by Rick Combs
We have a very incomplete view of what sin is. Most think that it is our behavior and what comes out of our mouth. Others go a little deeper and recognize that it reaches issues of the heart such as thoughts, desires, will, and attitudes. So, sin involves both our outward behavior and inward heart issues. If we can avoid these two main areas, then we are not sinning.
Is that true? I believe that God goes even deeper to reveal true definitions of sin as given in His Word. This may startle you a bit and reveal some of the self-righteousness in us.
- 1 John 5:17 “All unrighteousness is sin…”. This statement gives us a blatant definition of sin – ALL unrighteousness. Anything that does not correlate with the Righteousness of God through His Word is sin. Even the things that we are ignorant of.
- James 4:17 “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin”. The good things you know that you should do, but don’t? SIN! For me, I probably do this one multiple times a day.
- Proverbs 24:9 “The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men”. Any thought of foolishness. This includes any random thought. How many of these thoughts go through our minds on a daily basis? This verse links foolish thoughts with the scorner. This is any mental misstep outside the bounds of Love.
- Matthew 12:36 “But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment”. This is plainly spoken. How many pointless, petty, foolish, worthless, time-wasting, and hurtful words fall out of our mouths every day? Sometimes every minute?
- Romans 14:23 “And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin”. Whatever we do or think that is not of faith is sin. Even doubting good things. If we are honest with ourselves, this can encompass the majority of our day.
If we think that we do not sin every day, then we are dealing with an even bigger problem – SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS. I encourage you to study your Bible and see what God has to say about that!
The point I’m making is this. According to the above criteria, we sin all the time! Even as believers in Christ. If you include the sins you committed before you trusted in the cross of Christ, you just can’t remember them all. Don’t even try. Going through a list of sins and confessing them to God is not a good use of your time.
We have forgotten most of our sins. I believe this is a defense mechanism to avoid the guilt and condemnation that would overwhelm us.
Jesus solved the sin problem by paying the debt for us. He became sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). Paul the Apostle reveals the Gospel of Christ that saves us upon believing faith.
“…that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).
By the Cross of Christ, ALL our sins have been forever put away. The nature of sin that we were, that old man died. Upon believing this Gospel, we were buried with him, and are raised to New Life. We are new creatures in Christ. Our fleshly outward body that loves to sin has been cut away from our inner man of righteousness (Colossians 2:11).
Don’t focus on trying NOT to sin. Just walk in the Spirit through the Word of God and enjoy your new life in Christ.
In Christ, here is our present status and walk in this life, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).
Christ lives His Life in us. Let Him.
Grace and peace to you!