The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in 1 Thessalonians 2:16b,
"In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit."
Paul points to the judgment sinful men have brought on themselves in their hostility toward those who promote the gospel of God. He says they "heap up their sins to the limit." By this, I understand Paul saying these sinful people, who have opposed the propagation of the gospel, have finally arrived at critical mass leading to their certain destruction in God's judgment of them. "The wrath of God has come upon them at last." Verse 16c. I don't exactly know what this wrath looked like but it must have been horrific.
The phrase referring to heaping up sins calls for an understanding of what sin is. I find specific definitions of sin in the New Testament, "Everything that does not come from faith is sin." Romans 14:23. "If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn't do it, it is sin for them." James 4:17. "Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness." 1 John 3:4.
We are given examples, "The acts of the flesh [sinful nature] are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God." Galatians 5:19-21. "Do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." 1 Corinthians 6:9-10.
The Old Testament provides us a great foundation for understanding what sin is. In the book of Leviticus, a major theme we are presented with is that there is that which is consistent with God and that which isn't. What is consistent with God's character and nature is presented us as "clean", "righteous" and "holy". That which is inconsistent with God is "unclean", wicked, and sinful. We are presented with a duality to teach us the concept of sin versus righteousness. In Leviticus we learn we are to shun the unclean and never mix it with the clean. Practical exercises in the law are given the Jews to teach them these things. "Keep my decrees. Do not mate different kinds of animals. Do not plant your field with two kinds of seed. Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material." Leviticus 19:19. God wants us to understand what is righteous and what is sinful, that a duality exists, and to never mix the two. While some have thought the dietary restrictions were primarily for health and safety reasons, no matter how well intentioned this reasoning has been, it misses the primary point: there is that which is "clean" and that which is not. Take the clean and shun the unclean: live a sinless life, a "godly" life. Never mix the two.
Sinfulness is that proclivity within the heart of mankind that has led him in rebellion against God. The acts of the sinful nature are those acts that result in all who have not fled to Jesus Christ for the redemption of those sins to be cast into that "fiery lake of burning sulfur." Worse yet is the realization that just sinful thoughts and impulses place us in the cross-hairs of God's judgment-- not only the sinful acts we commit. Consider what Jesus taught, "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Matthew 5:27-28.
Sin was brought into the human family by Adam and Eve. It has permeated our lives since their fall in the garden. The good news is that Jesus Christ came and died a miserable death to pay for the punishment of our sins. We are all sinful and we all need this atonement of Jesus for our sins. All he asks is that we place our faith and trust in him to be forgiven them.
Listen to Paul's wonderful words as he continues what he says in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, "Do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed,you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." How wonderful is that?! We can be washed, sanctified and justified from whatever sin we have engaged in!
Why would God do such a thing? He was prompted by his unfathomable love of all mankind to provide a way. "To all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." John 1:12.
How about you? Do you wish to cling to your sin or flee to Jesus Christ and have his payment credited to your account in God's court?
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
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