Censured!

When was the last time you heard a discussion on SIN outside of a church? Have you heard it spoken on the evening news? It seems the word SIN is forbidden, even banned from our use. I believe the last time I saw a form of the word in public it was smeared on the side of a wreck of a bus covered with crudely written warnings to repent or suffer the wrath of God in Hell. Could it be that people today relate the word SIN with offbeat, fringe "lunatics" and pass it off as a relic of the dark ages that is better forgotten?

I'm not sure that SIN is even spoken of much in church any more. Instead it has been replaced with much kinder sounding words such as "sickness," "dysfunction," "weakness," and the like. Perhaps this has come about from a misunderstanding of the Gospel. Even "Christians" don't like to be reminded of things in their lives they feel they are powerless to overcome. Sin flourishes in just such a setting. It will not go away on it's own! So, even in the church, where there is to be deliverance from sin, people are imperceptibly shackled. There bonds are hidden by satan's fog of ignorance and superstition.

I would like to allow God's Spirit Wind to blow away this fog and expose the truth about SIN! God's Word very clearly defines sin and offers remedy for it. I will look at nine passages in groups of three that help us better understand what sin is, our involvement with it, and how we can have deliverance.

Because of the immobilizing fear that often accompanies the word SIN I believe it is necessary first to assure the reader that God has already defeated sin and satan! Even though God hates sin with a passion He loves the sinner. The Apostle Paul declares in Romans 5:8, "But God demonstrates his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." God must deal with the sin in our lives, therefore it is a must that we come to Him through Jesus. That is why God accepts us as we are. If we could heal ourselves before going to a doctor we wouldn't need the doctor would we? Just as we may feel right about going to a doctor when we are sick, we can feel comfortable going to God, in our sinful condition, to obtain deliverance.

Sin Defined
The first three passages define sin.

• 1 John 3:4 Whoever commits sin violates the law of God, for sin is the violation of God's law. (paraphrased)

• James 4:17 Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin.

• Romans 14:23 . . .Whatever is not from faith is sin.

These three definitions pretty well cover it don't they? Sin is doing what we shouldn't do, not doing what we should do, and doing anything (even "good") from the wrong motivation!

If you understand that those who sin are condemned to death, you may be feeling quite hopeless right now. If you realize from these passages that you have more sin in your life than you thought you did, they have done there job.

Arenas of Involvement

Before we look at the cure for sin, let's look at three passages that show the basic areas of our lives that sin attacks. These areas correspond to the three definitions we have just looked at.

• Genesis 3:6 And the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and the treedesirable to make one wise. And she took of its fruit and ate. And she also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.

• Matthew 4:1-10 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil . . .(Please turn to this passage and read the three temptations for yourself)

• 1 John 2:6 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

If we look closely at these passages, we can see a direct correlation of the three areas in which satan works to captivate the human soul. That correlation is suggested in the following table.

ARENA	BODY	MIND	SPIRIT
1 John 2:6	Lust of flesh	Lust of eyes	Pride of life
Genesis 3:6	Good for food	Pleasant to eye	Make one wise
Matthew 4:1-10	Stone to bread	World for worship	Tempt God

As was stated earlier, these areas or arenas correspond to the three definitions for sin. (This comparison is not absolute but rather a suggestion as they might make sense in another order as well.)

• Transgression of God's law Body

• Whatever is not of faith Mind

• Know to do good and not do it Spirit

Victory Over Sin

The Good News of the Gospel is not God's forgiveness alone, but also that He will work in us not to sin in the first place. Notice the following verses:

• Jude 1:24,25 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy. To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and for ever. Amen.

• Philippians 2:13 For it is God who works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.

• 1 John 3:5,6 And you know that He (Jesus) appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him. (See also 1 John 5:18)

Of course, these texts like all scripture must be read in context. I'm sure you've met people who say "I'm perfect. I don't sin." These dear people most likely got that idea from these texts. But they fail to look at the whole picture. John also states earlier in 1 John 1:8-10,

If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.

With such provision, as Christ has offered us, we need not sweep SIN under the rug, pretending it doesn't exist! If we will only let Jesus come into our heart, He will bring His perfect life into us. He will cleanse us from the inside out and fill us with His love and righteousness. Even so come Lord Jesus!