Children, Li Peng has asked me to write about sin. It is not a pleasant topic to talk about but it is necessary. Serves as a good reminder even for myself.
Sin (no 's') is fundamentally defined as 'Disobedience to God'. From this root, comes the fruits which are called sins. Everyone ever born, with the exception of Jesus, has inherited the sinful nature of Adam & Eve.
Let me go right into what I have learned about the sin of commission & omission.
1) The Sin of Commission
This is a category of sin describing the things we did and shouldn't have. I committed (commission)
a sin when I lied and I shouldn't have.
Colossians 3:25 "Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong and there is no favouritism."
No one will escape the consequences of sin if one continually does wrong. He will reap what he sows.
2) The Sin of Omission
The parallel verse for this is in James 4:17 "Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins."
We tend to think that doing wrong is sin. But James tells us that sin is ALSO not doing right. It is a sin to lie but it is also a sin to know the truth and not tell it. If the Holy Spirit has directed you to do a kind act, to render a service, or to restore a relationship, you have to do it.
The idea that someone can be pleasing to God by turning away from evil while remaining idle, so as not to advance the work is the sin of omission. Needless to say, we have to turn away from satan's vices. But satan is just as happy if we sit idly by and let others do the work!
It is so easy to say that when we come to know God and accept Him and His gift of grace, our inner nature is changed and we will be more likely to obey God and make the right choices. True, but we forget the devil our adversary is often on the prowl and will devour anyone who is not alert.
Christians have to make a deliberate effort to keep the Word close to their hearts, OBEY them so that we will not be double minded ie having a divided heart, or live a double life ie go to church, participate in christian activities but view pornography in secret, visit 'questionable' places, participate in 'unwholesome' activities or manifest negative attitudes.
It is good to memorize Proverbs 4:23.
Proverbs 4:23 "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life."
There are 2 more blogs on sin and the next one will be on the Sin of Unbelief.
Love,
Harriet &
Mum