The holiness of God gives meaning to our sin. If we don’t see our sin honestly, we will never be able to have a biblical worldview. We are not “good” people that need to get “better”, we are dead people that need to be alive in Christ! We see in Genesis 3 that man chose to rebel against God. This is the fall of man known as “original sin” which breaks the shalom (peace/wholeness) between God and mankind forever. See Psalm 51:5;1 Kings 8:46; Psalm 14:3, 143:2; Romans 3:23. We’re not sinners because we sin, we are sinners so we sin.
Sin is a failure to conform to the standard of God in any action, attitude, or nature. We are:
FORMED in the image of God
Through sin, we are DEFORMED
We can be TRANSFORMED through the blood of Christ
We see God’s provision in this state of depravity. Romans 5:12, 18-19 shows us that through the 1st Adam, death is spread to all men. It also shows the 2nd Adam, Jesus, redeeming mankind through one act of righteousness.
Without the shedding of blood there can be no forgiveness of sin. This is first shown in God’s provision of clothing to Adam and Eve when shalom is broken in the garden. Jesus is the ultimate propitiation as we see John 1:29 says, “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
Sin affects:
1. Relationship with God (vertically)
2. Relationship with others (horizontally)
3. Relationship with self (inwardly as bondage)
1. Think back to a time in your life (maybe now…) where sin has entrapped you. How does that impact your relationship with the Father, others, and yourself?
2. If our sin impacts the bride of Christ (the church), why don’t we fight for harmony and unity?
3. Have you allowed your heart to become callous to sin? Confess that to your Father who loves you and wants wholeness with you.
Prayer
Holy Spirit, in your kindness please point out my sin. I know I “miss the mark” and need Jesus. Help me be tender-hearted to the sin that so easily entangles me, and help me find freedom from that bondage. Jesus, thank you for your love. Father, thank you for your ultimate plan for saving mankind from sin. I’m so sorry for where I mock the cross in my selfishness. Thank you for loving me and for disciplining me in your love.
