Does sin matter? My sin? Your sin? If God forgives us, can’t we continue doing what we want?
If we ever grow afraid of what the world will do to us because of how we see sin, then we need only go to the Bible for encouragement. Daniel remained faithful while exiled in Babylon, the Jews were freed from bondage in Egypt, David slew Goliath, and most of all, Jesus conquered the world.
Sin matters though sometimes we find ourselves doing wrong in order to fit with society. The desire to belong is very real for each of us.
We must decide if we want to live lives close to God or closer to the world. There can be pros and cons to both, but if we are to call ourselves Christians, we must be firm in our decision to not sin.
The question then is how do we respond to sin in others?
The answer is simple. Love. Just because someone is engaged in something that is explicitly called sin in Scripture married in a same-sex relationship, is no reason at all to tell them they are going to Hell. These are not reasons to shame, ridicule, or exile them. While not condemning them it, it is a time for compassion, witness, and teaching of God's forgiveness and love.
We must remember that all of us are sinners
Romans 3:23-24 NIV for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
When Jesus encountered the adulteress, He did not condemn her, but He also didn’t encourage her to keep sinning.
John 8:10-11 NIV Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
That’s the same loving approach we need to take toward our fellow human beings. No matter where we are in life, or how far we have fallen, there is always hope, and we know this because there is always a God who loves us.
If we ever grow afraid of what the world will do to us because of how we see sin, then we need only go to the Bible for encouragement. Daniel remained faithful while exiled in Babylon, the Jews were freed from bondage in Egypt, David slew Goliath, and most of all, Jesus conquered the world.
Sin matters though sometimes we find ourselves doing wrong in order to fit with society. The desire to belong is very real for each of us.
We must decide if we want to live lives close to God or closer to the world. There can be pros and cons to both, but if we are to call ourselves Christians, we must be firm in our decision to not sin.
The question then is how do we respond to sin in others?
The answer is simple. Love. Just because someone is engaged in something that is explicitly called sin in Scripture married in a same-sex relationship, is no reason at all to tell them they are going to Hell. These are not reasons to shame, ridicule, or exile them. While not condemning them it, it is a time for compassion, witness, and teaching of God's forgiveness and love.
We must remember that all of us are sinners
Romans 3:23-24 NIV for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
When Jesus encountered the adulteress, He did not condemn her, but He also didn’t encourage her to keep sinning.
John 8:10-11 NIV Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
That’s the same loving approach we need to take toward our fellow human beings. No matter where we are in life, or how far we have fallen, there is always hope, and we know this because there is always a God who loves us.
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