CAMDEN — By Rod Halliburton
“He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the Lord.” (Proverbs 17:15) This verse serves to remind us of those who are increasingly quick to go to great lengths to lessen the atrocity of sin. (Isaiah 5:20).
But no matter what man may call sin, God still considers it sin. No matter what man calls sin, sin still separates man from God. (Isaiah 59:1-2)
No matter what man calls sin, sin will still cause a person to spend eternity in hell, unless, of course, that person repents and turns from his sin, (Acts 26:18-20) confesses his faith in Jesus Christ as his savior, (Romans 10:10) is baptized to receive the forgiveness of his sin, (Acts 2:38) and then faithfully lives a life devoted to Christ. (I Corinthians 9:27).
No man, whatever his sin may be or however sordid his past may be, can ever sin so badly that his sin cannot be washed from his life by the blood of Christ! Never underestimate the power of Christ’s precious blood – it has the power to take sinful man and make him a new creature. (Romans 6:4; II Corinthians 5:17)!
Why are so many people quick to call sin something other than what it really is? A sinful act is always a sinful act, whether it was committed in 2019 B.C or A.D. 2019. A sinful act is always a sinful act, whether it is committed in my own home, out of town or across the globe.
A sinful act is always a sinful act even when those involved consent to sin. A sinful act is always a sinful act regardless of how many people support it.
Man can reject God’s laws.
Man can ignore God’s laws.
Man may even try to trivialize God’s law by saying the scriptures are “old fashioned” or “outdated” – but God’s word, not man, still serves as the standard by which we will all be judged. (John 12:48).
The Bible is not always politically correct; but it is always correct!
Why are so many people quick to call homosexuality an “alternate lifestyle” when the Bible plainly teaches it is a sin? Homosexuality was a sin during the Patriarchal dispensation. (Genesis 19:24-28)
Homosexuality was a sin during the Mosaical dispensation. (Leviticus 18:22).
Homosexuality is sinful today.
“Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them (Romans 1:24-32). Contrary to what many people would have you believe, it is possible for homosexuals to overcome and cease from their sinful behavior. (I Corinthians 6:11)
Why are so many people quick to call abortion a “woman’s choice” when the Bible plainly teaches it is a sin? Contrary to what pro-abortionists would have you believe that which grows within a mother’s womb is not meaningless tissue, but a living person with a soul. (James 2:26; Ecclesiastes 11:5; Psalm 139:13-15; Exodus 21:22-23; Luke 1:36; Luke 1:41)
Life most certainly does begin at conception. Job was considered a person from the time of his conception. (Job 3:3, 11)
Isaiah was considered a person before his physical birth. (Isaiah 37:3)
John was filled with the Holy Spirit while he was in his mother’s womb. (Luke 1:15).
Men may call abortion a woman’s choice, but God has never given anyone the right to choose to murder another person. Those persons who shed innocent blood are an abomination to God. (Proverbs 6:16-17)
It is a shame that our country does not do more to protect the unborn. No one is more defenseless than an innocent baby, born or unborn.
Why are so many people quick to call alcoholism a disease when the Bible plainly teaches it is a sin? A person can never become an alcoholic without first indulging in the sinful consumption of alcoholic beverages. The Bible teaches that wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging, and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. (Proverbs 20:1)
The prophet Habakkuk wrote, “Woe unto him that giveth his neighbor drink.” (Habakkuk 2:15)
Drunkenness is a work of the flesh, not a fruit of the Spirit. (Romans 13:3, I Corinthians 6:10, Galatians 5:21).
Alcohol has many defenders, but no defense.
Why are so many people quick to call lying a character flaw when the Bible plainly teaches it is a sin? Man may overlook lying, but God never has and never will. A lying tongue is an abomination to God. (Proverbs 6:17)
Those who lie are following Satan, not God (John 8:44)
Those who fail to repent and turn from their lies will have their part in the lake of fire. (Revelation 21:8)
Why are so many afraid to call adultery and/or fornication a sin? Many people ignore the seriousness of such sin by referring to it as an “innocent fling” or glossing it over by calling it “having an affair” or quoting the adage “boys will be boys.” The apostle Paul, writing by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wrote, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind” (1 Corinthians 6:9).
Why are so many people afraid to call sin what is really is? Sin!
(Rod Halliburton preaches for the Antioch church of Christ in Emerson, Arkansas. He can be contacted at [email protected] or through his blog at www.savedbythegospel.com.)