Why Would A Christian Choose To Sin?

Why would Christians choose to sin rather than choose what they know God wants them to do? Four answers are commonly given today.

1. Some would point to Romans 8:16 and explain that Christians who willfully sin have forgotten their true identity as "children of God." While it is true that Christians can forget who they are and sin as a result, Christians can also be well aware of who they are and sin anyway.

2. Some say Christians choose to sin because they have lost sight of what God has done for them. 2 Peter 1:9 indicates that Christians can be "blind or short-sighted, having forgotten [their] purification from [their] former sins."

3. Some wisely state that Christians consciously choose to sin because they have forgotten that God will severely discipline disobedient believers.

4. Some have said that Christians who consciously sin have lost their focus on the future. These Christians have forgotten that God will reward in heaven only those who have lived faithfully for Him here on earth (1 Corinthians 9:24). Christians who fail to keep eternity in mind often sin in the here and now.   -J.Kirk Johnston, Why Christians Sin, Discovery House, 1992, p. 31.

One might consider sin this way: Sin is kind of like getting a suntan (which later causes your skin to peel). It may look great today, it may be fun or exciting today, but tomorrow’s a different story! How many times have we heard others say something like this: "It seems like everything that is fun is sin." And sometimes, sad to say, we convey that. Maybe we've set our sights too low in terms of fun and pleasure? Maybe we've accepted a much cheaper imitation of fun?

Psalm 16:11 declares, “In Thy presence is fullness of joy; In Thy right hand there are pleasures forever.” I don’t about you, but “fullness of joy” sounds pretty good to me. It's a lie from Satan to believe that sin is fun and godliness is boring. The truth about sin as it is revealed in the Bible, and in human experience, is far different from the bill of goods Satan tries to sells us. The devil is a liar! The truth about sin is that it is deceptive, destructive, and deadly.

Sin is a very popular topic (for obvious reasons), so I thought it might be instructive, as well as interesting, to take a brief look at three truths about sin in our message today. First, did you know that sin will take you further than you want to go? How is this possible? Let’s consider Jacob (son of Isaac; brother of Esau).

I’m sure Jacob never envisioned the lengths, and literally distance, sin would take him when he first started harboring wrong feelings toward his brother and trying to get the best of him. I mean, after all, all it was was a little sibling rivalry and a little competition between brothers. But, you never escape the truth that sin will take you further than you want to go; even when that sin is simply a wrong attitude toward someone.

Funny thing about sin. It may seem so small and insignificant at first, but it continues to gnaw away at your spiritual life and grows until, if left unchecked, leads to your downfall. The next truth about sin is that it will keep you longer than you want to stay. Jacob probably didn't realize when he first started harboring wrong feelings toward his brother; wishing he could have some of the blessings that were Esau’s through being the first born. And, how that would get a grip on him and gnaw at him over the years. In fact, so much so, that he would end up doing some pretty despicable things toward his brother (Genesis 25:31-34), and even towards his father (Genesis 27:30-37). But sin, if it is not dealt with will keep you longer than you want to stay.

Yes, sin will keep you longer than you want to stay. But, there is one other truth about sin that I'd like to touch on today, and it is this: Sin will cost you more than you want to pay!  What did it cost Jacob? Twenty-one years of being separated from his family. Twenty-one years of a break in his relationship with his only brother, Esau. When Rebekah originally came up with the scheme to send Jacob to her relatives, she told Jacob to go to them for a few days “until your brother’s anger against you subsides...then I shall send and get you.” (Genesis 27:42-45)

But, word from Rebekah never came. I wonder what Jacob thought during all those years of waiting? I wonder what mental anguish he endured whenever he thought back to what he had done, and why no word came from his mother? What else did it cost him? He never saw his beloved mother again. She died before he could get back home.

Here are some final thoughts for you regarding sin. Sin in the heart is like rust on metal. At first, nothing appears to be wrong, and we may even consider it of no consequence. But, our love for the Lord wanes; interest in God’s Word declines; prayer becomes less important. Soon spiritual progress comes to a creaking, screeching halt.

It may be some "bad sin" you are tempted to do, or it may be what we would call "just a little thing." But that little thing is still sin; and if it is sin, it will take you further than you want to go and keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay. Remember: Sin must be rejected, no matter whether it is something "big" or "small!"

Scripture: James 4:17; Romans 6:23; 1 John 1:8-10; 1 Corinthians 10:13;  Galatians 5:16; 1 John 3:4; 2 Corinthians 5:21

Prayer: Dear Lord, I ask that you help me remember that forgiveness begins in the heart; and is shown in how I treat others. Amen

God bless you!

Lori