Herald Express (Torbay, Brixham & South Hams Edition)

Know God’s view of sin

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Hello and welcome to Thought for the Week. The bible uses the word “sin” for any breaking of God’s laws. It says that not one of us is sinless, and that’s why we need Jesus, Who came to this earth in order to die on the cross, suffering in the place of all who would believe on Him, so that they would be accepted by a perfectly holy God.

Now, there are plenty of people who say, “Well, I know I’m not perfect, but I try my best to live a good life. God must be pleased with me.”

But such thinking results from a wrong view of what sin is.

If we think of sin as being only the sort of crimes that grab the headlines, then we could easily, but wrongly, think that we haven’t sinned.

Some of the Jews when Jesus was on earth thought the same.

Jesus made it clear to them that you don’t have to commit crimes like murdering someone, or taking somebody else’s wife, to be a sinner in God’s sight.

He said concerning murder:

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment.” (Matthew chapter 5, verses 21-22)

In other words, thinking evil thoughts about someone is just as bad in God’s view.

Such teaching is even clearer in what He goes on to say about adultery:

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matthew chapter 5, verses 27-28)

With God, we can’t hide behind outward respectabi­lity.

We all need Jesus to save us if we are to be accepted by Him.

David Lamb is a south Devon-based lay Baptist preacher.

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