Sin: March 1, 2011

MARCH 1, 2011 TODAYS WORD FOR TUESDAY MARCH 1, 2011.

SIN

DEFINITION:

Transgression of divine law; an offense against God; a will for violation of some religious or moral principle; any reprehensible action.

SCRIPTURE:

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23.

“For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.” I Corinthians 15:22.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

In the Garden of Eden God created a perfect world and a perfect life for Adam and Eve. In one brief moment of doubt and rebellion, Adam and Eve’s lives were changed forever. For the first time Adam and Eve felt guilt, embarrassment, discord in their marriage and fear. The consequences for their sin became our consequences as well.

When Adam and Eve sinned against God in the Garden of Eden, their fellowship and relationship with God was broken. God made it clear at that time that mankind would continue to reap the wages of sin (above verse) which are physical and spiritual death, until the Lord Jesus Christ returns to this planet to put an end to sin and death forever. Sin separates a sinner (the Bible says we are all sinners) from God’s mercy and death.

One of our great concerns today is that sin is really not talked about in the home and in the church as it should be. Adults and children live in a society that disregards sin as a problem. Many live in a “ME” society and really believe that they can do what they believe is best and right for them. They never take into consideration the Ten Commandments.

God gave us the Ten Commandments and two commandments in Matthew 22 for a reason. He expects us to live by them. Sinning is not acceptable to God.

Parents need to teach their children what the Bible says about sin, the serpent (Satan) and Adam and Eve. The proper teaching here will put sin in a proper context for a child. When a parent just says NO! NO! And does not explain why he has to say no, it makes learning much harder for the child. Children must be taught what the Bible says about right and wrong, and that sin is wrong. Children must be taught that sin always has consequences.

In the days of Noah, people turned away from God. Noah was warned by God that the sins of the people in his generation were unacceptable and would not be tolerated. The result was the flood. God judges sin and He holds us accountable for our sins.

Moses was a genuine man of God and even he sinned against God and had to pay the consequences. The children of Israel were rebelling against Moses because they had no water. God told Moses to speak to the rock, but instead Moses disobeyed God’s instructions and struck the rock twice. Moses not only disobeyed God, but he did not show honor to God in front of his people. The consequence was that God did not allow Moses to go into the Promise land with the Children of Israel. (Numbers, Chapter 20).

In some situations consequences come later but in the case of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts chapter 5) the consequence was immediate. First, Ananias lied to Peter about a sum of money he was giving to God. Peter replied that he had not lied to man but to God. Ananias immediately fell to the ground and died. Then the scripture says that about three hours later Sapphira, not knowing what had happened to her husband, also lied and dropped to the floor and died.

Sooner or later we will pay the consequences of sin. Sin came into our world because of the sin of Adam and Eve. The Bible leaves no doubt that the wages of our sin now is death later. Now is the time to ask God for forgiveness and accept God’s gift of eternal life through His Son Jesus. Please do not delay! As the scripture says, NOW IS THE DAY OF SALVATION!

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Proverbs 1:8.

My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother.

PRAYER:

Thank You for the wonderful gift You have given me of eternal life through Your Son Jesus. Make me aware constantly of the result of sin and give me strength to resist temptations to sin. Help me to be a testimony to all I meet that they may see Christ in me and through me.