Are We Taking Our Sin Seriously Enough?
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We live in a world that is incredibly uncomfortable with the idea of sin. No one wants to be wrong, but with the rise of “alternate facts,” we’ve seen more than ever the extent people will go to in order to be right. Some churches choose to skirt around any discussion of sin, but even those that do address sin tend to focus on the biggies: lust, hatred, murder.
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Yep!
(Just kidding.) But if you are asking yourself this question, you are in good company. The disciples asked Jesus this exact same question as they came to understand the weight of sin and just what they had to do to receive eternal life. Jesus’ response?
We often hear this verse relating to school exams or sporting events, but Jesus had much, much, bigger things in mind. He is talking about our salvation.
Understanding the sheer weight of sin, and the hopelessness of our situation should do two things:
1. It should make you more aware of your own sins. Even those little ones that seem pretty okay.
2. It should make you want to fall on your face in worship of a God who would go to such lengths to rescue us from that fate.
I quoted the first half of Romans 6:23 above, but the second half is crucial for us as well:
God cares about us. He cares about you. He cares about us so much that He sent His one and only Son to earth, to die. Jesus willingly left the right hand of God and humbled Himself to be wrapped in human flesh. He suffered the same everyday trials as us: hunger, runny noses, stubbed toes. And He suffered a betrayal, an unjust trial, and an agonizing and humiliating death on the cross. He took the punishment for humanity’s sin so that we could have a path to life. He overcame death itself.
And if that isn’t miraculous enough, know that God had been planning this event since before Genesis 1:1. Before there was light or form to the earth, there was God. And He knew exactly what He would do to rescue His people.
Sin is serious business. Even the ones that we take lightly or brush aside. But God takes our salvation seriously as well.
Salvation isn’t a one-and-done event. Because we are still imperfect people, we will always be tempted and will sometimes fall into wrong, sinful behaviors. But as followers of Christ, we can always, always, always come to Christ in repentance. That’s what sanctification is all about; learning and growing and becoming more like Christ every day.
So don’t walk away from this article beating yourself up over the sins you take for granted. (I know you do it because I do it too. We are all sinful creatures.) But take heart that God has gone to great lengths to forgive that sin. And the best part is that it is all already forgiven. Now He just wants you to come to Him in repentance, and walk in faith.
More from this author
How to Interpret the Bible More Easily with an Inductive Study
Lies about Forgiveness, and How Christians Ought to Respond
How We Can See God's Majesty All Around Us, All the Time
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Bethany Pyle is the editor for Bible Study Tools.com and the design editor for Crosscards.com. She has a background in journalism and a degree in English from Christopher Newport University. When not editing for Salem, she enjoys good fiction and better coffee.