The Problem Is Always Sin. The Answer is Always Jesus.
September/16/2022 09:54 AM Filed in: CrossWinds | Culture
The Bible claims that the problems in the world come from one place. It is not the people in positions of power, but the problem behind people is sin. To keep sin in check, we have police officers and jails. It is why we have a military. It is why we have locks on our smartphones, our cars, bank accounts, and homes. Sin is why we have death and sickness. Sin is why we need doctors and hospitals. Sin is why we have cemeteries and crematoriums. Death was only brought into this world when sin came into the world.
While sin is the problem behind all problems, most of us don’t think sin is the problem in our life. That is because we only look at sin with one lens instead of two. The Bible tells us sin is both commission and omission. It is not just what we actively choose to do wrong but what we passively fail to do right. James 4:17 reminds us, “Whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” If a child is dropped off at daycare and a worker abuses that child, that worker is guilty of sin by commission. The person who hired that worker and failed to do a background check, which would have revealed the new employee's questionable past, is guilty of sin by omission. In the Old Testament, if you didn’t put a protective railing around the edge of your flat roof where people walked in the cool of the evening, and someone fell, you were liable for their death because you failed to protect their life. Once we realize sin is not just actively choosing to do wrong but is also passively failing to do what is right, we begin to see a lot more sin in our life.
The Bible tells us sin also shows up in our thoughts and attitudes, not just our actions. Sin includes what we think about in our thought life and put in our minds. Matthew 5:28 reminds us that anyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. As we reflect on what we watch in the movies, on Youtube, and on the Internet, while we may not have done anything sinful, we have certainly entertained ourselves with thoughts and attitudes that are sinful.
Are all sins equal? While all sin makes us guilty and separates us from God, not all sin is equally devastating and equally judged. James 2:10 reminds us that whoever keeps the whole law of God but fails at one point has become accountable for all of it. All sin separates us from God. Jesus also reminds us that some sin is more devastating than others and will be judged more harshly by God than others. In John 19:11, when Jesus spoke to Pilate he said, “…he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.” Revelation 20 reminds us that all the dead will be raised and judged based on what they have done in life. In Matthew 11:20-24, Jesus tells us it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for some than others based on what they have done.
The Bible tells us that God will do two things with sin. First, he will judge sin. Revelation 20 reminds us that God will raise the dead. Everyone will one day get their bodies back. Everyone’s body will be transformed into an indestructible body like Jesus’ resurrection body. In our resurrection bodies, everyone will one day stand before Jesus to have their sin fairly judged by Jesus. This will determine what is a just and fair eternal response to our sin in the lake of fire.
The good news is Jesus will not just come a second time to judge sin. He came the first time to die on the cross in our place to take away our sin. God loves us. Jesus loves us so much that he died in our place for our sin. Jesus offers to take the just punishment for our sin today so when we stand before him there is no punishment for our sin later. Trusting Jesus does two things. First, it relieves us from the just punishment for our sins when we stand before Jesus in the next life. Second, Jesus breaks sin’s power over us in this life. Turning to Jesus is the only place to find power to break our addiction to sin.
Maybe you are struggling with big issues of sin or bondage to small persistent sin. Either way, sin is always what is killing us. The good news is that there is hope. Today, turn to Jesus. Confess your sin to Jesus. Ask Jesus’ death on the cross to pay for your sin. Jesus will take the punishment for your sin and he will break the power of sin. Then find a good church where you can learn more about how much Jesus loves you and how he breaks the power of Satan, sin, and death over you. Remember the problem is always sin. The answer is always Jesus.
(Written for the Dickinson County News September 16, 2022)
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