The Problem of Sin | Asking The Wrong Question

by Daniel Burton

Whenever tragedy strikes, people move very quickly to determine the cause of the problem. These debates quickly devolve into name calling, finger pointing, and the useless jabbering of politicians and pundits all ignoring the root cause of pain and suffering. The issue has always been sin, the issue is still sin, and the issue will continue to be sin until we arrive on the other side of eternity by the grace of our Savior Jesus Christ. In more recent history, there has been an increase in calls to diminish the problem of issue and the response of prayer. Some, even from those who profess faith in Jesus Christ. In doing so, they neglect the grip of sin on the lives of mankind, and, even more dangerous, they diminish the message and power of the Gospel that Jesus saves mankind from our sins by His glorious grace. It seems, in our effort to be non-offensive and seeker friendly, we have forgotten what sin is and what it does to everyone sin encounters. Understanding the nature of sin does not seek to heap condemnation on a person, but rather to make much of the Gospel of that Jesus Christ came to save us. It is only when we understand the depths of our depravity that we can begin to grasp great richness of grace.

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

– Galatians 5:16-21, ESV

The Wrong Question

There have been countless times I have been asked “Is this a sin?” referring to some specific action that a person sought to understand its place in morality. Usually, this is a well intentioned question. In some cases, the person genuinely sought to do the right thing by avoiding sin. Yet, this is the wrong question to ask. By asking whether something by nature is sinful, the puts the focus on the action. While this often times comes from a desire to determine whether an action is “bad”, many times, it comes from our desire to do the action and see how much we can get away with. In that sense, we are not seeking to draw closer to God but attempting to see how much we can get away with while still claiming to live “morally.” The result is a works based righteousness that, while it may appear to be grace-filled, looks to pursue the flesh as far as possible.

Rather than asking “Is this a sin?” the better question would be “Can I continue on the path I’m going and still give glory to God in the process?” Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, right before discussing the Fruit of the Spirit, clearly describes the pursuit of the flesh and the sinful nature. Pursing the fleshly nature involves giving in to sin as we seek our own personal gratification. Sin is the action of our failure to trust in God’s omniscient goodness and God’s omnipotent holiness. It separates us from the holiness of God and damages our connection to our creator. This is why we should not seek to ask whether something is sinful in an effort to get away with it but instead, we should seek to continually reject the flesh for the abundant spiritual life that comes from our relationship with God.

Understanding the Fullness of the Gospel

This is the Gospel. Jesus Christ came and took on flesh as one of us, to be tempted in every way we were, yet to remain sinless. Then, out of His love and grace for us, He died on the cross for our sins, for our fleshly desire that has ravaged our heart and soul. Then, on the third day, Jesus Christ rose from the dead having declared victory over death. The power that once held man in bondage now rests in the hands of God. We proclaim “Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior!” in faith that His death on the cross counted for me and paved a way for our return to the fullness of God. Jesus, fully innocent, died for the guilty to pay for our sins so that all who believe in Him will live in everlasting relationship with our Heavenly Father.

The goal is relationship with God through Jesus Christ, not to simply sin as little as possible. Christianity is not about not doing bad things or ignoring the flesh but about coming alive to the spiritual life that the Holy Spirit works inside of us and through us. Understanding this should have a profound effect on how we make decisions and what we pursue. Pushing the boundaries of what we want is an urge of the flesh that cannot be satisfied. Conversely, pursuing God is a wellspring of that will never run dry. Seek God and seek to glorify Him through every aspect of our lives. God provides a much deeper relationship with Him beyond avoiding His wrath by not sinning. Instead, God offers the fullness of His presence shared with us for all eternity. This is the greater pursuit; to be shaped by the hand of God from the inside out from the abundance of His love for us. When we pursue this, we will find our sin to be thoroughly dealt with, but more so, we will find our hearts renewed and rejuvenated by the God who saves, heals, and redeems.