Psalm 51:3-4 “For I know my transgressions [revolts, rebellions against sovereign God ], and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge.”
Sin is the willful and 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, or it is the voluntary neglect to obey a positive divine command, or a rule of duty clearly implied in such command. 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. In Isaiah 13:11 God tells us, “I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless.” Our Creator God is holy and just, so must punish sin. Sin is never ignored or bushed under the rug by the Lord Almighty.
All sin is seen, recorded and must be paid for. Though many treat sin lightly, it is dead serious. Jeremiah 2:22“For though you wash yourself with lye, and use much soap, Yet your iniquity is marked before Me,” says the Lord God.” And nothing slips by the all-seeing eyes of the Lord in Heaven. He proclaims in Jeremiah 16:17, “My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from me, nor is their sin concealed from my eyes.” And He confirms in Hosea 7:2, “but they do not realize that I remember all their evil deeds. Their sins engulf them; they are always before me.”
Romans 2:12-15 explains that, “He will punish sin wherever it is found. He will punish the heathen when they sin, even though they never had God’s written laws, for down in their hearts they know right from wrong. God’s laws are written within them; their own conscience accuses them, or sometimes excuses them. And God will punish the Jews for sinning because they have his written laws but don’t obey them. They know what is right but don’t do it. After all, salvation is not given to those who know what to do, unless they do it.” Sin is original or actual; both being positive acts of disobedience to the divine will, or by the voluntary neglect to comply with the express commands of God, our Maker. Everyone agrees that nobody is perfect, so Romans 3:23 rightfully states, “For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” All deserve the wrath of God against sin as a just punishment. The disobedient sin nature of man is wicked and evil, yet God is love and merciful and does not desire to punish sin. So, our heavenly Father sent a redeeming Savior, that whoever would believe in Him and receive Him as Lord would be saved, have spirit regenerated, soul transformation, and be given the right to become children of God, and granted eternal life as citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Then, they know the blessed assurance of Ephesians 2:1-6, “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” In baptism, we die to sin and are raised in victory with Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Ephesians 5:5-12 goes on to explain to the sanctified convert in Christ, “For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean [impure and immoral in thought and life] person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.
It is truth that as 1 Corinthians 4:4 declares, “He who judges me is the Lord.” But, Jesus paid the price for the sins of the world for all who believe, accept, receive and follow Him.
In Christ, Brian
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