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Jesus died for our sins, but we still have to pay for them.
By Madison Kerth — Written on Sep 16, 2019
Because we are human and do things that we shouldn't do we are considered sinful. That's why the Bible refers to humans, in their natural state as "sinners".
God gave us free will in order for us to learn right from wrong, good from bad, and virtue from evil.
From a Christian standpoint, impure thoughts and actions are seen by God every day, but the Christian Bible says God has gifted us with many ways to amend the wrongs we commit, and that's why Jesus is considered the one who takes away the sin from the world. (WEB, John 1:29)
God is an all-knowing, and equally, all-forgiving entity. When accepting Him into your life, it is the first thing you learn about Him.
His loving and gracious personality extends to each one of His followers. He knows that we are not perfect. It is impossible for any worldly being to be such a thing.
He has outlined the various ways in which we can sin within the Bible so that we can learn from our mistakes and move forward on our journey with faith.
There are two main types of sin: mortal and venial. Mortal sins are the most grave. They are committed knowingly and intentionally. Some examples include rape, murder, stealing, incest, and adultery.
Mortal sin is not always a premeditated act but is a direct violation of the 10 Commandments. Venial sins are a lesser degree of sin. Some examples include rude or obscene gestures, lying to a friend, gossiping, or greed.
These are the kinds of sins committed on a more day-to-day basis. They may cause less detriment to humanity, but they are contradictory to God’s intentions for our society, nonetheless.
Accepting and acknowledging your sins are the first steps to forgiveness. When speaking to God, we let Him know that we have done wrong by him and want to rectify the damage.
The most personal way to absolve your sins is to pray expressively to God. Ask Him directly for his forgiveness and commit yourself, in front of His watch, to improving your actions.
The church is a wonderful tool to help you mend a broken relationship with God. Having a congregation that is there to support you when you need them most is what God envisioned when he sent us His only son, Jesus.
He is called the Lamb of God because He sacrificed Himself in order to take away the sins of the world. When we confess our sins, we are asking for mercy.
What does the Bible say about sin?
The Bible is used as a reference tool for sin the way God intended for us to live. His commandments are outlined in the text for us to read, study, and abide by. Lessons on sin are plentiful across both the Old and New Testament World English Bible.
1. Sin looks a certain way.
Galatians 5:19-21 offers many examples of what sin looks like. In these verses, we learn that those who commit such sins are not welcome in God’s kingdom. He does not condone or encourage any acts of these kinds.
“Put to death, therefore, your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry; for which things' sake the wrath of God comes on the sons of disobedience.”
2. You will do it, even when you're not supposed to, and it's normal to feel bad about it.
In Colossians 3:5-6 we are, again, reminded of the sins that the church see as immoral and improper of a true follower of Jesus Christ. This verse takes the consequences of such acts even further by introducing God’s ability to feel wrath on sinners.
“To him therefore who knows to do good, and doesn't do it, to him it is sin.”
3. You have to check your feelings because sometimes you don't even know it happened.
James 4:17-21 explains a level of sin that we may not immediately recognize. God wants us to continue on a path that not only brings prosperity to others but also ourselves.
Therefore, if we know that we can commit an act that will being good onto us, and we don’t follow through with it, we are committing a sin towards our own souls.
But once you do realize it, you just admit it. That's how self-improvement takes place.
“He who conceals his sins does not prosper, But whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”
4. Admitting sin is better than ignoring it.
In Proverbs 28:13, we learn the benefits of acknowledging and confessing our sins. We are told that there is mercy beyond our sinful acts once we confess them to our Lord.
“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you don't forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
We understand that forgiveness is a two way street in Matthew 6:14-15. Just as we expect God to forgive our sins, we must forgive the sins of those who have trespassed against us.
We must appreciate the human nature of other sinners and welcome them back into the embrace of the church.
5. Growth is a life-long process.
“Repent, therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that so there may come times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord.”
Acts 3:19 gives us hope for the future. After each confession to God, it is inevitable that we will sin again. Turning to God in these times of need offers us a clean slate with which to walk on.
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Madison Kerth is a writer who covers astrology, pop culture and relationship topics.