Does God Care About Sin?

This morning, and recently, I have been reflecting on sin.  I assume that this is not the usual thing to reflect on for most, but the Lord has been peeling the onion, so to say, on this topic for several years.  I wrote a decently lengthy personal reflection on sin in my journal yesterday, and felt compelled to visit that topic once again this morning.  I am starting by reviewing the number of times that the word "sin" or "sinners"  or "sinned"  appears in the Gospels.  By  my count, in my NIV translation, sin is mentioned the following number of times:

Matthew:  17

Mark:  14

Luke:  32

John:  22

In a very quick review the majority of times this word appeared Jesus was either forgiving someone for their sins, which caused quite a stir among the Pharisees and Sadducees, or it was in the word "sinners" describing people who had been so labeled by others (tax collectors, women of ill repute, etc.).  Jesus rarely spoke about the subject, other than at His sermon on the mount (See Matthew 5 - 7 for the most extensive version).  At this sermon Jesus effectively changed the definition of sin, from the list of outward actions to include inner thoughts and attitudes.  I am sure that this must have been very troubling for the Pharisees and teachers of the Law who had a list of some 600+ laws, which defined what was sin, and what was not sin.  

Here are a couple of examples that Jesus gave during this sermon (in this sermon He doesn't use the word very often) - Matthew 5:21-22,27-28 NIV:

[21] “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' [22] But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, 'Raca,' is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell. 

[27] “You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' [28] But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart."

These are a few great examples of how the Lord greatly expanded their definitions of sin, and what was going to be judged - not just murder, but anger with another, calling someone a fool, or "raca" which means looking on another with contempt, and even looking at someone lustfully.  All of these would be under the same judgment as the actual act like murder or adultery. 

This great expansion of definition of sin seems to be rarely preached about (at least in my years of attending church).  It certainly would not be a popular sermon topic, especially if we are wanting to encourage our congregation.  The good news is that the Gospel is not a list of things we can't do, or a list of coming judgments, it is an invitation to relationship with the one who has paid the price for ALL our sins, the one who offers forgiveness, mercy, compassion and love to those that come with bowed head and bowed knee, expressing their need for a Lord, and savior, and asking forgiveness for sins.

His sermon {mentioned above) ends with stories and revelation about the Father, and the encouragement and invitation to pursue Him and His Kingdom. Here are a few verses from the end of His sermon - Matthew 7:7-11 NIV:

[7] “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. [8] For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. [9] “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? [10] Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? [11] If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"

Going back to my original theme, the question should be what is sin? We hear sin mentioned quite often in our churches, and some churches spend much of their time preaching about sin and the need to live righteous (sin-free) lives.  The Greek word that is translated sin is the word hamartia and Strong's provides the following word helps - 

266 hamartía (a feminine noun derived from 1 /A "not" and 3313 /méros, "a part, share of") – properly, no-share ("no part of"); loss (forfeiture) because not hitting the target; sin (missing the mark).

266 /hamartía ("sin, forfeiture because missing the mark") is the brand of sin that emphasizes its self-originated (self-empowered) nature – i.e. it is not originated or empowered by God (i.e. not of faith, His inworked persuasion, cf. Ro 14:23).

If we think of this word in usage at an archery tournament, this would be those that did not win a prize.  They shot, maybe even well, but still missed the mark more that others.  A miss of 1 inch and a miss of three feet are still misses.  The word helps above are helpful in defining sin, and how it should be understood.  If we want write up a list, it must include all the possible definitions of Jesus' to be helpful, and with the perspective I laid out above.`

I am confident this idea and definition and working understanding of sin would not be welcome in many churches, as it is seen as too lenient, or too hard to police.  A few common threads in many online posts about sin, are that we must not grow soft in our presentation of what sin is; we must call sin, sin; we must call each other to obedience that we might avert judgment.  The problem with all of this is who has the actual full list of sins?  Jesus took the actual acts and added to them sins of intent and thought (looking lustfully at another), sins of anger; sins of judging others as contemptible, even sins of calling another names.    All of these fall easily in the definition of missing the mark, but they are hard to to completely define and it is difficult to list every possible iteration of said area. 

The whole idea of constantly focusing on "acts" or even the motives of sin, is that this won't actually help us with salvation, or even representing the Lord.  Going back to the archery analogy, if you aren't constantly aiming at the bullseye, you aren't going to be able to hit it.  Focusing on the areas where your arrows keep missing, will not help you hit the target.  We need to be focused on the Lord, focused on our relationship with Him, and in that relationship we will find the help we need to become more like Him.  Righteousness without relationship to the Lord is worthless in an eternal perspective. 

I have heard that our sin causes the Lord to withdraw from us, causes His presence to leave, as there is no sin, no darkness with the Lord at all (1 john 1:5).  While this seems logical, what we are saying is that sin has power over the presence of the Lord!  If not that, then we are saying that God's hatred of sin is greater than His love us.  Neither of those statements is true!  In fact, Jesus demonstrated the absolute fallaciousness of those lines of thinking, by coming to a sinful world, because of His love for us (John 3:16-17), and paying the price for all our sins.  He defeated sin, and restored relationship with the Father!  

I have this belief that God is not actually that concerned about sin.  That is a shocking statement to some I am sure, however, lets look at the facts.  

Jesus paid for all our sins on the cross. 1 Cor 15:3

He defeated sin on the cross. 1Cor 15:55-56

He has set us free from the Law.  Rom 8:2

He has hidden us in Him, where sin does not exist.  Col 3:3

He has given us His righteousness.  Rom 3:22

We have been redeemed.  Eph 1:7

If all of this is true, why would the Lord be concerned about that which He defeated, paid for and does not have any power over Him?  I think His main concern regarding sin is the pain we receive from it, and the pain we cause others through sin.  He desires so much more for us.   

So, rather than focusing on sin, and our misses, let us focus more on Jesus!  Let us stop looking at the list and start looking at Him.  Let us set our hearts to unite ourselves to Him, becoming like Him to the best of our ability.  Let us press onward, forgetting what is behind us, pursuing the One who loves and pursues us.  I am reminded of Paul's eloquent prayer and encouragement found in Philippians 3:7-14 NIV:

[7] "But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. [8] What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ [9] and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ---the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. [10] I want to know Christ---yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, [11] and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead." 

[12] "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. [13] Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, [14] I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

Amen and Amen!