What Is a Sin, the Hard-to-Accept Three-Letter Word
- Jack Selcher
- Sep 3
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 15
George MacLeod said, “The mystery of man is that he is bad when he wants to be good.”1 We have experienced the three-letter word—sin.
Paul argued that sin is everyone’s problem by stringing together scriptural beads from Psalms and Isaiah. No one measures up to God’s righteousness (Romans 3:10). We are as far from His perfection as a round of par golf is from a score of 18.
A sheep in summer looks white. But not in winter when the background is newly fallen snow. If we compare ourselves with others, we might conclude we are good.
When we compare ourselves to the snow-white purity of Jesus, it is a different story. Unlike Him, we seek pleasure, power, fulfillment, fame, and fortune, not God’s will.
We are guilty because we have not heeded God’s word or our conscience (Romans 3:12). We are as corrupted and useless as a bag of rotten apples.
As yeast permeates dough, sin has invaded and defiled every area of our lives. We have a sinful nature and a terminal disease, but we do not know it.
Our speech demonstrates the wickedness of our hearts (Romans 3:13-15). It disproves our notion, contrary to the evidence, that we are good people.
We lie. Our words and tone of voice injure others. We harbor bitterness in our hearts against some people.
We get mad when people disagree with us. Curses readily form in our minds.
I am not getting fussy. These traits are the essence of sin. Destruction and misery lie all along and at the end of a sin-driven life (Romans 3:16-17).
Conflict with God, self, and others is a way of life. There is no peace.
Sin-driven people do not fear God (Romans 3:18). They rarely think of Him, do not trust Him, and live as if there were no Judgment Day.
Knowing God personally gradually transforms people’s words, thoughts, deeds, attitudes, relationships, priorities, and goals.
We are sinners under God’s judgment. We are without excuse when God measures our deeds against His requirements (Romans 3:19-20).
The more clearly we understand God’s standards, the more deeply we sense our failure to meet them. We are all guilty.
Realizing their guilt, the Jews said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37 NIV). Peter said they must repent, and church leaders will baptize them in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins.
He promised they would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise was for them and for those who were far off. That is us!
Have you repented and received Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord? If not, there is no better time than today. What is your takeaway? See additional free spiritual growth resources for Christians. #freediscipleshipresources #freeevangelismresources #freechristianleadershipresources
God has empowered me to write His Power for Your Weakness—260 Steps Toward Spiritual Strength. It’s a free, evangelistic, devotional, and discipleship e-book. Pastors have used it in Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia to lead 6,090 people to Christ and teach the basics of Christianity to 15,150 people. I invite you to explore and use it in your setting.
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