Does Jesus Care About Sin?
Early in his ministry (chapter 5 of John's gospel), Jesus heals a sick old man in Jerusalem. At the end of the account, he looks at the man and says, "See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you."
The healing of this man, though quite miraculous, is apparently of secondary importance. It’s the man’s heart that is the greater concern for Jesus. The same could be said of the woman caught in adultery not much later. After turning away her executioners, his only words to her are, "Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you? I do not condemn you either. From now on sin no more."
Today, much attention is given to Jesus’ treatment of the would-be stoners. Accordingly, these religious leaders are the bad guys of the story, ready to judge the poor, defenseless woman. This is both right and wrong. It is right to say that Jesus vilified the hypocrisy of Israel’s leaders. "Therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them. They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger. But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men…" (Matthew 23:3-5) It is wrong to paint the woman simply as an unwitting victim, whose actions are of little concern to Jesus.
In both these accounts, Christ is concerned with the sins of ordinary people. “Stop sinning. Sin no more.” God hates all sin. "Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong." (Habakkuk 1:13) You’ve been healed, you’ve been spared, but don’t go back to sinning again. Why? The benefits they had received from Jesus were temporal; eternity still hung in the balance.
Today we are likely to hear from unbelievers, “Ahhh, God doesn’t punish sin. Look around you, Alan, people sinning all over, and they’re none the worse for wear. God understands that we’re only human.”
"Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these [sins] the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience." (Ephesians 5:6)
From the other side of things, many so-called Christians tell us to stop worrying so much about sin. People need to hear about God’s love, not about their sin. After all, Jesus doesn’t judge people, and we shouldn’t either. These folks are likely to lean on John 8 to help their case. But Jesus did not wink at the woman’s sin. He does not take sin lightly. He misses nothing, but in kindness gives us time to turn to Him in repentance. That is what now is for. If you are disobeying God you are being given the opportunity to repent and be saved from His anger and punishment. "Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?” But this opportunity must be taken advantage of. “But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God." (Romans 2:4-5)
Yes, forgiveness from God may be found through Christ - praise Him! - but Jesus will not wink at sin that has not been forgiven. Contrary to our popular picture of Jesus-meek-and-mild, it is He that will judge us. "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad." (2 Corinthians 5:10)
The recompense for sin is death. Eternal death and torment. Turn from your sin today. Do not buy into the lie that God is not all that concerned with your actions; that disobeying Him is really not a big deal. Some day your long-suppressed conscience will scream at you, “I TOLD YOU!” But it will be too late, and you will have all eternity to anguish over your refusal to repent and turn to God. Therefore, "Repent and believe in the gospel... seek the Lord while He may be found."
“These things you have done and I kept silence;
You thought that I was just like you;
I will reprove you and state the case in order before your eyes.
Now consider this, you who forget God, or I will tear you in pieces, and there will be none to deliver.
He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me;
And to him who orders his way aright I shall show the salvation of God.” (Psalm 50:21-23)
The healing of this man, though quite miraculous, is apparently of secondary importance. It’s the man’s heart that is the greater concern for Jesus. The same could be said of the woman caught in adultery not much later. After turning away her executioners, his only words to her are, "Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you? I do not condemn you either. From now on sin no more."
Today, much attention is given to Jesus’ treatment of the would-be stoners. Accordingly, these religious leaders are the bad guys of the story, ready to judge the poor, defenseless woman. This is both right and wrong. It is right to say that Jesus vilified the hypocrisy of Israel’s leaders. "Therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them. They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger. But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men…" (Matthew 23:3-5) It is wrong to paint the woman simply as an unwitting victim, whose actions are of little concern to Jesus.
In both these accounts, Christ is concerned with the sins of ordinary people. “Stop sinning. Sin no more.” God hates all sin. "Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong." (Habakkuk 1:13) You’ve been healed, you’ve been spared, but don’t go back to sinning again. Why? The benefits they had received from Jesus were temporal; eternity still hung in the balance.
Today we are likely to hear from unbelievers, “Ahhh, God doesn’t punish sin. Look around you, Alan, people sinning all over, and they’re none the worse for wear. God understands that we’re only human.”
"Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these [sins] the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience." (Ephesians 5:6)
From the other side of things, many so-called Christians tell us to stop worrying so much about sin. People need to hear about God’s love, not about their sin. After all, Jesus doesn’t judge people, and we shouldn’t either. These folks are likely to lean on John 8 to help their case. But Jesus did not wink at the woman’s sin. He does not take sin lightly. He misses nothing, but in kindness gives us time to turn to Him in repentance. That is what now is for. If you are disobeying God you are being given the opportunity to repent and be saved from His anger and punishment. "Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?” But this opportunity must be taken advantage of. “But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God." (Romans 2:4-5)
Yes, forgiveness from God may be found through Christ - praise Him! - but Jesus will not wink at sin that has not been forgiven. Contrary to our popular picture of Jesus-meek-and-mild, it is He that will judge us. "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad." (2 Corinthians 5:10)
The recompense for sin is death. Eternal death and torment. Turn from your sin today. Do not buy into the lie that God is not all that concerned with your actions; that disobeying Him is really not a big deal. Some day your long-suppressed conscience will scream at you, “I TOLD YOU!” But it will be too late, and you will have all eternity to anguish over your refusal to repent and turn to God. Therefore, "Repent and believe in the gospel... seek the Lord while He may be found."
“These things you have done and I kept silence;
You thought that I was just like you;
I will reprove you and state the case in order before your eyes.
Now consider this, you who forget God, or I will tear you in pieces, and there will be none to deliver.
He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me;
And to him who orders his way aright I shall show the salvation of God.” (Psalm 50:21-23)
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