Resisting Sin
5 min read
20 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 21 “Separate yourselves from this assembly so I can put an end to them at once.”
22 But Moses and Aaron fell facedown and cried out, “O God, the God who gives breath to all living things, will You be angry with the entire assembly when only one man sins?”Numbers 16:20-22
Everybody sins (1 John 1:8-10). And for sure, God is not pleased by any sin that we commit. However, when we read the Bible, there seem to certain sins that particularly anger God.
So on the one hand, I need to remember that God hates all sin. But the daily sins I might commit due to the weakness of my flesh hurts my own self because they hinder me from reaching the full potential of my sanctification in Christ. At the same time, I might hurt others by not allowing God to use me to bless them to the degree that God would desire. But that hurting of others is not intentional or direct.
On the other hand, it would be very much worth our while to think deeply about sins that make God angry, like He is here. And we need to make every effort to avoid committing those sins.
When we turn to the Scriptures, it seems like God is most angry with those sins that directly oppose His purpose. What purpose? His purpose to fill the earth with His glory in Jesus's name through God-fearing, God-honoring, God-worshiping, God-loving communities and families, the church.
Along those lines, sins that incite division and rebellion in gospel-centered, great-commission-focused communities might upset God a great deal.
Of course, the Bible also makes it clear that God will forgive us when we repent in faith. But there are always lingering repercussions of the sins we commit. And when we consider the two broad categories of sins--those that hinder our own personal growth versus those that directly oppose the purpose of God--it would seem that the repercussions of our sins are much greater for the sins that oppose God's purpose.
Maybe I am jumping to a lot of conclusions here. There is much more that should be considered when it comes to God's attitude toward sins. Most of all, I would never want to take God's mercy for granted.
Father, You are good and Your grace knows no bounds. Yet, sometimes I feel like my sin knows no bounds too. I know You hate my sin, but I have to trust that Your grace is greater. But guide me, and guide our Canvas community, to stay clear of committing sins that seriously test Your patience. In Jesus's name. Amen.
