S–I–N

Selfishly Indulgent Naturally

I thought if I could contrive an anagram for the simple word “SIN”…folks may be more apt to read this.  I find it very sad that so many ministers of the Word, teachers, authors, missionaries and everyday Christian folk don’t like the sound of this word.  They would rather use the term mistake.  “We all make mistakes, of course we do”  sounds nicer than “We all sin, of course we do”.  Using the word sin must “sting the ears”!  Sin is one of those words we hear very, very little of anymore in the churches and ministries across this country regardless of the denomination.

Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 3-4 “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” (KJV) 

The English Standard Version’s says “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.”

I believe that time is NOW!  We hear much about God’s love, and rightfully we should.  We know that God Himself is love! However, the emphasis on God’s love without teaching the truth of His holiness is error.  God the Father is also righteous judge.  We are told repeatedly in Scripture He will one day pass judgement on all mankind.  Each person! (Psalms 76)  Those calling themselves Christians (those who KNOW the love of God through Jesus Christ and salvation/redemption by His blood) should not only teach of love but of sin and God’s judgement.  Allowing the Holy Spirit to use the Word of God –in ALL it’s truth, to bring non-believers to a saving faith in Jesus Christ.

When the Apostle Paul traveled to Rome he spoke with all authority from God.

Romans 1: 19-25 “For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.  For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.  For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.  Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. 

Teaching that God is tolerant of sin is absurd and heresy!!    God hates sin.   He is merciful, patient, loving beyond human understanding towards all the world (John 3:16), but HE IS NOT TOLERANT of sin.  He LOVES the sinner and HATES the sin.  If we truly want to share the love of God … then we must share what His love did to reconcile us to Himself and why that reconciliation was needed.   If we don’t share the complete Gospel of Jesus Christ… then we’re loving in man’s ways not God’s way!  ♥ Streim

 Apathy is the acceptance of the unacceptable. J. Stott