When it comes to sin, the New Testament’s teaching is clear. Romans 1:26–32 (ESV) — 26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. 28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.
Look at that list of sins? I am sure we can all find ourselves, as currently or in our past, struggling with one of these sins. So, what do we do? We confess and repent and allow God to break the chains that seek to ensnare us.
Leviticus 26:11–13 (ESV) —11 I will make my dwelling among you, and my soul shall not abhor you. 12 And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people. 13 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their slaves. And I have broken the bars of your yoke and made you walk erect.
Are you bent over ensnared to your cell phone? Similarly, you may be bowed down ensnared to sin. God has freed us. HE lives with us and HE LOVES US!
Instead of hatefully and arrogantly judging each other, let us rather together strive to break the chains that enslave us to our past life and then gently help our fellow sinners.
However, let us NEVER declare something to not be a sin that God has called sin. Nor let it be said of us that we “give approval to those who practice them”.
