iniquities

Sin

What in the world is it?  For my Christian friends we can go into great discussions and debates about what sin is.  For my friends who believe in something else this word is null and void.  There is no point to it.

Todd and I were talking yesterday during our walk about how I can explain what sin is to a culture that believes that good works will get them to heaven.  That's an incredibly hard thing to explain to someone who generally thinks they're a good person who doesn't do bad stuff.  A person like this doesn't need someone to save them because they don't think they'll have a consequence for how they have behaved.

So here's the deal about sin.  Have you told a white lie?  Have you ever been angry at someone and said something mean to them?  Have you ever thought something that wasn't kind?  Have you ever wanted to hurt someone?  All of these small inconsequential things seperate us from God just as much as the big time things like murder, stealing, and grand theft auto.  What I've read in the Bible is all of these things seperate us from God, the more we sin the farther we are from God.  

So here's the question, how close to God do you want to be?  Because if you want an actual relationship with Him, if you want to be able to talk to Him you're going to realize that you need someone to take the consequence of all those small little things you've done in the past and maybe the big things too.  That is why friend, Jesus had to come; to take the blame and consequence for your actions.  He is the whipping boy, the innocent victim who very willingly said I'll take their punishments so they have the option of having a relationship with God.

This long discourse is to finally talk about Hebrews 8:12

How beautiful is God saying I will be merciful to them, and I will remember their sins no more.  Oh to be loved so much that Jesus took my consequence.  That for me is why I believe in this faith because never before have I gone through a day without making a mistake.  I can try my hardest but but I always end up doing something that I regret.  If you're like me, you might just need Jesus to say "I'll take your punishment, so that you can get the blessings."

Love you and praying for you friend  

Romans 10:9-10 English Standard Version (ESV)

9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.