Sin is serious

Exodus 21; Job 39; Luke 24; 2 Corinthians 9

A friend who works in a women’s prison tells of hearing the following conversation. One inmate says, “I don’t know why I am in here.” Another says, “What did they charge you with?” She replied, “Assault and battery.” The other woman asked, “What did you do?” The first woman said, “Oh, I hit my boyfriend with a car, but only a little bit.”

Her attitude reveals much! I wonder how she would react to Biblical Law. For instance, Exodus 21 begins a list of laws and punishments for only a few things. Two of them show that God takes seriously what many people might claim is “only a little bit” serious:

“Whoever strikes his father or his mother shall be put to death . . . . Whoever curses (dishonors or reviles) his father or his mother shall be put to death.” (Exodus 21:15; 17)

Imagine the consternation if the lawmakers in this present day put this law of God into effect. Would it stop parental abuse? Or would there be a sudden increase in statistics concerning the death penalty.

This disrespect of parents is only one sin on the list of what could be described as how we break the Ten Commandments. There are more and some seem much less serious, such as craving what belongs to someone else. Yet God considers human attitudes that go against His principles as serious sins. Jesus verified that is in our hearts is the source of our sinful actions.

The New Testament is clear; the seriousness of sin is the reason God sent Jesus to suffer and die on the cross, not a death that He deserved but to give life to sinners:

Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. (Luke 24:44–47)

The New Testament is clear; “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” but this verse does not end with that. The next verse says, “and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:23-24)

It is as if God is the judge and we are guilty of breaking most of the law, but as we stand before Him, we are told that another has taken our penalty. We can go free if we accept that other as our Lord and Savior, giving our lives to Him because He has bought us with the price of His own life.

Sin is serious. So also is the remedy for sin. God’s redemption plan is not only astonishing in the freedom from guilt it offers, but the add-ons that come with it. Here is one example of the life that is offered in God’s redemption package:

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work . . . . He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. (2 Corinthians 9:8–11)

No wonder that the writer of 2 Corinthians ends this section with, “Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15)

APPLY: God is giving me occasion this day to rejoice in all that He has done in Christ for me. I’ve broken His laws and fall short of His glory, but He gave me Jesus, the Substitute who paid my debt and set me free, sending me out into this sinful world with all the grace needed to live for Him. For the enormity of this inexpressible gift, I am deeply humbled and deeply grateful, also deeply willing to do whatever He asks of me as His redeemed servant, His child, and His friend.

There is a checkout in life’s supermarket

Isaiah 2:6–4:6, Luke 1:39–66, Job 1:13–22

This weekend in California has made visual sins that once were kept hidden. We have seen good things for we look for them, but we have seen activities that make us shudder. As I read the OT prophet’s words of condemnation to Israel, they seem to also describe what is happening in this city . . .

“For God has rejected His people, the house of Jacob, because they are full of things from the east and of fortune-tellers like the Philistines, and they strike hands with the children of foreigners. Their land is filled with silver and gold, and there is no end to their treasures; their land is filled with horses, and there is no end to their chariots. Their land is filled with idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their own fingers have made.”

Perversions abound and those not involved tolerate them. Evil is good and good is called evil. What will happen to those who sin without shame? And what will happen to this city? Isaiah describes the fate of Israel. Will this be the fate of this place?

Isaiah say, “So man is humbled, and each one is brought low— do not forgive them! Enter into the rock and hide in the dust from before the terror of the Lord, and from the splendor of his majesty. The haughty looks of man shall be brought low, and the lofty pride of men shall be humbled, and the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.”  (Isaiah 2:6–11)

In the NT, the mother of Jesus shows understanding of God’s plans for the righteous and for those who turn from God. She said, “His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.” (Luke 1:50–53) She knew that God is the judge and He will do what He says.

Back to the OT story of Job which adds another thought to this: life’s circumstances here and now are not the ultimate test for goodness in the sight of God. Job was a righteous man. Satan challenged God and said that Job’s faith in Him existed only because he was living a blessed life. God said not true, and allowed this enemy to test Job’s faith . . .

Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, and there came a messenger to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, and the Sabeans fell upon them and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The Chaldeans formed three groups and made a raid on the camels and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

Job’s reaction to all of this shows the difference between him and those who have no faith in God.

Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong. (Job 1:13–22)

Those who believe in Christ know that God is good, no matter what happens. The greatest example is the Cross. Jesus died there at the hands of evil people who falsely accused Him. His Father allowed this, yet He was not a victim for God used it for the greatest good that is available to all; Jesus died that sin could be forgiven, that all who believe could have eternal life.

The circumstances of life are not the final test nor do they reflect the rewards or the punishment yet to come. Good people may suffer now, and evil people seem to prosper, but no matter the items in the shopping cart, there still awaits each of us that trip through the checkout!

I love this line from Mary’s song of praise. She declares this wonderful truth of where true blessings reside: “And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” (Luke 1:45)

Call it what it is . . .

Pointing fingers is easy. I can always find someone ‘worse’ than I am. Looking down on someone else is one way to make myself appear better than I am.

I can also change the labels. Yesterday I read a comment on an online article where the writer said that because Eve had been deceived by Satan, she was a ‘victim.’ Before I look down my nose at that total misinterpretation of God’s Word, I must remember that I can change labels too. I can call my lies ‘fibs’ or say that evil thoughts are ‘spiritual battles’ or that disobedience to God is ‘insecurity’ or make some other excuse for what I do by describing it in softer language.

