WHY SIN IS UNREASONABLE

"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" (Romans 6:1-2)

Devotion 5 of 23

"OFFENSE"

"For if by one man's OFFENSE death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ" (Rom 5:17). Whether intentional or unintentional, sin involves plummeting from the place of Divine favor. "Offense" means, deviation, i.e. unintentional error or wilful. The word means "a fall beside, or transgression." The fall is from God's favor. It is a deviation from the place of blessing.

Sin is not only harmful to men, it is offensive to God. Never think of God as capable of overlooking sin. In a vivid description of Himself, the Lord said, "by no means clearing the guilty" (Ex 34:7). He cannot favor the person who chooses to offend Him. Sin incurs the indignation of God, and that without exception.

If we are to be received by God, the forgiveness, not overlooking, of our sin is mandatory. That is why there is forgiveness with the Lord--that we be not condemned. As it is written, "But there is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou mayest be feared" (Psa 130:4). The vicarious death of Christ for the sins of the world was necessitated by this situation. If sin is not "taken away," it is simply not possible for man to come into Divine favor. Thanks be unto God for sending Christ to "take away the sin of the world" (John 1:29).

"Error"

"Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the ERROR of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness" (2 Pet 3:17). Sin also involves rebellion against divine direction. Error comes from a word meaning, a straying from orthodoxy or piety- deceit, to deceive, delusion, error. The word means "a wandering, going astray." In Scripture, sin is frequently referred to as an "error" (2 Sam 6:7; Isa 32:6; Matt 27:64; Rom 1:27; James 5:20).

The word "error" is softened in our time because it is equated with simply making a mistake. Error, however, involves the will of man. The individual who sins does so because he has been deceived. Judgment has been distorted by the evil one, and thus the erring one conducts himself unacceptably. The person who sins is departed from the way to heaven. Unless a return to the narrow way that leads to life is realized, condemnation is sure.

PRAYER POINT: Father, I do not want to offend You or stray from the way upon which Your grace has placed me. In Jesus name, enable me to be a blessing to You.

-- TOMORROW: "WICKEDNESS" --