An inventory verse...
Some inventory
verses are hard. The verse I am pondering is just such a verse: "Everyone
who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is
lawlessness." (1 John 3:4 ESV)
Ask 10 people what
sin is and we'll probably get 10 different answers. Those answers will
generally revolve around the things the person we ask dislikes, or those things
hot in cultural discourse.
However, 1 John
3:4 tells us exactly what sin is:
"...sin is lawlessness." (ESV,
NASB, NIV, RSV, NKJV)
"...sin is the transgression of the law."
(KJV)
"...sin is the breaking of law." (HCSB)
"...all sin is
contrary to the law of God." (NLT)
The Amplified
Bible gives further understanding to 1 John 3:4 by stating it this way:
"Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is
lawlessness [ignoring God’s law by action or neglect or by tolerating
wrongdoing—being unrestrained by His commands and His will]."
Now, though it's
difficult to face, we can clearly see what sin is; it's breaking God's
law.
Indeed, we are not
saved by keeping God's law, nor is a believer required to practice the rituals
of the law, but the moral of the law has not changed one iota. If we live in
such a way that constantly ignores God's unchanging moral nature and revealed
law, we prove we have no regard for God. Such lack regard might reveal we
either (a) have no relationship, or (b) we've gone cold and need to return to
our First Love.
Blessed is the
person who loves God's law, and meditates on it day and night. Such persons may
not be perfect, but such people should be humble and willing, ready to seek
God, constantly at His feet, and quick and constant in asking for His
help.
Let us look upon
the law and ourselves; it will be a difficult inventory, but well worth it.
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