sin

I write these things to you who believe in the name of God’s Son so that you can know that you have eternal life. This is the confidence that we have in our relationship with God: If we ask for anything in agreement with his will, he listens to us. If we know that he listens to whatever we ask, we know that we have received what we asked from him. If anyone sees a brother or sister committing a sin that does not result in death, they should pray, and God will give life to them—that is, to those who commit sins that don’t result in death. There is a sin that results in death—I’m not saying that you should pray about that. Every unrighteous action is sin, but there is a sin that does not result in death. We know that everyone born from God does not sin, but the ones born from God guard themselves, and the evil one cannot touch them. We know we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. We know that God’s Son has come and has given us understanding to know the one who is true. We are in the one who is true by being in his Son, Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. Little children, guard yourselves from idols! (1 John 5:13-21, CEB)

Can I be honest? I have an issue with sin. Sin as something defined by the Bible, sin as something corporate that we humans do. Sin as something only those not a part of God do.

The reading above says, “We know that everyone born from God does not sin,” and again if I’m being honest, I am in God and born of God and I sin. I think about my self and what I will get from something rather than loving my neighbor and loving God.

I mean what is sin? Is it a laundry list of all the things we shouldn’t do and a list of rules to keep us holy? Because some of the things that I struggle with have no bearing on anyone else. So what is sin for me may not be sin for you, or someone else.

And what is the sin that results in death, and why should we still not ask God to forgive that? The only thing Jesus ever said around this topic was blasphemy of the Holy Spirit was the only unforgivable sin (Mark 3:28-30, Matthew 12:31-32). These renditions say the person will not be forgiven but how do we really know what God will choose? And what is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit anyway? If it is as Matthew says and is speaking against the Holy Spirit, is that saying someone who is a child of God is not, because more of us are probably guilty of that than we really want to admit.

Sin to me is personal, it is what separates me from God.

I strive to live love and show all that God loves them. I do not have to understand them, or endorse them or their life, but I do have to love.

And when we do not love, we are not following God.

So love. and worry about yourself, and let others work out their salvation with awe.

Loving People. Loving God.