Word Nerd Wednesday - Sin

My sweet friend Sarah Travis joins us around My Messy Desk again this week to talk about this word we often try to avoid - sin. I know she will give you a greater understanding of how God wants us to understand our sin.

*********

Sin: “an offense against religious or moral law; transgression of the law of God”

In essence, sin is thinking or acting in any way other than God’s perfect ways. Due to the first sin being committed by Adam and Eve at the beginning of time (Genesis 3), all of humanity, which is descended from Adam, inherits not the perfect creation God designed but a flawed nature…sinful nature. Sin is not something we begin to do at some point in our lives, it is part of us from our very first breath.

Adrian Rogers put it this way: “We are sinners by nature, by birth, and by choice.”

“Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all men, because all sinned.”

Romans 5:12 HCSB

As David confessed:

“Indeed, I was guilty when I was born; I was sinful when my mother conceived me.”

Psalm 51:5 HCSB

The Greek word from which we get sin in Romans 5:12 is ”hamartia” and is defined as: “the brand of sin that emphasizes its self-originated (self-empowered) nature – i.e. it is not originated or empowered by God”

Simply put, when we sin we are acting on our own thoughts, our own desires, toward our own outcome and not the will of God.

Paul writes in Romans 7 “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out…it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.” (vv 18-20 ESV).

We often think of what we do as sin, but God makes it clear in His Word that it is not just what we do…

“So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”

James 4:17 ESV

Many of you might remember the WWJD wristbands - was that the 80s?! When we fail to do what Jesus would do, fail to be His hands and feet, live out the Great Commission, follow the still small voice of the Lord, the whispers of the Holy Spirit - then we are also sinning.

Sin, in simple terms, is rebellion.

It is rebelling against how the LORD created us to live. It is doing wrong and it is also not doing right. Scripture tells us we even sin before we act (Matthew 5:28) for God knows our thoughts (Matthew 9:4).

Sin is rebelling against how the LORD created us to live. #WORDNerdWednesday @srhtrvs12 Click To Tweet

My husband told me a story he heard from Adrian Rogers about a small boy who was repeatedly refusing his mother’s request to sit down. Eventually the boy sat down only to look at his mother and say: “I’m sitting but I’m standing on the inside.”

Our key verse today is the first verse in the commonly referred to Romans Road to Salvation, and without understanding it we would not take the first step along that road:

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Romans 3:23 HCSB

“For the wages of sin is death…”

Romans 6:23a HCSB

BUT the beauty of the Gospel is THIS my friends…

While we were still sinners CHRIST DIED FOR US!

(Romans 5:8)

And because of the love God showers upon us: “…the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23b HCSB

We are sinners.

We deserve to be declared guilty and receive the right punishment - separation from God (Isaiah 59:2), but in His love and mercy He offered a way for us to be spared the punishment and draw close to Him again.

In a little over a week, we will pause and look to the cross as we reflect on the Truth of what Jesus Christ accomplished.

Jesus, God’s Son, God in the flesh, came to earth to live a spotless, sinless life in order to die on a cross and take the punishment we rightly deserve. He suffered so that we do not have to.

“He {God} made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

2 Corinthians 5:21 HCSB

Friends, the final verse of the Romans Road is this:

“If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.”

Romans 10:9-10 HCSB

The life of a Christian, saved from the penalty of sin is to live seeking God’s will and not the will of self. It is to allow the Lord of all to become the Lord of your life. It is to desire obedience and to strive to resist the sinful nature that so easily entangles us, only possible with the help of the Holy Spirit.

The life of a Christian is to turn from sin, pursue holiness, and live a life reflecting a heart-changing thankfulness that Jesus Paid It All!

While we were still #sinners CHRIST DIED FOR US! Rom 5:8 @srhtrvs12 #WORDNerdWednesday Click To Tweet

*********

Born and raised in Scotland, and talking with a “wee” Americanized-Scottish twang, Sarah is now wife to her American dream hubby, Jason, and is SAHM to their 10-month old son Ezra! She is an author, speaker, and inspirational Bible teacher passionate about helping women believe their acceptance and belonging in Christ, not in the world. Whenever she is not running around keeping Ezra out of mischief or writing, Sarah works as a Mary & Martha independent consultant.

Sarah’s life verse is:

“The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.”

Proverbs 16:9 ESV.

You can connect with Sarah on Facebook and Twitter, and on her blog at www.sarahtravis.org

********

For more encouragement please join the discussions on these fabulous blog link ups – Suzanne Eller, Thought Provoking Thursday, Susan B. Mead, Faith Filled Friday, Grace and Truth, Faith and Fellowship Friday, Grace and Truth Friday, Good Morning Monday, Soul Survival, Monday Musings, Rah Rah Link Up, Tell His Story, Woman to Woman Wednesday, Women With Intention Wednesday, Sitting Among Friends, Testimony Tuesday, Planting Roots, and Fresh Market Friday.