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What is a sin?
I am sure you know that believers all over the world today are having extended debates if one can be a Christian and LGBT, at the same time. However, I was surprised to recently meet someone defending the LGBT people’s view. The Bible says one cannot be a born-again Christian and LGBT at the same time. But there are thousands out there who believe they can or, just as sad, they don’t know what to say.
In conclusion, I believe the root of confusion about LGBT is a faulty theology about sin.
1. Sin is a disease
In the words of J. C. Ryle:
Sin, in short, is that vast moral disease which affects the whole human race, of every rank, and class, and name, and nation, and people, and tongue; a disease from which there never was but One born of woman that was free. Need I say that One was Christ Jesus the Lord?
Ryle in his classical book about Holiness continues to call sin a family disease that we all inherit from Adam and Eve. Indeed, we are all born in sin (Psalm 51:5)! [Read also Romans 5:12, John 3:6, Eph. 2:3, Rom. 7:7]
Ryle says
Sin is a disease which pervades and runs through every part of our moral constitution and every faculty of our minds.
Every part of our beings is infected by sin and all our (righteous) deeds are like a polluted garment (Isaiah 64:6, ESV). Even the people we call ‘a good man’ or ‘a good woman’ are born with a sinful and fallen nature. However, this sinful disease can be hidden under a covering of politeness, good manners, courtesy or other nice decorum.
Something crucial to understand
Ryle continues to make a crucial point
So deeply planted are the roots of human corruption, that even after we are born again, renewed, washed, sanctified, justified, and made living members of Christ, these roots remain alive in the bottom of our hearts, and, like the leprosy in the walls of the house, we never get rid of them until the earthly house of this tabernacle is dissolved.
However, sin, in the heart of the believer, has no longer dominion (Rom. 6:12). Nevertheless, the fight a believer must fight every day, and the fact a believer needs to watch over his life, and crucify his flesh daily, is a requirement and a duty. Indeed, we have no other option but to walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh if we are God’s children (Rom. 8:12-14).
For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
2. Sin is a choice
Easton’s Bible Dictionary defines sin as
“any want of conformity unto or transgression of the law of God” (1 John 3:4; Romans 4:15), in the inward state and habit of the soul, as well as in the outward conduct of the life, whether by omission or commission (Romans 6:12-17; 7:5-24).
And according to Vine’s dictionary and Strong’s concordance, sin is to ‘miss the mark’.
In 1 John 3:4 (ESV) we read
Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.
Moreover, in 1 John 5:17a (ESV) it is written that
all wrongdoing is sin.
According to the above definitions, anything or everything we do against God’s will and ways is a sin. Therefore, sin is doing, saying, thinking (yes, even thinking) and imagining anything that is not in God’s perfect will or is against His nature and law. It is possible to break God’s law in your heart and not necessarily in your deeds (Matthew 5:22, 28).
We can all choose to walk in the fear of God or not. So, in this respect, sin is a choice.
Now what?
J. C. Ryle says a believer must dig down very low if he would build high. If we fail to do that and minimize sin’s nature, we become victims of it. Moreover, we need to look at it and see what it is and what price Jesus did pay for us.
If one does not have a definition of sin- a proper one, he will not repent with his whole heart and turn away from it. Moreover, that person lives in error. Therefore, we must recognize it and discern it in our life. If not, we will not fully appreciate the sacrifice of Jesus. [However, in my book about pornography, I am sharing some more insights. Make sure you subscribe to my blog]
Ask the Holy Spirit to take you to the cross and show you what happened there. Indeed, there is nothing fun about sin.
And the only antidote for it is in the Gospel of Jesus.
Do you agree?
Let us thank God for Jesus and the sacrifice on the cross. Ephesians 1:7 (ESV)
In Him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace
Do you agree?
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I am a blogger, writer, pastor, Director of Zion Romania Bible School, husband to Olguta, a father and, most importantly, a child of God. I also completed my studies at the King’s University where I earned a B.A. in Theology with a concentration in Messianic Jewish Studies. I love Israel and I love the ‘Jewishness’ of the Bible.
I agree! May we receive the grace and the gift of repentance every time we become aware of our sins.
Amen!
Thank you for your reply!