http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%203:10-12&version=NIV1984
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+59:12&version=NIV1984
Most people in our culture, even those who don’t go to church, know about sin. While they may not know the textbook definition of it, they do know that sin is bad. That God doesn’t like sin. That sin will get you sent to Hell. Most people understand this much about sin. However, periodically the question will come up, “Would God send me to Hell for one sin?” That’s a good question. Technically, the answer is yes. Even one sin is creates a barrier between us and God. One sin sent Adam & Eve packing out of the Garden of Eden. One sin brought guilt, shame, heartache and death into the world. Yes, one sin is enough to send you, me, or anyone else to Hell. Because sin is against God and everything that He stands for. As such, sin must be punished. That is the technical answer to the question. The practical answer to it is somewhat different. And, I think, very insightful. The practical answer is that there isn’t anyone who commits just one sin. Or at least, let’s put it this way. It would be extremely rare to find such a person.
To understand this a little better let’s look at the different kinds of sins that people can and do commit. (If this is even possible). Where would we find such a list? Scattered throughout the Bible. A general reading of Scripture classifies the following activities as sin: Greed. Gossip. Envy. Pride. Jealousy. Lust. Lying. (Including little white lies. Or misrepresenting the truth.) Selfishness. Hate. Prejudice. Slander. (Those unkind words that we say about others.) Murder. Drunkenness. Gluttony. (Overeating) Swearing. Unforgiveness. Worry. Losing one’s temper. Not doing the right thing when we are supposed to. (Seeing someone in distress and not trying to help.) All of the sexual sins - having an affair, homosexuality, etc. OK, you get the picture. There are a lot of things that qualify as sin.
Now lets go through the course of an average day for an average person. How many times during the course of a day might a person worry? 10 times? 50? 100? How many times might they sin with their lips - a swear word, gossiping about someone, putting someone down, lying? 10 times? 50? 100? How many times might they get angry during a day? Or harbor thoughts of pride? Jealousy? Envy? How many times might they lust after someone else. Obviously this is more of a male problem but women know about this too. Looking at a pornographic image. Or mentally undressing someone. Just watching TV might be enough to qualify for this at times! Start to see the picture? Anyone who is human sins. A lot!
So, now let’s do the math. Having seen how frequently we all sin (and some people sin a lot more than others!) how many sins do you think that a good person commits in a day? I’m not talking about the person who doesn’t care or whose life is a wreck. I’m talking about a good, upstanding person who tries to live morally. Would you say that they only sin 100 times in a day? Or how about only 50? Let’s say for the sake of argument that they only sin 10 times a day. (I sincerely doubt that anyone sins this infrequently but, again, for the sake of argument.) Now let’s start adding things up. 10 sins/per day X 365 days per year = 3,650 sins. Now again, for the sake of argument, lets take this amount every year from age 20 to 70. (We won’t count any sins that they may have committed as a child or teenager.) So, 3,650 X 50 years = 182,500 sins! Does that seem like a lot? It sure does to me. I mean if you got that many parking tickets your vehicle would have long since have been impounded, you would have paid enough fines to help lower the national debt, and you would have probably spent some time in jail. There is a word for people who commit this many offenses. Incorrigible. In other words, incapable of being reformed.
So, now let’s do the math. Having seen how frequently we all sin (and some people sin a lot more than others!) how many sins do you think that a good person commits in a day? I’m not talking about the person who doesn’t care or whose life is a wreck. I’m talking about a good, upstanding person who tries to live morally. Would you say that they only sin 100 times in a day? Or how about only 50? Let’s say for the sake of argument that they only sin 10 times a day. (I sincerely doubt that anyone sins this infrequently but, again, for the sake of argument.) Now let’s start adding things up. 10 sins/per day X 365 days per year = 3,650 sins. Now again, for the sake of argument, lets take this amount every year from age 20 to 70. (We won’t count any sins that they may have committed as a child or teenager.) So, 3,650 X 50 years = 182,500 sins! Does that seem like a lot? It sure does to me. I mean if you got that many parking tickets your vehicle would have long since have been impounded, you would have paid enough fines to help lower the national debt, and you would have probably spent some time in jail. There is a word for people who commit this many offenses. Incorrigible. In other words, incapable of being reformed.
Now, once again, this figure is for a very, very good person. Can’t you see how these numbers might really increase otherwise? This means that a person who commits 50 sins/day would end up committing 912,500 sins! That’s just short of a million sins! And that’s not counting any sins in the first 20 years! So what does this say? Why don’t we let this sink in for a little while before I finish my thoughts on this subject in tomorrow’s post.
Lord, I have no problem agreeing with Scripture. I was born a sinner. As a result of this, I sin. I sin all the time. I even sin many times when I am attempting to do good. Until I did the math I didn’t realize how great a sinner I was. Thank you that my sins didn’t diminish Your love for me. Thank you that You loved me enough to make the payment for my sins possible. What a great day that was when I knelt at the foot of the cross and You forgave my sins! In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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