OF SIN IN GENERAL

FALLING SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD

By Gary Ray Branscome

The words, “God saw every thing that He had made, and, behold, it was very good,” tell us that before sin entered the world the will of man was in complete conformity with the will of God (Genesis 1:31). The words, “Be perfect, even as your Father who is in heaven is perfect,” tell us that God does not have a double standard, but requires the same perfection from man that man had when he was created (Matthew 5:48). And the words, “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God,” tell us that anything short of that high standard is sin (Romans 3:23).

A comparison of the words, “Whoever sins breaks the law, for sin is a violation of the law,” with the words “Be perfect, even as your Father who is in heaven is perfect,” tell us that anything short of the perfection God requires is SIN (1John 3:4, Matthew 5:48). “All unrighteousness is sin” (1John 5:17). And, that includes the unrighteousness of a heart that is, “Deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked” (Jeremiah 17:9).

The words, “Being filled with unrighteousness of every kind, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; whisperers,” tell us that sin involves not only wicked deeds [fornication, murder], but also wicked words [strife, deceit], and wicked thoughts and desires [covetousness, envy] (Romans 1:29). The words, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness,” tell us that we should never excuse our sins, or hope that God will not notice, but should be willing to confess our sin to God (1John 1:9). The words, “The LORD is near to those who are of a broken heart; and saves those who are of a contrite spirit,” assure all who are contrite [sorry for their sin] of God’s mercy (Psalm 34:18). And, the words, “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us of all sin,” is God’s promise of forgiveness to all who repent (1John 1:7).