The "S" Word! SIN! So, what's the deal with sin? Does God hate you because you're a sinner?
Absolutely not! It's true, He hates sin ... but He loves you. Let's talk about the "S" word a bit and see how God views this topic. You might be surprised.
Let's get our terms straight. What's the difference between "sin" and "sins"? There is a big difference! God is not as uptight about our "sins" as we might think, but He hates "sin." In fact, you may be surprised to find out God is not a mean old judge who shakes His fist when we commit sins. In fact, He expects "sinners" to commit "sins"! Sound confusing? Stick with us as we take a look at the "S" Word!
Sin from God's Perspective
God's primary concerns are not the "sins" in a sinner's life: smoking, swearing, drinking, running around, and other bad habits. Those are outward sins. It doesn't surprise Him when sinners sin. If you think about it, what else would you expect sinners to do? Sinners sin!
God is primarily concerned with the internal nature of the person's heart. The internal nature is indeed a "sin nature," which produces "sins" and unless that nature gets changed. The bummer about "sin" is that this sin nature separates us from God. God loves us, but He can't dwell in the same space as "sin" so a person that won't allow God to change their "sin nature" will remain separated from God once they die and the "sin" will send them straight to hell for eternity—separated from God! God does not want that!
He took drastic measures to eradicate the sin nature. He sent His Son, Jesus to this earth to bear our sin ... on the cross He took on our sin nature and He paid the penalty that was due us! He was separated from God; He went to hell in our place; He took our punishment so that He could free us from the sin nature and replace it with His nature. Jesus shed His blood on the cross to pay the penalty for sin and the result is the great exchange! Because of what Jesus did, we can receive a new nature! We can become a new creation in Christ ... the old sin nature is gone and the new nature of God comes into our heart. Not only that ... God forgives us for any of the "sins" we have committed as well!
Let's look at this further ...
What is sin and what is the difference between sins and the sin nature? Sinful acts (sins) are the result of a sin nature. Let's explain it this way: "to sin" means, "to miss the mark". Sin is a Greek archery term, which means to miss the bull's eye. When an arrow hits any of the rings outside the bull's eye, it has missed the mark. This is what sin is. In the same way, because of the fall of mankind—through the first human being ever created, Adam—all of mankind is born with a sin nature. Although at times we want to do what is right, our very nature inevitably ends up being selfish and sinful. We miss the bull's eye of God's perfection.
The apostle Paul described this sentiment when he said, "For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwell is me." (Romans 7:15-16) In other words, he wanted to live right, to do good, but his very nature made it impossible for him to live right and to do good all of the time. He was dominated by his nature of sin. Let's look at a couple of examples of this.
In the same way that dandelions spring up from dandelion roots, so too our sins spring forth from the root of sin in us. If God could ever change our very nature, the sin nature in us, then the sins we commit would drop off over time. Think about it. Mowing your lawn temporarily removes dandelions, but in a few days they are springing up all over. The way to remove dandelions (as well as sins) is to deal with them at the very root.
God said, "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you ..." (Ezekiel 36:26). God will remove our sin nature and will give us His nature of love. That is a miracle! This happens when we believe in and receive what His Son, Jesus Christ, did for us. Upon our belief and confession in Jesus Christ, God causes our sin nature to be born-again. He makes us new inside. The apostle Paul put it this way, "... if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17). Can you imagine? You can say goodbye to a life of sin and selfishness. It can happen right now as you simply say something like this from your heart to God:
"Dear God, I realize that You are not mad at me. I can see that the real issue is not my "sins," but my "sin nature". Jesus, I believe God raised You from the dead and I invite You to come into my heart and replace my sin nature with Your very own nature of love. I receive You, Jesus, as my Lord. I believe that right now You forgive my sins and You uproot my sin nature. Thank you Lord that I am born-again! In Jesus Name. Amen."
To help you grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ, we encourage you to begin reading the Bible. We also encourage you to begin praying, by simply talking to God from your heart. Finally, we recommend that you attend any Bible believing church so that you grow in your faith!
If you'd like to do a more personal study on this topic, check out my book, "Getting a Grip on the Basics."
Copyright © 2007 Beth Jones Ministries All rights reserved.
