We live in a culture that has cancelled sin. We don’t talk about it or mention it, because everybody has a “right” to do their own thing. Throw God’s laws out the window. I often ask people if they think the world would be a better or worse place if everyone obeyed the Ten Commandments. No one can say “worse”, yet culture, in general doesn’t think sin is a real thing anymore, just some out-of-date idea of religious fanatics. Believing that sin isn’t a big deal is a dangerous way to live. And sadly, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to tell the “so called” Christ followers from the world. It seems that even those who are called Christians have discounted the reality of sin and its consequences both in this world and in eternity.

Scriptures – 2 Timothy 3:5; Isaiah 64:6; 1 John 1:8; Luke 12:47-48, 20:46-47; 2 Peter 2:20; James 1:14-15; Revelation 3:19

Verses – If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. (1 Jn 1:8) Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death. (Js 1:14-15)

Thought – “I’m not a bad person” is one of the major twisted mentalities that discounts the seriousness of sin. This happens because we compare ourselves to terrible people. We find someone we believe to be a worse person than we are and rationalize that we are good by comparison. However, God’s Word says that Jesus Christ is the standard for comparison. In Isaiah 64, it states that compared to a righteous God, we don’t show well! Another twisted belief is that all sin is the same. When it comes to unbelievers the effect of their sin—rejection of Jesus’ gift of salvation is the same. They are separated from God. The person who never bows a knee to Jesus Christ has chosen to live without God in both this life and the next. Some people joke about hell, about how all their friends will be there, but it’s a real place of total isolation from others and from God and a place of eternal torment. Now, talking about the sins of Christ-followers, believers, those sins are not all the same. Disobedience can cause catastrophic effects in this life. Some sin (such as alcoholism, drug use, infidelity) can destroy your health, your family, job, friendships, etc. Other sin may cause you some inconvenience but is not life altering. For example, if you speed and are pulled over and ticketed, you pay the fine, suffer the consequence. The consequences of sin are not all the same. The Bible also talks about rewards in heaven. Those who live in obedience will be rewarded. Another twisted thought about sin is that if I’ve already been committing a sin, then I might as well keep on sinning. Well, you can’t undo what’s been done, but you can repent and be forgiven. Continuing to sin will eventually drag you down and numb you to the truth of your actions as you repeat your behavior. We know what our sins are. We are responsible for owning them and repenting—turning from them and going God’s way. Obedience to God is the goal. 

Questions – Explain this statement: Most of us have been educated way beyond our level of obedience. Do you consider yourself to be a good person? What is your definition of a “bad person”? How does repeated sin drag a person down? How do the consequences of sin affect our opinion of acceptable and unacceptable sins? 

Response – Identify the sins that are infecting your life. Repent. Ask God to help you make a new start and replace that sin with a Godly action. You know what you need to do. Confide in a Christian friend for accountability if you need someone to help you stay on the right path.

Prayer – Holy God, I want my life to be consecrated to you. I want to live as a servant in obedience to you not as a slave to sin. Help me to guard my heart and life from the temptations that come my way. Help me to think about the cost of sin and the consequences it brings. May I be pleasing to you through my life, my service, and my thoughts. In Jesus’ Name I pray, amen.