We all grow up with an idea of sin shaped mostly by our society. Religion talks a lot about sin but to many of us sin is merely bad behavior. It’s that thing that is frowned upon. Some sins we all agree on because they harm others. But what about those sins that don’t harm anyone? We can agree on stealing public funds being a wicked thing but what if we only take a small part of it? What if we use the rest for good of the society? We generally agree that adultery is not good. But what about lust? Who does pornography harm? We hate the excess use of power but if someone in power favours us we don’t really mind it. After all any other person in that position would do the same. In the eyes of society, therefore, sin can be controlled if we avoid excesses. Actually, if we make sure we don’t harm anyone in the immediate context then we can do whatever we want. So why is the Bible so obsessed with sin? Why are Christians always trying to control both our public and private lifestyles? Why does God keep us feeling guilty?
Now the quick answer from our religious friends is that God hates sin. God says it’s bad, the Bible has it printed out so don’t do it. But why is it bad, asks my curious friend? If I don’t harm anyone with my sexual preference and orientation, why am I judged? What does a little jealousy and gossip have to do with hell? Isn’t God overreacting? And true if you look at sin from the eyes of society it might seem like Christians are self-righteous people who want to ruin everyone’s life with their morals. But the Bible’s view of sin in Genesis 3 proves something different. It says that sin is not merely bad behaviour. Not something to be frowned upon but hated. Sin is both an act of rebellion against our maker and an attempt at personal salvation. Sin is man’s attempt to save himself.
Sin Says You Don’t Need God
Sin is not just bad because God says so in the Bible. Sin is not just rebellion but an attempt at salvation. An attempt that has proven to fail countless times but one we keep making. Sin is man’s attempt to be God so he can save himself. The Serpent makes this very convincing proposal in verse 5 of Genesis 3; that God doesn’t want you to be like him. He says this fruit is what stands between you and God. You are dependent on him now but if you eat it you’ll be invincible. In other words, you won’t need him. You won’t need his salvation because you’ll be able to save yourselves. At the heart of sin, therefore, is man’s attempt at saving himself. Like a little rebellious child, the man is saying to his Father, I don’t need you anymore. But while we focus on the rejection part I think we miss why man gravitates towards the serpent’s proposal. He wants to save himself and that’s what sin promises.
The rest of the Bible story shows us people making that same attempt time and time again. The people of Israel rebel against Moses because they would rather save themselves. God saves them from Egypt but a little change of menu has them wanting to go back to Egypt. They say at least there we had some fish, cucumbers and garlic, see Numbers 11:4-6. God promised the land of milk and honey, the land of freedom but they would rather go back to slavery than trust him. Now, when we read that we wonder, how could you want to go back there? Have you forgotten how bad Egypt was? But in truth, we are always confronted by this scenario ourselves that’s why we go back to the same sin over and over again.
Sin always presents us with the easier route to salvation albeit weak and filled with regrets. It says, take a little money from that basket and buy yourself something nice. You won’t harm anyone. But behind that small “innocent” sin is an attempt to save yourself instead of trusting God. And this happens all the time both in the world and in the church. A pastor who is struggling to make ends meet hears that small voice that tells him, to make his sermons more appealing to people’s wants. If you tell them God will bless them when they give you money, then giving will improve. Tell them to keep planting that seed. And after all, God has said he will do it. Then you move past your daily bread to wanting that church to grow, to build a bigger one, and to plant other churches…Every time sin tells you to save yourself by taking matters into your hands instead of trusting God.
Idols are Another attempt at Salvation
The idols of sex, power, money and fame are another way men make an attempt at salvation. Sex promises that regardless of what we are going through once we get the right partner or multiple of them we will save ourselves even if for a weekend. If not that at least that show on Netflix will do. Power says if you get me then you get control, you’ll be in charge and not need anyone. You will save yourself and direct your future. But then you realize there’s always someone above you so you need more power to save yourself. Money says if you get me you won’t need God or anyone else. Get enough of me and you’ll be saved. You think if only I have a million. I would be saved. Then again ten million, one billion for sure…But salvation remains a mirage with money. Fame says as long as people are speaking your name you’ll be invincible. Everyone will respect you, and whatever you need will come your way. You will save yourself.
But you and I know these idols never deliver what they promise. Sin and its idols always leave us wanting more, regretting what we have become and with a warped view of reality. So when the Bible says sin is bad it’s not trying to ruin your fun. God is saving you from this ugly master of sin. He is saving you from yourself. He’s protecting you from a path that promises much but never delivers. He’s saying clicking that site won’t save you. Taking that extra money won’t end your problems. That idol will not save you but I can. God in Jesus presents a path that is proven and tested. While sin promises much and delivers little, Jesus goes the full mile. He dies to save us. He says trust in me for your salvation and I can guarantee it. The question is will you walk the path that never saves or trust in the real Saviour? Next time sin knocks at your door remember it can’t save you. Knock instead on Jesus’ door and ask him to save you instead. To provide for you, to give you the joy you desperately crave, to take away your burden of sin and give you the assurance of salvation. Where sin fails Jesus saves.
I was listening to a man talk about Alcoholics Anonymous this morning. Nothing could be a better example of Man trying to save himself. Of course, AA struggles to explain how they came to a special revelation. Did God fail to provide the solution for alcoholism in the first draft of the Bible, so he gave the solution to a group of American men in the 1930’S? The upstream consequence of this “special revelation” is a system that men can use for moral improvement. However, even if an alcoholic gets sober, and even if the alcoholic learns to avoid being a dry drunk, they still stand condemned as sinners. No program of moral improvement can put us in a right relationship with God. Only God, through Jesus, can fix our essential problem–a problem that began in a garden many years ago.
I agree with the idea that sin is a man’s attempt to save himself.