SIN IS A GOD-CENTERED WORD
Any man who believes in him is not judged at all. It is the one who will not believe who stands already condemned, because he will not believe in the character of God's only Son. John 3:18, Phillips.
"Is it a sin to wash dishes on the Sabbath?" a young student asks. For him sin is an act that one does in violation of an authoritative code. Another person laments, "Oh, I am such a sinner!" He implies that sin is somewhat like a disease in one's bones. Still another talks at length about the removal of his sin from the heavenly sanctuary, giving the impression that sin is similar to a block of wood, or an entry in the book, that can be moved around like so much cargo.
The interesting thing about each of these comments is that none of them make any difference to God. Which is not surprising. Many Christians can talk at length about sin (including how to avoid it) without ever mentioning God or Jesus Chrtist.
That's why Jesus gets right to the point in explaining just what the problem is that we sinners are facing. He doesn't talk about people's actions, their physical condition, or their legal records in heaven. Instead, He hinges it all on their relationship with Him.
Sin is a relationship word. That should make sense, because its opposite, faith, is also a relationship word. It makes little sense simply to talk about faith. The word can't stand on its own. It becomes accurate only when we speak of "faith in Jesus Christ" or "faith in God."
In the same way, we speak and think accurately about sin when we view it as the breaking of that faith relationship with God. The sinner is one who is acting and thinking as though he can live apart from God. The Bible labels his behavior as sinful. But such behavior is simply the result of the broken relationship with God.
If Satan can get us to thinking about sin without ever thinking of it as broken relationship, then he can get us to start tinkering with our behavior without ever returning to God in total dependence and trust in Him. And, frankly, the devil would be delighted to have us trying to stop sinning by that method. What better delusion to keep us occupied--apart from God!
Any man who believes in him is not judged at all. It is the one who will not believe who stands already condemned, because he will not believe in the character of God's only Son. John 3:18, Phillips.
"Is it a sin to wash dishes on the Sabbath?" a young student asks. For him sin is an act that one does in violation of an authoritative code. Another person laments, "Oh, I am such a sinner!" He implies that sin is somewhat like a disease in one's bones. Still another talks at length about the removal of his sin from the heavenly sanctuary, giving the impression that sin is similar to a block of wood, or an entry in the book, that can be moved around like so much cargo.
The interesting thing about each of these comments is that none of them make any difference to God. Which is not surprising. Many Christians can talk at length about sin (including how to avoid it) without ever mentioning God or Jesus Chrtist.
That's why Jesus gets right to the point in explaining just what the problem is that we sinners are facing. He doesn't talk about people's actions, their physical condition, or their legal records in heaven. Instead, He hinges it all on their relationship with Him.
Sin is a relationship word. That should make sense, because its opposite, faith, is also a relationship word. It makes little sense simply to talk about faith. The word can't stand on its own. It becomes accurate only when we speak of "faith in Jesus Christ" or "faith in God."
In the same way, we speak and think accurately about sin when we view it as the breaking of that faith relationship with God. The sinner is one who is acting and thinking as though he can live apart from God. The Bible labels his behavior as sinful. But such behavior is simply the result of the broken relationship with God.
If Satan can get us to thinking about sin without ever thinking of it as broken relationship, then he can get us to start tinkering with our behavior without ever returning to God in total dependence and trust in Him. And, frankly, the devil would be delighted to have us trying to stop sinning by that method. What better delusion to keep us occupied--apart from God!
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