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Why Do People Sin?
Because it is easier than making a commitment to be faithful. We sometimes wonder
about why people sin. When we consider the end result of sin and the final destiny
of those who sin, we are perplexed as to why people choose to remain in sin
than turn away from it and seek the salvation that comes from God.
Part of the problem is that most people who sin do not know they are sinning
before God. They have not been taught the truth of God's word. Many have been
filled with error and thus do not recognize God's ways as being the right ways.
Sadly, there are many who have been taught the truth, but are not willing to
give up their sins.
The Bible is full of the history of the people of God who continued in sin even
though there was ample evidence that God was God and that He wanted something
better for them. Everything God commanded was for the good of those who would
obey. Blessings were promised to those who served the Lord God. Deuteronomy
28 and Leviticus 26 both start out listing the blessings that God promised for
faithfulness, and end the chapter with the promises of curses and punishment
to try to get the children of God to act righteously before Him.
God is not willing that any perish but all come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).
Why? Because repentance is a quality that is driven by humility; which is necessary
to come into the presence of God. It recognizes the greatness of God and the
smallness of me. As we learn that we have caused God grief, we should feel bad
about it and seek to make it right before God. In Acts 17:30-31 we read: "Therefore
having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all
everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge
the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished
proof to all men by raising Him from the dead".
There are several places in the Old Testament where we read that God does not
take pleasure in the death of the wicked. Ezekiel 18:32 and in Ezekiel 33:11we
read: "Say to them,' As I live!'; declares the LORD GOD, 'I take no pleasure
in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and
live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die, O house
of Israel?"
You see that this fits in God's eternal purpose that He wants all men to be
saved. That is why God sent the Son to this world. Man could not be saved without
the Christ interceding for him. God has provided His grace in the form of Christ.
Everything that goes to assist us in reaching heaven can literally be called
the grace of God. The Christ, the church, the gospel, and the Holy Spirit who
gave us the Bible. All of these are the grace or favor of God as He has provided
them to us. Our duty is to accept the terms of God's grace and be obedient to
His will. Because doing His commands will result in the same thing that doing
His will did back in the Old Testament days. It will be for our good.
I do not know exactly how many times it is recorded, but the phrase "for
your good, for our good" is repeated quite often. The phrase can be seen
many times in Deuteronomy as God is giving His people instructions. Moses was
responsible to teach the people the will of God and often told the people that
it was for their good.
God never gave a command for the purpose to punish His people. However many
people perceive that the commands of God prohibit them from having their fun
and fulfilling their lusts. God still wanted them to be righteous so that they
could live. God put in punitive measures, but only for the purpose of getting
the people to see the error of their way and hopefully return to serving God.
As the gospel was preached Paul told the Ephesian elders that he did not shrink
from declaring to you anything that was profitable" (Acts 20:20). Later
Paul said that he did not shrink from declaring the whole counsel of God (Acts
20:27). Paul knew just how important the gospel was and he made it is goal to
preach that gospel to everyone he could preach to.
As to our original question of why people sin, each person is going to have
to answer that one. But they must realize that they will give an account on
the day of judgment. They need to prepare themselves for the end of life and
face their eternal destiny, because their destiny is determined by the choices
they make. Everyone is faced with this as the Bible tells us that we are going
to die, and then face our judgment (Hebrews 9:27). Are you ready to stand before
God and face your sentence? If you are in sin, the answer is NO! However, if
you turn away from sin and obey the gospel message and serve the Christ and
God, you will become righteous and God will show His favor towards you on judgment
day. Then you will spend eternity in heaven with God and Christ and all the
righteous.
By Carey Scott
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