Today’s devotional reading talks about changing labels. Stealing is ‘scrounging’; adultery is ‘an affair’; a fetus is a ‘blob of tissue’’; an abortion is ‘termination of pregnancy’’; promiscuity is ‘being sexually active’; sodomy is ‘gay’ and people brutally killing each other is ‘military conflict.’

The author gives several other examples then adds that when we gloss over what the Bible plainly names and use euphemistic terms to soften those terms, we are “simply greasing the path to hell.”

If such direct talk is offensive, then what about the directness of God’s Word? This passage makes blatant statements . . .

“ . . . the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar . . . Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, as it is written: ‘None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one. Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive. The venom of asps is under their lips. Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes.’”

The passage ends with this: “Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.” (Romans 3:1–20)

Before anyone, including me, can overcome moral guilt, it must first be admitted. To do that, it must be called what it is, not excused with terminology that doesn’t sound quite so bad. One of the most important verses in the Bible, a verse written for Christians, says this: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

The word ‘confess’ means to agree, to ‘say the same thing’ about sin as God says. It means to call it what He calls it without changing the label. That tells me that if I re-label my sin, this verse could say, “If I give my sin a less offensive tag, God will withhold forgiveness. Instead of cleansing my sin, I will be stuck with my unrighteousness until I am willing to admit it.”

Messing with the words of God not only dishonors Him, but is totally self-defeating.

Intercession

At times, after observing ungodliness in the world and my own tendency to drift away from full obedience, I do not know how to pray. I am dismayed at the power of sin to keep even the people of God from listening to Him. We know He loves us. We know that He wants the best for us, yet too often we do our own thing, then lament because going our own way always gets us into trouble. If catastrophe has not yet come, it is only because the Lord is showing great patience. 

While I don’t sit waiting for the ax to fall and am thankful for the mercy and grace of God, at the same time, I have to agree with Ruth Graham. She said that if God does not do something soon about the sin in America, He will have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah.

Perhaps the reason the Lord has not poured out judgment is that a remnant of His people are fervently praying that He will show mercy. The Bible records some of these amazing intercessory prayers. One example is Daniel’s cry to God confessing his own sin and that of His people.

Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession, saying, “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us open shame, as at this day, to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, those who are near and those who are far away, in all the lands to which you have driven them, because of the treachery that they have committed against you. To us, O Lord, belongs open shame, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you. To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God by walking in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets…. As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this calamity has come upon us; yet we have not entreated the favor of the Lord our God, turning from our iniquities and gaining insight by your truth. Therefore the Lord has kept ready the calamity and has brought it upon us, for the Lord our God is righteous in all the works that he has done, and we have not obeyed his voice. And now, O Lord our God, who brought your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and have made a name for yourself, as at this day, we have sinned, we have done wickedly….Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy, and for your own sake, O Lord, make your face to shine upon your sanctuary, which is desolate. O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city that is called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy. O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.” (Daniel 9:3–19)

Daniel’s plea is based on the mercy and righteousness of God. No one deserves His blessing. No one can earn it. Everyone of us has turned aside and done our own thing, ignoring or resisting God and His grace. It is because of His grace and because of Jesus Christ that I can even pray, or even realize that prayer is necessary and even possible. For this reason, Jesus is our redemption and our hope. Today Daniel’s prayer will be included in my prayers for our world and for myself.

Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in my name, I will do it. (John 14:13–14)

Slander’s destructive power

Years ago, a retired Air Force colonel with a distinguished combat record and who did postwar work involving top security clearance was accused of shoplifting a 63¢ can of Danish bacon. A municipal court found him innocent, but the slander of this false accusation changed this man. He lost his enthusiasm for life, became depressed and died of a heart condition. Later, another court awarded his family more than $100,000 because they were convinced his death was caused by a broken heart.

Slander is a nasty word. In the Bible, it comes from “diabolos” a Greek word used also for the devil. Slander can ruin lives, careers, families and Christian ministry. No wonder it is included in the ten commandments.

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. (Exodus 20:16)

My devotional reading says that a Christian should never say anything false, including the most familiar lie of saying something that isn’t true, but also saying things with exaggeration, cheating in school, business, work, or on your taxes, betraying a confidence, flattery, making excuses, and remaining silent when the truth should be spoken.

However, this ninth commandment is specifically about bearing false witness against another person. God gave it to protect the reputation of people from libel, but this law also pointed to the Israelite system of justice. In their law, a person’s guilt or innocence was based on testimony by faithful witnesses. Of course false witnesses would undermine justice. Thus, being obedient to this command is not only about lying but about justice.

Gossip is a different word. It means idle or foolish talk. It could be truthful stories about the follies of others and those are often as harmful as slander. In my opinion, most gossip is a way of trying to make oneself look good at the expense of others.

Slander is more deliberate, always false and intends to harm the other person in some way. Jesus said that slander is a product of the heart, which means I could think slanderous thoughts without saying the words. That is why Paul wrote:

Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking (slander) be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:31-32)

He started with attitudes that lead to actions and said to “let” them be removed, suggesting that their removal cannot be done without outside help. Of course that help comes from the Lord through obedience to this verse:

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

God will take from my heart any bitterness, wrath, anger and malice that would otherwise result in clamor and slander, but only if I humble myself and confess that they are in my heart. For this amazing provision, made possible only by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for my sin, I am truly thankful.