We are all sinners
In my last article I wrote about “I need to think about that” and said we use those words when we don’t have sufficient information to make an intelligent decision. This week, I want to begin to give you sufficient information for you to be able to make an intelligent decision about spiritual things.
The Bible says in Romans 3:20 that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” This means that no one is perfect. No one. Well…only One, Jesus. The rest of us do not measure up.
We “fall short” of what God intends for us to be. When we took the cookie from the cookie jar that mom told us we couldn’t have. When we called someone a bad name. When we cheated on a test. When we lied. When we took something that didn’t belong to us, we joined the group known as “sinners.”
The Bible also says “to know what is right and to not do it, is sin.” So whether by something we have done, or something we have known to do and have not done it, we have sinned. We’re all sinners. You are. I am. Everyone is.
I know that is a pretty bleak picture, but we need to know the truth of what God’s Word teaches. Do you know that for about 25 years, I thought I knew the Bible well enough to say “If anyone is going to Heaven when they die, I was.”
I was wrong. I was planning on going to Heaven by what I thought was “good enough.” Being good and doing good works doesn’t get us into Heaven.
So … “Houston…we have a problem.” It’s not God’s problem. He made us perfect, like Him. But mankind, through Adam and Eve, sinned. And if you will believe that … you are on your way to knowing the truth. And the Bible says, “The Truth will make you free.”
Think about your life this week.
Next week, we’ll see what the Bible says about what we can do about the sin problem in our lives.
Remember, Jesus loves you just like you are, but He loves you too much to leave you like that.
Pastor Thad Gifford is lead pastor of the Crossroads Community Church, 62 E. Second St., London. He can be reached at (740) 852-7800 or e-mail him at sermon8er@aol.com.
