wwGyOk
"Nothing But the Blood of Jesus"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYjhGeAIG6k
"Lord, I Need You"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuvfMDhTyMA
"Because He Lives (AMEN)"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBvU7arNhQs
"Redeemed"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzGAYNKDyIU
