Sin
We sin when we do something that goes against God’s nature or commands.
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23 ESV)
Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew and Greek Words defines sin as: a miss, to offend, an offense, a trespass, miss the mark, guiltiness, a fault, iniquity, or error.
We can sin against each other, but the Bible is almost always talking about sin against God.
“Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.” (1 John 3:4 ESV)
We sin because Adam, the first man, sinned. We descended from Adam, and that sinful nature descended with us.
“Therefore, as sin entered into the world through one man, and death through sin, so death passed to all men because all sinned.” (Romans 5:12 WEBU)
We cannot avoid sinning, but that doesn’t mean it is okay or that we don’t have to work to avoid it.
“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? May it never be! We who died to sin, how could we live in it any longer?” (Romans 6:2 WEBU)
God is holy. He is pure. He does not allow sin in his presence.
“Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the LORD our God is holy.” (Psalms 99:9 KJV)
Sin separates us from God.
“But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.” (Isaiah 59:2 ESV)
There is hope. There is a solution.
The Bible tells us again and again that if we repent (are truly sorry and change our behavior) and believe that Jesus came to be a sacrifice to pay for our sins, and that he died and was raised from the dead, God will forgive us and we will be reconciled to Him. Refer to “Saved.”
Dear God,
This is new to me. I know I do things that go against your commands. I am afraid of what that means, and now that I know I do it, I am sorry that I offended you and want to stop.
Please show me where I fall short, and please give me the courage and strength to change.
Please help me understand what it means to follow Jesus and how to do it every day.
Please put the people and books in my life that I need to grow into the person you created me to be.
Amen