Sin

Sin is a word many people don't want to hear. Even in church circles we don't always use "sin" to describe our behavior when our behavior is just plain wrong. We want to live with a lot of gray areas so we say we missed the mark or turned away from God or were rebellious or ran from God - all of which are true. Those are certainly good descriptions of what the word sin means but I also think those terms have less sting to them.

God Himself calls our wrong behavior sin. The first time the word appears in Scripture is Genesis 4:7. God is speaking to Cain about the offering he brought to God which God did not accept. Cain was angry with his brother and probably with God as well. "The Lord said to Cain, 'Why are you angry and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.'" (Genesis 4:6-7) God told Cain you must rule over [sin]. You can't rule over something if you won't admit that it's there. Cain certainly did not rule over sin and ended up murdering his brother.

The Bible tells us "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) Until we admit we are sinners destined for God's wrath, God's punishment, for our sins, we really can not accept the free gift of salvation offered through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We can't repent of sin if we don't call sin, sin.

Sometimes when we refuse to submit God will allow us to pursue our sins. (Psalm 81:11-13, Acts 7:41-42, Romans 1:24-25) I've been there, done that, and it is a scary place to be. It is when I take the attitude of David when his sin of adultery and murder was exposed that I can experience the grace and mercy of God whose love is beyond measure. (Psalm 51)