Our Response to Sin and Sinners Romans 1-2

In the previous two articles we have discussed the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. These three together are celebrated on Easter Sunday. Some people call this special day Resurrection Sunday. In the previous articles we hoped to establish that all three were necessary if God is to forgive sin and give people a new life in Christ. Those that surrender their life to Christ are forgiven of their sins and Jesus becomes the Lord of their life. Today, we are addressing our response to sin and sinners. Several questions come to mind. What is sin? Who determines what sin is? Do I commit sins? Do I judge others based on my own views of sin?

Before we can appropriately discuss our response to sin and sinners, we must define sin. The Greek word hamartia means to miss the mark. According to W. E. Vine, “it is the most comprehensive term of moral obliquity. It is used of “sin” as a principle or source of action, or an inward element producing acts.” Also, sin is “a governing principle or power.” Further, “Sin is an organized power, acting through the members of the body.” Vine also states that the Greek word harmartema “is an act of disobedience to divine law” (W. E. Vine, etc. Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1996, pp. 576-577). God has moral attributes. Sin is failing to comply with His attributes. When God says, “‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness,’” God is saying that humankind will be like Him in every way; including His attributes, abilities, and behavior. Sin is our failure to be like God. Sin is our failure to behave like God. For example, God does things for our good, but we too often do things for the detriment of others. God gives to others while sin leads us to take from others. God is generous while humanity is greedy.

Who determines what sin is? Since God is the creator of the universe, and He alone has power to sustain the world, He alone determines what sin is. Although God is moral, God does not have morals. This is often hard to comprehend. Let me see if I can explain. When we say that God is moral but He does not have morals we mean that God does not follow a standard outside of Himself. God has standards within His being. These standards are eternal. They do not change because God does not change.

The standards of God are seen in His moral attributes; including His holiness; righteousness and justice; goodness; and truth. On the other hand human beings have morals. They are approved acts of behavior or beliefs concerning what are and are not acceptable for them to do. The accepted beliefs and behaviors are based on a standard. For Christians, God is the standard, and we know God through the Spirit and His Word recorded in the words found in the bible. Human morals are different from God because God does not change, and humanity is always changing. What was believed in the past is different from what is believed in the present. What was acceptable in the past is different from what is acceptable in the present.

As we have already stated God’s moral standards are never changing. Human morals are based on what the community believes is best at the present time. God’s moral standards for Israel were given by God to the people through the Law, the Ten Commandments (Exod. 20:1-17; Deut. 5:6-21). There are a number of issues in America today that are causing debate along moral and legal concerns. People have different views about whom and what authority should determine what is right and what is wrong. People may choose to follow the scriptures on some issues while at the same time they may totally ignore the scriptures on other issues. As Vine states, “sin is disobedience to the divine” (to God). Thus, it is possible to live morally according to cultural and legal standards and at the same time live in sin against God.

For example, in the story of Josiah, king of Judah, the king discovers that the people are practicing sin (2 Kings 22-23:27). The Book of the Law is discovered in the temple (22:8-10). The people are worshiping the Lord and the pagan gods at the high places. This practice is a violation of the first three commandments that prohibit the worship of any other gods besides the Lord. Josiah reads the book and learns that the people are living in sin, and God is going to send them into captivity. Josiah sends for a prophet to find out the meaning of what he reads in the book. Josiah is given word from the prophetess Huldah that God is going to destroy Jerusalem (vv. 14-17).

As an individual I must ask if I sin. In addition, I must ask, does America sin? This is important because of the many philosophies and diverse opinions that we encounter in our life. Philosophy is always evolving and debatable. Although what is sin may be debated in the culture, Christians need to remember that God does not change. Since God does not change His laws do not change. It is safe to say that God does not change his mind about what is sin and how we are to respond to sin.

In the previous two articles we learned that from the beginning God determined His response to sin. Adam and Eve sinned and God drove them from the garden. However, God did not leave them without hope. The seed of the woman would bruise the head of the serpent (Gen. 3:15). God calls Abraham to be the father of a people (Israel) that has knowledge of God’s law. The prophets warn the people of their sins. The prophets also offer hope to all people when they tell of the coming Savior that will make atonement for the sin of humanity. God expects us to be like Him in that we too have access to the same knowledge of sin. Our attitude toward sin is be like His attitude, and His acts on behave of sinners are our guide for how we treat sinners.

We are never to judge another person based on our beliefs and limited understanding of sin. Romans 1-2 inform us that both those that do not have the Law and those that do have the Law are guilty of the same sin. In other words, some people do not have knowledge of God’s law. Others have knowledge, but they too commit the same sins. Because of the sin in all of us no one knows God and no one seeks God. All have gone out their own ways seeking to establish their own righteousness. In Romans 3 Paul writes that all people are under the same condemnation. All people are given the same offer of salvation because of the atoning work of Jesus on the cross. In the year 2019 people are still trying to establish their own righteousness through political debate and persuasion. In the meantime, God does not change. What is sin in the eyes of God at the beginning is still sin at this present time.

Christians, especially the church, are not called to enter into the political and philosophical debates about the various issues that permeate our country. We have the never changing word of God that guides our life; the conclusions that we come to and the decisions that we make. We are not to judge others because of our own ideas of right and wrong. Rather, we are to judge ourselves, because unless we see the truth about our own sin we are unable to see the truth about the sin of others (Matt. 7:1-5). In the bible there are lists that name sins. These include but are not limited to Romans 1:18-32; Galatians 5:19-21. Why do we judge harshly people that demonstrate human sin one way above others that demonstrate sin in another way? Does God tell us to act this way toward others?

Our responsibility as the people of God is to love all people. Our love for God and others lead us to share the Gospel of the saving grace of God through Jesus Christ. Instead of condemning people and excluding people we are to tell people that God loves all people and Jesus died on the cross for the sin(s) of all people regardless of their social status and the particulars of their sins. After we have led people to faith in Jesus Christ we are to teach them to live by the words of Jesus. All of us need the power of the Holy Spirit and the support of fellow believers in Jesus. Paul gives us instructions on our attitude toward those that are struggling with sin. He writes, “Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:1-2, NASB).

In conclusion we must acknowledge that all of us have sinned. We must confess our sins. We must accept the truth that Jesus died to save all people from their sin. No sin is greater than another sin in the eyes of God. God is holy and only those who have been sanctified and made holy by the blood of Jesus are allowed to enter into the presence of God. Christians are not call to judge people; rather Christians are called and commissioned to spread the good news so that the ones lost may be found.