-May 9, 2022-
Good morning, happy Monday,
“Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4).
“Therefore, to him who knows to do good, and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:17).
There are two types of sins: commission, the things we do that are wrong, and omission, the things we know we should do but fail to do. Both are wrong and violate God’s commandments. All sin is an an abomination in God’s sight. Jesus died on Calvary bearing all our sins, past, present, and future. We are sinners saved by grace. We have two natures that are continually in conflict with one another and will be with us until we get to heaven. The old nature desires to sin, but the new nature desires to obey the Lord and please Him. A Christian is not sinless but does sin less.
1 John 1:8-9 says, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” We also read in Proverbs 28:13, “He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.” So whether we sin by commission or omission both are wicked and evil in God’s sight.
• Sins of Commission – There are times we sin by doing the things we know are clearly wrong according to God’s Word. They are listed in many places in the Bible. Paul mentions some of them as the works of the flesh in Galatians 5:19-21 as “adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, reveries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in times past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” In the next two verses he lists the fruit of the Spirit.
We as believers do sin, we fall, we fail, we mess up, but we do not practice sin as a way of life as we once did when we were unsaved. We can’t sugarcoat or minimize sin in any way, shape, or form. David said in Psalm 51:4, “Against You, You only have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight—that You are just when You speak, and blameless when you judge.” Let’s not make excuses or try to justify ourselves. Lying, stealing, cheating, getting angry, or using profanity are sins also.
• Sins of omission – When we know what we should do and don’t do it, it is a sin of omission. Examples of this are: not witnessing or sharing our testimony when God is clearly leading us; when we don’t give ten percent in our offerings; when we don’t help someone when we have the means to; when we don’t go to church when we feel a little tired or down; when we don’t pray or don’t pray as much as we know we should; when we don’t read our Bibles as we should; or when we leave out pertinent details in describing a situation to make ourselves look better. There are many other situations we can all think of.
May the Lord help not to commit sin nor to omit doing good. Both are just as wrong. When we do sin either way, let us repent of it, confess it, and forsake it. Even in the laws of the land, one can be prosecuted for standing by and letting someone be hurt. There are so many good things we can do but fail to do them. We should always think what does the Lord want me to do? This should challenge us all!
Have a blessed day not doing wrong but instead doing right. Stay safe and healthy.
In His truth,
Dean
Dean Allen's Daily Devotional 