MAKES NO SENSE

The Apostle John took sin very seriously.

I John 2:1 says "My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin."  I appreciate Eugene Peterson's translation of this verse: "I write this, dear children to guide you out of sin"   It seems to me that this type of warning is at the very heart of what it means to be a pastor.  Pastors, of all people, must never trivialize what God takes seriously.  The cross proves, once and for all, just how seriously God takes sin.

Michael L. Brown has written an interesting book "Go and Sin No More: A Call to Holiness" He writes: "When you really think about it, sinning is simply insane.  And as born-again children of God, we have to be somewhat crazy to keep on sinning.  We love Jesus.  We want to please Him.  We believe what the Word says - and yet we sin!  Why?  It makes no sense at all! (p.39)

You know, I resonate with Brown here (although the word insane might be a little strong)  I've never quite understood how some Christian tribes can claim that sinning every day in thought, word and deed is somehow normal…expected….inevitable.  Especially in light of how strongly John the Apostle opposes "sinning religion."   John writes, "Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact sin is lawlessness.  But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sin.  NO ONE WHO LIVES IN HIM KEEPS ON SINNING. No one who continues to sin has either seen Him or knows Him" (I John 3:4-6)

The warning comes from the heart of a pastor who loves his people and who wants what is best for them. That's why most pastors sound the warning from time to time: Sin is dangerous…sin exacts a heavy toll….sin is INSANE! Avoid it. Live above it. Sin not. God's grace will enable you to reject the wrong things and do the right thing today….every day. Seriously, you'd be crazy not to. This list was created by Michael Brown, and I wanted to share it with you.

20 Reasons Not to Sin!

· Sin does not satisfy.
· Sin leads to more sin.
· Sin leads to worse sins.
· Sin enslaves.
· Sin degrades and humiliates.
· Sin steals joy.
· Sin steals our confidence before God.
· The Wages of sin is death.
· God will punish sinners - in this world and the world to come.
· Sin hurts the Lord.
· Sin hurts the sinner.
· Sin hurts the sinner's family and friends.
· Sin brings reproach - to the sinner, to the church, to the name of the Lord.
· Sin makes light of the blood of Jesus.
· Sin puts the sinner on the side of the devil, demons and the world.
· Sin sets the sinner against God, the church, holiness, life, blessing and victory.
· Sin saps the anointing.
· Sin steals time.
· Sin has eternal consequences.
· Sin will always find you out.

Sounds as if this guy takes sin seriously, right? Believe it or not, Jesus takes sin even more seriously. Really! Check this out!

"If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell." (Matthew 5:29-30)

That is how seriously Jesus takes sin and sinning. 

How seriously do we?