"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"
"Sinner." It is not a word we like to hear very often. It is definitely not a word that we like to hear directed toward us or toward someone we love. But do you know what this word really means?
Most often this word is associated with the idea that we have done something "evil" or at least "bad" or "disobedient." When we are called a "sinner" we typically assume that the person labeling us as such has, for some reason or another, judged us as "evil" or "bad" and in our society today it seems that the only real sin everyone can agree upon is the sin of judging others.
Sin, however, has a broader meaning and it is this broader meaning that we must truly apply to our lives. This broader meaning encompases all the "evil" and "bad" actions that all of us, when we are honest, will admit to from time to time. But it also includes a number of actions and thoughts that we may have througout the day. This broader definition is simply this: Sin = missing the mark.
That means that whenever we do not live up to a certain criteria, we have sinned. It may be intentional, it may not. It may include doing something that "everyone else is doing" or "everyone else thinks is right" or it may not. It may be some action that we assume we have little control over. Regardless of the circumstance, if our actions or thoughts do not meet a specific criteria they are "sinful" actions.
The question then turns to "what is the criteria?" Simply put, the criteria is Jesus Christ. He is the measuring stick to which God holds us accountable.
The New Testament makes it clear to us that Christ lived a perfect life, a life free from sin. How he was able to do this has to do with the fact that he was God incarnate and that he looked to God the Father for direction in everything he did. Without going into a discussion of Jesus' divinity or the nature of the Trinity, let me just say that for our purposes we can look at Christ as the penultimate example of what our own lives should be. Anytime we fall short of that example, we fall into sin.
Now, you may ask "how is it possible for me to be like Christ? I sure don't know too many people who are." Well, of course you don't. There are none other like Jesus Christ. The Bible indicates that not a single one of us is righteous.
I found this out as a small boy standing in line at a school fair to play a game of needle in the haystack. The child in front of me drew out a needle that had been colored on its tip and won a prize. The needle I drew did not have a colored tip, indicating that I had not won a prize. However, the lady in charge of the game did not see me pull out the needle, so I quickly replaced it and drew out the same needle that the child in front of had just pushed back in the haystack. Pretty smooth, huh? I thought so. Up until I realized that my mother had been watching me the whole time. After her disapproving look I was never able to enjoy that little toy I received as my prize.
While this anecdote may seem like a trivial thing, it emphasizes the fact that even as innocent as we are as children, we do not live up to Christ's example. So, is there anything that you have ever done that you knew was wrong? Has there ever been anything that you were ashamed to admit to? If so then you are a sinner. Just like me. Just like everyone else besides Christ who has ever walked this earth.
You may not consider yourself a "bad" person, but do you consider yourself on par with God in all of His holiness? If you are reasonable enough to know that we cannot live up to that type of standard, then consider yourself a sinner. But don't worry, there's a cure for that.
Continue to Step Two
Most often this word is associated with the idea that we have done something "evil" or at least "bad" or "disobedient." When we are called a "sinner" we typically assume that the person labeling us as such has, for some reason or another, judged us as "evil" or "bad" and in our society today it seems that the only real sin everyone can agree upon is the sin of judging others.
Sin, however, has a broader meaning and it is this broader meaning that we must truly apply to our lives. This broader meaning encompases all the "evil" and "bad" actions that all of us, when we are honest, will admit to from time to time. But it also includes a number of actions and thoughts that we may have througout the day. This broader definition is simply this: Sin = missing the mark.
That means that whenever we do not live up to a certain criteria, we have sinned. It may be intentional, it may not. It may include doing something that "everyone else is doing" or "everyone else thinks is right" or it may not. It may be some action that we assume we have little control over. Regardless of the circumstance, if our actions or thoughts do not meet a specific criteria they are "sinful" actions.
The question then turns to "what is the criteria?" Simply put, the criteria is Jesus Christ. He is the measuring stick to which God holds us accountable.
The New Testament makes it clear to us that Christ lived a perfect life, a life free from sin. How he was able to do this has to do with the fact that he was God incarnate and that he looked to God the Father for direction in everything he did. Without going into a discussion of Jesus' divinity or the nature of the Trinity, let me just say that for our purposes we can look at Christ as the penultimate example of what our own lives should be. Anytime we fall short of that example, we fall into sin.
Now, you may ask "how is it possible for me to be like Christ? I sure don't know too many people who are." Well, of course you don't. There are none other like Jesus Christ. The Bible indicates that not a single one of us is righteous.
I found this out as a small boy standing in line at a school fair to play a game of needle in the haystack. The child in front of me drew out a needle that had been colored on its tip and won a prize. The needle I drew did not have a colored tip, indicating that I had not won a prize. However, the lady in charge of the game did not see me pull out the needle, so I quickly replaced it and drew out the same needle that the child in front of had just pushed back in the haystack. Pretty smooth, huh? I thought so. Up until I realized that my mother had been watching me the whole time. After her disapproving look I was never able to enjoy that little toy I received as my prize.
While this anecdote may seem like a trivial thing, it emphasizes the fact that even as innocent as we are as children, we do not live up to Christ's example. So, is there anything that you have ever done that you knew was wrong? Has there ever been anything that you were ashamed to admit to? If so then you are a sinner. Just like me. Just like everyone else besides Christ who has ever walked this earth.
You may not consider yourself a "bad" person, but do you consider yourself on par with God in all of His holiness? If you are reasonable enough to know that we cannot live up to that type of standard, then consider yourself a sinner. But don't worry, there's a cure for that.
Continue to Step Two
