Sin

   

Photograph showing Baptism of Clara by Father Eugene Chong, pouring water over Clara's forehead.  I am carrying Clara while Richard was standing beside me - 6.2.2000 

The bible uses many words to describe sin.  Sin is the result of the nature we are born with.  Sin can be committed in thoughts, words and deeds.  It is disobedience to God.  It is missing the mark or standard set by God.  

Our heart is described in the Bible as  "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"  Jeremiah 17:9

When we talk about our heart we do not mean the organ that pumps blood to all parts of our body.  We are thinking of our "control centre".  Our mind, our intellect, our emotions, our will and our conscience.  Our control centre is corrupted by sin from birth.  This is why Jesus said, "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,  Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:  All these evil things come from within, and defile the man."  (Mark 7:21-23)

It is this sin that has stained our lives and separated us from God.  One day our body will die.  Someone will take it and bury it or cremate it.  But our body only represents the house which the real you lives in.  The soul, that part of us which never dies, leaves the body at death.  This soul either goes to be with God or away from Him.  It is too late to try and seek forgiveness of sin after we die.  

Jesus Can Forgive Our Sins

Forgiveness of sin was made possible through Christ's death on the Cross.  "But God demonstrates, His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8).  God and man were separated through the sin of Adam.  Reconciliation (to be at peace with God) was made possible through the death of Jesus.  

Sin had to be forgiven.  Reconciliation had to be made.  Jesus had to die.  Jesus did for us what we could never have done for ourselves.  Through His death on the Cross, He made possible our deliverance from sin's punishment.  While Jesus hung on the Cross, He prayed, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing."  (Luke 23:34)

The crowd whom Jesus spoke these words to represented you and me.  His prayer included all mankind.  From the Cross, Jesus was saying, "I love you.  I am willing to forgive you if you choose to repent of your sins and accept forgiveness by receiving me as your personal Saviour."

How do you receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour of your life?

1.  You need to recognise that 'God is Love'. (I John 4:8)  God loves you.  Jesus' death on the Cross is God's way of saying "I love you."

 

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life."  John 13:3

2.  Before receiving Christ into your life, you must be willing to repent of your sins.  Jesus said, "Unless you repent, you will all perish."  Luke 13:3

To repent means you are willing to turn away from your sin.  You decide by an act of your will that you will turn away from sin.  It is a willingness to give up all that has kept you from receiving Christ.  To repent means 'to feel sorry for, or regret.'  It means to change or turn from your old ways.  It is a determination to give up your sins and turn to God through Jesus.  

3.  After repentance, you must 'receive Christ'.  This must be a voluntary decision that you make because you realize that you are a sinner and the Lord Jesus Christ loves you and died to save you from your sins.  

To 'receive Christ' as your Saviour needs faith.  Faith is believing that God is able to do what He has promised in His Word.  The Bible says: Hebrews 11:6 -- And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." 

By faith you accept God's offer of love, mercy and forgiveness.  This means that you receive the Lord Jesus Christ as your only Lord and Saviour.  You stop struggling and trying to save yourself.  You trust Christ completely, without holding anything back as your new Lord and Master.  "As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God."  John 1:12

The very moment you received Christ, the 'control centre' of your life comes under His direction because you belong to Him.  

Having Received Jesus Christ as your Saviour you belong to Him.  Learn to live for Him. 

I have written this note of encouragement to help you to understand what it means to receive Christ and become a true Christian.  Perhaps you are not sure whether you have received Him or not.  If this is so, why don't you pray now and ask Him to come into your life and be your Saviour.  Don't delay any longer.  You can pray in this manner:

Oh God, I thank you for loving me and sending Jesus to die for my sins.  I am truly sorry for my sins and repent of them.  By faith, I receive Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour.  From now on I will confess you, Jesus Christ as my Master and Lord.  Help me to love and serve you in all things.  Amen

If you have prayed this prayer from a sincere heart, God has promised to forgive you and make you His child by giving to you 'eternal life'.  From now on do not doubt God.  Take Him at His Word and begin day by day to follow and serve Him. 

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