Sin And Forgiveness

“Are we sinners because we sin or do we sin because we are sinners?” asked the Sunday school teacher. An immediate debate erupted in the class as the members attempted to sort out the issues.

Finally, Jess quoted Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” “Seems to me,” he continued, “that if everyone ‘falls short’ we must all be sinners because we all sin. Someone other than Jesus might have slipped through. Certainly, not me.”

In Psalm 32 David uses the words transgress and sin. Transgress means to step across or to go beyond a set boundary. It carries with it the idea of an athlete stepping out of bounds while competing in a contest. The word sin means to miss the mark – like failing a test or not meeting a specific standard.

If we recognize God’s laws as boundaries, we would all have to admit that we have stepped beyond the limits for right living that God set. And where is that person who can say that they have hit the target and meet every standard that God has set for them?

Though David speaks of iniquity, sin and transgression, he emphasizes forgiveness and the fact that our sins can be removed. He writes, “Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him.” Paul quotes these same words in Romans.

Thank God that Paul explains what we are to do if we want our sins removed: “For by grace you can be saved – your sins removed – through God’s gift!”

Prayer: Thank You, Father, for Your salvation which is only possible through Your Son, our Savior. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 32:1 Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.

Getting Dirty Takes Time

Two young children who lived in a ghetto were invited to a Salvation Army Christmas banquet. They were amazed at the lovely surroundings and were surprised to discover that the tables were covered with clean white tablecloths.

When they placed their hands next to their napkins one boasted, “Look, my hands are dirtier than yours.”

“Yes,” responded his friend, “but you are two years older than I am.”

How like sin. Sin is subtle and moves silently but surely, quietly and quickly until it invades every aspect of one’s life. The longer one lives in sin the more it expands and grows until it completely controls one’s life. It is rarely recognized for what it is unless an individual comes to know and understand and accept God’s Word and His message of salvation.

The only way to be redeemed and reclaimed from a sin-centered life is to accept Jesus Christ as Savior and enthrone Him as Lord. Not only is He powerful enough to save us but strong enough to strengthen us, to sustain us and safeguard us from sin.

Jesus offers us His salvation freely as a gift of His eternal love. There is nothing we can do to earn His salvation, but there is much to do once we accept it.

Prayer: Lord, we acknowledge our need for Your salvation if we want to be saved from our sins and live lives that are free from sin and worth living. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 32 Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered…Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him.