What are some of the various ways people respond to God's law? How can
reading and understanding God's law be discouraging to a person? How is
it that preaching straight from the Bible is so disturbing to folks? How
do you usually react when you are confronted with the topic of "sin"?
I hope you aren't reluctant to pursue the issue…
Romans 7:13
Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that
it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin
by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
Ladies, God loved us enough to send us His holy Word to define the true
nature of life, to help us clearly see the way that we should and shouldn't
go and the befitting consequences to each direction. The Bible plainly
outlines the best path for us. Unfortunately, it is all too common, even
among believers, to rebel against restriction. When people are confronted
with the truth that crossing a certain line brands them with sin, they
are agitated and enraged.
1 John 1:8
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is
not in us.
As men, women, and even children rebuff the sin the Bible brings out into
the open, God's good law is labeled bad. In being a faithful steward of
God's law, when the Bible believing preacher plainly pronounces sin as
sin from behind the pulpit, infuriated people label the church and it's
shepherd as bad. My question is - what do you think God requires his man
to do?? With the Bible in his hands, a faithful man of God is expected
by God to alarm and waken sinners to their sin! In fact, in our text above,
scripture says that sin might appear sin unto us and even become exceeding
sinful! That is the extreme to which the LORD would regulate our viewpoint;
He would have sin published with no other title. There should be no cloud
covering the issue of right and wrong, acceptable or unacceptable. Sin
is offensive to a holy God. Don't you appreciate learning what offends
the Lord so you can avoid His wrath? If so, then don't become irate with
those who deliver you the truth…
Galatians 4:16
Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
Inside many churches today, or resting on the pages of various books and
Bibles in Christian bookstores, even heard on Christian radio programming
and television as well as in contemporary Christian songs, in much of
the vocabulary exchanged between believers the world over, the sinfulness
of sin is either avoided or simply given a new term. We have become quite
accomplished at giving sin a different title - such as a "mistake" or
a "weakness" or a popular term tossed around lightly, a "disorder". Sin
certainly is a grave disorder - from a lack of not ordering our thoughts
or lives according to scripture!! Ladies, let me encourage you to allow
sin to appear to you in no other way than which God suggests. Have you
been offended by your pastor or any preacher who exposes and then rebukes
sin in his sermons? Have you found yourself calling good evil and evil
good simply to avoid your own guilt? Why not test your heart a bit on
the scripture verses below that speak straightforwardly about sin…
1 John 3:4
Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression
of the law.
1 John 3:8a
He that committeth sin is of the devil…
1 John 5:17a
All unrighteousness is sin…
James 4:17
Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it
is sin.
Romans 14:23b
…for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
Proverbs 24:9a
The thought of foolishness is sin…
Were you able to read these verses without any real nuisance? Were you
able to accept sin as it appeared above or did you snub God's exactness
and seek excuse for yourself? If you have refused to consider yourself
a sinner, then it is doubtful you have ever recognized your need for a
Savior! Likewise, if after salvation you wrestle with God's viewpoint
toward your daily attitudes or behavior then you willfully decline becoming
more like Jesus. The Word of God would first work death in us that it
might point us to greater life in and through Christ! There should be
sin in every sermon whether you think so or not! Don't resist truth's
purpose, yield to it.
Philip. 1:21
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2003 Pamela A. Iannello
