By Eric Norford
We live in an age in which technology is tremendous, money can be earned abundantly, a person can be anything he wants to be, and can do practically anything that he wants. In a society where problems abound on every hand, the Christian is exposed to practically everything the world has to offer. It seems as the years go by, it will get worse, and Christians will become more loose in their attitude toward sin. In fact, should present trends continue, the so-called Christian will altogether remove the word “sin” from the Bible. Whether or not that happens, God still calls sin, sin. There is no such thing as a little sin or a big sin. Sin is still sin and God says through James (1: 15), that sin, when it is finished brings forth death. Yet, some Christians have the idea that it is not sin, but a “mistake.” Sin is disobedience of God’s law. It is a transgression (1 Jn. 3:4); sin is unrighteousness (1 Jn. 5:17); sin is an omission of doing what is right (Jas. 4:17); sin is an action not “of faith” (Rom. 14:23). God’s word is very plain about sin. Sin will send a person to Hell – even one sin will. One sin kept Moses from entering the land of Canaan (Num. 20:12; Deut. 34:4), one sin killed Nadab and Abihu (Lev. 10:1, 2), and one sin killed Uzzah, who thought he was doing right by steadying the ark of God (2 Sam. 6:6-7). When God says something, we better not go against it!
However, there are Christians who have the idea that they can commit any type of sin and get by with it. This shows the world’s impact on people’s minds. It is no wonder that the divorce rate is ridiculous, fornication is out of control, murder for an unwanted pregnancy (abortion), filthy language, homosexuality abound, etc. God’s word is still very plain about these, they are sin. Divorce is wrong, if it is not for the cause of fornication. Divorcing for every reason, then remarrying someone is wrong; those living in this condition will go to Hell, unless they change and make it right with God according to the Scriptures (Matt. 19:9). God still says pre-marital sex (fornication) and sex with someone who is not your husband or wife, while you’re married (adultery), is sin (1 Cor. 6:9-10). Language that is disgusting and dirty is wrong, for a Christian is to speak wholesome, godly words (Eph. 4:29). Abortion is murder, regardless of what every pro-choice person in the world says about this; he is not God. Man has no right to take a life that has been formed by God himself and kill it (Isa. 44:2,24; 49:5; Gal. 5:19-21). These passages show that God made the womb and murder is a work of the flesh. Homosexuality was an abomination to God in the Old and New Testaments and it still is today. Despite the gay movements and despite what some church leaders say about it, it is sin (Rom. 1:24-27, 32). God destroyed two cities for this same sin in Genesis 19:1-29. There are many other sins that we have not touched on: stealing, telling a lie, hatred, drinking, drunkenness and such like: those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God (Gal. 5:21)!
These problems have crept into Christians’ lives and in the church and they are getting worse. Christians just shrug them off and think they will pass. Paul says that we are not to be conformed to the world but “transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God” (Rom. 12:2). We need to stand up against sin and drive it from our minds! If we have the idea that sin is not a big deal, God help us. God says sin is still sin and we have cited passages which teach that a person who commits sin will not inherit the kingdom of God. The fact is, God will not send you to Hell, you will send yourself there. We need to be living our lives according to God’s Word and not by the world’s offerings. If we sin, we have an advocate with the Father (1 Jn. 2:1-2). This must be true repentance, not the idea that “I got that sin off my shoulders and now I can go do the same thing later today.”
This writer likes the words that Peter expressed in 2 Peter 3:11, after he discussed that the Lord has promised that there will be a judgment day (v. 10) and knowing this will happen. He said, “What manner of persons ought you to be?” How should we be living – God’s way or the world’s way? God’s way will lead you to eternal life (Matt. 7:21; 2 Jn. 9); the world’s way will lead you straight to Hell (Jn. 12:48). In Hell, there is complete darkness (Jude 13), eternal fire (Rev. 20:10; Mk. 9:45), eternal separation from God (2 Thess. 1:7-9); it is the second death (Rev. 20:14; 21:8). Do you still think sin is some minor thing? One sin will send you to eternal damnation. Some can attach another name to sin to make it look innocent or disguise it; however, God says sin is still sin.
Guardian of Truth XXXV: 6, p. 175
March 21, 1991