Do we really hate sin?

Dearest Saints,

 

     God has been putting on my heart about whether or not we hate sin like we should?  It's as though we say we hate sin, but yet, we will often find excuses to justify ungodly behaviour in many ways.  Many Christians are angry at another Christian, or some will talk negatively about other Christians or maybe think more lowly about others, but yet, they will say they hate sin.  We need to see sin the way God sees sin and see this as an absolute evil.  God tells us who love Him to hate evil (Psalm 97:10).

     I think the first thing we need to understand about sin is to see the unimaginable cost of which Jesus paid on our behalf.  It cost Him leaving the Throne of Heaven to come down to earth in the form of man.  Even the Bible tells us that He humbles Himself to come in to Heaven (Psalm 113:6).  Think of how much more humbling it cost Him to come not only to earth, but to be a Servant to all!  It may not be an accurate example, but I would like to compare it to ourselves to be willing to become like an ant, to eat dust and live in the dirt.  To think that it cost Him to be bruised for our iniquity.  For myself, to be bruised, it would take an awful hit to my body to be bruised.  He was chastized many many times so we can have peace (continually mocked especially by the Religious group); He became poor in all ways so we could be rich in all ways.  He was rejected by His own family members, His own home town, rejected by His own followers (Disciples) and humiliated and dispised by many for no reason.  If that wasn't enough, He willingly received stinging whiplashes on our behalf so we can be healed.  He was in so much agony that He sweated droplets of blood as He was greatly troubled.  I can't imagine anyone going through that much pain and willingly accepted this punishment for all mankind, and yet to continue to have mercy towards the rebellious, mockers, scoffers and those who blaspheme His name to this date because He relents from bringing immediate calamity in to their lives!  This is only part of the what the entire cost He paid simply because of sin.  

     When we think of sin, many people think of someone robbing a bank, committing fraud against one another or committing murder and/or living a lawless life and the like.  Far too often, I think we as Christians excuse sin far too many times and don't realize that no matter what, sin is sin and regardless, it cost our dear Lord severely as we have just read.  I think some of the sins many Christians overlook and justify themselves is because bitterness and unforgiveness (like one of many) towards one another is rampant within the Church when it is dispicable in the sight of God, which should also be dispicable in our sight.  I heard it once where some Church members judged a lady who used to live in adultery and was addicted to drugs and alcohol years ago.  Later in life, she had given her life to Christ and her godly life was very evident that proved she was a genuine Christian.  Yet, many people still saw her from her old nature.  The Pastor was aware of this and he stated to this congregation that they were not putting this woman on trial, what you are doing is putting the Blood of Jesus on trial!  When we slander one another, we do the same to our Lord!  We see gossip, slander, backbiting and division going on in the Church.  Yet, sins like this is what it cost our dear Lord Jesus such pain, agony and tremendous suffering beyond our imagination!!  Yet, we often excuse these types of sin.  When we see what it cost our dear Lord, we should HATE EVERY SIN to the point that anything that represents any disobedience to the Lord, does not promote love, unity, peace and joy, we should find this dispicable that should be a stench to our nostrils and a deadly cancer to our bones.  In other words, we should hate to ever allow unforgiveness and bitterness towards one another to the point where it is aborrent to our new nature.  We should hate anything that violates the law of love regardless.

 

     When I examine my life, I need to also consider other acts of omission to be detestable such as lukewarmness, being compromisers by failing to allow His Spirit to work powerfully through us, being complacent and doing very little to advance His Kingdom or fail to be active and purposely seek to be a blessing to one another.  Often times, I think we as Christians easily overlook this and we should consider this not only sinful, but extremely detestable because of how this also cost dear Jesus such pain and agony.  God tells us in Rev 3:16, that when we are lukewarm, He will spew us out of His mouth!!  Talk about disgusting!  This is why it should also disgust us about ever becoming lukewarm.  God tells us that He was angry with nations who felt comfortable (at ease) and became complacent (Zech 1:15) by being inactive and allow His light to shine in the world around us. 

 

     I find what helps is that we need to be purposeful (by making up our minds in advance) to live to please God with the help of His Spirit.  We need to be DETERMINED and boldly declare: "By His Grace" that we will live to advance His Kingdom for the sake of souls.  When you read the Word that tells us that "We are more than conquerors through Christ who loves us" (Rom 8:37), I believe to be MORE THAN A CONQUEROR is to make up our mind beforehand that no matter what happens, we are not going to have a defeated mentality and will REFUSE to GIVE UP on trusting the Lord no matter what.  When a person has their mind set and made up in advance, they are the ones who are able to stand when storms brew and continue to be committed to do what is right in the sight of God.  Its sad to see how a very small percentage of people in this world make any commitment to do what is right.

 

     We need to see that these "so-called sins" that we often overlook to be detestable and dispicable in order to refuse to allow any place in our lives because of the pain, agony and suffering it cost Jesus.  We need to hate any form of slander and division and anything that hinders actions of Godly love because we have become complacent and failed to be committed.  We need to hate our real enemy (satan and his demonic forces) and see him as our ONLY enemy who should be considered as DISPICABLE scum to the point that we REFUSE to ever FAIL to love the Lord and to love one another like Christ admonishes us to do.  This should stop us ever seeing flesh and blood as our enemy.  For we do not fight flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, rulers of present darkness and spiritual wickedness in high places (Eph 6:12).  Friends, if we hate sin like we should, we should also hate to be complacent and fail to promote love like we should.  To overcome evil, God tells us to be active by seeking to be a blessing one to another, by overcoming evil with good (Rom 12:21).  

 

     Christians desperately need to come together to fight for the cause of Christ by loving one another by fighting FOR one another (Gods will) instead of fighting against one another (devils will).  By doing His will and trusting in Him, we can effectively fight against every agenda that satan entices us with.  When we love God the way we should, we will equally hate every form of evil. 

Will you consider buying my books in support of HelpingCopeThroughHope mission work in Zambia?  You may go to my link below to observe.

In the Matchless Name of Jesus
Richard
Associate Director
Answers2Prayerhttp://sites.google.com/site/greatestbuilderforourlife  
http://www.answers2prayer.org/