God made us alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. Colossians 4:13-14 ESV
Ignoring sin doesn’t make it go away.
Canceling sin doesn’t necessarily set people free, overcome our guilt, and bring self-acceptance for all.
When we forsake sin – we don’t find peace. We judge ourselves and others even more.
Mention sin and you will be considered judgmental. Call out a behavior and find yourself s0cial-media ostracized. Church pulpits avoid the word attempting to find common ground with sinners.
If there is no sin, if there is no wrong, if we declare all behavior acceptable – do we make life better or worse? Does accepting everything bring peace on earth!?
John Lennon released the song Imagine while I was high school (a long time ago):
Imagine there’s no heaven
It’s easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us, only sky
Imagine all the people
Livin’ for today
Millions of people have lived and are living this philosophy. No hell, no heaven, and no sin – just livin’ for today. Have we found the utopia Lennon wants us to imagine?
Has throwing out judgment, sin, and hell made the world more loving? Or is our world worse than in 1971 (a long time ago!)?
Do you think the problem is left-wing or right-wing? Maybe better education, and if that fails, then dictate new policies? Social media pundits preach and politicians vote – giving us a culture that defines “sin” as what the opposition thinks.
Has it worked? I’m imagining a world of chaos. How about you?
We’ve missed something. Our country is missing something. I hope you aren’t missing something. What are we missing? Sin means “missing.” The actual word for “sin” in the New Testament is “missing.” Have we missed the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control of God’s character?
Cancel sin in culture and we miss the holiness found in the Bible.
The gospel means “good news.” Can there be good news without bad news? If sin is the problem, then good news without repentance won’t work.
And neither will John Lennon’s imaginations.
Paul writes in Colossians that our sins are written in eternity, every thought, every action, and every hidden deed – all waiting to be read on judgment day. Paul also teaches that Jesus nailed this debt to the cross.
The Bible teaches that sin can be canceled.
If I’m forgiven, I can easily forgive you. Canceling sin is good news if it’s the blood of Jesus doing the canceling and not our own self-righteousness.
Imagine!