We know that we have all sinned as Romans 3:23 and 5:12 state. In 1 John 1:10, John tells us that if we say we have not sinned we make Jesus a liar and His word is not in us. When we become a Christian, we take on the name of Christ, and receive His Spirit within us. Then, our desire to live for Him allows us to learn of Him as He teaches us the way to live the life that pleases Him through the Word of God. Joy and fulfillment as we obey and keep His ways are the result. Many people believe that once they have become a Christian, being forgiven of their past sins, they need no longer be concerned about sin. Either that they cannot sin as a Christian, or that it is not a problem with Jesus if they do. Let's take a look at what the Bible says about sin in the life of the ones He has ordained.
Moses is one that comes to mind. He was a man who God not only spoke directly to, but who God showed Himself to; a man of strengths and weaknesses. In Numbers 20:8, after leading the Israelites out of Egypt, while they were in the desert of Zin the people were very thirsty and complained to Moses and Aaron, saying they might as well have died earlier or at least stayed in Egypt. So, Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle and fell upon their faces before God. They came in complete humility, and then God said: “ Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them the water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.” Moses and Aaron gathered them together and Moses chided the “rebels”. Then, in Numbers 20:11 he lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock thrice:... He had definitely heard God speaking as he followed the first part of God's instructions, but he had not really listened as He proceeded to not follow them. This showed that he didn't really believe God and that his attitude toward God was not right at that moment. He was frustrated with the people no doubt as he called them 'rebels', but because of that he allowed himself to forget the holiness and righteousness of God, showing disrespect and not reflecting God's holiness before the people, but his own frustration instead. Because God loved Moses and the people of Israel, in His grace and mercy He still gave them water. However, Moses lost the honor of taking the people into the land which God had given them. He lost out on an amazing honor and blessing because he chose to sin.
In the New Testament, Jesus made no secret of His feelings toward the Scribes and Pharisees. In Matthew 23:1-12 Jesus exposes them for what they were. He expounded on how they loved to keep the law of God, even to add to it and force the people to keep rules given only by them, but not because of their belief in the law, nor for God's glory. They ruled for their own glory. Instead of being humbled by their position, they were 'puffed up' because of it which is completely against the spirit of Christianity; a sin that every Christian struggles with at one time or another. God hates a proud spirit. Jesus was judging them, as He judges us as Christians now, and told them in vs. 15 that they were reaching far and wide to make new proselytes, then making the new proselytes twofold more the children of hell than they themselves were. Because of the continued sin of those who would not listen, they were deemed children of hell. Yes, He does judge us. He is God and we often do not obey Him. But, he knows our hearts, knows our humanness, and is gracious and merciful to go after the one who errs and strays not out of rebellion, but out of error.
God wants us to live within the boundaries and standards He has set for us, to change our values, attitudes, thoughts and lives so they are in line with His standards, not our own. Our goal should be, with God's help, to chip away everything that isn't like Him. We are removing sin – everything that is contrary to or doesn't express the holy character of God – with the purpose of more fully and maturely reflecting God's very mind and way of life. We cannot continue willfully in sin as did the Scribes and Pharisees, and be God's children in His eyes. As His children, it is imperative we know what sin is and know what His expectations are for His children from the beginning of time.
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