I’m trying to figure this sin thing out. I’ve been thinking about it a lot. Not the sins of the world, but my sins. My very own sins. You know me, I start at the beginning and work my way up to understanding – sometimes, hopefully.
We have to talk about sin, no matter how uncomfortable it is, whether we can admit it or not, we are all sinners. Not just some of us, not just those over there, not just those who do X, but every last one of us. You may be thinking you’re not so bad, you are a good person, you do most things right, you feed the hungry, give to the poor, don’t cheat on your taxes, don’t steal post-its from your employer — that’s nice, but you’re a sinner. Just like me.
What is sin? Listing individual sins does not define what sin is. Making a list of my own sins, which we have neither enough paper nor time to do so, still does not define sin. That simply defines the acts of my sin and the consequences of my sin, but not what sin is. Sin is my separation from God due to my lack of obedience to him. That’s it.
There’s not a measuring stick for sin. One is not bigger than another. One does not outweigh another. One sin is not worse than another. Sure, the consequences of different sins are different. They may or may not be physical consequences of sin – incarceration, pain, injury, even death, etc. There may be emotional consequences of sin – fear, hated, selfishness, anxiety, addiction, living with hurting another, etc. But one thing is for certain, there will always be spiritual consequences of sin because sin is ultimately separation from God. God is holy. Sin is unholy. Because sin is unholy it separates us from God. Separation is separation – forever, for eternity.
Listen! The Lord is not too weak to save you, and he is not becoming deaf. He can hear you when you call. But there is a problem – your sins have cut you off from God. Because of your sin, he has turned away and will not listen anymore. Your hands are the hands of murderers, and your fingers are filthy with sin. Your mouth is full of lies, and your lips are tainted with corruption. Isaiah 59:1-3
Wow! That sin list continues through verse 14. Isaiah is warning those folks – he just called them out. Who’s them? Israel, of course. Those sinners. They committed murder. They lied. They plotted evil plans. They cheat. They cause misery. They. They. They. But wait, I’ve committed murder in my heart. I’ve killed someone’s reputation. I’ve made plans and did things that were far from Godly. I have cheated. I have caused misery to others. I have lied. I have stolen. The list goes on and on. I’m just like Israel. I’m one of those. I’m a sinner. Oh…
The beauty of Isaiah 59 is that it is a warning, a pretty stern warning, but a warning nonetheless. Let those who have eyes to see…
“The Redeemer will come to Jerusalem,” says the Lord, “to buy back those in Israel who have turned from their sin. And this is my covenant to them,” says the Lord. “My Spirit will not leave them, and neither will these words I have given you. They will be on your lips and on the lips of your children and your children’s children forever. I, the Lord, have spoken!” Isaiah 59:20-21
Praise God! Isaiah’s stern warning is just that, a warning, and not the final outcome. Our Redeemer has come. He came to redeem “those in Israel who have turned from their sin.” I’m one of those – one of them – one of the bought ones! You are too!! Isn’t it awesome that he gives us the way out?
If we say we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and refusing to accept the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts. 1 John 1:9-10
Turn from our sin. Sounds so simple, doesn’t it? Just stop it, right? Not so. But in identifying our sin, admitting our sin, confessing our sin, and taking steps to turn from our sin, we have His covenant, that he will never leave us, he will forgive us, and he will wipe our sins away.
Look! Here I stand at the door and knock. If you hear me calling and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends. I will invite everyone who is victorious to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne. Anyone who is willing to hear should listen to the spirit and understand what the spirit is saying to the churches. Revelations 3:20-22
Let all who have ears hear…