God takes sin seriously, and we should, too. It is our sin that separates us from Him (Isaiah 59:2), can disqualify us from our eternal reward (Hebrews 4:1), and that resulted in Christ’s death on the cross (1 Corinthians 15:3). God despises sin and how we treat it matters to Him.
God expects us to avoid sin. The Bible repeatedly warns about sin’s dangers and the damage it can cause. God expelled Adam and Eve from the garden because of sin. The Israelites wandered and died in the wilderness because of sin. Jesus gave His life on the cross because of sin. While our culture might embrace it, God desires for us to avoid sin.
God expects us to correct sinful behavior. When Christians succumb to temptation and sin, God commands us to repent. Too often, we become comfortable with sin or attempt to rationalize it, but God always wants us to repent and return to Him (Acts 3:19). He also expects to help to correct sin in the lives of others. For those who have never obeyed the gospel, God commands us to share the good news (Matthew 28:19-20). For other Christians who have sin, He commands us to continually work to “restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness” (Galatians 6:1).
God expects us to be forgiven of our sin. Christ died so that you and I could have our sins
washed away. The Father did not send His Son to punish us for sin but to help us avoid that
punishment (1 John 3:5). Accepting or ignoring sin is rejecting Christ’s perfect sacrifice on the
cross and the grace of God.
Matt Langfield