The GospelSampel

The Gospel: Sin

The Gospel speaks directly to the cause, ramifications, and cure for sin. As Christians, we don’t talk much about sin. It’s almost as if we talk about it, we’ll be more inclined to actually sin. Trust me, sin really isn’t contagious. It’s dormant in us already. Like a dormant virus under the surface of our lives, sin is alive and well just looking for a chance to creep up and distort everything that God has for us.

While on a missions trip, I was bitten by a strange and mysterious bug. You’re thinking, “No big deal, there are bugs here too!” Well, this bug laid eggs into my hip. Yes. Do you feel a little squeamish? While getting dressed, I noticed an odd quarter-sized bump. I thought avoidance was the best solution, so I covered it up with a waterproof Band-Aid and went back to life. Two days later, I took a peek. It wasn’t pretty. My precious egg sack had exposed itself. With a little ingenuity and some pliers from the work shed, I was free from my unwanted visitors.

Sin is like that mysterious bug. It creeps by and causes lasting havoc. It takes a proactive and sometimes painful process to identify and deal with sin. Sin is gross – even grosser than my egg sack ordeal.

The Gospel shows us what sin is. Sometimes it’s hard to hear, but we need to hear it.
The Gospel invites us to ponder the consequences of sinful behavior. We need this perspective to really understand the lasting cost of sin.
The Gospel points us to a cure. You can’t fix yourself. You need rescue. You need someone unaffected, pure and able to rescue you.

This is the Gospel: God, limitless in authority and power was determined to provide an adequate solution to the disastrous pain of sin. The separation that sin has caused between humanity and God needed resolve. Jesus came to be the perfect and full payment for sin. We can enter back into harmonious relationship with God through faith in Jesus and true repentance.

Prayer
Help me be more aware and mindful of the damage that sin causes. Help me be proactive about ridding my life of sin and sinful tendencies. Empower me to live in freedom and not bondage to sin.