Romans 7:17-20 “We know that
the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I
do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate
I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself
who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good
itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the
desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I
want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not
want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does
it.”
Webster’s
Dictionary defines “Sin” as: The
voluntary departure of a moral agent from a known rule of rectitude or duty,
prescribed by God; any voluntary transgression of the Divine law, or violation
of a Divine command; a wicked act; iniquity. Sin is either a positive act in
which a known Divine law is violated (what we did and shouldn’t have), or it is the voluntary neglect to obey a
positive Divine command, or a rule of duty clearly implied in such command
(what we didn’t do and should have). Sin
comprehends not action only, but neglect of known duty, all evil thoughts
purposes, words and desires, whatever is contrary to God's commands or law. Among
divines, sin is original or actual. Actual sin, above defined, is the act of a
moral agent in violating a known rule of duty. Original sin, as generally
understood, is native depravity of heart to the Divine will, that corruption of
nature of deterioration of the moral character of man, which is supposed to be
the effect of Adam's apostasy; and which manifests itself in moral agents by
positive act of disobedience to the Divine will, or by the voluntary neglect to
comply with the express commands of God, which require that we should love God
with all the heart and soul and strength and mind, and our neighbor as
ourselves. This native depravity or alienation of affections from God and His
law, is supposed to be what the apostle calls the carnal mind or mindedness,
which is enmity against God, and is therefore denominated sin or sinfulness.
James 1:13-15 “When tempted, no one should say, “God is
tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are
dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it
gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives
birth to death.”
I read that one of the
tragic things about sin is that it is addictive. It doesn’t matter what kind of
sin a person gets into, all sin is addictive. The more we do a particular sin,
the greater our desire for that addition and the more its chains hold us and
the greater our desire for that sin. The good news is that every shackle is
broken at Calvary by our Lord Jesus. There on
the Cross, Christ the Redeemer, having been nailed hand and foot for us, broke
the chains that bind the captive slave to sin. Believers can go to the fountain
of God’s mercy and grace to be washed and cleansed in the blood of the Savior;
be clothed in the perfect righteousness of His spotless white robe of purity
and become whiter than snow; filled with the indwelling Holy Spirit and
delivered from the bondage and addiction of sin. Only at the foot of the Cross
is there hope, freedom and life anew for a sinful world. Surrender your life
fully to God. By faith alone, come and find the truth and the love of Jesus
Christ alone, and the life abundant and everlasting.
Psalm 51:7 “Purify me from my sins, and I will be
clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.”
In Christ, Brian
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