Recently, I have been reading and studying through the book of Numbers. As I have progressed through this book, I am reminded that God does not put up with rebellion from His people. I mean, it should be obvious to us, God does not put up with any sin from any people, but there is a difference between sin and sinning. The difference is in the spirit of rebellion.
Now, before you stone me, or judge me as a radical, let me explain.
First, read 1 John 3:4-10a, and then let’s talk about this difference between sin and sinning.
Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him. Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God,
It seems that John is making a distinction between those who practice lawlessness (sin) and those who practice righteousness. And since he is making that distinction, we need to understand that committing a sin is not equivalent to living a life of sin. Romans 3:23 tells us that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Every person that lives to the age when they know right from wrong has done things in their lives that would be considered sin. But it is the child of God who decides that is not the life they want to live. Children of God have decided not to turn sin into a way of life and a pattern of iniquity. Jesus died on the cross so that we can be forgiven of our sins. He did not die so that we can continue to live however we want and be justified for living a sinful lifestyle.
When you decide to live a sinful lifestyle, you choose to be in rebellion against God. You are choosing to bring shame and disrespect to the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. The reason is the purpose of His death. It was to deliver you from the power of sin in a rebellious spirit into a life of righteousness as we live for Him.
However, even children of God sin, but a child of God should choose not to stay in sin as a way of life. We make mistakes, we say hurtful things, we think terrible thoughts, we even manipulate, cheat, lie, and often act foolish, but the difference between a child of God doing these things and everyone else is that a child of God should never be content with these sins and keep doing them over and over again.
If we ever find ourselves content with sin, then we are living in rebellion against God. And after what I have read and studied in the book of Numbers, that is not where I would ever want to remain. The child of God should be quick to get himself or herself out of a lifestyle of rebellion.
Proverbs 24:16 says, “For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again, But the wicked stumble in time of calamity. God’s children should never make excuses for sin. We should never justify why we have sinned; instead, we should ask God to forgive us and then make every effort not to sin again.
See… there is a difference between sin and sinning.
It’s all about how and when we get ourselves out of it.
In my life, as a child of God, I sin. But, I don’t want to.
If I don’t care and go on sinning anyway, then I am a rebel, and God will squash me metaphorically in the same way he squashed those who rebelled in the book of Numbers.
That motivates me to do better and turn away from sinning! Does it motivate you?
I love you,
Alex