“But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.” Galatians 3:22
According to God’s Word, everyone has sinned. That means that you have sinned before a holy God. Your sin stands as a barrier between you and God so that you cannot have a relationship with Him nor can you hope to enter heaven. “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear (Isaiah 59:2).” Because of this separation between God and man, something must be done. But the question is: “What will you do about your sin?” You Can Ignore Your Sin Many people today simply ignore their sin. They may acknowledge that they have sinned at some point in their lives, but they refuse to consider the consequences of sin. Many of these will stand at the Great White Throne Judgment, to receive the just reward of their sin. “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:14–15).” Others ignore their sin by refusing to admit that they have ever done wrong before God. These people may live good, moral lives, but they are still sinners before God. The very act of refusing to admit sin is a lie people tell themselves and an insult to Almighty God. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us...If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us (1 John 1:8, 10).” Simply ignoring sin cannot help us. Something must be done with all the sins that each individual has committed. You Can Attempt To Bear Your Sin Some people consider themselves able to remove the stain of sin from their own lives. To accomplish this purpose they go about doing good, helping the poor and needy, and going to church. While all of these things are good things in which to be involved, they cannot do anything about the sin that has already been committed. Still, some seek to erase their sin by doing good and being good. But the fact is, God has told us that the very best we can do is unacceptable to Him. “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away (Isaiah 64:6).” Also, by seeking to bear their sin through good deeds, these people have ignored what God has provided for them. “For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God (Romans 10:3).” Some consider their church attendance and the work they have performed for their church to be sufficient to remove their sin. Jesus told of these people in Matthew 7:21–23. “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” We can consider the people referred to as being faithful church members, having been baptized, partaking in communion, and attending many church services. However, none of these things helped them as the Lord calls them people “that work iniquity.” So, in all that they do, these people cannot remove their own sin through religious efforts. You Can Allow Christ To Bear Your Sin The whole purpose of Jesus’ coming to this earth was to bear your sin. “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28).” “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world (John 1:29).” All that Jesus suffered on the Cross was to free you from your sin so that you could be at peace with God. “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ...But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life (Romans 5:1, 8–10).” Jesus has already suffered the penalty of sin for you so that you can be free from sin through Him. “Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification (Romans 4:25).” “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him (2 Corinthians 5:21).” “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God (Hebrews 10:10–12).” Today Jesus calls you to come to Him for forgiveness of all your sin and life through His death on the Cross. “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28).” “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool (Isaiah 1:18).” “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:14–16).” If you choose to allow Christ to bear your sin, there are two things that God requires of you. 1. You must turn away from your sin and faith in yourself, your religion, and your ideology. You must realize that your sin is the cause of your separation from God (Isaiah 59:1) and that none of these other things can help to relieve you of your sin or bring you closer to God (Ephesians 2:8–9). This means that you must repent. “But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance (Matthew 9:13).” “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel (Mark 1:15b).” 2. You must also place all of your faith in Him as your only hope for salvation from your sin. “Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference (Romans 3:22)...” You must then call upon Him, asking Him to take the load of your sin. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation . . . For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:9–10, 13).” The choice is yours to make. What will you do about your sin?
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About Jerry JacksonJerry has been writing for many years now. He has written tracts for several churches, as well as his ministries in Papua New Guinea and in Canada. He has had the opportunity to have many of his articles published in several Independent Baptist periodicals over the years. His main goals are to teach truth and lift up the Saviour. Archives
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