I'll Have the Sin - with a Side of Forgiveness

Ah, sin! Without its existence the Bible would have a decidedly different message. In fact, there might not even be the need for a Bible other than to serve as a history of creation and man’s involvement in it. In a simple act of defiance, sin entered the world and man’s plight was changed forever. The harmonious relationship between man and his Creator had been irreparably marred. A savior was needed, someone who was without sin and who possessed the capability to restore the severed relationship. Sin’s grand entrance was not solitary. No, anchored securely on its arm was salvation. God’s plan was indeed perfect in that it provided a means for salvation before sin reared its ugly head. Thus, man was not resigned to eternal damnation by a single act of disobedience.

            The Bible is replete with stories of sin and forgiveness. Amid the history and genealogies of the Old Testament lay the prophecies of the coming Messiah, through whom salvation would come into the world. The history of man has been one of failures and triumphs, of obeying God’s will, and suffering the consequences of disobedience. So tremendous was man’s love affair with sin that God flooded the earth and started over again with Noah and his family. Sin’s grasp remained firm, though. Man sought to glorify himself via the construction of a tower. God scattered man and confused his language. Nevertheless sin occupied man’s heart and he descended to the depths of human desire. God unleashed his wrath on Sodom and Gomorrah, eradicating the city of sin. All of this disobedience occurred in the very first book of the Bible, Genesis.

            It isn’t until Exodus that man was given the Ten Commandments, God’s laws for obedience. Library shelves are littered with law books today. A legal education is exhaustive and takes three years to complete. While it may be an over simplification, I would argue our modern laws fall within the confines of the law received by Moses. The Ten Commandments are simple, straightforward, and do not require legal expertise for proper interpretation. No precedent is necessary for their sustainment. Serving as a guide for righteous living, they sometimes act as a measuring stick for sin.

            In Sunday school class last week, we discussed divorce. Several members were in fact divorced. As one might imagine, this was a hot topic since our text (Mark 10) indicated that divorce was a sin. Jesus responded by referencing the sanctity of marriage as intended by God. He went on to state in verses 11 and 12, “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.” The crux of the issue for everyone was the implicit nature of sin contained in divorce, namely adultery. In the seventh commandment, God explicitly stated, “You shall not commit adultery.” Okay, good enough, except if you’re divorced. In that case, seemingly, you’re out of luck.

            The debate we had was centered around the nature of divorce. Some believed there were valid [and acceptable] reasons for divorce even though they were not specifically outlined in the Bible. The one exception Jesus noted in Matthew 19:9 was marital unfaithfulness, or adultery. However, although this was a valid exception, divorce was not a requirement. So it seems that divorce for any reason other than adultery is invalid regardless of how convincing the reasons are. Whether we like it or not, God takes marriage incredibly seriously. Perhaps because he created it, and like all of his creation, it is good. Jesus often speaks metaphorically about the church being his bride and refers to himself as the bridegroom. In Ephesians, Paul, a self-proclaimed bachelor, admonishes both men and woman to properly fulfill their roles within marriage. He instructs women to submit to their husbands, and commands husbands to love their wives the way Christ loved the church – a love so great that ended in his death.

            Marriage is a unique and special relationship that was created and instituted by God. There is no other relationship like it in all of human history. It, and it alone, singularly represents Christ’s relationship to the church. Therefore, the parameters of marriage are stringent, unyielding, and eternally binding. Debating the nature of sin surrounding divorce is futile and of little benefit. Sin is disobedience and disobedience is sin regardless of how we slice it. Try as we might, sin can never be justified in God’s eyes.

            As I observed in my Sunday school class, we [Christians] quickly gravitate toward the nature of sin. Specifically, we become scope-locked on what constitutes sin. If a particular sin hits too close to home, we are quick to ask questions, provide counter arguments, and justify actions. Regarding divorce, many spoke up about their own divorce or that of a family member, and how in retrospect it was a wonderful thing. Some refused to believe family members could indeed be living in sin even though their lives had vastly improved thanks to divorce.

            As the conversation played out, it occurred to me we were all missing the point. We had become enraptured with a specific sin, one prevalent in today’s society, and were attempting to justify it. The good news, though, is that Jesus forgives sin. I titled this post I’ll Have the Sin – with  a Side of Forgiveness because sin can be polarizing and eclipse the forgiveness Jesus offers. It can become an impediment to fulfilling God’s will in our lives. If we allow ourselves to succumb to its allure, we can quickly become preoccupied with it and forget the fact we are ALL sinners! Jesus’ words were not a pronouncement of guilt aimed at divorced people, as some might believe. They were a response to the Pharisees’ question. The Pharisees were testing him. Specifically, they were testing his knowledge of the law. They failed to realize who he really was. It was the disciples who pressed the issue later that drew Jesus’ admonitory comment.

            What I believe Jesus was doing in this situation was affirming the sanctity of marriage. His response was not a threat, nor was it a warning. It was a statement of fact not open for debate, whose justification was contained in the law – the law God provided. Ironically, if we are honest with ourselves, we have all broken the Ten Commandments. We’ve placed things ahead of God (no other gods before me). Jesus equated hatred with murder. Ever been angry, even irate, at someone? Looking at a woman with lust in one’s eyes is adulterous. What of gossip? How about bearing a little false witness against our neighbors? Did you ever wish you had a car like your neighbor? No coveting there. The point is we are all guilty under the law. Jesus knew that. He also knew that through him forgiveness was possible. Jesus doesn’t need to reference the law or make proclamations to convict sinners of sin. Jesus is the law!

            Pick your poison because we’re all sinners. Getting hung up on a particular sin, attempting to explain it, and searching for justification will never make sin acceptable to God. Guilty as charged, that’s what we are. No explanation is necessary because a sufficient one does not exist. Which is why at the very beginning of creation a savior existed, one who was a perfect substitute and could intercede on our behalf. We have all ordered the same thing from the same menu – sin! Fortunately, for those who believe, it comes with a side of forgiveness! And that should be the subject of our focus.