Thursday, July 27, 2017

 

If you were to ask the average person on the street if they are a sinner, most would answer: I am not perfect, I have made some mistakes, but I would not consider myself a sinner. In reality, most people do not consider themselves to be sinners; most people think they are good people who occasionally make some mistakes. Even our prisons are full of people who consider themselves to be good people who simply committed, now get this, not a crime or a sin instead in their opinion they committed a mistake.

 

The problem associated with sinning is that it is destructive. Sin destroys families, churches, communities, cities, nations, and countries. Nowhere however are the effects of sin more evident than in our relationships. The only thing that has broken more relationships than sin is death. This is why, whenever Jesus spoke about sin, his goal was always to seek restoration and not condemnation. Condemnation leads to punishment and only forgiveness leads to restoration. In order for there to be restoration, the person has to be willing to admit that they sinned and seek forgiveness. Jesus, knowing how people take their bad behavior and move it from the “sinner” category into the “I made a mistake category”, raised the behavior standard so high that no one could pretend that they were not a sinner. Just look at what Jesus said”

 

Matthew 5:21-22, 27-28 NIV

 

“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘idiot,’ is answerable to the court.  And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.

 

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart”.

 

This is a hard pill to swallow; If you are angry with someone you are a murdered, if you call someone an idiot, it’s a crime, if you call someone a fool you are in danger of going to hell. And, if you look at a woman lustfully you are an adulterer. Why would Jesus seemingly take an impossible situation and make it worse? Because his goal once again is that we recognize that we are sinners so that we could seek forgiveness and though forgiveness have a restored relationship with our Heavenly Father.

 

Luke 5:32 NIV

 

“I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”