Growing in God - Part 5

Calling Sin What It Is

Colossians 3:1-10

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

Some call it a mistake. Others declare it is a habit. Still others may say it is an addiction, hang-up, habit or a vexing problem. Unfortunately we have stopped calling it what it really is…sin. While I know it is not a popular word in today's culture, we must make sure that we do not call sin by any other name, and there are a few reasons why.

The Gravity of Our Condition

First, when we call sin by any other name, we take the gravity out of our condition. We are all lost and need to be rescued by a marvelous creator. When we call it by some other name, we no longer recognize the depth of our problem terrible problem.

The Judgment Associated With Sin

Secondly, when we call sin by another name, we remove the judgment associated with sin. If it is a mistake, then it seems accidental or inconsequential. However, in the Bible, sin is the greatest issue facing man. It keeps him from God's presence, it brings horrifying consequences in the present and eternity, and it obliterates the soul (Genesis 3).

The Power of the Cross

Thirdly and probably most importantly, when we call sin by another name, we remove the power from the cross. We must recognize our sin and our terrible future in sin in order to see the beauty, majesty, and love found in the cross. When sin is no longer a word we use in our vernacular, then people may no longer need to of a savior.

Understanding Grace

While I know it is not popular, people need to feel the weight of sin. People do not need to be immune to God's wrath. Without wrath, one cannot fully understand grace, and after all this is our aim: to understand his grace richly.

Questions

• Have there been times that you have declared your behavior as being "not that bad?"

• When you justified your "bad behavior," would you categorize that as sinful?

• If not, why not?

Prayer

Psalm 51:10-12

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Father, I ask that you would help me in my weakness. When I sin and displease you, I pray that you would point it out in me, so that I can continually grow in my love for you. Amen.